Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal

ROTIMI FADEYI AND TORDUE SALEM

In what could be a sig-nal of his intentions, President Goodluck

Jonathan has again justi-fied the removal of sub-sidy on petroleum prod-ucts, insisting that the policy would encourage private investment into

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sets up committee on Ribadu report, others Nigeriansll reject price hike NLC

Ex-CJNs warn against plea bargain ISE-OLUWA IGEABUJA Two former Chief Justices of Nige-ria, Mohammad

Uwais and Dahiru Musda-pher yesterday cautioned

the Federal Government against further use of plea bargain as a judicial tool of fighting corruption and re-

WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BUILD-ING REFINERIES IN NIGERIA, YET IT IS

A BIG BUSINESS? IT IS BECAUSE OF THE POLICY OF SUBSIDY, AND THAT IS WHY

WE WANT TO GET OUT OF IT

Certifi cate: Airhiavbere fl oors Oshiomhole at Appeal Court

...as Mark advocates state creation, more power to LGs

N75.5bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns former minister

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Constitution review: Lagos demands special status

Vol. 2 N0. 493 Friday, November 16, 2012 N150

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P.11

73-yr-old Nigerian drug suspect dies in Brazilian hospital P.7

One of the vehicles involved in the accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday. Story on page 3. PHOTO: MURTALA AYINLA

IBB, Ajimobi, Yakasai, Kaita, CPC pay tribute to Saraki

P.13,50

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P.4Gunmen kill family of seven in Kaduna

Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violations

MukhtarJonathan

Oshiomhole

Jonathan

China gets new leader

FATAL ACCIDENT ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violationsGEORGE OJI, INUSA NDAHI AND AZA MSUE

The Federal Govern-ment has denied allegations by the United States that secu-rity operatives attacking members of the Boko Ha-ram Islamic sect were en-gaging in human rights violations while enjoying Federal Governments protection from prosecu-tion.

US Assistant Secretary

of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Mr. Michael Posner, had made the alle-gation when he visited the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, in his office in Abuja yesterday.

Posner visited the min-ister in company of the Deputy Assistant Secre-tary of State, Ms. Karen Hanrahan, also from the State Department of US Bureau of Democracy, Hu-man Rights and Labour and the US Ambassador to

Nigeria, Mr. Terrence Mc-Cully.

A statement from the ministry said the US team was in Nigeria to hold dis-cussions with the Federal Government and some members of the civil so-ciety organisations on hu-man rights, the promotion of democracy and labour.

Posner noted that his office had received reports on allegations of extra-ju-dicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention of suspected members of the sect by security forces.

He added that reports of lack of prosecution of security and police offi-cers involved in human rights violations in coun-ter-terrorism activities had also been received.

Posner also noted that the war could not be won by sheer force alone.

Ashiru, however, re-called the recent visit of the Amnesty Internation-al, AI, during which he ad-dressed the organisations concerns on Nigerias counter-terrorism strate-gies and campaigns.

He debunked the allega-tion that the nations se-curity forces had engaged in extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention of suspects.

The minister explained that the rules of engage-ment by security forces in their counter-insurgency campaigns had conformed to the best international practices and standards.

Ashiru also recalled his advice to AI not to rely on third party sources in compiling its reports and conclusions, as they seem to have done in the case of the report recently released on Nigeria.

He noted that the report was biased and had failed to meet the basic test of objectivity.

According to the min-ister, this was why he had requested Amnesty Inter-national to open an office in Nigeria.

It was also for the same reason that representa-tives of the international body were granted access to some detention centres, including their meetings with the Army High Com-mand and Police authori-ties during their visit.

Ashiru stated that Ni-geria was satisfied with its level of engagement with the United States which has found expres-

sion in the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission that is very robust and a good working model as amply demonstrated at all levels of bilateral engagements with the US.

He recalled that, at the political level, there had been various exchange of visits, including the re-cent visit of the Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clin-ton to Nigeria.

The minister expressed the view that Nigeria is an open society, where NGOs and the media op-erate freely without let or hindrance by the Govern-ment.

Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen yesterday killed seven members of the same family in Madauchi Zangon Kataf Local Gov-ernment area of Southern Kaduna State.

The state Governor, Patrick Yakowa, has con-demned the attack.

A resident told one of our correspondents that the incident happened be-tween 11p.m. on Wednes-day and 2a.m. on Thurs-day.

The source said the at-tack was targeted at house of one Mr. Yakubu Kayit where the hoodlums set the house ablaze while the

64th convocation procession of the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

the nations refineries.The refineries have been

notorious for poor perfor-mance, which has contrib-uted to fuel scarcity being experiences nationwide.

President Jonathan spoke in Abuja yesterday at a meeting with Course Par-ticipants of the 2012 Senior Executive Course 34 of the National Institute for Pol-icy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, near Jos.

He said that the deregu-lation of the petroleum sec-tor would attract investors into building refineries that were private sector-driven while the four existing re-fineries which had been operating at 30 per cent ca-pacity would work at full capacity.

He said that Canada, for example, had 16 privately-owned functional refiner-ies.

The President advised the NIPSS, a body that fashion out policies on bet-ter governance, to come up

with policies that would put the nation ahead in all sec-tors of the economy.

Why is it that people are not building refineries in Nigeria, yet it is a big busi-ness? It is because of the policy of subsidy and that is why we want to get out of it, Jonathan said.

The statement may be a signal that the administra-tion is still bent on imple-menting the fuel subsidy removal, which sparked off of protests in January.

The President stated that the country could witness a turnaround within 10 years with the commitment of government and strong political will once the right policies were put in place.

I believe that you do not need a lifetime to change a nation. Under 10 years, Nigeria can change and people will not even believe that this is Nigeria.

Immediately you come up with strong policies in key sectors of the economy and keep it for 10 years, the

change will be astronomi-cal, he said.

The President said that there was need to review the funding of the NIPSS, which already had debt burden of N600m, stress-ing that government would consider timely release of funds to the institute.

President Jonathan, however, assured that gov-ernment would intervene as it would direct the Min-ister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufai, to ask the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETF, to make available to the institute N50m grant to offset part of the debt.

On the tax arrears of about N105m already in-curred by the institute, the President said he would not support a situation where the tax arrears would be written off, saying it was a criminal offence for any agency of government to deduct employees taxes without remitting same to authorities.

It is a problem in this country, whether you are an agency of government, you must deduct tax if you fail to remit it, it is a criminal offence. We do not encour-age departments of govern-ment to deduct tax and keep it.

The FIRS feels that they have done you a favour, but the vice president will want us to write it off, but I will not support that now be-cause you must pay tax, the President said.

President, Nigeria La-bour Congress, NLC, Ab-dulwaheed Omar, however, said: Well Nigerians are watching and will certainly accept subsidy removal.

The NIPSS graduands called on the President to intensify efforts aimed at tackling the spate of inse-curity in parts of the coun-try.

In the report titled, Re-source diversification for sustainable economic de-velopment in Nigeria, they also identified unemploy-

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Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Friday, November 16, 2012News

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ment as one of the greatest threats to security, saying that the situation had made unemployed youths and other disgruntled persons to attack the system, which they believed was respon-sible for their plight.

They expressed serious concern over the airports in the country, saying they all lacked the capacity to check terrorism.

The participants noted that the airports were not fully secured against ter-rorism as they had porous perimeter fences and were without closed circuit tele-visions for monitoring of the area to check insecurity.

They also gave the mari-time sector and the media hard knocks, saying that the maritime sector was over dependent on foreign carriers while accusing the media of not being objec-tive in its reportage.

The participants also expressed concern over the nations over-dependence on crude oil and natural

gas.Meanwhile, the House of

Representatives has direct-ed its Committees on Pe-troleum Resources (Down-stream), Finance and States and Local Governments to look into allegations that proceeds from a new petro-leum pricing regime by the executive arm of govern-ment were misappropri-ated.

The Presidency had on January 1 this year an-nounced the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum prod-ucts and summarily raised the prices of these products by about 80 per cent, attract-ing a national outcry that threatened the countrys leadership.

The Presidency, react-ing to the widespread pro-tests, set up what it called a Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Pro-gramme, SURE-P. It also set up a presidential commit-tee headed by former High Commissioner to the Unit-

solving criminal cases. The warning came less

than 48 hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was reported to have begun moves to terminate, via plea bargain, the ongoing crimi-nal trial of Mahmud Tukur, the son to National Chair-man of the Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and three others facing a charge of N1.8bn fuel subsidy fraud.

The two justices, though admitted that plea bargain-ing had its merits, insisted that it would be better to re-form the nations criminal laws to accommodate the ju-

dicial tool with measures that would prevent its negative aspects and preserve its posi-tive aspects legislated upon.

The eminent jurists spoke at the Annual Al-ternative Dispute Resolu-tion Summit organised by the Negotiation and Con-flict Management Group, NCMG, and the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja on the theme: Plea bargaining and criminal justice in Africa: A threat or promise.

Uwais spoke as the Chair-man of NCMG while Mus-dapher delivered the key-note address at the event.

Musdapher explained that Nigeria was not yet

ripe for plea bargain as the nation is presently mired in corruption.

He insisted that the con-cept had a dubious origin.

An expert in criminal law in Nigeria, Prof. Cyprian Okonkwo (SAN), supported Justice Musdapher, saying plea bargain had no roots in the nations statute.

The EFCC has always pointed to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act as the legal basis for its use of plea bargain to re-solve criminal cases.

Okonkwo, however, noted that the provision had noth-ing to do with plea bargain, adding that the provision must be revised.

But the former Chief Judge of Kogi State and Ad-ministrator of National Ju-dicial Institute, NJI, Justice Umaru Eri and the EFCC rationalised the continued application of plea bargain in the administration of criminal justice system.

He, however, advised that measures should be put in place to check abuse of the judicial tool.

Justice Musdapher said: Allow me to still reiterate my position on the concept of plea bargain. I still stand on my buckles to state that the concept is not only du-bious but was never part of the history of our legal system, at least, until it was

One of the victims of Lagos tanker accident in hospital yesterday.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 surreptitiously smuggled into our statutory laws with the creation of EFCC.

Though the concept of plea bargain may be noble to the Criminal Justice System of the Unites States and pos-sibly some common law ju-risdictions within Africa, it is pertinent to observe the case and circumstances within which plea bargain is applied in those jurisdictions.

In Nigeria, a proper un-derstanding of the concept of plea bargain by prosecutors and law enforcement officers is seriously required to reduce the misconception that what is being plea bargained is the proceeds of crime rather than the crime itself with a view to having a lesser punishment for the offence committed.

Thus, there is need to es-tablish a legal framework that will be peculiar to our social norms, values and circumstances.

The essence of the con-cept of plea bargain is the recovery of stolen funds and therefore not subject to negotiation. What is subject to negotiation should be the prosecution and punish-ment for embezzlement.

Even where the whole money stolen is returned by the offender, he has committed the offence of theft or abuse of office for which he must still be tried and punished.

This concept is not ripe for our criminal justice sys-tem in Africa, particularly Nigeria, because of the one thing that has plagued and ravaged this beautiful conti-nent-corruption, the hydra-headed monster that has eaten so deep into the fab-rics of our justice system, leaving us at its mercy.

In his submission, Uwais said: The practice of plea bargain is not new in Nige-ria. Hence, it will not be out of depth for me to make a point which may shape the discussion along the line of law and judicial reform.

The point is that in the-ory, and I believe this is safe, plea bargain is designed to maximise scarce ju-dicial resources thereby enhancing the fair admin-istration of justice. The debate should therefore, in my view, focus more on how best the judiciary can adapt to the use of plea bargain in a manner that does not compromise fair administration of jus-tice.

Eri said: To me, plea bar-

gaining is constitutional since in a plea bargaining, the defen-dant or accused is made to re-gurgitate as much as possible part or whole of the loot that constitutes the criminality.

After all, we are told that a criminal offence must be defined in a written law and the punishment thereto prescribed in the same law. Whatever discretion a judge exercises in sentencing does not in any way make plea bar-gaining unconstitutional.

The EFCC also stoutly de-fended the continuos usage of the judicial tool although with a caveat that a legal framework for its applica-tion be put in place to check against abuse.

According to the Execu-tive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, the discourse on the utilisa-tion of plea bargaining as a mechanism for resolution of criminal cases has re-cently gained centre stage. I thank the NCMG for raising the bar of this conversation through this dialogue

Understandably, because the concept is relatively new and its dynamic yet to be fully explored, its use for the dis-posal of high profile criminal cases is bound to generate the type of controversy we now witness. This, nevertheless, is good for the development not only of our jurisprudence or the subject but also our social system, he said.

Lamorde who noted that it was applied in the cases of Federal Government against Emmanuel Nwude, Chief DSP Alamieyesiegha, Tafa Balogun, Lucky Igbin-edion and Cecilia Ibru, said there was nothing illegal in the use of prosecutorial tool but admitted it could be abused.

He said: Apart from the provisions of the EFCC Act, the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code, Lagos State in 2007, by virtue of the administration of Criminal Justice Law has comprehensively embraced plea bargain as a disposition method of criminal matters.

He however said that he agreed that plea bargain-ing is a concept that is char-acterised by controversies in both common law and civ-il law jurisdictions includ-ing places like USA where it is popular and common. Nigeria is not left out in the controversy particularly as a result of its practices in a number of cases by EFCC.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 3NewsFriday, November 16, 2012

Ex-CJNs warn against plea bargain

Scores feared dead in Lagos tanker accidentMURITALA AYINLA

Scores of people were feared dead in an ac-cident involving a fuel tanker and five other vehicles on Lagos - Ibadan Expressway yesterday.

The accident, which oc-curred at the Otedola Ju-bilee Estate, led to gridlock as the tanker spilt its 32,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, petrol, on the road.

Those who were critical-ly injured in the crash were rushed to the hospital.

At press time, efforts were being made to recover the trapped victims in the badly damaged vehicles.

For several hours ve-hicular movement on the ever-busy expressway was halted while the men of the Lagos State Emergen-cy Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were making trying to res-

cue some of the victims.The gridlock caused

by the accident extended to the Oworo axis, Third Mainland Bridge and other adjoining roads.

Many sympathisers gathered at the scene of the accidents while others were assisting in the rescue efforts.

Men of the Fire Service were ready with their wa-ter truck to prevent fire from the spillage, while LASEMA provided mobile halogen light to aid the re-covery effort.

Confirming the acci-dent, the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, warned motorists to take alterna-tive routes to avert further disaster.

Also speaking with our correspondent, the Direc-tor of Lagos Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said recov-ery effort was still going on.

Fadipe, who also said that a similar accident oc-

curred at Maryland area of the state yesterday, be-moaned the wave of tanker accidents in the metropolis.

He said: It was an acci-dent involving fuel tanker and about five cars. The truck spilled fuel on the road but our men are in control to ensure the fuel doesnt catch fire. The me-chanics around the area have been told to stop their operation to avert fire re-sulting from the spillage.

A driver, who identified himself as Oludare, said: The accident happened about 5pm. People ran away, when they discovered that it involved fuel tanker. They did that because they did not want to die while rescuing others. The truck had break failure.

Another motorist, who did not want his name in print said: I got here some min-utes before 6:00pm. The res-cue team was busy retrieving trapped passengers. Many who did not die, sustained

various degrees of injury.The affected vehicles are a

fuel tanker with Borno State registration number: Xb 116 NGL; red truck (KSF. 806 XC); Benz; Skoda car (FKJ 167 AX; Land Rover, (AH 723 SMK); truck (AA 123 HJA).

According to the head of operations, FRSC, Lagos Sector Command, Mr.

Irele Wuyi, said: For now, we can confirm that two persons died but more may be commenting on the accident, the Lagos State Commissioner for Trans-portation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said everything was under control as necessary

implements needed to prevent any unnecessary loss of lives and property were immediately deployed for the rescue mission.

He however, appealed to motorists on the need for them to always exercise caution on the road as well as ensure that their vehi-cles are in good condition and are roadworthy.

National News

Anger, regional politics on day two of PIB debateHouse raises special committee on bill

$300,000 tax: You can leave Ghana, Reps advise Nigerian traders N75.5bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Works Minister, Lawal, others

Founder, Victorious Saints of God Mission and President, Berea Bible College, Apostle Bisi Olaoye; Pastor Olanrewaju Adelaja and Provost, Berea Bible College, Evang. Kate Onwukwe, during a prayer session for granduands of the college in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Former child singer and Programme Director, Tosin Jegede Foundation, Tosin Jegede; Executive Director, Nigerian Network of NGOs, Oyebisi Oluseyi; Chief Executive Officer, Gemstone Group, Fela Durotoye; Head, Business Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Bidemi Ladipo and Project Coordinator, Enterprise Development Centre, Nkem Dosekun, at the Global Entrepreneurship in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Festus Iyayi; Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, ERA, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha; Mr. Nnimmo Bassey and President, Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, at the fifth annual National Environmental Consultation on Corporate Accountability and the Environment organised by ERA in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Chairman of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Muftau Ajibola; Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Head of Service, Modupe Adekunle, at the Best Teachers Award in Abeokuta, yesterday.

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

Tempers flared yes-terday as members of the House of Representatives debate continued on the provi-sions of Petroleum Indus-try Bill, PIB.

Besides PIB, the law-makers also debated an-other bill joined to the PIB. The second bill seeks oil exploration and pros-pecting in the North.

The House Deputy Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP/Delta), who rein-troduced the bill for de-bate, said the bill would promote accountability, transparency and open-ness in the countrys pe-troleum sector if it was passed the way it was pre-sented by the executive.

The bills entitled: A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the Petro-

leum Industry in Nigeria and for other related mat-ters, and A Bill for an Act to establish the National New Frontier Agency for the purpose of explora-tion and production of oil and gas in the Frontier of Chad Basin, Dahomey Basin, Imo Basin, Benue Trough, Bauchi Basin and Sokoto Basin and for other matters connected there-with, were read by Ogor.

In his contribution, Ogor opposed the clause which

ISE-OLUWA IGEABUJA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arraigned former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, and nine others before Justice Adamu Bello of the Fed-eral High Court, Abuja on a 44-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, conversion, and fraud to the tune of N75.7 billion.

Lawal and his co-ac-cused, Dr. Adeogba God-win Ademola, Digital Toll Company Limited; Swede Control Interlink Limited; Proman Vital Ventures Limited; Nairda Limited; Siraj Nigeria Limited and Wise Health Services Lim-ited, who were first ar-raigned on May 11, 2011, however pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.

The prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, sought the leave of the court to commence trial as, according to him, the pros-

ecution was ready to move speedily with trial and indeed had a witness on hand to testify against the accused.

Testifying in the matter yesterday, Mr. Chike Nwibe, a deputy superintendent of police with the EFCC and a member of the investigating team, disclosed how a con-tract to build what was known as Buto Bagana Bridge across River Benue from Nasarawa State to Kogi State became an avenue to swindle the state by the former minister and his accomplices.

stipulates that 30 per cent of the shares of the pro-posed National Oil Com-pany should be reserved for the stock market.

He argued that such a clause was capable of re-sulting in few Nigerians appropriating the profits of the company.

The House leader sug-gested that the company should be wholly owned by the Federal Government.

Hon. Garba Datti Mo-hammed (CPC/Kaduna), Deputy Minority Whip of the House, observed that

the bill, if passed into law as it was, could divide the country.

He added that the bill had contradictory provi-sions on regulation and de-regulation of the industry.

Datti proposed that the powers of the minister should be curbed in the Act.

He said it was about time government stopped paying lip service to oil exploration in the North.

The sponsor of the bill to explore oil in the North, Hon. Kaka Gujbawu(PDP/Borno), gave statistics of

how many parts of the re-gion had oil in commercial quantities and sought the intervention of the govern-ment in balancing resource exploration in the country.

Others who contributed to the debate were Hon. Sam Tsokwa (PDP/Tara-ba), Abiodun Faleke (ACN/Lagos), Forte Dike (APGA/Anambra) and Karimi Sunday (PDP/Kogi).

An ad hoc committee headed by Hon. Ishaku Bawa, the Chief Whip, was set up to conduct a public hearing on the bill.

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

The House of Rep-resentatives yes-terday advised Ni-gerian traders in Ghana facing molestation in the hands of Ghanaian trade authorities in the last two years to quit if they found trade laws of that country insufferable.

The government of Ghana had, about two years ago, imposed a mini-mum tax of $300,000 on

foreigners trading in ma-jor markets in the country, giving them the option to pay or leave the markets.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Dias-pora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-La-gos), who gave the advice on behalf of the House, said though further dip-lomatic talks with Ghana-ian authorities were desir-able, the traders still had the option of leaving the country.

She said: We believe

that this can be amicably resolved, but we cannot continue begging to con-tinue staying in Ghana. I understand your prob-lems, but I think we have intervened enough to de-cide other ways.

I dont support the idea that the traders should con-template the option of leav-ing the major markets to remote areas. It is like you are trading in Wuse Mar-ket, then they come and tell you to relocate to Karshi. It will not help you.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netFriday, November 16, 20124 PhotoNews

Jonathan restates case for fuel subsidy removal

occupants were asleep.Only a little girl was

said to have survived the attack.

An eyewitness account, however, said that the gun-men shot sporadically into the air for over 30 minutes and that there were no se-curity operatives around.

The incident was said to have immediately sparked-off protest by the youths of the village who took to the streets in their hundreds.

They were angered by the killings and the with-drawal of the military from the area before the attack.

The youths, carrying leaves, marched through the town, saying that if the military deployed in the area could no longer protect them from attack-

ers, they should leave. One of the protesters,

Bala Samaila, said: The military had no business being here if they can-not protect us. They can go. We can protect our-selves.

National President of Bajju Youth Associa-tion, Gad Ezekiel, also confirmed that the at-tackers killed all the members of the same family, leaving behind a little girl.

National Mirror gath-ered that security op-eratives have been de-ployed

in the area to main-tain law and order.

Gunmen had recently killed dozens of people in Kaduna State, including 20 people at Dogon Dawa community in Birnin Gwari Local Government

Area of Northern Kadu-na.

Yakowa, while sym-pathising with the family of the victims, said the incessant killings would never deter the adminis-trations quest of ensur-ing a secured and united Kaduna State.

The Senior Special As-sistant to the Governor on

Media, Mr. Reuben Bu-hari, in a condolence mes-sage, sued for peace and unity among residents.

The statement reads in part: The Executive Gov-ernor of Kaduna State is truly saddened by the gory incident of Wednesday in Madauchi, Zangon Kataf Local Government.

More saddening is the fact that this inci-dent came in when more concerted effort by this

government, through the Peace and

Reconciliation Com-mittee is being made to entrench lasting and sus-tainable peace in Kaduna State.

I urge us all to take comfort and strength from

the fact that this loss is shared by many who truly care for them and may that give us the courage to face our tomorrow with the hope that peace will find a permanent abode within our state soonest.

The state government, while totally condemning the killing as an act of bar-barism, sympathises with the families of the depart-ed; His Highness, the Ag-wam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature; the Local Govern-ment Council and the en-tire people of the state.

The state Commission-

er of Police, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, could not im-mediately confirm the in-cident, saying: I will talk to you later over the inci-dent.

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force, JTF, in Maidu-guri, the Borno State capi-tal, yesterday killed the leader and members of a terrorist group that killed Late General Mamman Shuwa three weeks ago.

In a press statement made available to journal-ists in Maiduguri, the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sa-gir Musa, stated that in a sustained follow up opera-tion yesterday, a combined troops of the JTF, 333 Air Defence Regiment, the Department of SSS sup-ported by helicopter con-ducted a major offensive operations against some suspected terrorists in

Nganaram, Bulabulin and Bayan Quarters of Maidu-guri metropolis.

Sagir said during the offensive operations, a Commander of the Boko Haram sect commanding North West and North East of Maiduguri, by name Ibn Saleh Ibrahim with some of his com-manders and foot soldiers were killed.

He added that the opera-tion is still ongoing as at press time, pointing out that the Late Ibn Saleh was confirmed to be respon-sible for the recent killing of the Nigerian Civil War hero, General Shuwa on the orders of their leader, Abubakar Shekau.

He said several arms and ammunition, and Im-provised Explosive Devic-es, IEDs, were recovered during the encounter.

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National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net News 5Friday, November 16, 2012

Boko Haram: US accuses FG of human rights violations

L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Group Head, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi and Partner, Deloitte, Mr. Alpha Barry, at the fourth Africa Public Private Partnership Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

ed Kingdom, Dr. Christo-pher Kolade, to implement the programme.

The Presidency had promised that proceeds from the higher prices of petroleum products would go to roads, hospitals and schools construction and so on within six months, but 10 months after, the House claimed that the promise had not been kept and the disbursement of the pro-ceeds not transparent.

The motion to probe the SURE-P was sponsored by Hon. Haruna Manu Musa

(PDP-Kano). The House stated that

it was disturbed that the President on Monday, Feb-ruary 20, 2012, said that his administration would not be able to fully implement Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) because subsidy removal was not total.

The House added that it was further disturbed that the Kolade Committee also on Sunday, February 26, 2012 declared that that it would only monitor the use of about 47 per cent of the total subsidy savings which was

the amount accruable to the Federal Government, leav-ing the balance of 53 per cent to be handled by the states and local governments.

But the House said it was worried that over 10 months after the com-mencement of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empow-erment Programme(SURE-P), most states and local governments have not put systems and mechanisms in place to ensure that the amounts that accrued to them are judiciously ad-ministered.

The House stated that

it was aware that about N105bn had accrued as Fed-eral Governments share from the proceeds of sub-sidy removal as at August 2012 and the SURE-P Com-mittee released the sum of N17.8bn out of which N8.9bn was released to the infrastructure Bank of Ni-geria for acquisition of bus-es for transporters, N5bn as intervention in the railway sector and N3.9bn on youth empowerment.

The House said it was concerned that some of the railway projects like Abuja-Kaduna, Port-Har-

court-Makurdi and the Jebba-Kano rail lines to which different sums had been said to be released by the SURE-P Committee as intervention have been in the Federal Government Budget since 2008.

In another development, President Jonathan has set up three committees to prepare draft White Papers on the reports of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, the National Refineries Spe-cial Task Force and the Governance and Controls Special Task Force.

The Committees are to study the reports, re-view the issues raised, and prepare draft White Papers for the consider-ation of the Federal Ex-ecutive Council within two weeks.

The White Paper Com-mittee on the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, with the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State, FCT, Ms Jumoke Akinjide and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II: Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed as members.

The White Paper Commit-tee on the report of the Gov-ernance and Controls Special Task Force will be chaired by the Minister of Lands, Hous-ing and Urban Development,

Ms. Ama Pepple. Other members of the

committee are Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Olu-sola Obada; Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Bu-kar Tijani.

The White Paper Com-mittee on the report of the National Refineries Special Task Force has Minister of Mines and Steel Devel-opment, Arc. Mohammed Sada as Chairman and Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Minis-ter of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate and Min-ister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyeson Wike as members.

The Office of the Secre-tary to the Government of the Federation will provide secretariat for the Commit-tees.

The report of the Petro-leum Revenue Special Task Force led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, had raised a lot of dust with some members of the committee claiming that the report was incomplete and should be dumped.

Ribadu had also accused some committee members of trying to influence the report which raised issues of huge revenue losses for the Federal Government and underlined the need for wide-ranging reforms in the oil and gas industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net6 Friday, November 16, 2012 National News

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

Two prominent Afri-can leaders includ-ing the Presidents of Liberia, Hellen John-son-Sirleaf and her coun-terpart from Benin Repub-lic, Boni Yayi, are among African leaders billed to honour former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the welcome home party be-ing packaged by the Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former President of Ghana, John Kuffuor, is also billed to attend the event as the guest speaker to deliver a speech on the topic; Obasanjo in the eyes of history.

State chairman of the PDP, Senator Dipo Oduji-rin, dropped this hint yes-terday during a press con-ference held at the partys secretariat at the IBB Bou-levard, Abeokuta, the state capital to mark the 100 days in office of the state execu-tive committee.

Odujinrin said PDP in other South-West states have also indicated interest to be part of the event.

National Mirror re-called that Chief Obasanjo voluntarily resigned his position as the Chairman, Board of Trustee of PDP in April this year and no party has been thrown in his honour to welcome him home since then.

Speaking on why the

party is coming up seven months after his resigna-tion, Odujinrin attributed this to the absence of a valid state executive of the party.

He also said that the state chapter of the party has deemed it fit to cele-brate the former president who is also an African lead-er of repute, to formally welcome him back to the state.

Odujinrin said the party had, about two months ago, set up a committee to orga-nise a befitting reception for the former president.

Speaking on the recon-ciliatory effort of the party, particularly as it affects the position of the former gov-ernor of the state, Gbenga

Daniel, Odujinrin said in as much as the former gover-nor remained the financier of the Peoples Party of Ni-geria (PPN), he has not re-turned to Ogun PDP.

He emphasised that the directives of the Na-tional Working Committee (NWC) of the party on all aggrieved members of the party has not changed.

We set up this party to-gether and he won under the platform of the party as governor for eight years, but the former governor set up another party to contest against the PDP in the last general election and was throwing missiles from out-side, did you say that per-son is still a member of this house? Odujirin queried.

Johnson-Sirleaf, Boni Yayi, Kuffour to honour Obasanjo

FRANCIS FAMOROTI

With the November 5, elevation of Justice Habeeb Abiru, to the Court of Ap-peal, there is no clear sig-nal on what becomes of the trial of the embattled for-mer Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Eras-tus Akingbola, pending at an Ikeja High Court.

However, the position of the law is that once a trial judge has ceased to have jurisdiction over a matter by virtue of his retirement or has been elevated to the higher Bench, the case would be assigned to an-

other judge who will start the proceedings de novo (afresh).

This principle has been established by the Supreme Court in the case of Og-buanyiya v. Okudo in 1979 to the effect that once a judge is elevated to a high-er Bench, he becomes func-tus officio, that is, he can-not adjudicate in a matter at the lower court again.

Justice Abiru had ear-lier adjourned Akingbolas case till yesterday prompt-ing the defendant to show up in court. But the case could not go ahead as his case file is yet to be as-signed to another judge.

It was learnt that the other option which the

Economic and Finan-cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has is the likely discharge of Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada, both standing trial for the alleged theft of N47.1billion belonging to the bank.

So far, sources hinted that the case file of the former boss of Interconti-nental Bank is still in the custody of the registrar of Abirus former court pend-ing further directives by the Chief Registrar.

Some notable lawyers including Mr. Femi Fa-lana (SAN) said that the implication of Abirus new assignment is that Akingbolas case had been

technically resolved in his favour.

Falanas words: In oth-er words, Akingbola has been discharged a second time due to no fault of his.

Apparently referring to the defendants discharge in another case at the Fed-eral High Court for what the trial judge, Justice Jus-tice Clement Archbong, blamed on lack of diligent prosecution, Falana said for now Abiru could no lon-ger be ceased of the matter.

At the last sitting of the court on October 22, 2012, Justice Abiru had ordered Akingbola to close his de-fence and to file his final ad-dress within 14 days of the sitting of the court.

N47.1bn fraud: Akingbolas trial may start afresh

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The parents and teachers of Mur-tala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, school have called on the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, to wade into the controversy be-tween it and the man-agement of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Lim-ited (BASL) over the al-leged encroachment on its landed property by the terminal operator.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the parents of the stu-dents of the school also wanted Oduah to stop the ongoing construc-

tion of a conference hall by BASL, warning that the building serves as a deathtrap for the pupils of the school.

Speaking on behalf of parents and teachers, the Chairman of Concerned Parents Teachers Associa-tion (CPTA), Mr. Akinbola Adekunle, said the future of the poor innocent chil-dren was being threatened by the encroachment.

Adekunle said the land under dispute belonged to the school and was allo-cated for the development of the primary and second-ary schools by the Federal Government since in-ception, but noted that the property has been hijacked by the company.

Airport school seeks Ministers intervention in face-off with Bi-Courtney

CHRIS NJOKUOWERRI

Two suspected armed robbers were yesterday lynched by an angry mob at SPIBAT Road Amakao-hia-Akwakuma in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

The lynched robbers were said to specialise in breaking peoples houses and were alleged to have been caught with loaded shotgun and stolen items such as laptops, handsets and other valuables.

Luck was said to have ran out on them when some people they have robbed in the past identi-fied them. The mob im-mediately attacked them

with machetes and clubs, beating them to a state of coma.

According to eyewit-nesses, the mob tied them down with motorcycles tyres hung around their necks ready to be set ablaze, but were rescued by the police from the An-ti-Robbery Squad of the state police command.

However, the two rob-bery suspects died later at the police command as a result of the machete cuts dealt on them by the angry mob.

According to the police, one of the suspects, Buchi from Akpodim in Mbaise Local Government Area of the state managed to describe to the police their hideout before he died.

Two suspected armed robbers lynched in Imo

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

The nations enter-tainment indus-try was yesterday thrown into mourning, as it lost a popular actor, Pete Eneh.

Eneh died about 6.30pm at Parklane Hospital in Enugu.

The late actor, renowned for playing the role of an elder in home videos, died from injuries he sustained sometime last year, but could not get appropriate treat-ment leading to a debilitat-ing sore, that forced doctors to amputate the leg a few months ago.

According to one of his close associates, who con-

firmed the story to National Mirror, but who did not want his name mentioned, the actor might have died from lack of care, compounded by the fact that he was diabetic.

It is a very sad develop-ment. He died as result of diabetic sore. After he sus-tained the injury, he could not get adequate treatment, which made the sore to worsen, leaving his bad leg amputated.

Movie actor, Pete Eneh dies

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and Anambra State Govenor Peter Obi, during a meeting between the President and South-East political office holders in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 7NewsFriday, November 16, 2012

KAYODE KETEFE

A former Lagos State Attorney General and Commission-er for Justice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), yesterday asked the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to try the Managing Director of Federal Airport Author-ity of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi, for con-tempt.

Osinbajo made this prayer before Justice Ibra-him Buba in the matter of committal for contempt

He also urged the court to dismiss an application by FAAN and Uresi, which is challenging its jurisdiction to hear a contempt case initiated against them by an aviation services firm, Maevis Limited.

Osinbajo, who is the law-yer to Maevis, argued that the application challeng-ing the jurisdiction of the court constituted an abuse of court process.

He said the applicants had already brought a simi-lar application which had

been heard and dismissed by the former trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako.

Osinbajo, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the objection by FAAN and its MD, as well as proceed to hear the contempt proceed-ings.

He had initiated commit-tal proceedings as a conse-quence of a refusal of court order by the FAAN and its MD, Uriesi.

It will be recalled that the former judge hearing the case, Justice Nyako, had on March 28, 2012 sum-monsed Uriesi and three other members of the man-agement staff of the estab-lishment sequel to forms 48 (contempt proceedings) filed against them over al-leged disobedience of a courts earlier order deliv-ered on September 24, 2010.

FAAN had however brought the application challenging the compe-tence of the committal pro-ceedings.

It contended that condi-tions precedent for filing such committal proceed-ings had not been met.

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

A 73-year old Nige-rian woman, held for more than a year by Brazilian authorities on al-legations of drug peddling, has died in a hospital in that country.

Mrs. Hafsat Awosade, a grandmother, was report-edly held early last year by Brazillian security authorities with illicit drugs. She died last week.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabi-ri-Erewa, who announced

this at a press briefing yesterday, regretted that Mrs. Awosade died before she was found guilty of allegations of drug deal-ing.

She said: The very unfortunate thing is that this woman was yet to be found guilty of the charg-es levelled against her by the Brazilian authorities.

It is a sad story. She died of high-blood pres-sure. It is even more trag-ic that she had already pleaded that she should not die in Brazil, but un-fortunately she has died in a foreign country.

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

The West African Examination Coun-cil (WAEC) has re-leased the results of candi-dates withheld in the last May/June Senior Second-ary Schools Examination.

About 101, 398 candi-dates, representing 9.40

per cent of the total 1, 695, 872, who sat for the examination in Nigeria had their results withheld at the time the general re-sults were released in Sep-tember.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos after the 54th meet-ing of WAEC, National President of All Nigeria Confederation of Princi-

pals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Hajia Fatima Abdulrahman, said while some candidates had their results fully released, some results were can-celled.

Others were cancelled partially, according to the recommendations of the committee instituted to look into the matter, she

said.Hajia Abdulrahman

said those involved would get details from the WAECs website within the next one or two weeks.

She added that appro-priate sanctions had been recommended for officials found guilty of malprac-tices during the last exam-ination.

12,676.121kg of drugs seized by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) about to be set ablaze in Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

WAEC releases withheld May-June results, cancels others

Ex-Lagos AG asks court to try FAAN MD for contempt

73-year-old Nigerian drug suspect dies in Brazilian hospital

Alleged N100m scam: Court dismisses Boni Harunas request to quash chargesBY ISE-OLUWA IGEABUJA

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday dismissed a request by former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna, and three others to quash the 28 count charges pre-ferred against them.

They were being tried for the embezzlement of N100 million public fund.

The quartet, who were re-arraigned on February 9, 2010, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-sion (EFCC) on a 28-count charge of fraud and em-bezzlement of public fund while Haruna was the gov-ernor of Adamawa State between 1999 and 2007.

The others are Mo-hammed Inuwa Bassi, a former Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly; John Babani Elias, an aide of

the former governor and Al-Akim Investment Ni-geria Limited.

They were first ar-raigned in 2008.

The former governor was alleged to have on or about the November13, 2002 in Yola, fraudu-lently uttered a Guar-anty Trust Bank Plc Cheque no.0348501 dated 13/11/2002 in the sum of N 10,000,000.00 drawn on account number no 3613406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bas-si , with intent that the cheque may be acted as genuine and thereby com-mitted an offence contrary to Section 3 (2) (a) of Mis-cellaneous offences Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Fed-eration of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals (certain consequential Amendments, etc) Decree no 62 of 1999 and punish-

able under Section 3 (2) of the same Act.

Similarly, he was al-leged to have on or about March 12, 2003, fraudu-lently uttered a Guar-anty Trust Bank Plc, cheque no. 3049628 dated 12/3/2003 in the sum of N16,125,000.00 drawn on account number no, 361

3406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by him, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an of-fence contrary to section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous offences Act.

EFCC re-arraigns ex-Union Bank MD, others for alleged fraudKAYODE KETEFE

The Economic and Financial Crimes C o m m i s s i o n (EFCC) yesterday re-ar-raigned the former man-aging director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Bar-tholomew Bassey Ebong and five others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

They were re-arraigned before Justice Ofili Aju-mogobia for alleged finan-

cial improprieties. The other persons re-

arraigned alongside Eb-ong are Henry Onyemen, Niyi Albert Opeodu, Peter Ololo, Samuel Ayininuola and Ololos company, Fal-con Securities Limited.

This is the third time the same set of accused per-sons would be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos, having been earlier arraigned before Justice Dan Abutu (now retired) and Justice Binta Nyako on similar charges.

At the proceedings yes-terday, the accused were re-arraigned on a 20-count charge comprising the alleged offences of con-spiracy, money launder-ing and reckless grant of loans to the detriment of the bank.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to each of the counts in the charge.

After hearing their law-yers, comprising Mr. Fe-lix Fagboungbe SAN, N.P Oran among others, who prayed the court to grant

bail to the accused persons on the grounds that they were well-behaved and had earlier been granted bail by both Justice Dan Abutu and Binta nyako before who they were earlier ar-raigned.

The prosecution, rep-resented by Mr. Nkem Okolie, however opposed the bail on the grounds that some of them did not report to the EFCC at the initial stage and that they might jump bail if granted by the court.

ABIODUN NEJOADO EKITI

No fewer than seven persons were in-jured yesterday in Ado Ekiti as support-ers of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), clashed over the posters of former Gover-nor Ayodele Fayose.

Supporters of Fayose, who is eyeing the gover-norship seat in the 2014 election on the platform of the PDP in the state, were pasting his posters tagged; Restoration 2014 in the town as he marked his 52nd birthday yesterday when the attack occurred.

There were accusations and counter-accusations be-

low peace to reign, he said.But spokesman for the

ACN in the state, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, denied that his party members attacked Fayoses supporters.

Oguntayos words: In fact it was Fayoses men who attacked one of the officials of the party at the state level, Mr. Gbenga Akinwumi. He was stabbed because he told the people not to paste posters on his fathers house.

The chairmen also said the restriction of com-mercial motorcycle opera-tors would not affect their councils Internally Gen-erated Revenue (IGR).

Briefing journalists on their position on the new Lagos Traffic Law 2012, the Chairman of the Conference of Local Government Chairmen in the state, Mr. Hakeem Sulaiman, who made the disclosure, implored the state government to pro-vide more buses to meet the growing needs of the commuters.

His words: The concern

of Lagos State government for operators of commer-cial motorcycles and tricy-cles is unwavering and this was aptly demonstrated by the governments offer to grant those who genuinely co-operate, access to loan to procure buses and taxis be-fitting the mega city status of Lagos.

We also wish to advise the state government to provide more BRT buses as the people have shown that it is a veritable means of transportation, judging by the number of people who queue at bus stops to make use of the buses.

NDLEA destroys N13.6bn drugs in Lagos

Seven injured in PDP, ACN clash over Fayoses posters

being destroyed by drugs. Cannabis like cocaine, her-oin and methamphetamine has serious consequences on health, economy and the security of the nation. We shall not take any deci-sion that will ruin the fu-ture of our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.

Ofoyeju also said medi-cal or recreational reasons are not enough for Nigeria to legalise the use of can-nabis, adding that as a na-tion, there are legitimate

ways to recreate. He listed sports, danc-

ing, singing, wrestling, fes-tivals and other legitimate socio-cultural activities as highly recreational.

Though drug barons tried to industrially con-ceal drugs, the authorities have successfully detect-ed drugs in many items. The agency assured that it will continue to counter the activities of drug syn-dicates until they quit the criminal act.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Command of the NDLEA yesterday said about N260 million of can-nabis popularly known as Indian Hemp has been seized by the command in the last eight weeks.

The command also said no fewer than 13 suspects who specialised in drug trafficking have been ap-prehended by the agency in the state.

Disclosing this yester-day in Akure, NDLEA

Okada ban: LG chairmen call for more BRT buses

OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed drugs worth about N13.6 billion in Badagry, Lagos State. The drugs, hidden in woolen carpets, footballs, as well as other items, were destroyed by officials of the NDLEA.

A statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the Chair-man of the agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, supervised the exercise.

Ofoyeju said over 12.6 tonnes of illicit drugs were destroyed, adding that any society that fails to destroy drugs will end up being destroyed by drugs. The street value of the drugs he said was about N13.6bn.

The total weight of the drugs, according to him, was 12, 676.121kg. The drugs included 12, 543.260kg of canna-bis, 76.341kg of heroin, 43.770kg of cocaine, 3.600kg of methamphetamine and 9.15kg of amphetamine.

Any society that fails to destroy drugs will end up

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, has reiterated the need for all to strive to live well to bequeath worthy lega-cies to the younger gen-erations of Nigerians who are the future leaders.

Speaking during a con-dolence visit to Barrister Morakinyo Ogele, whose mother, Madam Fehintola Ogele, passed on at the age of 120, the deputy gover-nor said nothing could be more valuable than good names.

According to her, the greatest legacy a parent could leave for his or her children is good name and an untainted character.

She prayed for the re-pose of the soul of Madam Ogele, asking that the good Lord grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Ogele, who introduced members of the family to the deputy governor nar-rated how resourceful his departed mother was, adding that she led a life of service to the people of her community.

2012 Hajj: 8, 900 pilgrims from Lagos zone return

Lets bequeath worthy legacies for our children tween the two parties over

the responsibility for the attacks in which machetes were freely used as the po-lice in the state were mak-ing efforts to get to its roots.

Already, no fewer than six members of the two parties were at the Okesa Police Division in the state capital making statements to the police yesterday, pending when the matter would be transferred to the state command head-quarters of the police.

While the Fayose group said the ACN members, who felt threatened by the posters attacked its mem-bers and left three persons injured, the ACN said the Fayose supporters de-scended on people who re-sisted the posters from be-ing posted on the walls of their houses, leaving four of its members injured.

The Director-General of the Fayose Campaign Or-ganisation, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, who said the ruling ACN was becoming intolerant of the opposi-tion said; They cannot hound us out of this state. Ekiti State belongs to all

of us. If they are doing this when real politics has not started, what do you think they will do when it gets hotter?

They claim to be rights activists and angels of de-mocracy, is this how they want to practice their own democracy? We are calling on peace-loving people of the state to appeal to them to allow peace to reign, we are not interested in blood-letting and they should al-

MURITALA AYINLA

Worried by the rising number of stranded pas-sengers at various bus stops across Lagos State, the chairmen of the 20 lo-cal government areas and the 37 local council devel-opment areas, yesterday called on the state govern-ment to provide more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses to commuters in the state.

This, they said is to cush-ion the effect of the ban on commercial motorcycle op-erators on commuters.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

A total of 8, 900 pil-grims from Lagos State who em-barked on this years Hajj operations to the holy land, Saudi Arabia, yester-day returned to the coun-try by Med-View Airline.

At least, 505 pilgrims from Oyo, Ogun and Osun States returned to the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Murtala Moham-med International Air-port (MMIA), Lagos. The return of the pilgrims marked the end of the 2012 Hajj exercise.

The Boeing 747 aircraft that returned the pil-grims touched down at the MMIA at exactly 2.30pm.

Among the pilgrims were the Chairmen of the Oyo and Ogun States Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Alhaji Taofeek Akewug-bagold and Alhaji Izak Yusuf, respectively and the outgoing Secretary of the Osun State Muslims Welfare Board, Alhaji Ab-dulkareem Ibrahim.

Commenting on the exercise, the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, com-mended the Federal Gov-ernment for a hitch-free exercise despite the ini-tial drawback at the com-mencement of the exer-cise, just as he implored the government to always adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the annual exercise.

He also commended Med-View Airline for a smooth operation through-out the exercise and also lauded the conduct of the pilgrims in the holy land.

Commander in the state, Walter Nicholas, said most of the seizures were made around Ipele forest in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

Displaying the 18 tonnes of the illegal drugs, the NDLEA boss said the command has always in the past been avoiding making public the street value of the seized drugs in order not to induce people into the nefarious trade.

L-R: Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Deputy Governor, Otunba Alake Adeyemo, during a condolence visit by the traditional rulers in Oyo State to the governor over the death of former Governor Lam Adesina in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netFriday, November 16, 20128 South West

Fayose

the constitution of the country, Tsafe said he personally supported the centralised police system as against the state or re-gional police.

According to him, ex-perience have shown that the country was not ripe for such decision as it may metamorphose to serious danger on the nations se-curity system.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State will present the 2013 appropriation bill to the state House of As-sembly on Tuesday, Novem-ber 20, 2012 at 10 a.m.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said that stakeholders, including industrialists, traditional rulers, senior government officials and other important dignitaries have been invited to grace the event.

The statement added that the invited guests are expected to be seated by 9:30am.

Meanwhile, the pro-longed hostility between farmers and Fulani herds-men in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State and its environ will be resolved soon.

Speaking at a meeting held in Abeokuta between the feuding groups and senior officials, Adeoluwa said the government was not happy about the ugly development and was determined to tackle it headlong, noting that all de-

Police assure Lagos, Ogun residents of crime-free Christmas celebration

our target, and we are parading black spots and other information are be-ing gathered, let the resi-dents be well assured of their safety.

Praising the Ogun State Government for assisting the zone with necessary logistics, he said: What I met here will only require little improvement to so-lidify and consolidate our achievement in fighting crime; we must thank Ogun State for the assistance.

Tsafe explained that the challenges confronting the police were not insurmount-able and that the zone would leave no stone unturned in addressing them.

Against the backdrops of clamour for the inclu-sion of state police in

hence his appeal to parents and caregivers to ensure the immunisation of their children and wards.

I therefore appeal to all parents and caregivers to ensure that their chil-dren and wards receive all the immunisations before they are one year old.

These immunisations

members to be at the fore-front of the fight against impunity nationwide.

The communiqu, how-ever, stressed the urgent need for the association to keep faith with its Na-tional Executive Commit-tee (NEC) decision to set up a viable Anti-Corruption Committee / Commission.

It supported the con-cept of plea bargaining which it described as an effective case-manage-ment tool, saying: In spite of the reservations expressed in certain quar-ters, it should be utilised to ensure effective resolu-tion of criminal matter in appropriate cases.

Fashola

Abubakar

during national and state immunisation campaigns.

He said: Lagos re-mains a melting pot for all Nigerians and therefore, it continues to attract people from all over the country and from outside the coun-try in the sub region.

We therefore cannot stop and assume that the job of getting all children immunised is done. New babies are being born and therefore immunisation must continue to ensure that all children between the ages of zero and five years are immunised.

The governor stressed that the most effective strategy of keeping the deadly childhood diseases out of Lagos remains effec-tive routine immunization,

NBA, in the communi-qu signed by the Chair-man, Section on Legal Practice, Mr. Donald Den-wigwe, specifically re-solved to champion reform in the national polity just as it decried the refusal of some states to conduct lo-cal government elections.

The association de-scribed the alleged refusal to conduct the local govern-ment election as a demon-stration of impunity that should be challenged.

NBA also called on pub-lic office holders to dem-onstrate a higher sense of responsibility, account-ability and respect for the rule of law, urging its

Lagos State Gov-ernor Babatunde Fashola has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their chil-dren and wards receive immunisation before they are one year old.

The immunisation is to protect them the children against the deadly diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphthe-ria, tetanus and measles.

Fashola, who spoke in Lagos in a radio jingle on routine immunisation exercise, reiterated his administrations commit-ment in ensuring that the state continues to remain polio free by making sure that every child below five years old receives two drops of oral polio vaccine

KEMI OLAITANIBADAN

The Nigerian Bar As-sociation (NBA) has asked its members across the country to make effective use of the Free-dom of Information (FOI) Act and demand account-ability from government agencies and parastatals.

This was contained in a communiqu issued by the NBA Section on Le-gal Practice at the end of its 6th annual conference held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with the theme, Raising the Bar: International Best Prac-tices in Legal Practice.

FEMI OYEWESOABEOKUTA

The Assistant Inspec-tor General of Po-lice (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, yesterday assured that the zone had put ad-equate security measures in place towards ensur-ing that residents of Ogun and Lagos states celebrate a crime-free Christmas.

Tsafe told journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that he had been visiting all the police for-mations and commands in the zone to re-ascertain level of preparedness of his men.

The AIG, who ex-pressed satisfaction at the level of what he saw,

Fashola advises parents, caregivers on immunisation

Amosun to present 2013 budget on Tuesday

Govt moves to end Fulani-Yoruba feud

NBA tasks members on FOI Act

however, declined to com-ment on the strategies put in place to make residents sleep with their eyes closed, claiming that it would be suicidal to do so.

He stressed that both Lagos and Ogun com-mands were ready to tack-le bandits during and after the Christmas festivities.

Tsafe said: We are strategising to make sure that robbery cases in La-gos and Ogun are are re-duced to barest minimum, if not totally eradicated.

You heard of the ar-rests we made in Lagos, the suspects are giving us very useful information. I want to assure the people that the Christmas will be so peaceful.

We have really posi-tioned our men to achieve

will protect the children against killer diseases, such as polio, tuberculosis, diph-theria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles to men-tion a few. Please join me in making Lagos polio-free, let us kick out polio now.

velopmental efforts, particu-larly in the area would come to nullity if issues respon-sible for the crises were not resolved amicably.

He said: The current ef-fort is inspired by a genuine desire to find a lasting peace to the problem. We must work together to engender peace. Let us all open our minds to the possibility of a lasting peace.

The SSG said that part of the measures to be put in place to forestall further break down of law and or-der was the introduction of minimum entry require-ments which would spell out some preconditions for the herdsmen to enter the sleepy town.

This, according to him, would become operational as soon as a committee made up of the Fulanis, indigenes and government representatives completes the task of fine-tuning nec-essary arrangements.

Adeoluwa, however, asked the Fulani herdsmen to stay away from the town while the reconciliatory moves last.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Friday, November 16, 2012 9South West

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHARLES OKEKEAWKA

Anambra State Gov-ernor, Peter Obi, has promised that the rebuilding of flood ravaged areas in the state will commence soon.

He said the work to be done, especially in reset-tling the victims after the flood has receded is enor-mous and beyond what the state government would do alone.

Governor Obi said this yesterday while answering questions from journalists. He said the state was pres-ently doing needs assess-ment in post-flood Anam-bra.

As I have always main-tained the issue of dis-placed people and the set-ting up of camps, which were the first necessities, thrown up by the flood are not the major challenges.

Some of those at the camp cannot go home now because their houses, farms and property have been

washed away and destroyed by the flood. Resettling such people are among the major challenges we are going to face now, Obi said.

On how he was able to emerge as the best gover-nor in the handling of the flood problem, he said it was because of savings his government made since he became governor.

I started saving for the rainy day under different headings such as for emer-gency, for salaries, for in-vestment, among others. Thus, when the flood issue occurred, it was easy for us to cope, the governor stressed.

10 Friday, November 16, 2012 South East

L-R: Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi; South-East Zonal Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Public Hearing on the Review of 1999 Constitution, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Senator Ayogu Eze, during a courtesy call on the Acting Governor in Enugu, yesterday.

Obi

GEORGE OPARAABIA

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State has directed all party ward chairmen and secretaries in the area to reject any move by former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, to return to the party.

Speaking in Bende town during a meeting of the par-ty, the Local Government Chairman, Ihendu Eke, said the party is ready to readmit all its former mem-

EMMANUEL ONANIABUJA

Again, the pro-tracted trial of six police officers ac-cused of killing five auto spare-parts dealers at Apo Mechanic Village and their female companion was stalled yesterday, ow-ing to the absence in court of one of the prosecution witnesses.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, adjourned the case till January 17 and 18 for the prosecution to call its final witnesses.

The Federal Govern-

ment was expected to close its case yesterday, after call-ing its last set of witnesses between November 15 and 16.

However, the decision to adjourn the case was on account of a brief con-ference between the judge and parties in the case, which has been dragging since 2005, when the extra-judicial murder occurred.

Speaking with Nation-al Mirror shortly after the conference that held in the judges chambers, Prosecuting counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said: The case couldnt proceed because two of

the witnesses who are po-lice officers were around, but the third witness was absent. In order to have all witnesses present in court, the court adjourned till January 17 and 18.

It will be recalled that the celebrated Apo six case has suffered several adjournments, most of which have been at the in-stance of the prosecution.

For instance, the last adjournment on Septem-ber 20 followed an oral ap-plication by Chief Uche. He had informed the court that hearing of the case will not be possible owing to the inability of

Apo Six: FGs witness absence again stalls trial

Post-fl ood rebuilding process begins soon Obi

PDP blocks Kalus return to party

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

The House of Repre-sentatives Commit-tee Chairman on Environment and a mem-ber representing Anao-cha/Dunukofia/Njikoka federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, has com-mended the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), pending before the National Assembly.

Addressing journalists yesterday during the in-spection of active erosion sites in various communi-ties across Anambra State,

Ekwunife said the new pe-troleum industry bill would enhance productivity and also help curb corruption in the petroleum sector.

According to the law-maker, the series of criti-cisms and attacks on the minister by some Nige-rians were unnecessary, adding that she has done what previous ministers in that sector could not do in the past and urged Ni-gerians to support her in her efforts at reposition-ing the petroleum minis-try.

The PIB has been a per-fect journey. The PIB came up in 2002 and could not see the light of the day.

Ekwunife commends Petroleum Minister on PIB

bers that had left for anoth-er political party, but can only readmit those without questionable characters.

Ekes position followed the speculation making the rounds that the PDP wants to readmit the former gov-ernor from the national level contrary to the partys constitution which, he said, stipulates that members could only come into the party through their politi-cal wards.

On this premise, the lo-cal government chairman directed all the ward chair-men and their secretaries to scrutinise anybody seek-ing to come into the party and get approval from the stakeholders and leaders before such person or per-sons would be readmitted into the party.

Eke said there is the freedom of association; but stressed that That any group has the right

to choose those it would want to associate with as it should not be an all comers affair. We do not want to re-admit those who will come and give us the virus they left with, as we are virus-free now.

He recalled that it was such moves in the past that made the party at the coun-cil level to withdraw party registers from ward chair-men and that the registers are still at the party head-

quarters in Bende to avoid problems of wrongful ad-mittance of unwanted poli-ticians.

His words: We had ear-lier taken party registers from our ward chairmen because of such unwar-ranted rumours and up till now, after going through the register, we have not seen any such name as Orji Uzor Kalu, in any of our registers and we want it to remain like that.

Eke also said that the party has received a protest letter from Igbere ward, the home town of the former governor that there have been moves by him to come back and that they are not part of such moves.

He also said the party at Igbere came up with a reso-lution distancing itself from such moves, stressing that it was one of the reasons they had to call the meeting to address the issue.

the prison authorities to convey the four accused persons held in Kuje Pris-ons, to court. The FGs counsel blamed the devel-opment on the scarcity of fuel in Abuja.

Tendering an apology, Uche said: My Lord, we are very sorry, we apolo-gise for this development. Despite the commitment of my Lord to ensure that this matter is concluded on time, we still have cir-cumstances constraining us. We will fashion out a way of taking two days consecutively as we in-tend to conclude the case before the end of the year.

CHARLES OKEKEAWKA

The Anambra State government yester-day cautioned par-ents to desist from using their children as bread winners. The government said it will soon resume the raiding of streets, parks and markets to apprehend chil-dren hawking goods and beg

for arms with their parents.This development was

announced by the state Com-missioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Azuka Ag-bata, in an interview with National Mirror.

The commissioner said as part of the measures to cur-tail the trend of using kids as bread winners, the govern-ment has finalised plan to or-

ganise a seminar for parents and other key stakeholders on the issue at Otuocha, head-quarters of Anambra East Local Government Area.

She said the seminar, which will come up during the celebration of the Inter-national Rural Women and Family Day, has the theme; Family Unity: Implication for Proper Child Up-Bring-ing.

Speaking on the focus of the seminar, Agbata said the seminar in Otuo-cha, which is a pilot pro-gramme, will dwell on keeping children healthy. She said arrangement has been made and that her ministry has reached out to all the key ministries, like education and health that will play key roles during the seminar.

Anambra warns parents against child labour

the state and take it to the next level. What matters is for everybody, wherever we find ourselves, to give our all in the overall interest of the people.

We have demonstrated that we are one across the length and breadth of the state. Edo people are en-terprising and courageous and we have a vision to refine the politics and re-turn power to the people.

The governor, however, congratulated Prof. Ihonv-bere on the appointment, which, according to him, was strictly based on merit.

could be tried. She said though the

petitioner had the op-tion of approaching ei-ther the regular court or the tribunal, Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution also vested in the tribu-nal the jurisdiction to entertain the relief.

According to her, the Supreme Court had of-ten frowned against the dismissal of election petitions on technical grounds that hardly al-low parties to ventilate issues meritoriously.

The Appeal Court said that the appellant plead-ings were clear, direct and formed the basis of his case.

The court, therefore, restored all the plead-ings of the petition be-fore urging the Acting President of the Court of Appeal to reconsti-tute a new election peti-tion tribunal to hear the petition.

In his reaction, Airhi-avbere, amidst his ju-bilant supporters, de-scribed the judgement as courageous. Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, who was also in court, reaffirmed Oshiomholes academic qualification for the election.

He said the governors next line of action would depend on the advice of his lawyers.

nor yesterday administered oath on the newly appoint-ed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Kayode Omoezoavbo Ihonvbere, asking him to contribute his wealth of experience to the develop-ment of the state.

Oshiomhole said: The challenge is to take Edo State back to its old glory. There is no doubt that you will add value to delivering service efficiently as an ac-complished, seasoned aca-demician and politician. The vision of this admin-istration is to reposition

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHANBENIN

The Court of Ap-peal yesterday de-livered judgement in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Par-ty (PDP) candidate in Edo State governorship elec-tion, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd).

The court ordered the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribu-nal to hear afresh the petition filed against the election of Governor Ad-ams Aliyu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Chairman of the court, Justice Helen Ogun-wunmiju, assisted by Justices S. Yakubu and Tom Awotoye, ordered the lower tribunal to be-gin afresh the hearing of Airhiavberes claims on alleged non-qualification of Oshiomhole to contest the election.

The court also dis-missed the cross-appeal by the governor, which sought to quash the re-maining issues of al-leged non-compliance of the election to the Elec-toral Act 2010.

But Government House sources told Na-tional Mirror yesterday that Governor Oshiom-hole may challenge the judgement at the Su-preme Court.

In the judgement, Justice Ogunwunmiju upheld that the tribu-nal erred in law to have disqualified itself from entertaining Airhiavbe-res relief bothering on Oshiomholes qualifica-tion for the governorship election, insisting that issues in the petition

Investigations by Na-tional Mirror revealed that the arrest of the diver generated tension between indigenes and se-curity agents in the area.

In an interview, Para-mount Ruler and Chairman of the Olugbobiri communi-ty, Kesiye Obosi, confirmed

SAM OLUWALANA

The Niger Delta Devel-opment Commission (NDDC) will con-tinue to prioritise concrete infrastructure to open up

Limited, Abuja, leading a team of consultants handling the development of Ibaka seaport paid him a courtesy call at the Governors Office, Uyo.

Akpabio said: With the congestion of the Lagos sea-port, there was the need for another seaport in the coun-try and for the creation of employment for our youths.

The completion of Iba-ka Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State has been described as a solu-tion to port congestion and employment generation for Nigerian youths.

Governor Godswill Akpabio state this when Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Achimugu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Felak Concept

EMMA GBEMUDUYENAGOA

It seems tension is ris-ing at Olugbobiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bay-elsa State following a toxic waste allegedly dumped in the communitys river by an oil company.

It was learnt that the toxic dump was conveyed from the rig of the firm near Koluama identified as Majesty.

Olugbobiri community has, however, arrested a diver allegedly hired by the firm to dump the waste in its river.

the incident, alleging that the oil companys workers in Koluama territory con-veyed toxic waste in the night and dumped it in the communitys river.

Obosi said: The impact of the waste dumped will be devastating on homes submerged by the recent

flood and also destroy means of livelihood.

An aide to the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area Chairman, Mr. Felix Ayah, said that the council had sent a petition to the state Ministry of the Envi-ronment to register its dis-may on over the incident.

communities in the region for sustainable develop-ment.

NDDC Managing Direc-tor, Dr. Christian Oboh, spoke during an inspection tour of the commissions on-going projects in Delta State.

Represented by the Delta State Representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Solo-mon Ogba, Dr. Oboh noted that the huge socio-econom-ic benefit that would accrue to the region on completion of various projects, includ-ing the linking of commu-nities, will further stimu-late economic activities.

He said the Board was mindful of the peculiar

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) receiving the Oba of Benin, Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Erediauwa, CFR when the monarch visited the governor to congratulate him on his re-election, yesterday.

Benin monarch visits Oshiomhole, urges projects completionWe have overcome our learning curve. Your Maj-esty, we would restore the beauty of this great city. This is the capital of this kingdom; this is the capital of Edo State. I am indebted to the Binis for accepting me as a son and a brother. By their votes, they spoke very loud and clear.

Oshiomhole listed the next phase of work in Benin city to include aggressive reclamation of the Benin Moat and completing the work on Benin Master Plan, within the next two years.

Meanwhile, the gover-

Toxic dump raises tension in Bayelsa community

NDDC promises to execute concrete infrastructure

Why Nigeria needs Ibaka seaport Akpabio

Certifi cate: Airhiavbere fl oors Oshiomhole at Appeal Court

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

The monarch of Be-nin Kingdom, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Eredi-auwa, yesterday visited the Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, at the Government House in Benin.

The venerable mon-arch, who is rarely seen in the public, arrived at the Government House in the company of senior palace chiefs for a meeting with Governor Oshiomhole.

Oba Erediauwa said: I came to congratulate you on your swearing-in. I watched it on the televi-sion and it was very im-pressive. You have done well. Keep the flag flying.

He urged the governor to continue with the good work he had been doing, saying: My chiefs broke kola nut and said: May God continue to enrich the treasury with the where-withal to do what you are doing. Please, finish the projects you have started and thank you very much. My brothers, traditional

rulers, are waiting for you to continue work in their domains. You are a won-derful man.

In his response, Gover-nor Oshiomhole thanked the monarch for his sup-port and prayers, saying: I am deeply indebted to your Majesty. Your Maj-esty has been a father to me and to all of us in Edo State.

My own biological fa-ther would not have done better for me than what you have done. I am de-termined to do more than what I did in the first term.

Airhiavbere

challenges the Niger Delta environment poses for the people, hence the commit-ment to complete on-going projects in the region.

The completion of on-going reclamation and shore protection in Okerenkoko of Delta State designed to check ocean surge is a prior-ity, the Managing Director, who also visited the 16 kilo-meter Kurote-gbaranmatu Road with four bridges as well as Ugborode shore pro-tection project, said.

The Commission, Dr. Oboh said, would be pru-dent in the application of resources with a view to ensuring value for money.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Friday, November 16, 2012 11South South

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net12 News Friday, November 16, 2012

GEORGE OJIMAKURDI

The six states of the North Central geo-political zone of the country were yesterday united in their position on issues surrounding the re-tention of the immunity clause for the president and his vice as well as the gover-nors, the rejection of state police and the devolution of powers from the centre, among other issues.

The zone was also united on the issue of fiscal feder-alism, retention of the two-term tenure for the presi-dent and the governors, separation of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation from that of the government, as well as support for the creation of more states.

The position of the states is contained in their various presentations at the commencement of a two-day zonal public hear-ing in Makurdi, organised by the Senate.

The states were, how-ever, divide over issues bordering on the role of traditional rulers in the constitution, expulsion of National Youth Service Corp(NYSC), Land Use Act and the Code of Conduct from the constitution, lo-cal government autonomy, recognition of the six geo-political zones in the consti-tution, among others.

This was as state agita-tors took advantage of the public hearing to make cas-es before the lawmakers for the creation of states from their areas.

Some of the groups that made presentation for new states included Prof. Jerry Gana, who spoke on behalf of the proposed Edu State seekers from Niger State, General A. B. J. Ikwue for Apa State from Benue State and the movement for Kai-nji State also from the pres-ent Niger State.

Others demands are for Gboko State, Okura state, Igbomina State and Plateau South State.

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

De