Obasanjo’s Wife Asks Court To Postpone Son’s Wedding

Obasanjo’s Wife Asks Court To Postpone Son’s Wedding

Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo, one of the wives of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has dragged her husband and lottery business mogul, Sir Kessington Adebutu before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja seeking an order of the court to stop the wedding of her son, Olujonwo Obasanjo.

Mrs Obasanjo is asking the court to mandate the former president and the father of the bride,
Sir Adebutu, popularly known as  ‘Baba Ijebu', to postpone the wedding of her son to Tope Adebutu which is alread fixed for May 11 and 12.

Mrs Obasanjo who is the twin sister of Chief Kenny Martins, the former coordinator of the Police Equipment Fund, wants the wedding date to be postponed to sometimes after June 1.

She is also praying the court for declaration that as the mother of the groom, she has parental rights to take part in the deliberations, decisions and activities leading to the forthcoming ceremony.

According to affidavit attached to the suit, she averred that wedding invitations have been issued and she has been excluded from the preparations for the upcoming nuptials.

She stated in court documents that prior to the fixing of wedding dates, she had a premonition regarding her son who turns 34 on June 1.
According to her, she also received prophesies and spiritual warnings to the effect that Olujonwo should not undergo any elaborate celebration before his birthday which is two weeks after the wedding to avoid any impending calamity.

Mrs Obasanjo stated in court documents that she commenced the suit to compel Adebutu and Obasanjo to shift the wedding to a date beyond June 1.

She also claims that she appealed to Adebutu, the father of the bride, Mrs Rosemary Dacosta, the mother of the bride, Tope Adebutu, the bride-to-be as well as her twin brother Chief Kenny Martins.

Mrs Obasanjo said her pleas fell on deaf ears and she was instead, insulted by members of the family.

The suit with number ID/262FPM/2017 which is before Justice Lateefa Okunnu has neen fixed for April 10 for hearing.

Appointment Of SANs To Supreme Court Will Kill Moral Of Brilliant Judges -Babalakin

Appointment Of SANs To Supreme Court Will Kill Moral Of Brilliant Judges -Babalakin

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Wale Babalakin on Thursday warned against the proposed appointment of SANs and other lawyers to the Supreme Court, stating that it would kill the moral of brilliant judges at the lower bench.

Babalakin insisted that lawyers who are appointed straight to the Supreme Court come once in a life time, and are of exceptional intellect.

The senior lawyer, who was speaking at 10th memorial lecture in honour of Kehinde Sofola (SAN), also said such appointments are not meant for “pedestrian advocates”, adding that it would kill the moral of brilliant judges at the lower bench.

It will be recalled that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen had invited the Bar to nominate lawyers for appointment as Supreme Court justices, following which the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) shortlisted nine persons, including six SANs.

But Babalakin maintained that the legal system should rather be structured in a manner that only very gifted lawyers aspire to judicial appointment, adding that it is the only way to provide justice according to law.

He said: “The fact that you are a good lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean you will be so exceptional as to be a Supreme Court Judge.

"The protagonists of this proposal mentioned some names that have made it to the Supreme Court directly from the Bar. Dr Taslim Elias’s curriculum vitae speaks for itself.

“Another judge that was appointed directly to the Supreme Court in another jurisdiction is Mr. Justice Jonathan Sumption. Jonathan Sumption took a first class degree in Medieval History from Oxford University.

“These are the caliber of men who can make a claim to a direct appointment to the Supreme Court of any country. They come once in a life time.

“This hop, step and jump is not meant for every pedestrian advocate who has nothing to show than a prolonged stay in the courts with relative lack of distinction.

“If you are considered so gifted, an exception can be made for a few appointments to the Courts of Appeal where, if you now distinguish yourself, you can be given an accelerated promotion to the Supreme Court.”

Babalakin spoke on the theme: The role of the legal profession in nation building: the Nigerian context.

Recalling the judiciary’s ‘glorious years’, Babalakin, called to the Bar 35 years ago, said the law profession he knew growing up was very organised, cases proceeded on the dates they were scheduled for, there were hardly any adjournments, objections were raised and resolved immediately, and there was no adjournment to consider any interlocutory issue.

He said judges were so knowledgeable and so versatile that lawyers knew they could not play any delay tactics, while criminal cases were disposed of within a month of commencing trial.

Babalakin said judges were also well paid. According to him, in 1964, the salary of a High Court Judge in Western Nigeria was £3,400 per annum, higher than that of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, which was £2,700 per annum.

The SAN said the military intervention in governance was “an unmitigated disaster in the development of the Nigerian legal system and the Legal profession," adding that it culminated in the retirement of exceptional judges in 1975 without due process, a development he described as “the greatest set back to the legal profession”.

On the way forward, Babalakin said the study of law must be made a serious business, with the improvement of the quality of teaching, which, to him, “is simply not good enough.”

He said appointment to the Bench must be based on merit rather than federal character, as law is essentially a profession that requires very serious intellectual capacity.

For instance, Babalakin said the current members of the Supreme Court of England are either graduates of Oxford University or Cambridge, while those of the United States Supreme Court are all graduates of America’s best universities.

“These countries realise that you cannot place the judicial process in the hands of less qualified people. As I have often repeated, there is no difference between an incompetent judge and a corrupt judge. The effect of incompetence and corruption on the legal system is the same; that is injustice,” he said.

On delays, Babalakin said frivolous adjournments must be discouraged, while courts must not adjourn any case for the convenience of counsel.

The courts, he said, must be ready to proceed with matters.

Prosecution of criminal cases, he added, should only take place after a very thorough investigation and review of the evidence by very seasoned legal practitioners, as, according to him, poor prosecution of cases have considerable negative effect on the legal system.

“The idea that the prosecution would seek to adjourn the trial of a criminal cases because it requires more time to adduce or compile evidence must be very strange to those who are familiar with the operation of the common law in prosecution of criminal cases,” he said.

On corruption in the judiciary, Babalakin said the discipline of judicial officers must be done in a very transparent manner.

He called for a system that is capable of showing up an incompetent or corrupt judge “without much ado.”

Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who was a discussant, said unlike some senior lawyers, the late Sofola never associated with corrupt judges.

He said the Bar has also not done enough to help ensure the observance of the rule of law.

Falana recalled that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under the late Alao A.K.A Bashorun once boycotted the courts to force the military to obey orders.

He said the NBA in recent times has been silent when the authorities violate the rule of law and abuse human rights.

Falana said instead of advising governors to obey the laws or court orders, Attorneys-General advice them to disobey them because cases in court will not be decided during their tenures end.

“When you do that, you subvert the rule of law,” the SAN said.

He also criticised SANs who adopt new delay strategies of endless cross-examination of witnesses, saying: “We need to call our colleagues to order before they destroy the judiciary.”

Falana said everything must be done to restore faith in the judiciary, adding that the public has lost confidence in it that traditional rulers and the police now resolve more cases than courts.

The late Sofola had a celebrated legal career for over 50 years before he passed on in 2007 at 83.

Community Sues Obasanjo, Others Over Presidential Library Land

Community Sues Obasanjo, Others Over Presidential Library Land

The land housing the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, is now a subject of litigation as an Ogun State High court restrained the trustees, the government and other defendants from destroying the claimants’ shrines on the land until the determination of the suit.
The Plaintiffs, Ijeun-Lukosi Community of Abeokuta, Ogun State who are the alleged owners of the property in which the library and other private properties are located, are now asking the court to return their land to them. Plaintiffs in the matter include Chiefs Benjamin Ogunbona, Akeem Taoreed, Gbenga Amos, Dele Taiwo, Musiliu Oyegunle on behalf of Ijeun Lukosi community of Ogun state.
The suit is against the Governor of Ogun State, D.G. Bureau of land and survey, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, OOPL ventures Ltd, the incorporated trustee of OOPL foundation, DLK Aluminium Products Ltd, Beneficiaries of the Estate of late Chief Sesan Soluade, Chief Lola Oyerinde and Alhaji Alli Ajibode.
Others are Dr. Kunle Salako, Dr. Adeleke Adedoyin, Chief Yomi Majekodunmi, Alhaji Layi Shobayo, Inspector General of Police and the state commissioner of Police.
Already the court on January 10 granted an order restraining the defendants from destroying the shrines located on the land. The entire Ijeun-Lukosi community are praying the court for the reversion of the land to the community as the bona-fide owners, since it’s no longer used for the original purpose of the acquisition but shared to private individuals.
In a 50-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, the Baale of Ijeun-Lukosi Community, Chief Benjamin Ogunbona, claimed that Ogun State Government compulsorily acquired the land in 1976 for the purpose of building the state secretariat complex, but did not use it for that purpose re-allocating it to individuals for private use.
According to him, more than 100 individuals have now erected private properties on the land among whom were Obasanjo’s Presidential Library, Dr. Kunle Salako (former SSG, Ogun State); Dr. Adeleke Adedoyin, Chief Yomi Majekodunmi among others.
The Presidential Library was said to be a private property of Obasanjo as contained in a letter written to the community by the National Library of Nigeria, February 2, 2016 and signed by the Secretary to the board/Legal adviser, Alhaji Aminu Ojaj.
Ogunbona noted that after pressure was mounted on the government, it excised 33.253 hectares out of the land to the community in 2011, but did not pay any compensation to the people of Ijeun-Lukosi community for the compulsory acquisition of their land as provided by law.
He said: “Our land measured approximately 178.89 hectares, which amounted to 444.52 Acres of land from time immemorial and we have exercised undisturbed act of ownership on same without let or hindrance from any quarters until 1976 when the newly created Ogun State government compulsorily acquired part of our land.”
The government in its response through Mr. Omilana Korede of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, confirmed the acquisition of the land by Ogun State Government in 1976.
He, however, argued that the land was validly acquired, crops properly enumerated and the compensation deposited with the Bureau of Lands and Survey a long time ago.
He also averred that the 38.253 hectares the community said was returned to them in 2011 had also been cancelled by a panel of enquiry set up by the current government.
His 12-paragraph affidavit read in part: “That sometimes in 1976, the Ogun State government acquired a large area of land which forms part of the large expanse of land measuring 3, 674 hectares for public purpose; to construct the State Secretariat.
“That the land was validly acquired by the enabling law. That copies of notice of acquisition were served on the affected land owners and villagers and where they were hostile, the notices were posted on conspicuous objects like trees and rocks.
“That the 38.253 hectares that was claimed by the defendants to have been released to them has since been cancelled by the Panel of enquiry on Lands headed by Justice Abiodun Akinyemi.”The matter has been adjourned to the 23rd of March, 2017.

AMCON Sells Keystone Bank To Private Consortium

AMCON Sells Keystone Bank To Private Consortium

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of Keystone Bank, one of Nigeria’s commercial banks.

AMCON said the bank was sold to Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Riverbank Investment Resources Limited (the Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium).

The bank, formerly known as Bank PHB, is the last of three nationalised banks to be sold, the other two being Mainstreet Bank and Enterprise Bank.

In a statement signed by Jude Nwauzor, AMCON head of corporate communications, the bad debt bank said it “is pleased to announce Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Riverbank Investment Resources Limited (the Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium) as the new investors in relation to  the acquisition of the entire issued and fully paid up ordinary shares of Keystone Bank Limited”.

“This follows the receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The completion of the Transaction is subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent as stated in the Share Sale and Purchase  Agreement (SPA) executed between AMCON and the Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium.”

AMCON said The Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium is made up of Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Riverbank Investment Resources, which both are entities set up by local investors.

The sale of the bank has been on the cards since 2016, via a process started with interest shown by more than 12 parties cutting across local and international investors.

AMCON said the emergence of the Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium resulted from a rigorous and competitive bidding process, which was coordinated for AMCON by Citibank Nigeria Limited and its affiliates and FBN Capital (Joint Financial Advisers), and Banwo & Ighodalo and Crosswrock Law (Joint Legal Advisers).

Keystone Bank was incorporated by the NDIC on August 3, 2011.

AMCON subsequently capitalized Keystone Bank and appointed a Board of Directors and Executive Management team to lead the Bank.

As at April 2016, Keystone Bank had staff strength of 1,753 employees, network of 154 branches, 9 cash centres and 315 automated teller machines.

Senate Screening: Magus Rejection Not Based On DSS Report -Saraki

Senate Screening: Magus Rejection Not Based On DSS Report -Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the Senate did not reject the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, because of a damning report issued by the Department of State Services which questioned Magu’s integrity.

Saraki said this in an interview with TVC News in Morocco where he attended an African summit on climate change and food security.
The Senate President was reacting to a claim by a former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, who said last week that it was hypocritical of the Senate to allow Saraki to continue in office because he was in court to defend corruption allegations.

Ndume had argued that the Senate should not have rejected Magu based on unproven allegations.

Saraki said, “You are jumping into conclusion that he (Magu) was rejected because of the accusation. I don’t think there was anywhere we said he was rejected based on accusations.

“We have nominees that come all the time with different issues. Two weeks ago, we screened the Chief Justice of Nigeria and he scaled through.

“Now the EFCC chairman came and he did not pass the screening. Someone else will come and may pass. This is our constitutional role and I don’t think we should personalise or politicise this.”

The Senate President also denied reports that the current face-off between the Senate and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), was evidence that the Senate was being too harsh on the executive.

He said the executive arm of government must learn to consult with the legislature more often as this, according to him, is the best way to get things done.

Saraki added, “I know that as the parliament, which represents the people, some of these far-reaching decisions have to be made and there is a need for a wider consultation and that is what democracy is about. If you don’t want democracy, you can sit in your office and announce anything.

“Nobody is saying we have a monopoly of what is right but there must be consultation. We get feelers from the people and at a time that the economy is biting, we have to be very sensitive to some of the issues we face. So, all we are saying is consult more.” 

Hospital Authorised To Create ‘3-parent’ Babies

Hospital Authorised To Create ‘3-parent’ Babies

An English hospital has became the nation’s first to win authorisation to use the three-person fertility technique in an effort to prevent inherited disease.
Britain last year became the first country in the world to legally offer such a treatment after parliament approved legislation in December.
Doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre in northeast England will however not be able to go ahead with technique until an application by an individual patient has been approved.
“This significant decision represents the culmination of many years hard work by researchers, clinical experts and regulators,” said Sally Cheshire, head of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
“Patients will now be able to apply individually to the HFEA to undergo mitochondrial donation treatment at Newcastle, which will be life-changing for them, as they seek to avoid passing on serious genetic diseases to future generations,” she said.
British lawmakers voted in 2016 to allow the treatment, in which the DNA of the mother, father and a female donor are combined to create a baby.
Mitochondria are structures in cells which generate vital energy and contain their own set of genes called mDNA which is passed through the mother.
Mitochondrial diseases cause symptoms ranging from poor vision to diabetes and muscle wasting, and health officials estimate around 125 babies are born with the mutations in Britain every year.
The first baby conceived using mitochondrial donation was born in 2016 in Mexico, where there are no rules on its use, but Britain is the first to officially authorise it.
Around 3,000 British families could benefit from the therapy, but Cheshire said she expected that “many won’t come forward”.
The treatment remains controversial in Britain and elsewhere, with religious leaders among its detractors.
The Roman Catholic Church opposes the move, pointing out that it would involve the destruction of human embryos as part of the process, while the Church of England has said ethical concerns “have not been sufficiently explored”.
The Newcastle clinic said it was “delighted”.
“This announcement gives a hope and silver lining as we all strive together to help these women,” said Meenakshi Choudhary, consultant gynaecologist at the clinic.
Adam Balen, chair of the British Fertility Society said it was “a historical step towards eradicating genetic disease”.

I’m in Port Harcourt prison for my post about pastor Ibiyeomie – Kemi Olunloyo

I’m in Port Harcourt prison for my post about pastor Ibiyeomie – Kemi Olunloyo

Journalist and blogger, Kemi Olunloyo, says she has been charged with cybercrime for her post about Pastor David Ibiyeomie.
Olunloyo, who was arrested by the police on Tuesday , said in an Instagram post that she was driven to Port Harcourt and detained in a prison there after the pastor complained that she had defamed him in the post.
She confirmed that she had posted a letter from one of Ibiyeomie ’ s church members , levelling allegations against the pastor.
Olunloyo said she was charged along with a Rivers State journalist , who “simply syndicated ” her story, adding that she would remain in prison till March 23 when she would appear in court for another bail hearing.
Olunloyo, who is the daughter of a former governor of Oyo State , had on Tuesday alerted her followers that she was being arrested by the police.
She revealed that officers stormed her home and whisked her away to the Oyo state Criminal Investigation Department office in Ibadan , but added that the offence she was said to have committed was not criminal.
In her post on on Thursday , she said she had been driven to Port Harcourt after her arrest.

The Punch

Domestic Violence: Engineer To Spend 15 Years in Prison For Beating Wife To Death

Domestic Violence: Engineer To Spend 15 Years in Prison For Beating Wife To Death

For battering his wife to death a 38 year-old marine Engineer, Nkem Iheanacho was yesterday sentenced to 15  years in prison by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

The trial judge, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi found Iheanacho guilty of a count of manslaughter contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Justice Adebiyi in his judgment, on the four old years case, held that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to men who engage in various acts of domestic violence against  their spouses.

The judge also held, “I have taken into account the prevalence of domestic violence in the country and this verdict is to send a message to men who still engage in such a callous act to desist.

“I also took note of the average Nigerian male expectancy age in Nigeria to be 54 years according to the World Health Organisation.

“The defendant was 34 years old when he committed the crime, he is now 38years old. 

“I hereby sentenced Nkem Iheanacho to 15 years in prison with effect from March 13, the date of the judgment,” Justice Adebiyi held.

Before the sentence was handed down, Iheanacho’s counsel, Akaene Spurgeon in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Spurgeon said, “I urge the court to temper justice with mercy, the defendant  has shown serious remorse for his actions. 

“He is a young man and a marine engineer with three young children to cater for,” Spurgeon said.

During the trial, the prosecution for the state led by Mrs O.A Olugasa had told the court that the convict  beat his wife Regina Iheanacho at 12am on May 12, 2013 at their residence at No. 3, Calvary St., Iyana-Isasi, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Olugasa has also told the court that, “He is marine engineer who worked at Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, Apapa, Lagos.

“On that fateful day, he accused Regina of infidelity and he beat her to a state of unconsciousness.

“He did not take immediately her to hospital after she lost consciousness leading to her death in their home,” the prosecutor said.

Court Jails Oil Marketer 10yrs For N964 Fuel Subsidy Fraud

Court Jails Oil Marketer 10yrs For N964 Fuel Subsidy Fraud

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Thursday convicted and sentenced an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril to ten years imprisonment over a N964 million fuel subsidy fraud.

Justice Okunnu convicted Jubril after she found him guilty of a 13 count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretext, forgery and use of false documents.

The judge sentenced Jubril to ten years imprisonment on count one and eight years each on counts two to 13. The terms are to run concurrently and they commenced from the date of judgement.

The court also ordered the convict and his company, Brila Energy Limited to made a restitution of the sum of N963.7 million to the Nigerian government.

The Jubril and his company were first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in November 2012.

According to the anti-graft agency the defendants had obtained N963.7 million from the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund between October 2010 and May 2012.

The commission also claimed that the money was obtained for the purported importation of 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The EFCC insisted that the offensces contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

The commission also said the offences  contravened sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003

The conviction is coming two months after two oil marketers, Walter Wagbatsoma and Adaoha Ugo-Ndali and their company, Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, were convicted of N754million subsidy fraud by same court.

Judge orders ex-Naval Chief, Ezeoba to forfeit N 1.83bn to FG

Judge orders ex-Naval Chief, Ezeoba to forfeit N 1.83bn to FG

Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of a sum of N1.825bn found in the bank accounts of one Acquila Leasing Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which obtained the forfeiture order on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday, claimed that the N1.825 was part of a total of N2.387bn allegedly diverted from the coffers of the Nigerian Navy by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba (retd.), who headed the navy between 2012 and 2014.

An EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, took an ex parte application, filed pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2)(k) of the 1999 Constitution, before Justice Hassan on Wednesday to obtain the temporary forfeiture order.

He urged the judge to urgently grant the forfeiture order in the interest of justice.

The judge granted the order and gave 14 days for Chwuka Onwuchekwa and Acquila Leasing Limited and any other party interested in the money to appear before him to give reasons why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Hassan adjourned till March 29, 2017 for all the interested parties to appear before him.

Listed as the first and second respondents on the motion ex parte were Onwuchekwa and Acquila.

In an affidavit of urgency filed in support of the application, an operative of the EFCC, Adamu Usman, said Ezeoba was probed following an intelligence report, which, he said, the anti-grant agency analysed and found to be worthy of investigation.

He said the information obtained from Ezeoba on June 21, 2016 by the EFCC revealed that the N1.825bn was proceeds of crime “fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Ezeoba.”

“That Mr. Dele Joseph Ezeoba used the name of the first respondent (Acquila) to open the fraudulent account in disguise while he was the one who truly laundered the money.

“That in a desperate bid to further disguise and conceal the illicit source of the said funds, Mr. Dele Joseph Ezeoba entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to buy shares of Acquila Leasing Limited from the first respondent (Onwuchekwa), who is the Managing Director of the second respondent.

“That the said shares of Acquila Leasing Limited was worth N2.378,000,000.

“That out of the N2.378bn, the sum of N1.825bn only has been recovered in drafts in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Usman averred.

Lagos IGR Rose by N33bn, Says NEITI

Lagos IGR Rose by N33bn, Says NEITI

The internally generated revenue (IGR) of Lagos State rose by approximately N33 billion from 2015 to 2016, beating 33 states put together.
According to a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the state recorded an IGR of N301.19 billion, a rise of N32.99 billion in one year.
The total IGR from 33 states of the federation, excluding Delta, Ogun and Rivers States stood at N299 billion — over a billion less than Lagos IGR.
Delta, Ogun and Rivers raked in N44.89 billion, N56.30 billion and N82.10 billion respectively.
Like his predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, has at various times committed himself to the generation of IGR in the state.
The NEITI report, which reviewed disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the fourth quarter of 2016, also showed that Lagos received N109 billion in 2016.
The agency, according to The Cable, lamented low revenue generation across 34 states, citing Lagos and Ogun as the only states generating more than what they get from the central.
“IGR is very low in most states and it is only in two states – Lagos and Ogun – that IGR is higher than FAAC allocations. The figure shows that total revenue by itself cannot fund states budgets,” it said.
NEITI said the three tiers of government shared N5.121 trillion through 2016 — a decline from 2015 figures.
“Total disbursements fell by 14.8 per cent from N6.011 trillion for the year 2015 to N5.121 trillion for the 2016. In Q1 2016, total disbursements were N1.132 trillion as against N1.648 trillion in Q1 2015, a decline of 31.2 per cent in Q1 2016,” NEITI said.
“Total disbursements fell by 26.9% from N1.241 trillion in Q2 2015 to N906 billion in Q2 2016. There was a further decline in Q3 when total disbursements dropped by 7.8% from N1.887 trillion in 2015 to N1.738 trillion 2016.
“However, total disbursements increased in Q4 by 8.8 per cent from N1.233 trillion in 2015 to N1.343 trillion in 2016.”
The report revealed that “the federal government received a total of N2.08 trillion from the federation account in 2016, which represents a drop of 19.9% of the total N2.6 trillion received in 2015”.
The 2016 budget was for N6.06 trillion, implying that at N2.08 trillion, total FAAC disbursements were only 34.3 per cent of the budget.
“Thus, the federal government would have to resort to even higher debts to fund the budget. The implication of this is that debt service payments, which accounted for 24.3% of the 2016 budget, would increase.”

Again Judge Blocks New Trump Tavel Ban

Again Judge Blocks New Trump Tavel Ban

A federal court in Hawaii on Wednesday halted Donald Trump ’ s revised executive order temporarily closing US borders to refugees and nationals from six Muslim- majority countries , dealing the president a humiliating fresh defeat.
US District Judge Derrick Watson ruled that the state of Hawaii , in its legal challenge to the order , had established a strong likelihood that the ban would cause “irreparable injury ” were it to go ahead .
The court in Honolulu was the first to rule in a trio of legal challenges against the ban , which had been set to go into effect at midnight .
Decisions were expected later Wednesday from federal courts in Washington state and Maryland.
The ruling means a nationwide freeze on enforcement of section two of the order , banning entry by nationals of Iran, Libya , Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
It also halts section six, which would have suspended the US refugee admissions program for 120 days.
There was no immediate comment from the White House , which had argued that the travel ban is necessary to keep extremists from entering the United States .
The Trump administration ’ s wide- ranging initial travel restrictions imposed on January 27 were slapped down by the federal courts , after sparking a legal , political and logistical furor .
Trump signed a revised ban behind closed doors on March 6 with a reduced scope exempting Iraqis and permanent US residents but maintaining the temporary ban on the other six countries and refugees .
The White House said those six countries were targeted because their screening and information capabilities could not meet US security requirements .
But Watson rejected the White House claim that the order wasn ’ t a Muslim ban, ruling that it would not be a leap “to conclude that targeting these countries likewise targets Islam, ” because of their Muslim populations range from 90. 7 percent to 99. 8 percent .
The judge made reference to several examples of Trump explicitly framing proposed action on immigration in religious language , including a March 2016 interview during which the then president -elect said : “ I think Islam hates us . ”
“Mr . Trump was asked , ‘ Is there a war between the West and radical Islam , or between the West and Islam itself?’ He replied : ‘ It ’ s very hard to separate. Because you don ’ t know who ’ s who , '” the judge added .
– Chaos –
In Greenbelt , Maryland , Judge Theodore Chuang was expected to rule on a separate complaint filed by a coalition of advocacy groups that the amended order discriminates against Muslims .
“In his mind , the danger of Muslims and the danger of refugees is all combined danger, ” Omar Jadwat, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union , said of the president .
The first version of Trump ’ s order triggered protests at home and abroad as well as chaos at US airports as people were detained upon arrival and either held for hours or sent back to where they came from .
The Trump administration narrowed the restrictions in its revised order to try to ensure it would be unassailable this time around.
“This order doesn ’ t draw any religious distinction at all , ” said Jeffrey Wall , a government attorney .
Questioned about tweets that Trump sent and statements he made during the presidential campaign in which he promised to enact a “Muslim ban , ” Wall said: “ There is a difference between a president and a candidate . ”
– Coast to coast –
But critics say the new order essentially remains a ban on Muslims coming to the United States , and therefore unconstitutional because it singles out people of a certain religion for discrimination.
Since September 11 , 2001 , the worst attacks in the United States have been committed either by radicalized Americans or by people from countries not on the Trump travel ban list.
Critics also argue that it will have a very negative effect on schools ,
universities and the business world, mainly the high tech sector , which employs many highly skilled immigrants.
The new battle against Trump’ s order is being played out on several geographical fronts, but mainly on the west coast , which tends to be pro-Democrat.
The state of Washington , joined by five other states, filed a complaint Monday with the same Seattle judge who stayed Trump ’ s original travel ban in February.
Trump responded by insulting that federal magistrate , James Robart, calling him a “ so -called judge . ”
Robart will oversee the Washington state hearing on Wednesday and he could once again suspend all or part of the new order .

Fayose Sacks 3 Of Our Members For Resisting Diversion Of N1.24 b- Ekiti NULGE

Fayose Sacks 3 Of Our Members For Resisting Diversion Of N1.24 b- Ekiti NULGE

The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees,
NULGE in Ekiti State has accused the State Governor, Mr. Ayodele
Fayose, of relieving three members of the association of their jobs
for resisting alleged diversion of a sum of N1.24 billion to pay
allowances of the Local Government’s political heads.
This accusation was contained in a letter dated 13th March, 2017 and
signed by NULGE’s State Secretary, Comrade Muyiwa Cole, which was
addressed to some top government officials in the state.
They said the union’s State Deputy President, Comrade O.B. Olatunde,
was allegedly queried over the matter and dismissed from service by
the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) on the order of the
governor.
The letter added that two other NULGE top notches, Com Akem Alaketu,
the Ado- Ekiti Branch Chairman and his counterpart in Ijero council
area, Owounni Olaoluwa , also suffered similar fate.
The Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr.
Lanre Ogunsuyi, when contacted said only the governor can react on the
matter while the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, added
that he would react later.
The NULGE leaders maintained that the one billion naira was resolved
at the meeting of January, 2017 , which they held with council
bosses that the money should be used for the payment of outstanding
balance of July and August , 2016 of local government staff and
primary school teachers .
NULGE maintained that they had made entreaties to the governor so that
the matter could be resolved amicably, but said all efforts had not
yielded any fruitful result.
“The union wish to inform your office of the threat to industrial
peace this action may lead to if not curtailed on time”, the letter
stated.
The NULGE leaders alleged further that “At the Joint Account
Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting of 2nd March, 2017, the issue of
payment of July and August salaries to LG workers and primary school
teachers generated crisis.
“This was as a result of the insistence of the LGs’ Council Chairmen
to divert the money totaling one million , four hundred million,
sixty six thousand , two hundred and seventy naira to settle their
furniture allowance, 2016 leave bonus and October 2016 salary.
“The union representative at the meeting (NULGE Deputy State
President) reminded the chairmen that it was the resolution of the
JAAC at its January meeting when the money was being stepped down to
pay it in February allocation. He advised the chairmen not to divert
the salary for it will affect the already distressed and depressed
workers.
“The resistance and agitation of the union forced the meeting to
adjourn leading to intervention of the governor who summoned a
meeting for Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Though the meeting did not hold,
but the governor directed the payment of July 2016 alone while the
balance of August be utilized for the payment of the chairmen
allowances and bonus.
“This was when workers are already owed arrears of eight month
salaries, 2015 , 2016 and balance of 2014 leave bonuses”;
The union said they could not comprehend the reason for the
governor’s action against the union , when “we have no issue
whatsoever with the government either real, perceived or
contemplated”.
NULGE said it has consistently appealed to members to show
understanding with government in spite of inability to pay salaries,
describing this action as unwarranted and needless.

Journalist Jailed Over Facebook Comments

Journalist Jailed Over Facebook Comments

An Abu Dhabi court jailed Wednesday a Jordanian journalist for three years over Facebook comments deemed insulting to the United Arab Emirates, Emirati state media and a Jordanian press union said.
The Emirati state news agency WAM said a Jordanian national was handed a sentence of three years in prison and fined 500,000 dirhams ($136,130, 128,175 euros) for “insulting symbols of the state” on social media.
The Jordan Press Association identified him as journalist Tayseer al-Najjar, whose detention in 2015 over comments critising the UAE among other countries drew condemnation from international rights groups.
WAM said the Jordanian’s social media accounts would be shut down and his equipment confiscated by authorities as part of his sentence.
He also faces deportation after having served his time in jail, it said.
Najjar was detained in December 2015 and charged with violating the UAE’s cybercrime law over Facebook comments in which he criticised the United Arab Emirates, among other countries, over the 2014 Gaza war, according to rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Article 29 of the cybercrime law criminalises the publication online of information “with intent to make sarcasm or damage the reputation, prestige or stature of the State or… any of its symbols”.
The Jordan Press Association, which had appointed a lawyer for Najjar, plans to appeal the verdict.
“We respect the UAE’s judicial system… but we truly believed he would be found innocent,” Tareq Momani, head of the association, told AFP.
“We are now waiting to see the result of the appeal. We are following the case through our lawyer and we hope that Najjar will be found not guilty,” he said.

NBC allays public fears over benzoic acid in Fanta, Sprite

NBC allays public fears over benzoic acid in Fanta, Sprite

The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has allayed public fears on the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks.

NBC in a statemet of Wednesday assured consumers and members of the public of quality and safety its products.
Its said that ‘the wrong perception emanating from the reports that Fanta and Sprite beverages, which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, was not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country.
The statemet read thus
‘Our attention has been drawn to media reports which contain misleading information on the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks, citing a Lagos High Court order.
‘In the judgement delivered on February 15, 2017 in a suit involving Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited & Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo v. Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) & National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Lagos High Court dismissed all claims against NBC and held that the company had not breached its duty of care to consumers and that there was no proven case of negligence against it.
‘In the same judgement, the court directed NAFDAC to mandate NBC to include a warning on its bottles of Fanta and Sprite that its contents cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same become poisonous if taken with Vitamin C. This order was premised on the fact that the products contain the preservative, benzoic acid. NBC has since appealed this order.
‘Whilst we do not wish to delve into the details of the case or the merits of the court order by this medium, we find it imperative in the interest of consumers and members of the public to make the following clarifications:
‘In the subject case which dates back to 2007, the UK authorities confiscated a consignment of our products shipped to that country by the plaintiff because their benzoic acid levels were not within the UK national level, although well within the levels approved by both the national regulators for Nigeria and the international levels set by CODEX, the joint intergovernmental body responsible for harmonizing food standards globally.
‘The UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg/kg. Both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg/kg which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg/kg when combined with ascorbic acid and 300 mg/kg without ascorbic acid and also lower than the 600 mg/kg international limit set by CODEX.
‘Both benzoic acid and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by international food safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.
‘These two ingredients are also used in combination in some of these products within levels which may differ from one country to another as approved by the respective national food and drug regulators and in line with the range prescribed by CODEX,.
‘The permissible ingredient levels set by countries for their food and beverage products are influenced by a number of factors such as climate, an example being the UK, a temperate region, requiring lower preservative levels unlike tropical countries.
‘Given the fact that the benzoic and ascorbic acid levels in Fanta as well as the benzoic acid level in Sprite produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators and the international level set by CODEX, there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C.
‘The wrong perception emanating from the media reports that our Fanta and Sprite beverages which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, is not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country.’

Angry traders dump 37 coffins at Synagogue Church

Angry traders dump 37 coffins at Synagogue Church

Angry traders reportedly dumped 37 coffins at the premises of The Synagogue Church of all Nations in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

The coffins were said to have been confiscated by Ugandan policemen from angry traders who were protesting against the SCOAN in Kampala over the blocking of drainage channels in the area and in the process diverting drainage water into their business premises.

The coffins were abandoned at the premises of the Church after police officers at the Wandegeya Division Police Station confiscated them.

The traders reportedly refused to reclaim them.

Over 18 people were arrested during the protests and later released on bond.

The Kampala Metropolitan police through its spokesperso, Emilian Kayima, are now begging the traders to come and carry their coffins away, adding that they are occupying vital space.

Cholera Kills 80 In Zamfara In 1 Month

Cholera Kills 80 In Zamfara In 1 Month

T he Commissioner for Health in Zamfara, Alhaji Suleiman Gummi, said that no fewer than 80 people had been killed by cholera outbreak in the state in the last one month.

The commissioner told newsmen on Tuesday in Gusau that 500 others were currently receiving treatment at various health facilities in the state.

He said the disease had spread to 10 out of the 14 local government areas of the state.

Gummi said the state government had established special camps and had deployed medicine and health personnel there to contain the situation.

He said that the state government had reported the case to the Federal Government and more medical supports were being expected.

The commissioner appealed to the citizens of the state to keep their environments clean and also ensure to prepare their food under hygienic conditions.

The local government areas affected are; Bungudu, Maru, Maradun, Talata-Mafara and Bakura.

Others are: Shinkafi, Anka, Kaura -Namoda, Birnin-Magaji and Zurmi.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.

It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called.

86 Groups Seek Registration As Political Parties

86 Groups Seek Registration As Political Parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the number of political associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections was currently 86.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known during the commission’s quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties at INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Yakubu described political parties as important vehicles in the management of the country’s democracy.
“The number of applications for registration of new associations as political parties now stands at 86,” he said.
He congratulated the 10 political parties recently re-registered after being deregistered following their performances during the 2015 general elections.
The political parties, according to him, are Better Nigeria Peoples Parties (BNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressives Party (PPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).
Others are Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP), Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).
“The names of these political parties have already been uploaded on our website. But, I will like to appeal to those of them, out of the ten that are yet to open their offices, to do so and immediately notify the commission,” Yakubu said.
He also congratulated the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on the successful conduct of its election, which he said was useful for the development of the country’s electoral system.
“I wish to assure you that INEC will continue to partner IPAC.”
The chairman said that agenda of the quarterly meeting included INEC’s proposed strategic plan for 2017-2021, court judgement on the roles of political parties, violence in the conduct of parties’ primaries and elections generally.
He also said that internal democracy of political parties, parties’ campaign finances, nationwide continuous voter registration, outstanding Anambra Central senatorial re-run election and presentation on INEC innovations.
In his remarks, IPAC Chairman, Mohammed Nalado, urged INEC to seek alternatives to deregistration of political parties. He also expressed displeasure in INEC for not properly consulting political parties before fixing dates for 2019 general elections.
Nalado admitted that INEC chairman notified IPAC of the decision, but said that the council did not know whether the information was official or not until it was in the newspapers.
“We had meeting with INEC chairman, unfortunately we did not understand him whether he was telling us officially or he was just giving us information on how our elections should be done.
“I hope this issue will be discussed thoroughly here,” Nalado said.
He affirmed IPAC’s commitment to work with INEC in deepening the country’s democracy. Nalado also urged the commission’s new National Commissioners to make their inputs to the development of the electoral system.

Ife Clash: Shariah Council Demands Commission Of Enquiry

Ife Clash: Shariah Council Demands Commission Of Enquiry

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, yesterday demanded a commission of enquiry into the recent clash between the Yoruba and Hausa communities in Ile Ife, where some people lost their lives.
Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the deputy president of the council, Sheik Abdur’ Rasheed Adiyatullahi, said Yoruba and Hausa have lived together in peace for more than two decades in Ile Ife.
The commission of enquiry, according to the commission, must unravel the remote and immediate causes of the crises.
The group also demanded arrest of all masterminds of the mayhem to discourage act of lawlessness among the people.
The group expressed its determination to ensure that the Yoruba people of Southwest continue to live in peace with other ethnic groups or nationality.
Calling on National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) and well meaning Nigerians to assist victims of the mayhem through provision of relief materials, the Sharia commission added that people of Yoruba race remain closest to the Hausa people.
It also called for harmonious relationship among all inhabitants of Ile Ife and commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi for their quick response which prevented escalation of the crises

SON discovers twin four-storey buildings filled with expired products

SON discovers twin four-storey buildings filled with expired products

*Some goods have 2004 expiry date
Anna Okon

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has caught a cosmetics and wine importer suspected of changing the expiry dates on products and putting new dates on them to mislead buyers.

The importer, Mr. Joseph Udeh, owner of Jouf Nigeria Limited, Kirikiri Road, Apapa, Lagos, is said to be a major dealer in popular cosmetics and home products.

When our correspondent visited his residence with the enforcement team from the SON, she observed that the importer converted two four-storey residential buildings, each containing eight rooms, into storage facilities for products.

Popular cosmetics and home product brands such as Omo, Ariel, Huggies baby diapers, Milton sterilising liquid for babies, Sunlight washing powder, Pampers diapers, various brands of sanitary wares for women, nail polish remover, Rescue Oil, Olay cream, Enliven conditioner, Foramen cream, Pullup potty training pants for children, various popular deodorant sprays including Axe, Cham, Sure, Irish Spring lotion, cosmetic facial wipes for women, as well as assorted wines.

The products were stored in cartons and loose pieces in more than 40 rooms, including the sitting room, kitchens, toilets, bathrooms and under the staircases.

His family, however, occupied the third floor of the second building, while the rest of the floors were also used as storage spaces for products.

A closer look at some of the cosmetics revealed varying expiry dates, some dating as far back as 2004, while some had expired in 2013 and some in 2016.

Udeh, whose shop is located at Balogun Market, Trade Fair Complex, told our correspondent that he was a supplier to some of the major departmental stores in Nigeria.

Justifying the presence of so many expiry goods in his ‘warehouse,’ he said he had made several calls to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, seeking to destroy the goods, but the agency had been slow in responding.

“We invite NAFDAC every year to come and destroy the expired goods, but they do not come as often as we need them to and sometimes when they come, they would insist on destroying only a limited number, two truckloads of goods, maybe,” he said.

But the agency denied knowledge of Udeh and his summons.

Speaking in response to a phone inquiry by our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of NAFDAC, Mrs. Christy Obiazikwor, said the man was using NAFDAC as an excuse.

“What he is saying is not even logical. If he invited NAFDAC to destroy the products, why is he then changing the labeling on them?” she wondered.

Addressing journalists shortly after the operation, the Head, Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Mr. Bede Obayi, who represented the Director-General, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said the importer would face the full wrath of the law.

Aboloma said, “The volume of the goods that expired is inestimable. They are worth millions of naira.

“We are going to carry out further investigation and process of recall to those people that they have supplied, the status of the products and the expiry dates.

“We have our offices throughout the nation and we are going to escalate the recall process immediately when we get all the details of their transactions.

“Anywhere we find these products in circulation, SON must get there to pick them at the cost of this importer. SON can no longer tolerate this nefarious act and people who are out to kill Nigerians in the name of merchandise.

“This is not acceptable to SON and we cannot take this.”

Aboloma lamented the implication of the expired goods for babies and others who may eventually buy and use them.

“Imagine a product that should be used in wrapping up a baby in 2017 has expired in 2015; what will be the effect on the baby? Of course, it would be negative reaction on the baby,” he said.

“We have baby powder that had expired since 2013 and four years after, the products are still going into the market.

“When they sell, they remove the expiry dates and put new dates to deceive the unsuspecting consumers and when you buy these products, you think they are products that can help you, not knowing that they are products that would cause you all sorts of diseases.”

According to the SON official, many innocent people suffer without knowing the root causes of their illnesses, maintaining that importers of these expired products are killing and robbing innocent Nigerians ‎of their hard-earned money.

Court Warns Consumers Not To Take Fanta, Sprite With Vitamin C, Awards N2m Against NAFDAC For Negligence

Court Warns Consumers Not To Take Fanta, Sprite With Vitamin C, Awards N2m Against NAFDAC For Negligence

Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has ordered the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately mandate Nigeria Bottling Company PLC, manufacturers of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks, to include a written warning that the content of the bottles cannot be taken with Vitamin C.

Justice Oyebanji who makes the order in a judgment over a case brought by one over the customers of NBC, Dr Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo over the negligent and breached the duty of care by the company also awarded a cost of N2 million against NAFDAC.

The judge also warned customers and consumers of NBC products that taking Fanta and Sprite with Vitamin C is poisonous.

The court also declared that NAFDAC has failed the citizens of Nigeria by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products which in the United Kingdom failed sample test for human consumption and which became poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by unsuspecting members of the public with Fanta and Sprite.

Adebo and his company, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited had urged the court in his suit to declare that the Nigeria Bottling Company was negligent and breached the duty of care owed to their valued customers and consumers in the production of contaminated Fanta and Sprite soft drinks with excessive “benzoic acid and sunset” addictive.

Dr Fijabi had also prayed the court to ordered NAFDAC to conduct and carry out routine laboratory tests of all the soft drinks and allied products of the company to ensure and guarantee the safety of the consumable products, produced from the Nigeria Bottling Company factory.

In an amended statement of claim filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Barrister Abiodun Onidare, on behalf of the claimants, he alleged that sometime in March, 2007 Fijabi Adebo Holdings company purchased from Nigeria Bottling Company large quantities of Coca-Cola, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Fanta Lemon, Fanta Pineapple and Soda Water for export to the United Kingdom for retail purposes and supply to their customers in the United Kingdom.

When the consignment of the soft drinks arrived in United Kingdom, fundamental health related matters were raised on the contents and composition of the Fanta and Sprite products by the United Kingdom Health Authorities, specifically the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s Trading Standard Department of Environment and Economy Directorate.

The findings of the said United Kingdom were also corroborated by the Coca-Cola European Union and products were found to have excessive levels of “Sunset Yellow and Benzoic Acid “which are unsafe for human consumption.

Due to the irregularities and harmful content of the soft drinks which can cause cancer to the consumer, the claimants could not sell the Fanta and Sprite products resulting in appreciable losses, as they were certified unsuitable for consumption and were seized and destroyed by the United Kingdom health authorities.

The claimants alleged further that NAFDAC failed to carry out necessary tests to determine if the soft drinks were safe for human consumption.

The claimants averred that as a registered exporter with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, they could lawfully export the products of Nigeria Bottling Company to any part of the world. Infact, Nigeria Bottling Company was aware that the products they purchased were meant for export.

Consequently, apart from other reliefs, the claimants demanded N15,119,619.37 as special damages and N1,622,000 being the money admittedly received from the claimants.

However, Nigeria Bottling Company in its amended statement of defence filed before the court by Mr. T. O.Busari admitted supplying the products but contended that the product manufactured by the company were meant for local distribution and consumption as the company does not manufacture its products for export, as Coca-Cola brand of soft drinks is manufactured and bottled by various Coca-Cola franchise holders in most countries of the world, including the United Kingdom.

The company denied that it was negligent in the manufacturing of its products as alleged, stressing that stringent quality control procedures were adopted in its production process to ensure that its products are safe for consumption of the final user.

The company denied that the damages alleged by the claimants was occasioned by its negligence or any fault from the company as the level of the chemical components in its soft drinks is safe for consumption in Nigeria.
Nigeria Bottling Company contended that the claimants claims are speculative, frivolous and vexatious and should be dismissed with substantial costs.

NAFDAC did not filed any defence.
In proving his case, Dr Fijabi Adebo testified for himself while being led in evidence by Mr Abiodun Onidare and tendered 12 exhibits, while the Sales Operation Manager, Micheal Nwosu China and the head of Central Laboratory, Abiodun Adeola Falana, both of Nigeria Bottling Company testified on behalf of the company and also tendered 12 exhibit.
In her judgment, Justice Oyebanji said: “It is imperative to state that the knowledge of the Nigeria Bottling Company that the products were to be exported is immaterial to its being fit for human consumption. The court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the claimants that soft drinks manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of color or creed.

”It is manifest that NAFDAC has been grossly irresponsible in its regulatory duties to the consumers of Fanta and Sprite manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company. In my respective view, NAFDAC has failed the citizens of this great nation by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products which in the United Kingdom failed sample test for human consumption and which become poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by the unsuspecting public with the company’s Fanta or Sprite.

”As earlier stated, the court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the Claimants that consumable products ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of race, colour or creed.

”By its certification as satisfactory, Fanta and Sprite products manufactured by Nigeria bottling company without any written warning on the products that it cannot be taken with Vitamin C, NAFDAC would have by its grossly irresponsible and unacceptable action caused great harm to the health of the unsuspecting public.

”The court, in the light of the damming evidence before it showing that NAFDAC has failed to live up to expectations, cannot close its eyes to the grievous implication of allowing the status quo to continue as it is.

”For the reasons herein adumbrated in this judgement, the court hereby orders as follows:
”That NAFDAC shall forthwith mandate Nigeria Bottling Company to, within 90 days hereof, include on all the bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks manufactured by the company, a written warning that the content of the said bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same becomes poisonous if taken with Vitamin C.

”In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and that it has been in court for 9 years, costs of N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid on the costs awarded at the rate of 10% per annum until liquidation of the said sum.”

FG bans helicopter shuttle from Kaduna to Abuja

FG bans helicopter shuttle from Kaduna to Abuja

The National Security Adviser , Babagana Munguno, has banned the planned helicopter shuttle service from Kaduna to Abuja by some helicopter companies .
In a memo banning the move, Munguno said , “ In view of the closure of the airport , air travelers will be required to travel by road /train to Abuja from Kaduna International Airport . This will undoubtedly cause constraints on the movement of some passengers who will aim to travel using other means , notably the use of commercial ferry helicopters .
“Please be reminded that the airspace over the Federal Capital Territory Abuja is controlled and only security flights or those with the requisite security clearance from the Presidency are granted overhead clearance for obvious security reasons . Consequently , you are to note and ensure that no charter or commercial helicopter ferry flights are allowed to fly within Abuja airspace . ”

Falling Oil Prices Threaten Nigeria’s Earnings, Reserves Accretion

Falling Oil Prices Threaten Nigeria’s Earnings, Reserves Accretion

• CBN to inject more dollars into FX market this week

The steady rise of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and build-up of external reserves, which started about five months ago, is already under threat from exogenous shock arising from the recent fall in oil prices.
Nigeria depends on oil sales for 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings and 70 per cent of total revenue.
However, rising shale oil production in the United States in recent months has dampened production cuts carried out by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia to shore up prices.
According to Reuters, oil prices slid 2 per cent on Thursday, extending the previous session’s dive that brought prices to the lowest levels this year, as record U.S. crude inventories fed doubts about whether OPEC-led supply cuts would reduce a global glut.
U.S. crude prices fell through the $50 a barrel support level, with market participants unwinding a massive number of bullish wagers they had amassed after a deal by top global oil producers to limit output.
On Wednesday, crude also tumbled more than 5 per cent, its steepest dive in a year, after data showed crude oil stocks in the U.S., the world’s top oil consumer, swelled by 8.2 million barrels last week to a record 528.4 million barrels, well above forecasts of a 2 million barrel build.
Although the impact of sliding oil prices are yet to be felt in Nigeria, market analysts have cautioned that the external shocks would eventually hit the country’s foreign earnings and reserves.
Last Thursday, Nigeria’s external reserves rose to $30.039 billion, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The central bank’s data showed that the reserves, derived primarily from oil sales, recorded a steady increase of between 2.3 and 2.75 per cent since January 2017.
Other than oil prices, a drop in militancy in the Niger Delta has also led to an improvement in the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
However, following the recent changes in the CBN’s foreign exchange (FX) policy and its renewed bid to reduce the gap between the interbank and parallel market rates, there have been increased interventions in the FX market by the central bank.
So far, the CBN has pumped $1.370 billion into the FX market since the measures were announced.
Owing to this, Nigeria’s external reserves, which give the CBN its firepower, have come under close scrutiny.
The naira closed at N463 to the dollar at some parallel market points on Friday.
At $30.039 billion, the country’s reserves have increased by $4.196 billion or 16 per cent, compared with the $25.843 billion at the end of 2016.
But concerns continue to heighten over the central bank’s ability to sustain its intervention in the market with the oil prices recording their biggest fall this year last week.
Speaking in a chat with THISDAY on Sunday, the Director General of the West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Prof. Akpan Ekpo, pointed out that if oil prices continue to slide, it would definitely have a negative effect on the country’s external reserves.
“Let’s just hope that it rises again. That is why we have always said that the price of oil is very volatile. That is why you cannot depend on it for long-term development.
“Certainly, if this continues, it would affect the amount of dollars the CBN can put in the market.
“That is why some people have been asking if what the CBN has been doing in the past three weeks is sustainable.
“Effectively, in the long term, the structure of the Nigerian economy has to change towards earning FX from other sources instead of crude oil. We must also understand that the U.S. has stopped buying our oil because of the shale oil produced in the country,” Ekpo added.
The Financial Derivatives Company Limited stated in a recent note that the ability of the CBN to sustain its fight against currency speculation as well as preserve the value of the naira would depend largely on the country’s crude oil earnings.
Despite mounting concerns, there were indications at the weekend that the CBN would inject more FX into the market early this week.
Information about the central bank’s action became rife over the weekend, sending jitters among currency speculators.
When contacted, the acting Director, Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, confirmed that the central bank was determined to sustain liquidity in the FX market this week in order to enhance accessibility for genuine end-users.
Okorafor also cautioned dealers in FX not to engage in any unwholesome practices detrimental to the smooth operations in the market, warning that the CBN would impose heavy sanctions on any organisation or official involved in such acts.

Terms for states as N500b Paris Club refund is ready

Terms for states as N500b Paris Club refund is ready

Presidency gets ‘damning’ feedback on first tranche
Another London-Paris Club loan refund (about N500billion) is on the way for states— with fresh hurdles for governors.
The Presidency has made it mandatory for all the states to account for the first tranche of the loan refunds – in line with the agreement it reached with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).
States implicated in the mismanagement of the first tranche may not get the fresh funds.
Some of the 36 governors are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for allegedly diverting the first tranche of the refund.
The governors (seven are involved in the scandal) engaged some curious consultants, who got part of their states’ share of the refund.
Part of the funds was allocated to some National Assembly leaders who had no business with the refund, it was learnt.
The Nation gathered that the Presidency was set to release fresh refund to states —in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to rescue the 36 states from economic collapse.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The government is about to release another tranche of London-Paris Club loan refunds to states. It is about the same amount like the first tranche. Let us say about N500billion.
“The refund is entirely the initiative of the Federal Government to improve the socio-economic situation in the 36 states. President Buhari was disturbed that many states were finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries and pensions.
“But the release of the second batch of refund will be based on some conditions as agreed upon by the Presidency and the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF). President Buhari has said that he will not accept any excuse from any governor for diverting public funds.
“Before the first tranche was released, the NGF had an agreement with President Buhari that about 25 per cent to 50 per cent will be used to offset outstanding salaries and pensions.
“This time around, the Presidency has made up its mind that any state which breached the agreement will not be entitled to second tranche.”
Asked how the Presidency will know, the source added: “We have feedback from the states on how some of these governors have diverted and misused the first set of refunds. Some of them did not spend up to 15 per cent on salaries and pensions. The records are there to prove the breach.
“ We also got reports from security agencies, labour, pensioners, concerned leaders in various states and many whistle-blowers on how the governors spent the first tranche.”
The source described security reports on some of the governors as “damning”.
Some governors were said to have converted the refund to personal use and the cash expended on “wasteful” projects.
“In some instances, some projects executed have no bearing with the needs of some states. It is quite sad,” the source said.
The investigation of the EFCC into the disbursement of the first refunds confirmed that some of the governors were involved in illegal deductions and remittances into NGF account. I think about seven of them were actively involved.
“The position of the Presidency is that governors implicated in London-Paris Club fraud may forfeit refunds to their states. We will reveal the outcome of investigation on some of the governors for the people of their states to know why such a punitive measure is necessary.”
Another top government source, who confirmed the moves to reimburse states, however, said: “The second tranche will be released based on the compliance of states with Fiscal Sustainability Plan(FSP), which was endorsed by all the governors at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on May 19.
“We have a benchmark which we mutually consented to. As a matter of fact, the governors agreed that further disbursements will be based on the states meeting agreed targets and will be subject to monitoring and evaluation by Independent Monitoring Agents. States which fail to meet the targets will be excluded from this refund.”
According to the plan by the Federal Ministry of Finance, states will be required to:
set and meet targets to enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR);
establish Efficiency Units to reduce overhead costs;
privatise State Owned Enterprises;
domesticate the Fiscal Responsibility Act; and
limit bank loans.
“The Federal Government has agreed to develop IPSAS compliant software for States to use, and to develop new Bond Issuance guidelines to ease access to the Capital Market for states wishing to fund developmental projects,” the source said.
The Presidency has so far released N1, 266.44trillion to the states in the past one year including N713.70billion special intervention fund.
Following protests by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Buhari approved the release of N522.74 billion(first tranche) to states as refunds pending reconciliation of records.
Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion, being 25 per cent of the amounts claimed.
Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension, which had been “causing considerable hardship”.
The Presidency directed the states to devote a minimum of 50 per cent of any amount disbursed to address “challenges associated with salaries and pensions”.
Some governors are said to have failed to disclose the actual amount given to their states.
Some of the governors have devoted only 10 to 25 per cent of the funds to the payment of backlog of salaries.

The Nation Newspaper

DisCos seek ‘appropriate pricing’ of power, express concern about FG’s N701bn intervention Fund

DisCos seek ‘appropriate pricing’ of power, express concern about FG’s N701bn intervention Fund

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) says the N701 billion Power Intervention Fund by the Federal Government has the potential to worsen revenue shortfalls bedeviling the power industry.
The ANED Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Mr Sunday Oduntan, said on Sunday in Lagos that the fund was a partial solution to the sector’s liquidity challenges.
NAN reports that on March 2, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, announced that the Federal Government had approved N701 billion as “Power Assurance Guarantee” for the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading.
According to the minister, this is to make payments to the Generating Companies (GENCOs) and gas suppliers for energy supplied and future supplies of gas and energy.
Oduntan said, though, the fund was a welcome development, it, however, had the potential of exacerbating the revenue shortfalls that the market was suffering from.
He said the fund would solve the N300bn energy supply liabilities, rehabilitate and replace faulty or old turbines and pay for the supply of gas.
“As commendable as this intervention fund is, we believe that it is a partial solution to the liquidity challenges of the sector.
“While an increase in electricity supply is everyone’s desired objective, such an increase without the requisite full recovery of costs via the appropriate pricing of power, means a resultant worsening of the market revenue gap,” the ANED director said.
He said that he believed that the approved intervention was not expected to be a subsidy to the market but the proposed funding would eventually be recovered from the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) customers.
According to Oduntan, funding the transmission network is imperative for the Federal Government’s proposed intervention to work.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) needs to have the required capacity to wheel the additional power being generated for such recovery to occur,
“Increased generation without commensurate wheeling capacity arising from a stable and robust transmission grid will result in stranded capacity and significant lost revenues.
“From the little details made available to us, the historical shortfall does not seem to have been addressed within this initiative.
“This is imperative as the DISCOs need to be able to make the necessary investments in network upgrades, improved customer service, billing and collections, metering, all of which have been major issues in the industry.
“Such investments will not happen unless the DISCOs make the projected annual revenue requirements, which enables access to finance for the required capital expenditure (Capex).
“Access to such financing is predicated on appropriate pricing of the retail tariff.
“The growing working capital debt on the DISCO’s books less any amount to be paid under the intervention, will also continue to impede DISCOs’ ability to fund retail distribution from Capex requirements,’’ he said.
The ANED chief said it was essential to use this period to appropriately allocate all the risks in the electricity value chain.
He said this included the need to address the issueS of access to foreign exchange and security of gas pipelines.
Oduntan said that regulatory certainty and consistency continued to be the foundation for enabling and promoting the commercial conditions that would ensure a viable and sustainable Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
He said that though ANED applauded the GENCOs/Gas Supplier-centred intervention, it believed that there was an urgent need for a holistic solution that comprehensively addressed the revenue requirements of the entire electricity value chain.
“We believe the achievement of the stated objectives of providing confidence to investors for increased supply of electricity with the provision of this intervention will happen at the expense of limited electricity distribution,’’ Oduntan said.

World Wide Web (www) marks 28yrs existence

World Wide Web (www) marks 28yrs existence

As the World Wide Web (www) marks its 28 years in existence, its inventor, Sir Tim Berners-Lee says that the web has lived up to its vision.
Berners-Lee said in a statement obtained on Sunday in Lagos that March 12 marked 28 years since he submitted his original proposal for the web.
He said that he imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information.
According to him, the www is a platform to access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries.
“In many ways, the web has lived up to this vision, though it has been a recurring battle to keep it open,’’ he said.
Berners-Lee said that he established ‘The Web Foundation’ in 1989 to be at the forefront of the fight to advance and protect the web for everyone.
He said that advancing and protecting the web was essential to reverse growing inequality and empower citizens.
“It has taken all of us to build the web we have, and now it is up to all of us to build the web we want for everyone.
“Today, we are working with more than 160 partner organisations to advance our mission in over 70 countries.
“We are helping to change the lives of over two billion people by connecting everyone, raising voices and enhancing participation through the open web.
“We are building a future in which the web empowers everyone, everywhere, to take part in building a fairer world,’’ the web inventor said.
Berners-Lee said that the Web Foundation blended powerful advocacy, cutting-edge research and practical innovation to build a better web for all.