9JA VIBEZ HUB

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has admitted that the
country is far behind in the race to eradicate poverty.
He added that the reason for this was that there were
no systematic and focused approaches to eradicating
poverty in Nigeria.
Osinbajo made this comment while speaking at the
second Abiola Ajimobi roundtable programme to mark
the 70th birthday of the former governor of Oyo State.
He delivered a speech on the topic: “Managing the
Dynamics of Nigeria’s Advancement: The Socio-
Economic options.”
He said “there are two issues and I’m glad that by the
response of discussants, the two issues stood out.
One is the environment for local and foreign
investments and second is eradicating poverty.”

By Ola Ajayi

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the country is far
behind the race in eradicating poverty.
He said this at the second  Abiola Ajimobi roundtable
programme to mark the 70th birthday of the two-time
governor of Oyo State.
The programme was well-attended by many incumbent
governors, former governors, prominent traditional rulers
and several other businessmen and women across the
country.
While speaking on the topic, ” Managing the Dynamics of
Nigeria’s Advancement: The Socio-Economic options”, Prof
Osinbajo said, “there are two issues and I’m glad that by
the response of discussants, the two issues stood out. One
is the environment for local and foreign investments and
second is eradicating poverty.”
“It’s very obvious that we are behind the race in eradicating
poverty. The reason being that before now, there were no
systematic and focused approach to eradicating poverty in
our country. This is why from 2014-2015, the APC decided
to write social investment into our manifestos”.
“So, the social investment we are talking about is not by
accident. It’s a comprehensive programme to tackle
poverty. It’s a detailed programme and first of its kind
anywhere in Africa. The programme is very seriously
scrutinized by the World Bank and as a matter of fact, the
World Bank is a collaborator”.
” Till date, that school feeding programme accounts for
feeding over 9.9m pupils in 33 states and we are going to
36. 540,000 people are being paid monthly. Of course, it’s
not a perfect programme but it’s the first pragmatic
approach to tackle poverty”.
“That’s what countries with large population of the poor did
and today it has taken a large number out of poverty. It’s
very important to bear in mind that we are at the first stage
of the programme and we will do a lot more”.
Former governor of Osun State, said for the economy to
improve, the rich in the country “must be taxed
mercilessly”.
According to him, to help lift the poor from the mud of
poverty, the rich would have to pay more than they are
paying as taxes.
“My firm belief is that there must be transparency, rigorous
poverty alleviation and anti-corruption. We must mercilessly
tax the rich and the keyword is merciless. I mean those
who are in possession of money either legitimately or
through other means. It is when we have access to  money
that we can affect the lives of the majority of the people
who are poor due to inequality in the distribution of the
wealth of the nation.”
“Population ought to be a blessing but it’s not because our
able-bodied men and women are totally useless to the
economy. Our education and other policies must stimulate
people to be productive”.
His views, which he said he presented as Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola and not as Minister of Interior, however drew
the ire of Mrs Ibukunoluwa Awosika, one of the discussants
who asked why the rich had to be punished for striving
hard, in the same difficult environment where the poor are.
The Guest Speaker, Prof Ayo Olukotun, who spoke on the
topic entitled, ” Managing the Dynamics of Nigeria’s
Advancement: The Socio-Economic options”,  said, ”
previous sections of this paper, some ideas were canvassed
concerning remedial initiatives that can soften our plight
and turn us off dreadful scenarios of predicted high and
increasing population growth, in the midst of slow growth
and dwindling resources. I intend to bring together these
ideas in this section, so that it can serve as a sort of
prospectus of necessary reforms and a compass for
charting our way out of what looks like a forest of a
thousand demons”.
“However much we dislike the idea of arresting uncontrolled
surge in population, we must now consider putting life into
policies and institutions which already exist but allowed to
lie fallow.”
“According to a recent report, almost 70% of existing
families have large family sizes of 6 or more persons.
Consequently, government must now consider how best to
incentivize the raising of small families and organizing
sanctions for those who depart from that norm. The
projection of almost 260 million by 2030 should jerk us
awake from the current inertia. Similarly, extant but
ineffective institutions such as the National Council on
Population Management should be forced awake from their
slumber to carry out the activities prescribed for them.”
“Needless to say that corruption must be reduced so that
resources and efforts invested can begin to show, I already
referred to the failure of previous poverty alleviation
programmes, on account of mismanagement and
corruption, this cannot be allowed to continue, and here
one must be thankful for the anti-corruption programme of
President Muhammadu Buhari, which in a manner of
speech, have put the fear of God into serving public
officials.
“I have often lamented however, in my back-page columns
in the punch that with a few exceptions, the states are not
keying in into the drive, in spite of its enormous potential.
The project requires buy-in not just from civil society, but
from the state, as well as local governments. There are, of
course, other ideas for restoration, what is important,
however, is to create what academics like to call a
developmental state, whose sole priority would be to roll
back the advance of poverty, increase the welfare of the
people, modernize structures and processes, put political
entities on the world map, copy from best practices around
the globe, as well as fulfill the social contract between
those who govern and the governed.
“Needless to say that corruption must be reduced so that
resources and efforts invested can begin to show, I already
referred to the failure of previous poverty alleviation
programmes, on account of mismanagement and
corruption, this cannot be allowed to continue”, he said.
Roll call
Those at the event included wife of the Vice President, Mrs
Dolapo Osinbajo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi,
Governors of Lagos, Babatunde Sanwolu, Ekiti Governor
Kayode Fayemi, Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun, deputy
governor of Oyo, Egnr Rauf Olaniyan, and Governor of Kano
State, Alhaji Umar Ghanduje. Chief Bisi Akande, former
acting national chairman of APC, Chief Bode Amao, Central
Council of Ibadan Indigenes,
Former governors of Oyo, Ogun States, Otunba Adebayo
Alao-Akala and Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, Minister of
State, Ministry of Health, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, Chief
Kola Daisi, an industrialist and many others.
Traditional rulers there were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi
Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi,
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji represented by
Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage(rtd),
Olugbon of Ilegbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, wife of
former Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose and
several others.

Nigerian lawmakers have set aside a whooping N37bn to
renovate the National Assembly.
This is contained in the N2.5trn budgeted for capital projects
by the Federal Capital Development Authority in the 2020
budget.
The legislative arm had also voted N100bn for constituency
projects in the budget, while earmarking N1bn for the
amendment of the 1999 constitution by lawmakers in 2020.
Defending the huge sum, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan,
said some facilities in the National Assembly complex were
old and needed to be replaced.
He said, “The phase one renovation will commence – the
chambers and committee rooms in the white house.
“N37bn was sourced and was given. It was put under the
FCT, not National Assembly. All we require is to have the
complex renovated."
Meanwhile, Dr. Rawlings Agada, National Assembly Director of
Information, hinted that the money might not be enough for
the required renovation.
He said, “The National Assembly needs a lot of work.
"I don’t think even that amount of money can take care of all
those things because even the dome has been leaking and
there is fear that if the repairs are not done, we might suffer
greater problem in future.”

Although the 2019 general election has come and gone, the
surprises that came with it have continued to remain the topic
of discourse among political pundits in Nigeria.
In every election worldwide, political parties and their
gladiators usually boast of victory but at the end of the polls,
the winners and the losers emerge.
The 2019 general election did not only come with surprises
but the most shocking was the collapse of some powerful
'godfathers' who were defeated at the poll by supposed
political lightweights.
Another shocking event that happened during the 2019
election was the total defeat suffered by all the senators that
defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
alongside with the former Senate president, Bukola Saraki, to
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In this analysis, Legit.ng lists some of the big losers and
winners during the 2019 general election:
1. Bukola Saraki
Before his eventual defeat on February 23, the former Senate
president, Bukola Saraki, was a strong man and godfather of
Kwara politics. He was the governor of the state between
2003 and 2011 before he was elected to represent Kwara
central at the Senate on the platform of the PDP.
He got his re-election into the Senate in 2015 after his
defection from the PDP with other governors of the party to
join hands with the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and others to form
APC.
Saraki irked the anger of the leadership of the party when he
connived with some senators elected on the platform of PDP
in 2015 and became the Senate president against the choice
of the party’s candidate - Ahmad Lawan, who is the current
Senate president
His betrayal of the party at the national level sparked crisis in
his state as members vowed that they would resist his
dominance of Kwara politics.

Former Senate president Bukola Saraki
Saraki’s defection alongside other former senators to PDP
some months to 2019 general election nailed his political
coffin in the state. This action led to ‘Oto gee’ - Enough is
enough revolution in Kwara state.
He was booed by the people of the state on several
occasions, an action that signaled his total rejection by the
political class in the state.

On February 23, Saraki’s political influence and dominance
were suppressed as he was roundly defeated by the candidate
of APC, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, in his bid for re-election into the
Senate from Kwara central.
Oloriegbe polled a total of 123,808 votes to defeat Saraki who
scored 68,994 votes in the four local governments of Kwara
central senatorial district.
In Ilorin West, Saraki’s stronghold, Oloriegbe polled 51,531
votes while the former Senate president 30,075 votes.
The election has, however, sacked Saraki from political space
in Nigeria. Only time will tell if the medical doctor turned
politician would bounce back in 2023.
2. Godswill Akpabio
The former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio,
who defected to the ruling APC some months before the
election, lost his bid to go back to the Senate to the candidate
of PDP, Chris Ekpenyong.
Before his defection, he was the political godfather in the oil-
rich state of Akwa Ibom, where he served twice as governor.
The PDP candidate got 118,215 votes to defeat Akpabio who
got 83,158 votes.
Former Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio
The former Senate minority leader lost his bid to further
represent Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district in the
National Assembly.
He was later made the minister of Niger Delta affairs by
President Muhammadu Buhari as a compensation for his
defeat.
3. Rabiu Kwankwaso
Although the former governor of Kano and political godfather
in the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, did not seek re-election during
2019 general election, all the candidates he supported were
defeated.
He was a dominant figure in Nigeria's most-populous state for
the last two decades and his Kwankwasiyya political group
has a large following not only in Kano but in other parts of
northern Nigeria. It is his second blow in recent times - he
tried to secure the PDP ticket last year to run for president,
but lost out to Atiku Abubakar .
The 62-year-old had defected to the PDP after falling out with
his former ally and successor, Governor Umar Ganduje.
4. George Akume
Former Benue state governor and former lawmaker who
represented Benue North-West senatorial district, George
Akume, surprisingly lost his bid to return to the Senate for the
fourth time.
Akume, the candidate of APC, was defeated by Orker Jev, the
PDP candidate and a former member of the House of
Representatives.
Jev polled 157,726 to defeat Akume who polled 115,422
votes.
Akume fell out with the state governor, Samuel Ortom, in 2018
when some communities of the state were ravaged by
suspected herdsmen.
5. Shehu Sani
The activist turned politician, Shehu Sani, defected from the
ruling APC to Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) when he could
not get APC ticket for the second term.
The APC candidate and ally of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of
Kaduna state, Mallam Uba Sani, defeated Shehu Sani and
others to win Kaduna central election on Saturday, February 23.

Former lawmaker who represented Kaduna central at the
Senate, Shehu Sani
While Malam Uba Sani, who was a former adviser to El-Rufai
on political matters, polled 355,242 votes, his closest rival,
Lawal Adamu of the PDP, scored 195,497 votes and Shehu
Sani scored 70,613 votes.
6. Dino Melaye
The former controversial senator who was recently defeated
during rerun in Kogi West by the candidate of APC, Smart
Adeyemi, defied odds on February 23, to come out victorious
in the election.
He defected with Saraki and others to PDP in 2018 and he
became the last man standing among the defectors to PDP
who did not lose his senatorial election.
Melaye had polled 85,395 votes to defeat Smart Adeyemi of
the APC who scored 66,901 votes.
His victory was, however, upturned by the Court of Appeal,
which ordered a rerun that was held on November 16, where
he was finally defeated by his main challenger, Smart
Adeyemi.
7. Abiola Ajimobi
The defeat suffered by the former governor of Oyo state and
candidate of the APC in Oyo south senatorial district, Abiola
Ajimobi, was another surprise that greeted the election.
The former governor, popularly called by the people of the
state as 'constituted authority' was beaten by the candidate of
PDP, Kola Balogun.
Balogun scored 105,720 votes to trump Ajimobi, who
recorded 92,579 votes. The PDP candidate won with a margin
of 13,141. The African Democratic Party (ADP) candidate, Soji
Akanbi, came third with 49,437 votes.
8. Yakubu Dogara
The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara, emerged winner of the Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro
federal constituency election in Bauchi state during the poll.
Dogara also defected to PDP some months to the election.
Before the election, it was believed that Dogara would lose his
re-election bid but the outcome proved otherwise.
He scored 73,609 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Dalhatu
Kantana, who scored 50,078 results.
9. Aminu Tambuwal
Another surprise during the election was the emergence of
former speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal, as the winner of Sokoto governorship election.
He was elected the governor of the state in 2015 on the
platform of APC but defected to PDP some months before
2019 general election over irreconcilable issue between him
and his political godfather and former governor of the state,
Aliyu Wamakko.
Former lawmaker who represented Kogi west at the Senate,
Dino Melaye
Wamakko had vowed that he would end Tambuwal’s political
career at the poll but surprisingly, he defeated his former
benefactor and got his re-election.
Tambuwal got 512,002 votes to defeat his close rival and
candidate of APC, Ahmad Aliyu, who polled 511,660 votes.
He won by a small margin of 342 votes after the
supplementary poll.
10. Omoyele Sowore
Before the election, the presidential candidate of the African
Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, was confident that
he would win the poll if it's free and fair.
The 48-year-old activist believed he would win the election if
Nigerians were allowed the freedom to cast their votes for a
candidate of their choice.
He expressed confidence that Nigerians would not return to
the leaders in the PDP and APC who have failed them over
the past two decades.
Despite the claim that he had support of Nigerian youths, he
was roundly defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the
poll.

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre, SHAC, has reacted to
the recent killing of United Nations, UN, aid workers by
members of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State.
The ISWAP faction of Boko Haram on Friday shared a gory
video recording that detailed the execution of four out of the
five abductees that remained in their captivity.
The four slain aid workers who were abducted on July 18
were staff of the Action Against Hunger (AAH).
The murder of the four aid workers has brought the number
of the abducted humanitarian workers slain by Boko Haram
to five this year.
Reacting to the development, SHAC said it is high time that
the world sanction France, other terrorists’ promoters for
crimes against humanity.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, Ibrahim Abubakar,
Executive Director of the group, called on the international
community to speak with one voice against those promoting
terror in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Abubakar also called on the Nigerian Military to scale up
efforts to trace and free the fifth aid worker, Grace Taku, a
female, whom the terrorists have reportedly consigned to a
live of slavery.
“The world has again been made aware, through media
reports, of Boko Haram killing of four staffers of Action
Against Hunger (AAH), whom they have held captive since
July 19, 2019 after they were abducted from their vehicles in
the course of carrying out humanitarian work in the
northeast of Nigeria.
“The killing of the aid workers is condemnable, utterly
uncalled for and deserving of the stiffest retribution possible
from the Nigerian state and all nations on earth that truly
call themselves Nigeria’s friend. Barbarism of this
magnitude call for the shedding of diplomatic pretexts as it
should be met with the kind of response that will remind the
terrorists that humanity is not to be toyed with on the scale
on which they have done.
“We condemn this act of cowardice as a dastardly evil
against humanity that should not have happened if the
international interests propping up Boko Haram had taken
the sensible step of discontinuing criminal support to the
bloodthirsty monsters that they have created to torment
innocent civilians,” he said.
Abubakar stated that Boko Haram and its Islamic State
West Africa Province (ISWAP) iteration have recorded
successive heavy losses from the Nigerian Armed Forces,
adding that the reported escalation of French subversive
activities in the region, including clandestine delivery of
logistics to the terrorists, has given them the boldness to
kill captives that they had held before France decided to
strengthen their hands.
“The blood of the four aid workers is therefore as much on
the hands of Boko Haram/ISWAP as it is on the hands of the
French government and that country’s nationals, who
continue to aim for the comfortable life at the expense of
human loss in the Lake Chad Basin. The world must rise up
in unison against these terrorists and hold their French
paymasters to account.
“Time is running out for the world to speak with one voice
against those promoting terror in Nigeria and other parts of
Africa. If a bold statement is not made by the world at this
time, then the whole of humanity would be put at risk
because the twisted minds of these killers and their global
sponsors have been perverted to a point where reason fail
them. They must therefore be told in the clearest terms yet
that enough is enough. The killing of the aid workers should
be treated as a red line that has been crossed for which
there must be repercussions.
“As for NGOs and organizations that give covert support to
Boko Haram, the murder of these aid workers is a wake-up
call for them to retrace their steps because a group of
terrorists that kill their colleagues do not deserve any form
of support irrespective how morbidly such NGOs may detest
the military.” he stated.
“In the meantime, we urge the Nigerian Military to scale up
efforts to trace and free the fifth aid worker, Grace Taku, a
female, whom the terrorists have reportedly consigned to a
live of slavery. She remains the one ray of hope that the
authorities will always go after those that threaten the
wellbeing of citizens.”

Factional chairman of APC in Edo state, Anselm Ojezua, has
revealed why Oshiomhole was suspended
- Ojezua said the party followed the directive by President
Buhari on the appointment and suspension of members of
NWC of the party
- The factional chairman added that Oshiomhole was
suspended because he was not relevant in his ward
A factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
in Edo state, Anselm Ojezua, has said that the suspension of
the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, was based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s
admonition.
Vanguard reports that he claimed that the president said that
any member who is not relevant in his ward, local government
area and state should not be allowed to hold office at the
national level.
Legit.ng gathered that Ojezua who stated this on Monday,
December 17, while addressing a world press conference at
the party secretariat in Benin, traced the genesis of the crisis
rocking the party to the conduct of primaries ahead of the last
general elections, where Oshiomhole unilaterally and arbitrarily
cancelled the primaries conducted by the leadership of the
party in the state.
He stated that had the Edo APC not complied with the
directive to conduct fresh primaries, the state would have
been exposed to what befell Zamfara and other states.

The national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole
He further alleged that events had shown that there had been
a grand plan to falsely create the impression of a crisis of
leadership within the party in the state.
Ojezua said the plans were hatched and executed under the
directive of Oshiomhole and executed through his acclaimed
‘infantry division’.
He said the Edo APC had concluded that Oshiomhole lacked
the capacity, temperament and moral authority to lead the
APC as national chairman.
Ojezua insisted that any action taken by Oshiomhole in the
capacity of national chairman, including documents signed
and meetings presided over by him might be futile as his
membership was already compromised.
“In any case, having been placed on suspension as member of
the party, he has lost the legitimacy to act in any capacity in
the party," he added.

An unidentified gunman, on Sunday, reportedly shot an
officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attached to
the Ogun State Sector Command.
The gunman was said to have wounded the operative
severely on the leg before speeding away.
The incident, DAILY POST learnt, happened at the Ibafo
corridor of the Lagos Ibadan Expressway when the FRSC
operatives were controlling traffic.
The operatives, it was gathered, had stopped his vehicle
marked WED264YE for route violation and driving against
traffic, but the driver, an unidentified man who claimed to
be a policeman, was said to have pulled a pistol and shot at
one of the legs of the arresting Marshal that stopped him
and zoomed off.
The Sector Commander, FRSC, Ogun State Sector
Command, Vincent Oladele, said the Marshal was in a
stable condition at the hospital, while the incident had been
reported to the Police.
According to Oladele, a manhunt had been mounted for the
arrest of the fleeing gunman.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) has lifted the suspension
that it placed on Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
Others whose suspension were lifted were Sen. Ibikunle
Amosun, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, Mr Osita Okechukwu and
Mr Usani Usani.
The party conveyed this in a statement signed by the
party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-
Onilu, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on
Monday.
According to the statement, their suspensions were lifted
in line with the party’s deliberate policy of fairness and
actions targeted at ensuring harmony within the party
across the country.
“Through the suspension, our party has shown the
capacity and willingness to implement its own rules and
enforce discipline when there is an infraction.
“We have also shown that no individual is above discipline
and that the party will always apply equity and justice in
the day to day running of the party.
“We hope the concerned party members will seize this
opportunity to fully reconcile themselves with their ward,
local government, and state party structures.
”They will key into the party activities, and continue to
make their own contributions to the growth and stability
of the party,”Issa-Onilu said in the statement.
The party’s spokesman urged those concerned to also
take steps to reconcile with groups and individuals that
were important to ensuring a lasting solution to any
conflict that may exist in their respective states.(NAN)

A four-man kidnap syndicate is currently in police net for
allegedly kidnapping and killing a seven-year-old boy,
Abdulmalik Musa, after collecting a N300,000 ransom for his
release.
The deceased, police said, was kidnapped last week
Wednesday, at his parents’ residence by the suspected
kidnappers, who were said to have connived with the uncle
of the deceased boy, Faruq Seidu.
It was gathered that Seidu contracted the kidnappers over
the refusal of the boy’s father (Seidu’s brother) Abdul-
ammed Musa, to give him money to marry a third wife.
Seidu and other suspects were said to have initially
requested a ransom of N5,000,000 which they later reduced
to N300,000.
They, however, killed the boy and threw his corpse into a
river in Abeokuta, on claims that the boy recognised one of
the suspects.
Meanwhile, the prime suspect, Seidu claimed to be innocent
of the kidnap.
He said, ”I never asked anyone to kidnap my brother’s son, I
only saw this one (pointing to another suspect) with the boy
on a motorbike but I never discussed anything with them, I
only greeted them and left.”
But another suspect, Hassan Usain stressed that Seidu
contracted them to kidnap the boy before he personally
killed him on grounds of recognition.
“He (pointing at Seidu) is a brother to Alhaji (the victim’s
father). He said he wanted to marry a third wife and Alhaji
did not want to give him money so he asked us to kidnap
the boy.

”After Alhaji gave us money, Seidu came and said he was
going to kill the boy because he could recognise any of us
and I said why but he never listened to me.”
While parading the suspects at the crime scene at Lafenwa,
Abeokuta, the state capital, the State Police spokesperson,
DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, advised members of the public not
to trust anyone, adding that hellfire will be more conducive
for criminals than Ogun state.
“This is a case of a breakthrough in respect of adoption and
murder, what is happening here is the height of inhumanity
to man.
“On 11th of this month, a case of abduction was reported at
one of our division in Sabo, Ilupeju.
“About 24 hours after, the kidnappers made a request of
N5million and we asked the family to play along with them
and later they agreed to take N300,000 and after payment,
they still killed the boy and throw his corpse into the river.
”I want to appeal to members of the public to trust nobody,
because if a brother can do this to his brother who should
then be trusted?.
“But, I want to sound a serious warning to criminals in the
state and I will be borrowing from the words of the Governor
when he said, hellfire will be more conducive for criminals
than Ogun State.”

The Senate President, Ahmad
Lawan, has asked Nigerians to
chide the National Assembly if it
behaves as an appendage of the
executive arm of government.
He said this while responding to
questions from some journalists in
Abuja on Monday.
Mr Lawan asked Nigerians to judge
the lawmakers by their actions.
“I will like to appeal…judge us by
what we do, judge us by our
actions. We have undertaken so
many actions so far and the press
has been on this journey with us.
Please judge us on what we do and
what we don’t,” he said.
Mr Lawan said the National
Assembly would do everything
possible to ensure that “they
legislate on what will make life
better for Nigerians.”
“…and we have shown this so far. I
think we have not done anything
to show that even if a request
against Nigerians will be passed.
“So that settles the issue of rubber-
stamp. When we do rubber-stamp,
you can say this is rubber-stamp,”
he said even as he urged Nigerians
to “please encourage us when we
also do what is right,” he said.
An organisation acts as a rubber
stamp when it approves the
decisions of others without proper
consideration. In a democracy, the
legislature is expected to check the
executive while maintaining its
independence.
Weak legislature
Mr Lawan’s comments come at a
time when Nigerians have accused
the National Assembly under his
leadership as a rubber-stamp.
Some actions taken by the
lawmakers that triggered criticisms
include the “bow and go” tradition
that dominated the ministerial
screening months ago as well as
the screening of the nominees of
the Niger Delta Development
Commission.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the 14 board
nominees of the NDDC, who appeared before
the Senate committee, were asked to ‘bow and
go’ without facing any serious questions from
lawmakers.
Majority of the ministerial nominees by
President Buhari were also asked to ‘bow and
go,’ with the Senate under Mr Lawan even
amending its own rules to increase the number
of nominees who would benefit from such
‘grace.’
Another incident was the second reading and
passage of the tax bill which the lawmakers did
without seeing copies of the bill.
Recently, Mr Lawan had said the National
Assembly will consider requests sent to them
by the president as he believes “it is in the best
interest of Nigerian and Nigerians”.
Mr Buhari’s relationship with the legislature in
his first tenure in office was turbulent as the
chambers were led by his political opponents.

Akinwande Adewale Akinseye, an Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s witness, on Monday, gave
details about series of transactions in the bank account of
James Nolan, the British national and a director in the Process
and Industrial Development (P&ID) Nigeria Ltd.
Akinseye spoke before Justice Okon Abang during a cross-
examination in the ongoing trial of Nolan at the Federal High
Court, Abuja.
Akinseye, who is the first prosecution witness (PW1), admitted
that he tendered Exhibit C which contained the statements of
account to the EFCC.
“There is a credit of N1 million from ICIL Limited on Aug. 16,
2006. It is a clearing deposit.
“It means the clearing cheque of N1m was paid into the
account of P&ID Nigeria Ltd from ICIL Ltd,,” he said.
Akinseye, who is a commercial bank staff, said though he did
not know the nature of the transaction or the origin of the
funds, “I could only identify the entry as detailed in the
account.”
He said the second entry on the account was a cash
withdrawal of N500, 000 as detailed in the account statement
by Neil C. Hitchcock which took place on Aug. 31, 2006.
He said Hitchcock is signatory to the account of P&ID Nigeria
Ltd.
“The next entry was the account maintenance charge applied
on the cash withdrawals of N500, 000. Its value is N2, 500.
The bank deducted the charge for itself. Although the bank
takes account maintenance charge I am uncertain if the back
takes the entire charge.
“It is a charge and it is taxable,” he said.
According to him, when it is taxed, it is in form of a Value
Added Tax paid by the bank and the bank remits the tax.
“For the N500, 000 withdrawal, the VAT was N125 and the
date of transmission is 31st of August, 2006.
“The next entry on the statement of account is a transfer
credit of N13, 100, 000 from Trista Nigerian Limited, Abuja to
P&ID Nigeria Ltd on 6th of September, 2006,” he said.
Akinseye, who said it was detailed transfers between
customers, said it must have emanated from his bank.
He explained that though “there is a limit to an information an
account statement can provide, transfers between accounts is
normally referred to as transfers between accounts domicile in
the bank.”
He said the information on the domicile bank of the sender of
the fund could be ascertained by the bank and could also be
ascertained from another means other than the statement.
“The next entry was a bank withdrawal of N1.5 million by Neil
C. Hitchcock on the 8th of September, 2006.
“The amount withdrawn from the account is a normal due
process,” he said.
The witness said the date of the next transaction was Sept. 8,
2006.
“It was a charge of N3, 500 being the cost of legal search
carried out on the account.
“The search was carried out to verify the directors and other
information as registered at C.A.C. against the C.A.C.
document submitted to the bank for account opening,” he
said.
He said while he was not managing the account at a time, “I
can establish that the information from the search report was
in order with the account opening document.”
He gave the next entry as a Telex charge of N1000 taken on
Sept. 8, 2006.
According to him, the Telex charge denotes international
transfer of fund from the account.
“From the statement of the dollar account, the international
transfer of fund took place on Sept. 8, 2006,” he said.
Akinseye gave the dollar account as 0023975564, the naira
account as 0023975557.
He, said the account number: 0131467029. also belonged to
the P&ID Nigeria Limited.
“100 thousand dollars was transferred from out of account of
P&ID Nig Ltd,” he said, adding that the Telex charge of N1000
was deducted from the naira account based on the agreement
with the customer.
“The Telex charge of N1000 can be taken from the naira
account where the customers prefer it to be taken.
“The Telex charge goes straight to private company and could
be taken in any currency on the agreed amount.
“And it is in accordance with bank policy and did not
contravene any regulatory guideline,” he said.
Akinseye, who stated that the transaction would not have been
carried out if the requests were not in line with the bank
processes, said: “a bank can carry out transaction that may
still be reported as suspicious transactions.”
Justice Abang adjourned the case until Dec 17 for trial
continuation.

By Emmanuel Elebeke

The Federal government on Monday inaugurated a new National Broadband Plan Committee to drive the nation’s Broadband Plan.
The Committee is also expected to support the national digital economy policy and strategy for the Federal Government and ensure that nation attains the 70 percent broadband target by 2025.
The 36-member committee members drawn from both public sector and the ministry is Chaired by the Managing Director and CEO of MainOne Cable Company Nigeria limited, Mr.
Funke Okpeke and Co-Chaired by former Executive
Commissioner, NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, while Engr. Ubale Maska is to serve as Secretary with four ministry staff to serve
as Secretariat and two others as Coordinators.
Other members include representatives of NCC, ABU Zaria, CTO, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Google, NiRA,
Defence Space Administration, NFIU, NITDA, Galazy
Backbone, NIGCOMSAT, ATCON, NCS and GSMA among others.
The inauguration of the new Committee was sequel to the
expiration of 2013/2018 National Broadband Plan Committee
late last year.
Recall that on the 28th November, President Mohammadu
Buhari unveiled the National Policy for Digital Economy Policy
and Strategy for a digital Nigeria. In the document are eight
pillars of: developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills,
solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services
development and promotion, soft infrastructure, digital society
and emerging technologies and indigenous content,
development and promotio
Inaugurating the Committee, the Minister of Communications
and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami said the new
NBP Committee is expected to look at pillar three on the
National Policy for Digital Economy Policy and Strategy as it
accommodates broadband and data center, which he said is
key to economic growth and promotion of digital economyAccording to him, the work of the committee is going to
address significantly one of the eight pillars and the remaining
seven pillars also are attached to it and their success also
depends on this very important pillar. That is why this
committee is very important and strategic.
‘‘The work of this committee will go a long way in supporting
national digital economy policy and strategy for the Federal
Government. In addition, digital economy is strategically
dominating the world economy.
According to oxford economics, the value of digital economy
as of today is 11.5 trillion USD, which is approximately 16 per
cent of the world economy. According to one economic
forum, by 2022 60 per cent of the world economy will be
digitalised, just in the next three years.
‘‘And by 2030, almost 85 per cent of the world economy is
going to be a digital economy because digital economy is
dominating the world.
You cannot develop and promote digital economy without
broadband at your disposal or in your country, that is why we
feel it is necessary after getting our national broadband in
place, we need to immediately see how we can come up with
another very important strategic committee to work on our
national broadband plan so that all hands must be joined
together to see how we can penetrate under served and
unserved areas in the country.
‘‘During deliberations we should address one another with
respect and maturity putting at the back of our minds that we
are here to serve our country; there is nothing personal about
this assignment. We still have challenges of broadband
penetration, as it is today, approximately the penetration is
37.8 per cent less than 40 per cent,’’ the minister said.
Pantami said, members of the committee were selected based
on their competence, integrity, professionalism.
He therefore urged members of the Committee to make sure
that the priority of Nigeria is number one. ‘‘We should be very
objective in our discussions, we should try to identify our
priorities and preferences in whatever we do, and see how
things can be done and we should try to interact with one
another as friends and colleagues.
‘‘The work of the committee is not only on broadband but the
economy of our country because even the economy relies so
much on broadband penetration and broadband penetration is
directly proportional to our GDP in the country.
‘‘Huawei recently released another report, which indicated the
unserved and underserved communities, the committee may
wish to look into the report and see what will be useful,’’
Pantami said.
Responding on behalf of other members of the Committee, the
Chairperson of the NBP Committee, Ms. Funke Opeke said the
target of the Committee is to achieve at least 65-70% broad
band penetration across Nigeria, assuring that objectives is
not to favour one technology over another or to be
prescriptive but the right technology for the right purpose.
‘‘The minister has set the goal and I believe the NCC is in
agreement. It is for us to look at what was done during the
period of the last committee, look at what the issues and
challenges are that still exist, and come up with a plan that
allows us achieve the set objectives.
‘‘I believe the objective is achievable with sincerity of purpose
and with hard work for these are critical services and
infrastructure that we need to bring to all Nigerians and we’re
optimistic that we can accomplish that goal. There is work to
be done on fixed infrastructure but the reality is mobile
technologies are also progressing quite fast to deliver very
capable services to people.
‘‘We see what is going on with 5G all over the world, so we
will address both at the committee, but I believe our objective
is not to favour one technology over the another  but to figure
out how we can get those critical services to many more
Nigerians.
So, we’ll be a mix of technologies but the objectives is not to
favour one technology over another or to be prescriptive but
the right technology for the right purpose. The most
competitive technology that enables us deliver services to all Nigerians,’’ Okpeke said.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta said Broadband Infrastructure
remain one of the top priority of the ITU to ensure people around the world have access to equitable and affordable broadband, wherever they are and whatever the circumstances
they are in. With adequate broadband infrastructure in place, he assured that everything else will fall into place.
‘‘The ability to deliver healthcare, best quality education even to generations unborn, ability to streamline transportation, meet up with SDGs and the ability to transform the economy into a digital one.’’
He pledged the commitment of the board and Management of NCC, especially in the area of driving the infrastructure that
will enhance that critical mass of ICT adoption in use that will in time increase the level of broadband penetration in the country.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Monday, said the
Federal Government would be guided by extant laws in the
way it would handle the case of detained pro-democracy
activist and convener of the RevolutionNow Protest,
Omoyele Sowore.
Malami, who had last Friday, directed the Department of
State Service, DSS, to hands-off Sowore’s trial and transfer
his case-file to his office, said he would not take any
“unilateral decision” with respect to the matter.
He made his position known via a statement that was
signed and released to newsmen by his media aide, Dr.
Umar Gwandu.
According to the statement, Malami’s response was sequel
to query from the media on claim that Sowore’s lawyer, Mr.
Femi Falana, SAN, wrote to him, requesting for the release
of his client from detention.
Malami was quoted to have responded, “When parties
submit their issues for determination to a court of law, they
lack exclusivity of decision over such issues without
recourse to court.”
He was also quoted to have re-affirmed that FG would
“remain guided by the established tradition and will not take
unilateral decision without recourse to the rule of law.”
Sowore’s lawyer had reportedly written to the AGF, urging
him to direct the DSS to release his client from its custody.
Falana said the letter dated December 13, became
necessary after two lawyers in his team visited the DSS
headquarters in Abuja to demand Sowore’s release but
were advised to direct their request to the AGF.
The said letter titled, ‘Request for the release of Omoyele
Sowore from illegal custody’, read, in part: “Following the
announcement of your decision to take over the case of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria V Omoyele Sowore and another,
two members of the legal defence team visited the
headquarters of the State Security Service on December 13,
2019 to demand the immediate release of Sowore from
illegal custody.
“Our colleagues were however advised to direct the request
to your office in view of the fact that you have taken over
the case from the State Security Service.
“In the light of the foregoing, we hereby request you to use
your good offices to direct the State Security Service to
release Sowore from custody in line with the order of the
Federal High Court admitting him to bail pending trial. We
are confident that you will not hesitate to grant our request
as no court has issued any remand order for his detention.”
It will be recalled that the DSS had on December 6, re-
arrested Sowore at the premises of the Federal High Court
in Abuja, barely 12 hours after it temporarily released him
from a detention period that lasted about 124 days, based
on the order of the trial court.
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of African
Action Congress, AAC, in the last general election and
publisher of an online news outlet, Sahara Reporters, and
his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate), are
currently answering to a seven-count treasonable felony
charge.
They were in the charge marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/235/2019,
accused of conspiracy, money laundering, cyber-stalking
and insulting President Buhari.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as
trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered their release on bail, a
judicial directive the DSS spurned.