The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • Court fines FG 500m over Kanu’s illegal extradition, orders his return to Kenya

    Court fines FG 500m over Kanu’s illegal extradition, orders his return to Kenya

    The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Wednesday, ordered the Federal Government to pay N500 million as damages to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for forcefully abducting and renditioning him from Kenya in June last year.

    Presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, also declared Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya as illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

    Kanu, had through his Special Counsel, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, challenged his “abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya without any court warrant”, and demanded his restitution to his country of abode, Britain or Kenya where he was before the abduction in June 19, 2021.

    Kanu’s lawyer also asked the court to “redress the myriad of violations that came with his rendition, such as the torture, unlawful detention and the denial of the right to fair hearing which is required by law before anybody can be expelled from one country to the other.

    He demanded N25 billion as damages for the gross violation of his rights and the torture he was subjected to both in Kenya and Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government in its preliminary objections, argued that the matter had already been entertained by the Abia High and that the said incident did not occur within the jurisdiction of the court.

    But the court struck out the preliminary objections, saying that where an incident occurred in two states any federal high court in either of the states had jurisdiction over the matter, stressing that violation of Kanu’s rights began in Afaraukwu Umuahia and continued in Kenya.

    The Court also held that Kanu’s lawyer had successfully established a case of torture against his client which the defendants laboured in vain to deflate.

    In considering the prayer for damages, Justice Anyadike held that Kanu had been “exposed to global ridicule which requires global cleansing”.

    The Court, therefore, awarded N500 million in damages against the Federal Government.

    The Respondents had no representation in the Court but Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor thanked the court for granting justice to his client.

    Later in an interview, Ejimakor said the judgement was a victory for the oppressed people and commended the judiciary for remaining the last hope of the common man.

    He urged the Federal Government to obey the judgement and other similar rulings in Kanu’s favour and release him without further delay.

    Ejimakor further told the Federal Government to return Kanu to Kenya where he was before his abduction by the agents of the Government on June 19 2021.

    He insisted that IPOB is not a terror organisation contrary to claims by the Federal Government.

    Ejimakor said that terror organisations do not have Defense Counsel anywhere in the world unlike IPOB which has identifiable lawyers all over the world.

    He called for the de-proscription of the pro-Biafra movement and the release of all its members in different security detention facilities.

    Other members of Kanu’s legal team present at the court were Patrick Agazie, Ifeyinwa Nworgu, Tochukwu Arugbuonye, Franklin Amandi, Ohaeto Uwazie and Mandela Umegborogu.

    National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Igboayaka. O Igboayaka was also present at the court.

    Igboayaka called on President Buhari to show he had respect for the rule of law and release Kanu without further hesitations.

    He said that the entire Igbo youths both at home and abroad had continued to stand firm behind Kanu who he described as a rare hero.

    Below are the eight-point reliefs sought by Kanu which were all granted except the N25 billion in damages which was slashed to N500 million:

    “1, A DECLARATION that the arrest of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents’ agents without due process of law is arbitrary, and the Respondents’ enforced disappearance of the Applicant for eight (8) days and their refusal to produce the Applicant before a Kenyan Court for the purpose of Applicant’s extradition are illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against arbitrary arrest, to his personal liberty and to fair hearing as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.

    “2, A DECLARATION that the detention of the Applicant in a non-official secret facility in Kenya and the torture of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents’ agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against unlawful detention, torture and to a fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).

    “3, A DECLARATION that pursuant to Article 12(4) of the Charter, the expulsion (or extraordinary rendition) of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria by the Respondents without a decision taken in accordance with the law of Kenya is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to a fair hearing and not to be expelled from a State Party to the Charter except by virtue of a decision taken in accordance with the law, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.

    “4, A DECLARATION that any criminal prosecution of the Applicant for the purpose of which the Respondents unlawfully expelled the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.

    “5, AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining and prohibiting the Respondents from taking any further step in any criminal prosecution of the Applicant enabled by the said unlawful expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria.

    “6, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to forthwith restitute or otherwise restore the Applicant to his liberty, same being his state of being as of 19th June 2021; and to thereupon repatriate the Applicant to his country of lawful domicile (to wit: the United Kingdom) to await the outcome of any formal request the Respondents may file before the competent authorities in Britain for the lawful extradition of the Applicant to Nigeria.

    “7, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to issue an official Letter of Apology to the Applicant for the infringement of his fundamental rights; and publication of said Letter of Apology in three (3) national dailies.

    “8, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to pay the sum of N25,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Billion Naira) to the Applicant, being monetary damages claimed by the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, property and other damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of the infringements of Applicant’s fundamental rights by the Respondents.”

    (Vanguard)

  • PDP: Ortom, Benue Elders withdraw support for Atiku

    PDP: Ortom, Benue Elders withdraw support for Atiku

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday appeared to withdraw his support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

    Mr Ortom accused the PDP candidate of dishonoring him as Governor and working against the interest of Benue residents.

    His comments came after a group of elder statesmen in Benue, Minda Leaders of Thoughts, also withdrew their support for Atiku over alleged hate speech and profiling of Benue people.

    Mr Ortom appeared to have been incensed over Atiku’s comments on the recent killings by suspected herdsmen in Benue state.

    He accused Atiku of working with Miyetti Allah, a herdsmen group with a militant arm.

    “It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing,” Mr Ortom said on Tuesday at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi.

    “It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesn’t even reference me and consider me to be a Governor of my state.”

    Mr Ortom also said Mr Atiku had sidelined him in selecting his presidential campaign team.

    “I am not in his campaign team,” Ortom said. “The people they appointed there, no consent from me. So I’ll remain on my own. But I’m waiting; when the election comes, we shall vote the election according to the election.”

    ‘Ortom Is wrong’

    Reacting to Ortom’s comment on Channels Television’s Politics Today, a member of the PDP presidential campaign team, Dele Momodu, faulted the Benue Governor.

    “To label him an agent of Miyetti-Allah, that’s wrong,” Momodu said. “He can say anything about Atiku Abubakar, but to call him an agent of Miyetti Allah, I disagree vehemently with that.

    “If you don’t want to support a man . . . it’s very easy to give a dog a bad name, in order to hang it. But it is wrong to disparage a man who has served his country meritoriously, who has done everything he could for every part of his country . . . but because you are playing politics, because you disagree with him, then you use such weighty words against him, well there’s always another time.

    “I am telling you that even Governor Wike, who is supposed to be the angriest among them, because he participated in our primaries, he has not used such words against Atiku Abubakar.”

    Mr Ortom is one of several PDP Governors who have decided not to actively support Atiku’s 2023 presidency bid.

    Others include Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

    Apparently led by Mr Wike, the group of Governors have called for the replacement of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, with a Southerner.

    They claim Ayu, a northerner, promised to resign if the PDP ticket goes to a northerner.

    However, Mr Ayu has indicated he will not step down, at least until after the elections in February.

    (Channels TV)

  • APC: Nat’l Chairman, Adamu, accused of withdrawing N3bn from ‘secret’ accounts by ‘sacked’ directors

    APC: Nat’l Chairman, Adamu, accused of withdrawing N3bn from ‘secret’ accounts by ‘sacked’ directors

    The crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has worsened as the “sacked” directors at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Tuesday accused its national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, of operating “secret accounts” without the resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC).

    The “sacked” directors, in a statement, also accused the chairman of disregarding the cashless policy and withdrawing the sum of N3bn from the “secret accounts.”

    Adamu had, on April 22, ordered all departmental directors at the party’s headquarters in Abuja to proceed on indefinite suspension over allegations of corruption.

    They are; Elder Anietie Offong (Director, Welfare); Bartholomew I. Ugwoke (Research); Abubakar Suleiman (Finance); Dr Suleiman Abubakar (Administration); Salisu Na’inna Dambatta (Publicity); and Dare Oketade, Head, Legal.

    On assumption of office on April 1, Adamu set up a transition committee headed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Ali Saad Birnin Kudu, to study the handing over notes of the then Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and other issues affecting the party.

    The directors were said to have been sacked based on the recommendations of the committee.

    Our correspondent reports that all efforts to get back to their offices, including writing a letter dated July 20, 2022, seeking the intervention of the National Executive Committee (NEC), proved abortive.

    The compulsory one-month leave given to them started on April 22, and ended on May 22, 2022 but they were not allowed to return to their offices.

    Addressing a press conference last week, Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, accused the directors of corruption, saying his administration inherited a debt of N7.5bn from the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

    But the statement signed by the five “sacked” directors and the head of legal, argued that the transition committee didn’t recommend their sack, hence they are still legitimate staff of the party and must be paid their entitlements.

    They said Adamu’s claim of inheriting N7.5bn debt from the Buni committee was false, alleging that he (Adamu) rather opened secret accounts without the approval of the NWC where he made a withdrawal of N3bn against the cashless policy.

    Part of the statement reads: “Allegation of corruption at the secretariat. This allegation is groundless and unproven. The withdrawal of N3,000,000,000 (three billion naira) in cash from some secret accounts that were reportedly opened without a resolution of the current NWC, or approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC), did not happen when the directors and head of legal were in office.

    “An explanation of this anomaly and breach of the cashless policy by the national chairman is desirable lest unwholesome allegations fly around.

    “We are compelled to respond to some of his claims, which are totally unfounded, to keep the records in the public domain accurate, thus making same a reliable source of reference in the future.

    “We can simply say that there were no ghost workers in the APC secretariat during the tenure of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

    “To substantiate the claim of the existence of ghost workers, their names and total number should be published by the chairman (Adamu).

    “There is no substance in the claim that there were arrears of staff salaries when the current leadership of the party assumed office.”

    This is because staff salaries were paid up to the end of March 2022 to ensure that the new leadership of the party comes in on a clean slate regarding staff salaries.

    “The staff can testify to this fact. It is therefore incorrect to say that the Abdullahi Adamu team inherited any salary arrears.

    “The one-month compulsory annual leave for the directors and head of legal was a strange idea. The extant APC Staff Conditions of Service list the types of leave recognised. There is nothing like Compulsory Annual Leave. It was a contraption and totally ultra-vires.

    “It was conceived to merely get rid of innocent senior staff and loyal members of the party from their jobs. We remain loyal party members.

    “Relying on the relevant provisions of the APC Staff Conditions of Service and the approved APC Constitution as amended, we still regard ourselves as legitimate members of the APC staff.

    “This is because, going by the APC constitution, the chairman, working alone or in conjunction with the members of the NWC, does not have the power to remove any employee of the party or recruit new staff without following the rules and procedures set out in the APC Constitution and the APC Staff Conditions of Service.

    “What we said in our communication with the chairman and other appropriate organs of the party was that, in the event our services were no longer required, we should be disengaged through the rules spelt out and our entitlements paid, including all salaries from September 2022 and any subsequent months to the date of disengaging us fairly.

    “We humbly urge the national chairman to kindly, and as an experienced administrator, pore through the Audited Financial Statement 2021 carefully. Therein, there is no sentence or paragraph which includes any legal fee liability.

    “Therefore, given this fact, it is regrettable that the claim of a N7.5 billion outstanding legal fee was made by no other person than the national chairman of our great party. His Excellency should have attached the list of the cases for which fees are outstanding and other relevant details.”

    Adamu faults claims

    When contacted, Adamu, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, faulted the claims of the embattled directors, saying they have an allergy to money not spent.

    “I laugh. They have an allergy to seeing money not spent, and they see me as the person behind it. They have their masters somewhere. I don’t fight shadows. If I want to fight, I fight straight. Let those who are behind them come out openly.

    “There was nothing I did as Abdullahi Adamu; whatever I did was an act of the NWC, fully composed, full attendance and decision accepted by all. It is NWC’s decision. I’m not going to go into details,” he said.

    (Daily Trust)

  • Lai Mohammed says the worst of insecurity is over, avers Nigeria is safe

    Lai Mohammed says the worst of insecurity is over, avers Nigeria is safe

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the worst is over as far as insecurity is concerned.

    Mohammed stated this at a Ministerial Session at the ongoing UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

    He added that the military and other security agencies were up to the task of protecting Nigerians and non-citizens.

    He said, “I can assure all that our military and other security agencies have continued to do everything possible to secure and protect Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria.

    “Terrorists have been hard hit and put on the run. Bandits have been decimated and scattered. Our country is safer today than at any time in recent times, thanks to the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Nigerians too should continue to be alert but must not panic. Like I said in a recent statement, as far as insecurity is concerned, the worst is over for Nigeria.”

    Mohammed also said some media outlets and social media personalities were usually caught spreading unverified information on their platforms just for clickbait and the attendant monetary gain.

    “Talking of clickbait, this may be what informed the spread of the supposed security alert issued recently by some foreign embassies in Nigeria.”

    “One would imagine that if indeed this kind of security alert was issued, it was for the attention of citizens of the issuing countries in Nigeria. Suddenly, this alert found its way into the media, both new and traditional, thus creating panic in the polity.

    “Schools were shut, businesses were closed, travel plans were altered, lives were disrupted. No one cared to find out about the authenticity of these alerts. They just published, got the benefit of massive clickbait and damned the consequences.”

    (Daily Trust)

  • Ekweremadu’s community appeals to FG for help, shuts market, prays for God’s intervention

    Ekweremadu’s community appeals to FG for help, shuts market, prays for God’s intervention

    In demonstration of solidarity with their son and former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, the people of Mpu community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State shut their market at the weekend to pray for divine intervention in his ongoing trial alongside his wife in the United kingdom over alleged organ harvest conspiracy.

    The community equally appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in Ekweremadu’s continued detention insisting it was injustice both to him and Nigeria. They claimed the Nigerian government could not have treated a UK member of parliament in the same manner.

    They made the appeal during a one-day prayer summit organised by the leadership of the community to seek divine intervention on the matter.

    Leading the prayer, Head Pastor, Ancient Path Restoration Revival Assembly, Nathaniel Nwankwo, admonished the people to put their faith in God as the ultimate decider of every case.

    “We are committing Mpu community primarily to God, thanking Him for the good things he has done for the land and asking for divine intervention in the trouble surrounding our brother, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who had been away from the shores of Nigeria since June 21,2022 for an allegation that has no basis,” he said.

    President-General of the Community, Chief Francis Oshimiri-Ude, said Ekweremadu had saved so many lives by his acts of philanthropy, expressing grief that “water appears to be sticking between his teeth for trying to do the same for his own daughter.”

    He described Ekweremadu as an illustrious son of the community saying without him, their world seems shattered.

    “We know he didn’t commit any crime. This is a man with a heart of gold, who has transformed our communities and many communities in Enugu West and beyond. So, those holding him should investigate his life style from birth to know that he has good records, the reason we started giving leadership responsibilities even before he was 10 years old. He should be released unconditionally to rejoin his people and continue his good works, which he had been carrying out for over 20 years now.”

    In a sombre mood, one the women leaders, Mrs. Happiness Ajah, said they had cried uncontrollably because Ekweremadu is all they have.

    Traditional ruler of Amokofia Mpu Autonomous Community, Igwe Cyprian Udemefuna, his counterpart from Anekeorji Mpu Autonomous Community, Igwe David Ajah and traditional ruler of Achi Orie Mpu Autonomous Community, Igwe Cletus Udechukwu, said the entire community had been in sober mood following the ordeal facing the Ekweremadu’s family in the UK.

    The Royal fathers, who described the Senator as a great achiever and a worthy Nigerian, encouraged members of the community to intensify prayers without ceasing until something positive happens.

    They also called on the South East Traditional Rulers Council to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter, especially given Ekweremadu’s usual interventions for other Igbo leaders in difficult situations.

    They said: “We closed the market and shops today to demonstrate the weight of anger in us over our brother’s incarceration in the UK. In fact, it is to show that we are highly annoyed. We are also here to ask God for his mercies, to bring back our brother and son, who has been held overseas for trying to save his daughter in a proper way. He wrote to the UK authorities and did not hide anything.”

    (Sun)

  • Court issues arrest warrant against Diezani Alison-Madueke

    Court issues arrest warrant against Diezani Alison-Madueke

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, issued an arrest warrant against the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, believed to be residing in the UK.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon granted the request, after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farouk Abdullah, made an oral application.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had fixed Nov. 3, 2021 for the EFCC to give a report on its effort at extraditing Alison-Madueke to the country to stand her trial, and for possible mention of the case.

    But on the adjourned date, the case was stalled as neither Abdullah nor Alison-Madueke was in sight.

    Justice Olajuwon then fixed today, Jan. 24, for the matter and adjourned for report or or for possible mention of the matter.

    It was reported that though Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu was initially the presiding judge in the matter, the case was reassigned to Justice Olajuwon, following the transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court.

    It would be recalled that Ojukwu had, on Oct. 28, 2020, rejected the EFCC’s prayer to issue a warrant of arrest against Alison-Madueke, citing the commission’s failure to enforce the earlier criminal summons, which the court issued on the former minister since July 24, 2020, saying court orders are not made in vain.

    The commission had, in requesting for the criminal summons in July 2020, claimed that it was required to facilitate the ex-minister’s extradition to Nigeria.

    Faced with the failure of the ex-minister to honour the summons, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Abdullah, urged Justice Ojukwu to issue a warrant of arrest against her, saying that the extradition process failed as a result of the absence of the warrant of arrest.

    The judge, who turned down the request, directed the lawyer to file an affidavit to that effect supported by evidence from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and adjourned for report and possible arraignment of the defendant (Alison-Madueke).

    However, when the matter was called on Monday, Abdullah was in court.

    He told the court that all efforts by the agency to get the ex-minister extradited when the matter was before Ojukwu were unsuccessful.

    Abdullah, who made an oral application for an arrest warrant, said the application was part of the requirements by the office of the AGF for the extradition.

    He said that the arrest warrant was needed to further give the International Police (INTERPOL) the impetus to bring the defendant to Nigeria to answer to charges against her.

    Justice Olajuwon then granted the application and adjourned the matter sine die pending when the defendant (Alison-Madueke) is arrested and produced in court.

    According to reports Abdullah had, in an application, urged the court “to issue an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, who is believed to be in the UK to enable all law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL to arrest her anywhere she is sighted and be brought before the court to answer to the allegation made against her before the court.”

    He said since the summon had not been able to achieve the desired result, the need for a warrant of arrest cannot be over-emphasised.

    It was reported that the court had, on July 24, 2020, ordered the former minister to appear before it and answer to the money laundering charge filed against her by the EFCC.

    The court gave the ruling in an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 brought by Abdullah.

    The EFCC had accused the former minister of fleeing the country for the UK in order to escape justice, among others.

    The lawyer, in a document filed along with the motion ex-parte, said it sought to question Alison-Madueke, without success, in relation to many allegations against her, including “her role as the Minister of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) to Septa Energy Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited by NNPC.

    He said it also wanted Alison-Madueke to respond to questions about “her role in the chartering of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Ministry of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of contracts by NNPC to Marine and Logistics Services Limited.”

    Abdallah said the agency was investigating Alison-Madueke‘s business relationships with Mr Donald Amamgbo, Mr Afam Nwokedi, Chief lkpea Leemon, Miss Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Mr Benedict Peters, Christopher Aire, Harcourt Adukeh, Julian Osula, Dauda Lawal, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Mr Leno Laithan, Sahara Energy Group and Midwestern Oil Limited, among others.

    He added that Alison-Madueke was also required to clear air on “her role in financing the 2015 general elections, particularly the money that were warehoused at Fidelity Bank Plc in 2015 prior to the elections.”

    He said it equally wanted the ex-minister to speak on several items, documents and Jeweleries recovered from her house at No: 10, Chiluba Close, off Jose Marti Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and some identified property that were linked to her In Nigeria, UK, U.S., United Arab Emirate and South Africa.

    It would be recalled that the EFCC Chairman, Abdultasheed Bawa in the April 2021 edition of the agency’s in-house magazine, disclosed that the anti-corruption commission recovered 153 million dollars from Alison-Madueke.

    Bawa said the agency also recovered the final forfeiture of over 80 property in Nigeria valued at about $80 million from the former minister, who has been living in the UK since leaving office some years ago.

    The EFCC boss said he would want the former minister to face trial in Nigeria.

    Besides, as part of the ongoing investigations of the former Petroleum Minister, the EFCC. on Dec. 15, 2021, said it arrested a former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, allegedly over an additional $72.87 million still in the coffers of the bank.

    Okonkwo and Charles Onyedibe were quizzed by operatives over the latest discovery.

    Okonkwo, who is the chairman of First Bank Holding, alongside others, had earlier been grilled over $153 million and another $115 million by the commission.

    While all the 153 million dollars were recovered by the EFCC, the cases involving $115 million, as it relates with the Independent National Electoral Commission bribery matter, are in various courts. the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, had disclosed in a statement.

    (NAN)

  • Why Geometric Power Plant, Aba Power are in Aba – Barth Nnaji

    Why Geometric Power Plant, Aba Power are in Aba – Barth Nnaji

    I am passionate about the rapid development of Nigeria, starting with AlaIgbo because of the structural problems it has faced since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 and also because of its enormous technological and economic potential.

    If the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Aba or the Aba Power distribution firm in Osisioma Industrial Layout had been located in Ikeja or in the Ilupeju the Industrial Estatein Lagos State or in the Agbara Industrial Layout in Ogun State or in or around the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, we would not have experienced a nine-year tussle over the right ownership of the Aba-Ringed Fence Area which took a toll on the financers of the $600 million project, the investors, the host community, suppliers, contractors, the Aba business community and the people and government of Abia State.

    The return of investment would have been quicker and bigger. But the strategic reason for locating both the generation and distribution arms of Geometric Power group would have been missed. Only the investors and promoters of Geometric Power would have benefitted directly, but the people and governments of AlaIgbo would be the losers.

    When Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed the Minister of Finance in 2003, she invited the then World Bank president, the late James Wolfohnson, to Aba to see, firsthand, Aba’s tremendous economic and technological potential. After the visit in 2004, I was asked by the duo to consider building a 50megawatt power plant in Abia for manufacturers, both big ones like the Star Paper Mill and small ones like the hundreds of excellent shoemakers and clothiers at the famous Ariaria Market.

    They approached me obviously because I had led a small team of dedicated Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs to build a 22megawatt Emergency Plant in Abuja in 2001 for the supply of electricity to State House, the NNPC headquarters, the Abuja Business District and other places. I acceded to the request by Dr Okonjo-Iweala and Dr Wolfohnson. What the two did not realize is that my enthusiastic acceptance was because the plant would be located in Aba. This city has a special place in the heart and mind of every person interested in our country’s rapid progress: It is the home of indigenous manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship.

    There is another reason why I accepted to build the plant in Aba. I had experienced, firsthand, what industrialists in Igboland were going through. As a professor of manufacturing engineering in the United States in the 1990s, I decided to build a plant in Emene, Enugu, to produce vehicle spare parts, including engines, of the highest standard in the world.

    After all, I had watched my former students from Taiwan and other places in Southeast Asia rush home to produce sophisticated auto parts and engines. A large swath of land was purchased for this purpose, but when my South Korean partners visited Enugu, it became obvious that the project would not take off principally because of poor electricity. It was while I was thinking of how to help resolve the electricity problem in AlaIgbo that Dr Okonjo-Iweala and Dr Wolfohnson made the request. The rest is history.

    Yet, I must add it has since 2004 been tears, sweat and blood, to borrow the words of Winston Churchill, the former British prime minister. I don’t want to tell the story of sweat, blood and tears now; all I can say this moment is the game is worth the candle. Nothing can give as much fulfillment and satisfaction as working wholeheartedly for your people.

    It took the Nnewi people quite a lot when they decided to develop their hometown themselves. Even without basic infrastructure like roads, electricity and telephone services, the Nnewi people decided to take their destiny in their hands after the Nigerian Civil War. They have made a resounding success of this resolve and vision.

    The Nnewi example is inspiring, and it should inspire all the people and governments in Nigeria. Millions of NdiIgbo need not be in Abuja or Port Harcourt or even abroad to do well. Leaders in Igboland in the 1940s till recent years did demonstrate to us it is possible to have rapid economic progress in our homeland.

    They built Nigercem at Nkalagu in 1955, Nigersteel and Nigergas as well as the Emene Industrial Estate, all in Enugu; the African Continental Bank, the University of Nigeria, the farm settlements, the Trans Amadi Industrial Estate in Port Harcourt, Golden Guinea Brewery in Umuahia, the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State, Hotel Presidential in Enugu and Port Harcourt, Aba Textile Mills, Owerri Standard Shoe Factory, the glass factories in Aba and Port Harcourt, and many other things which culminated in Eastern Nigeria becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world by the mid-1960s.

    Geometric Power Ltd is making its contribution to help reclaim the old economic days of the Great Zik of Africa, Dr M.I. Okpara and many others. Once Geometric Power addresses the electricity challenge in nine out of 17 local government areas in Abia State fully, not even the sky will be the limit of the attainments of the people and government of Abia State. Abia can set the stage of development miracle which has been waiting to happen.

    Excerpts of speech by Professor Nnaji, former Minister of Power and now chairman of Geometric Power group, at the leadership colloquium on Igbo leadership and development to mark the 58th birthday of Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    (Vanguard)

  • Rotary Club vaccinates 2,000 girls against cervical cancer

    Rotary Club vaccinates 2,000 girls against cervical cancer

    AS part of this year’s project for girl-child empowerment, the Rotary Club of Lagos Island, District 9110 has commenced the vaccination of 2,000 girls against cervical cancer.

    Speaking during the investiture ceremony of the 7th President of Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Anant Sabat, the District Governor, Omotunde Lawson, said: “We will empower and enlighten the girls about cervical cancer, which is only cancer that is preventable at vaccination, so the process is ongoing. We have started vaccinating many and the plan is to vaccinate about 2000 girls.”

    Also speaking, the President of the Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Mr Anant Sabat, said: “Friends, as we embark on our journey in this imaginative year, every day has been a great day full of learning and allows us to shape us to face new exciting challenges on the way while serving society.

    (Vanguard)

  • Flood: Buhari directs minister to develop flood prevention plan within 90 days

    Flood: Buhari directs minister to develop flood prevention plan within 90 days

    WORRIED by the devastating effects of flood in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Water Resources to lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Environment and Transportation as well as state governments to develop a comprehensive plan of action for flood disaster preventing in Nigeria.

    Th ultimatum was made known via a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday.

    The President in the directive, which was conveyed to the Minister in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, said the plan should be presented to him in 90 days.

    The statement said further that “President Buhari is regularly receiving updates on the flooding situation in the country and restates his commitment towards addressing the challenges caused by the disaster in the country.”

    (Vanguard)

  • Rishi Sunak set to be UK’s next prime minister

    Rishi Sunak set to be UK’s next prime minister

    Rishi Sunak is set to become the UK’s latest Prime Minister this week, replacing the country’s shortest-serving leader of all-time, Liz Truss.

    He will become the third person to lead the country in seven weeks, and the fifth since 2016.

    It means yet more turnover at the heart of government – Boris Johnson and Truss both frantically reshuffled their Cabinets as they fought to save their jobs, and Sunak will be expected to bring in his own team this week.

    But Sunak will face immediate calls for a general election from opposition parties, who will demand he seeks his own mandate in order to govern with any authority.

    Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces in the Houses of Parliament that Rishi Sunak is to become the new leader of the Conservative Party.
    Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces in the Houses of Parliament that Rishi Sunak is to become the new leader of the Conservative Party

    Rishi Sunak will be the first person of color to lead the UK

    Rishi Sunak will become the first Hindu and the first person of color to become Britain’s Prime Minister.

    At the age of 42, he is also the youngest person to take the office in more than 200 years.

    The result of Monday’s contest caps a spectacularly rapid rise to the pinnacle of British politics.

    Sunak was first elected as an MP in 2015 and spent two years on the backbenches, during which Brexit dominated the political agenda. Sunak supported leaving the EU during the 2016 referendum.

    He subsequently became a junior minister in Theresa May’s government. It was Boris Johnson who gave Sunak his first major government role when he first appointed him as the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2019, and as the Chancellor in 2020.

    Sunak won popularity during the early weeks of the pandemic when he unveiled an extensive support plan for those unable to work during lockdown.

    But the “Partygate” scandal that took down Boris Johnson also tarnished his reputation, and he became archrivals with Johnson after quitting his government earlier this year.

    Sunak has remained tight-lipped on his policy plan in the last few days, but he was widely seen as the more moderate of the two candidates in the last leadership contest over the summer. Compared to Liz Truss, he took a softer line on matters like Brexit and the economy.

    Sunak has received the backing of more than half of Conservative lawmakers in the race to become the next party leader and prime minister, PA Media reported Monday.

    The former Chancellor has received a flurry of public endorsements from high-profile Conservative Party lawmakers in the race to become Britain’s next prime minister.

    Mordaunt says Sunak has her “full support”

    Rishi Sunak will become Britain’s Prime Minister after Penny Mordaunt said in a statement that “we all owe it to the country” to get behind him.

    Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, in London, Sunday.
    Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, in London, Sunday.

    Mordaunt had been scrambling to get enough support from MPs to make the final ballot in the leadership race, while Sunak passed the threshold comfortably.

    “This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support,” Mordaunt tweeted.

    (CNN)

  • FRONTIER DISCOURSE 2.0: We plan to host a “governorship candidates discussion” as a part of the Frontier Discourse Public Lecture and Awards -HOC

    FRONTIER DISCOURSE 2.0: We plan to host a “governorship candidates discussion” as a part of the Frontier Discourse Public Lecture and Awards -HOC

    The Host Organizing Committee for the 2022 Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards of The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine has announced plans to host a conversation for governorship candidates as a part of the public lecture.

    The announcement was contained in a brief statement by the secretary of the Host Organizing Committee, Uchechukwu Lawrencia.

    Stressing that it wasn’t a debate, Lawrencia said the governorship candidates to participate in the discussion are those of Enugu State, drawn from four of the major political parties in the country. She noted that they all have been contacted and are hoped to be in attendance.

    In her words “Throughout the country, we are in a season of elections and conversations geared towards electing credible leaders.

    “As you will recall, the topic for this year’s lecture is ‘The Purpose of Power: Ambition for Common Good and our Culture of Silence and Endurance’, and what we hope to achieve through this discussion which we have tagged ‘Enugu Guber Candidates Connect to the Electorates’, understanding that the Media is ideally empowered to facilitate such discussions, is to get the governorship candidates tell the people the purpose for which they are seeking for power through elections.

    “This is not a governorship debate. We want to help the people of Enugu state, our host state, decipher who among the candidates possess the ambition to be governor for the common good of the people.

    “The four major parties that we plan to host are the All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party.

    “We have communicated the planned discussion to their respective governorship candidates and with the exception of one gubernatorial candidate, we can say that so far, the outcomes of the discussions are positive. We are therefore looking forward to a fruitful governorship candidates discussion”, she said.

    The second edition of the Frontier Discourse Public Lecture and Awards will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at De Dome Event Center, Edward Nnaji Street, New Haven, Enugu, by 11am (Red Carpet).

    The Keynote speaker is Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, mni, a Member of This Day Newspaper Editorial Board, Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development and Executive Director, Development Specs Academy and he will speak on the topic “The Purpose of Power: Ambition for Common Good and Our Culture of Silence and Endurance”.

    The event will be co-chaired by Nigeria’s former Minister for Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe.

    Dignitaries to be in attendance are the Chief Guest of Honor, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ken Nnamani, GCON, Former President of the Nigerian Senate and the Special Guests of Honor, Major General Obi Abel Umahi, Former General Officer Commanding of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, and Rt. Hon. Chief U.S.A Igwesi, Member, 5th National Assembly, Former Leader, Enugu State House of Assembly, and others.

    The Royal Fathers of the Day are HRM Igwe Amb. L.O.C Agubuzu, OON, CFR (Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers) and HRM Igwe Charles Egbo Nwoye, Ph.D (Obioha II of Amurri), while the Spiritual Father of the Day is Most Revd. Barr. C.N Edeh, the Methodist Archbishop of Enugu.

    Official partners in the event are: Selonnes Consult, Ingrace Group, Robertson Nigeria Limited, Service Accord Initiative, Human Development Centre, Steve Oruruo Foundation, Wears Africana, Games By Summer, Karover Table Water, Dream 92.5Fm, Anchor News, Journalist 101, Igbo Radio, Nani Boi Studios, CEO Media Agency and Skitech Media Agency.

    The event on will be streamed live across social media networks; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube, and interested attendees can reserve their seats through https://forms.gle/Vot1qCtw2neeeN1v7

  • FG fuel subsidy spending to hit N11tn in 2023

    FG fuel subsidy spending to hit N11tn in 2023

    It was gathered that the $2.9bn approved for refineries’ rehabilitation was being released in phases but the plan is to have the facilities fixed with this fund.

    In March 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved the plan by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt Refinery with $1.5bn.

    The decision was taken at the weekly meeting of the council presided over by Buhari, this was disclosed to reporters by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

    The contract for the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation was awarded to an Italian company, Tecnimont spa.

    Also, in August 2021, the Federal Government approved the sum of $1.4m for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries in Delta and Kaduna states.

    A breakdown of the approved funds showed that $897m would be expended on the rehabilitation of the Warri refinery while $586m of the fund would be invested in the Kaduna refinery.

    It should be noted that the $2.9bn is basically for refineries’ rehabilitation, as the facilities have been consuming billions of naira, if not trillions, on operating costs, salaries, maintenance and other expenses.

    The Federal Government has been making moves to get the country’s dysfunctional refineries back on stream, as Nigeria currently imports the bulk of its refined petroleum products.

    This has resulted in humongous subsidy spending by the NNPC, the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria for more than four years and counting.

    The APC had during its campaigns in 2015 promised to get the refineries working. Buhari is billed to leave office in May 2023 and may have about seven months to fulfill the promise of getting Nigeria’s refineries working.

    (Punch)