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Hushpuppi’s Trial Set to Begin in US

Ramon Abbas, the Nigerian Instagram celebrity with the name “Hushpuppi,’ has been arraigned in an American court in California as his trial begins on October 13.

Abbas pleaded not guilty to the four-count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

In June, the 37-year-old known for flaunting an opulent lifestyle on social media, was arrested in Dubai by special operatives of the Emerati Police and American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The FBI’s investigation, according to the affidavit obtained by Premium Times alleged that Abbas financed this extravagant lifestyle through crime.

He is alleged to be the leader of a group that facilitates computer intrusion, business email compromise (BEC) fraud and money laundering.

His targeted victims, majorly in the US, had been duped of hundreds of millions of dollars, the FBI says.

In July, Abbas alongside Olalekan Ponle, popularly known as Woodberry, was extradited to Chicago in the United States where he was first arraigned.

However, because the U.S. Court in Illinois does not have jurisdiction over the case, he was transferred to Los Angeles, a city in California.

Since his transfer to California late July, he has been held in the custody of the U.S. Marshal in a federal prison.

Arraignment

Meanwhile, the prosecutor has kickstarted the process of arraignment by filling necessary documents and forms after his first appearance on August 17.

After the pre-trial services, Abbas entered a plea, insisting that he is not guilty of the charges.

Banks To Take Over Electricity Bill Collections

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) providing bank guarantees to Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on behalf of the Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) to take full responsibility for collections of the Discos’ bills.

In addition, the banks are also to charge of the remittances of the Discos to both NBET and TCN.

This is coming as some financial market analysts yesterday commended the decision by the CBN to end the age-long practice of forex exchange (FX) over-invoicing.

The directive on electricity bill collections, whose implementation is with immediate effect, was contained in a letter addressed to all banks, dated August 21, 2020, that was signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, CBN, Mr. Bello Hassan.

In the circular titled, ‘DMB-led Electricity Market Collections,’ a copy of which THISDAY saw yesterday, the CBN said the move was in line with a directive of the Power Sector Coordination Working Group to improve payment discipline in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and to boost the overall quality of electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

The CBN stated that no bank should open or continue to maintain a collection account for a Disco without the express no-objection of the bank that guaranteed the power company’s exposure to NBET or TCN.
Also, the payment or settlement of all NESI-related goods or services shall be made through the banking system.

“Consequently, all collections for the payments of NESI regulated goods and services provided by a Disco shall be paid into a designated account such that: collections arising from services rendered by the Disco shall be paid into an account in the sole name of the Disco and collections arising from services rendered by a third party/parties on behalf of the Disco shall be paid into an account in the joint name of the Disco and the third- party vendor(s).”

The CBN directed that all energy and non-energy collections of Discos, whether cash or cashless, should only be performed by the banks.

“No entity shall be permitted to collect revenues for Discos except if that entity is so authorised by a DMB in line with the relevant CBN guidelines for agent banking and agent banking relationships, therefore: the DMB shall be permitted to authorise its agents to collect energy and non- energy payments on its behalf for any Disco; the actions or inactions of the agent shall be the responsibility of the authorising DMB and any DMB found to be maintaining any account(s) for any entity collecting payments on behalf of any Disco without appropriate authorisation shall have regulatory sanctions imposed on it,” it added.

The CBN directed the banks to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all electricity customer payment channels/endpoints identify electricity market payments in such a way as to provide the identification of these payments and information relating to the Disco as well as the Disco account information such as account ID, customer ID, meter ID, among others.

“All Disco collections (cash and cashless) shall be regarded as an energy collection and, unless identified otherwise, shall be swept automatically into a Feeder Collections Account (FCA) in the sole name of the Disco. The proper classification of accounts (into energy and non-energy) shall be the responsibility of the Disco and DMB that guaranteed the Disco or its designate bank.

“AII Disco non-energy collections shall be paid into a designated account in the name of the Disco provided that: non-energy collections arising from services rendered by the Disco shall be paid into an account in the sole name of a Disco and non-energy collections arising from services rendered by a third-party vendor on behalf of a Disco shall be paid into an account in the joint name of the Disco and the third-party vendor,” it said.

The CBN ordered banks to ensure that bulk purchasers/resellers of energy maintain a dedicated and segregated account per Disco for customer energy collections for that distribution company.

The financial institutions are also to ensure that bulk resellers maintain records of energy sales and make such records available monthly and on demand to the CBN, the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry Stabilisation Strategy Limited or any other CBN-designated entity, It directed bulk resellers not to open or close any account for energy collections without authorisation by NESI SS Ltd or any other CBN-designated entity.

The financial institutions are also required to provide on a monthly basis and on demand, details of all accounts maintained by their agents and all third parties involved in energy collections or resale (i.e. bulk resellers, Agents, etc.) for inspection by the CBN, NESI SS Ltd or any other CBN designate.

“Supervised entities acting as financing agents for the purchase of energy, or similar, shall only charge fees in line with CBN regulations,” it stated.

Senate To SEC: Remit N300m To Fed Govt

The Senate yesterday urged the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda to remit N300million into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account of the Federal Government on before Thursday next week.

The upper chamber also directed the Auditor-General of the Federation to conduct a status enquiry on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning, Senator Solomon Adeola, gave these directives when the two agencies appeared before the panel during its ongoing stakeholders’ interactive session on the 2021-2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), in Abuja.

Adeola said: “I will implore the DG of SEC to between today and Thursday next week remit at least N300million to the coffers of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“The DG said SEC generated a total revenue of N8.358billion in 2019 while it is expecting only N5.478billion and projecting N8.3billion in 2021.

“SEC should not pay less than N1billion to the CRF account in 2021. SEC, you have a staff strength of 600 and a wage bill of N10.3billion annually, amounting to N15.7million per person annually. You are indeed, top heavy. You have to work on this.”

Senator Gabriel Suswam noted said SEC is projecting a total revenue of N8.3billion in 2021.

He said: “Your expenditure is N14.4billion which means you have a deficit of N6.1billion. You said you are top heavy.

“Now there are lots of young men who are on the street who are qualified and ready to work.

“The salary of just one person from the top heavy management staff that you have can pay five young people who have the qualification and capacity to do the job.

“When you do that instead of generating N8billion and incurring deficit of N6.1billion, it is as good as your organisation does not exist.”

In his response, Yuguda noted that reducing the top heavy workforce in SEC would mean that the severance package of those to be laid off has to be paid.

On the NSCDC, Senator Ayo Akinyelure noted that every agency of government must make contributions to the CRF especially at this period that the Federal Government needs money to fund its budget.

He called on the NSCDC to review its fees and levies being paid by private guard 100 per cent upward because the nation needs money to fund its budget.

“As far as we are concerned, the Accountant General has confirmed that the NSCDC does not have access to what they are collecting but that it goes straight to the TSA (Treasury Single Account),” he said.

The co-Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, asked the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu, to account for revenue it often realize from executive guard services rendered by its operatives.

He also wanted to know what happened to items confiscated by the paramilitary outfit during its operations.

In his response, the CG said only allowances were paid to operatives where thesuch services are being rendered.

He also said confiscated items were usually auctioned after being valued by the Ministry of Works.

Adeola however called on the Auditor-General of the Federation to conduct a status enquiry on the NSCDC “because we need to know the true position of things.”

He added: “You (CG of NSCDC) will need to appear again before the panel next week and we would mandate the Auditor General of the Federation to carry out a status enquiry on the activities of the NSCDC as far as revenue is concered.”

On his part, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, noted that there are differences between money which acrued to an agency and an incidental money that will come to it from time to time.

“We need to find out into which account the NCDC remit revenues for confiscated items to; revenue from confiscated items were not given to the NSCDC as a target,” Idris said.

Buhari Lists Economy, Poverty, Seven Others Top Priorities in Next Three Years

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja listed nine policy issues that will be the major focus of the remaining three years of his administration.

According to him, between now and 2023 when he will complete his second term of four years, he will channel time, energy and resources towards growing the economy, fighting poverty, improving access to quality education, healthcare and enhancing productivity, among others.

Buhari, while receiving letters of credence from Ambassadors and High Commissioners of eight countries at the State House, Abuja, said the priority areas were geared towards dictating people-focused policy directions of the federal government in the next few years.

“In our efforts to achieve a realistic domestic and foreign policy, as well as national development, we have identified the following nine priority areas to guide our policy directions over the next few years,” he said.

A statement by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, listed the nine priority areas to include: building a thriving and sustainable economy; enhancing social inclusion and reduce poverty; enlarging agricultural output for food security and export; attaining energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products and expanding transport and other infrastructural development.

Others are: Expanding business growth, entrepreneurship and industrialisation; expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians; building a system to fight corruption, improving governance and creating social cohesion and improving the nation’s security.

Buhari said efforts were being made to sustain Nigeria’s position as a profitable investment destination with unequalled incentives in all sectors.
He listed a large market and flexible tax system as areas of focus that investors from various countries could explore.
The president described Nigerians as the “nation’s most prized assets,” saying the priority areas have already been captured in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

He described the ERGP as a medium-term initiative pioneered by the federal government to restore economic growth and development through the resourcefulness and resilience of citizens.
He appealed to the envoys to maximise the opportunity of their deployment in the country to improve on Nigeria’s relations with their respective governments and people.

“I have no doubt that you might have prior and in-depth knowledge of Nigeria’s huge potential, which you will hopefully see for yourselves. I, therefore, urge you to go around the country, see things for yourselves and report to your home governments. This is important as you all are representatives of both your sending and host states,” he said.

Buhari added that Nigeria supported various principles of international law, cultural diversity, the sovereignty of nations and valuable relations among nations without discrimination.

He explained that Nigeria does not discriminate among nations irrespective of their sizes as every nation is respected in its own right.
Nigeria is also ready to respect and relate with every country in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation, he stated, while enumerating areas of cooperation where Nigeria is ready to be involved.

“Nigeria strongly supports joint action to ensure a democratic and fair world order based on strict respect for the norms of international law, the United Nations charter, recognition of the unquestionable value of cultural diversity, national sovereignty, and the right of all countries to decide their future freely, without external pressure.

“Nigeria does not divide its partners into big and small; we value and respect every country, and with every country, we are ready to pursue dialogue, as well as build cooperation on the basis of equality and constructive mutual respect.

“These include our cooperation in strengthening regional, continental and global peace and security, resolving complex issues, settling conflicts, as well as addressing dangerous threats to mankind, among which include terrorism, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, cybercrimes, poverty, communicable diseases and epidemics,” he said.

According to the statement, the Ambassador of Algeria to Nigeria, Hocine Latil, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said each of them conveyed greetings and their home governments’ agenda to Nigeria.

He said Nigeria was always focused on resolving conflicts in Africa and simultaneously not failing in its domestic matters.
“On behalf of my colleagues, we thank you for receiving us. We know that your schedule is tight. As the giant of Africa, you are always focused on resolving conflicts in the continent, while taking care of your domestic issues as well,” he stated.

Besides Latil, other diplomats who presented their letters of credence yesterday were Luong Quoc Thinh of Vietnam; Dr. Benson Alfred Bana of Tanzania; Traore Kalilou of Cote d’Ivoire; Abakar Saleh Chahaimi of Chad; Jamal Mohammed Barrow of Somalia; Brahim Salem El Mami Buseif of Sahrawi Arab Republic and Mohammed Alibak of Iran.

Ronaldinho Released From Paraguay Detention After Five Months

A Paraguayan judge ended the house arrest of former Barcelona player Ronaldinho Gaucho on Monday, freeing the way for him to return to Brazil and end a more than five-month ordeal that began when he tried to enter the country with an adulterated passport.

A judge in Asuncion agreed to a “conditional suspension” of charges, effectively clearing the player of any responsibility for the crime but ordering him to pay $90,000 in costs, which would be given to charitable organizations.

“The precautionary measure of arrest is lifted, there are no more restrictions placed by Paraguayan justice,” Judge Gustavo Amarilla told the court.

Ronaldinho, who wore a black t-shirt, hat and mask in court, remained expressionless and with arms crossed following the judgment.

The football star plans to leave the Paraguayan capital Asuncion for Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday morning on a private plane, Federico Gonzalez, an advisor to the Paraguayan presidency who also runs the government advisory service on coronavirus-related travel restrictions, told a local radio station.

The charismatic striker, who helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup, was arrested on March 6 along with his brother and business manager Roberto Assis when they tried to enter Paraguay with adulterated Paraguayan passports.

They were held in jail for 32 days before being released into house arrest in a top Asuncion hotel after paying $1.6 million in bail.

According to documents seen by Reuters, prosecutors in the case said they found “no elements to prove that (Ronaldinho) directly participated in obtaining the irregular documents.”

The brothers have repeatedly maintained their innocence with their lawyer calling their detention “arbitrary, abusive and illegal.”

Ronaldinho last played professionally in 2015, including for Brazilian clubs Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, but remains hugely popular with global football fans.

He won the World Cup as part of the Brazilian team in 2002 and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006. He was also named FIFA world player of the year in 2004 and 2005.

World Health Organization Declares Africa Polio-Free

THE World Health Organisation (WHO), has certified Africa free of the wild polio virus, after Nigeria, the last country in the continent did not record a single case three years in a row.

“African Region is officially declared free of wild polio! Congratulations to all countries, partners & health workers,” the WHO said in a tweet on Tuesday.

The African Regional Certification Committee (ARCC) had on June 19 certified Nigeria free of the virus disease, three decades after battling poliomyelitis.

The Africa Regional Commission for Certification of poliomyelitis eradication (ARCC) is an independent body appointed in 1998 by the WHO Regional Director for African to oversee the certification and containment process. It is the only body that can certify that the Africa region is free of polio.

The WHO estimates that 1.8 million children in Africa have been saved from life-long paralysis from wild polio, before attaining the polio-free status.

However, despite the announcement, a vaccine-derived strain of the disease can still infect people where there is only partial vaccination and results in the same symptoms as the wild form might continue to circulate in Africa.

Vaccine-derived poliovirus cases can occur when the weakened live virus in the oral polio vaccine passes among under-immunized populations and eventually changes to a form that can cause paralysis.

DR @MOETITSHIDI: “THE ERADICATION OF WILD POLIOVIRUS FROM THE AFRICAN REGION REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN #UHC, IN PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TO OUTBREAKS, & IN MAKING OUR SOCIETIES MORE EQUITABLE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.#POLIOFREE #RC70AFRO

— WHO AFRICAN REGION (@WHOAFRO) AUGUST 25, 2020

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa advised that a continual vaccination will prevent a resurgence of a similar virus induced by the vaccine according to a Reuters report.

“We must stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus and address the continued threat of vaccine-derived polio,” he said.

The 16 countries in Africa that are currently affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks include Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.

Speaking on the development, President Muhammadu Buhari remarked that he has fulfilled his pledge to rid Nigeria of the indigenous wild poliovirus.

President Buhari spoke during the online event where WHO declared Nigeria and the rest of Africa polio free.

He noted that he had promised Nigerians that he would not hand over a Nigeria with polio to his successor, and has fulfilled that promise.

“This is indeed a truly historic event. I recall shortly after assuming office in 2015, I made a pledge to Nigerians that I would not bequeath a polio-endemic country to my successor,” Buhari said.

“This certification is, therefore, a personal fulfillment of that pledge, not only to Nigerians but to all Africans.”

He congratulated the entire continent and the African Union leadership for the achievement.

“At a time when the global community is battling with the COVID-19 pandemic, this achievement strengthens my conviction that the requisite political will, investments, and strategies, as well as citizens’ commitment, will flatten the pandemic curve.

“I can affirm the commitment of all African leaders in this course of action. We must guard this achievement jealously and ensure that we take all necessary steps to prevent the resurgence of this deadly disease.”

The president appreciated the strong partnership and collaboration displayed to deliver this success.

He promised the global community that Nigeria will “sustain the momentum and leverage on the lessons learnt from the polio eradication to strengthen our health systems, especially primary healthcare and prioritise health security”.

AGF, Malami Denies Sponsoring Bill To ‘Control’ EFCC, Says Possesses Sufficient Powers Already Under The Law

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice does not need the tinkering of the current Economic and Financial Crime (Establishment) Act 2004 to enable him to regulate the Institution and could therefore not, in anyways, seek to sponsor any bill for “more powers to control the commission”.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday 25th August 2020.

It is trite to say that by virtue of the extant laws of the land as well as rules and legislations governing the conduct of the governmental operations, the Attorney-General of the Federation has indisputable statutory powers to regulate the operations of the commissions without recourse to any additional legislations.

Section 43 of the EFCC Act has made it abundantly clear that “the Attorney General of the Federation may make rules or regulations with respect to the exercise of any of the duties, functions or powers of the Commission under this Act”.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice believes in the doctrines of separation of powers as an epitome character of the democratic administration and could not, therefore, meddle into the affairs of legislature for megalomaniac sake.

It is a global practice in democratic societies that the legislature may at their discretion and as deem fit, spearhead the amendment of existing legislations in order to accommodate certain exigencies occasioned by contemporary realities and the need to improve performance to achieve best practices without any prompting from external organs of the government.

At the moment, the priority of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is to see to the effective execution of its statutory mandates of supervising all the parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Justice in a way that make them function in the best interest of the general public, which constitutional responsibility he is engaged by President Muhammadu Buhari to discharge.

Buhari Approves 1 Year Tax Waiver For Import Of Electricity Meters

To make electricity metres affordable for Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a one-year deferment of the 35 percent import adjustment tax imposed on Fully Built Unit (FBU) electricity meters HS Code 9028.30.00.00.

Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed requested approval to support the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in rolling three million electricity meters, which is under the meter asset provider (MAP) framework.

Earlier, the 35 percent import adjustment tax, which was approved in 2015 on the importation of FBU electricity meters, attracted a 10 percent import duty rate under the ECOWAS CET.

According to Ahmed: “The 35 percent levy was imposed on the recommendation of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to encourage local production, as well as protect investments in the local assembly of electricity meters.”

She noted, “an important feature of the MAP regulation is a gradual upscaling of the patronage of local manufacturers of electricity meters with an initial minimum local content of 30 percent with the potential of significant job creation in the area of meter assembly, installation and maintenance.”

In applying to the President to defer the 35 percent levy, Ahmed stated “the application of the 35 percent levy on electricity meters – HS Code 9028.30.00.00 has created a significant challenge to the smooth implementation of MAP scheme of NERC”.

Though the 35 percent levy has been in existence since 2015, the MAP regulations by NERC in 2018 to bridge the current electricity metering gap, did not factor the 35 percent levy in arriving at the regulated cost of electricity meters to end-users (consumers).

It was also noted that electricity consumers have embraced the opportunities presented by the MAP regulations and signed off to pay for electricity meters at the regulated prices approved by NERC.

A total of six million consumers have so far indicated an interest in electricity meters.

According to the Finance Minister, “some of the approved investors under the scheme have also, prior to the implementation of the appropriate HS Code 9028.30.00.00 for the importation of electricity meters, proceeded to import a significant stock of meters for rollout. This is in line with the timelines issued by NERC and the service level agreement agreed with the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs)”.

In view of the local content for sourcing of electricity meters, the Minister stated: “It is approved that 50 percent of the current demand for electricity meters be considered for importation at the ECOWAS CET import duty rate of 10 percent zero levies”.

This, she said, “is to immediately bridge the gap between the demand for electricity meters and local supply”.

It is also envisaged that this will provide protection for local electricity meter manufacturers and the opportunity to ramp local capacity in the production of meters.

Create Wealth For Yourselves By Investing, Don’t Rely On Your Wages — Ex-Lagos Deputy Gov, Femi Pedro Urges Lawyers

A former deputy governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro has called on lawyers in the country not to rely sorely on their wages but also to create wealth and have a positive wealth mindset.

Pedro said this can only be done by embracing investment opportunities that can give them extra income within the rules of the legal profession.

The former deputy governor made this comments as guest speaker in a Webinar titled ‘Money Matters and the Lawyers’ Wellbeing’ organised by Lawbreed Academy an educational and training arm of Lawbreed Limited the authorized publishers of the Official Law Reports of the Supreme Court of Nigeria( Supreme Court Reports- S. C. Reports)

The event was organised to enlighten lawyers on how to create and handle enduring wealth, it’s management and living a balanced life.

In his presentation, Otunba Pedro noted that though the legal profession, has its peculiarities, and is guided by rules of professional conduct which spells out certain restrictions and boundaries, lawyers have unlimited opportunities to create wealth while advancing their careers.

He suggested that lawyers learn to set aside a certain percentage of their earnings for investment and maintain financial discipline because without this mindset they will continue to remain in the poverty trap.

He said, ‘if you do not invest with a salary of N50,000 a month you will never invest with a salary of N5 million a month because it’s an habit and if you don’t have that habit you will be spending everything that you have even if you are the managing partner of your firm”.

“You can have money and still be in the poverty trap because money is not wealth. A lot of people in our society have money but they are not wealthy because that money is liquid it can disappear at any time”.

“There is a world of difference between having money and being wealthy. Wealth is a state of being materially prosperous. When you are wealthy you have a feeling of empowerment you are in control of your life and you can tell if you are wealthy when you have ownership of wealth instruments“.

“If you have real estate investments you are wealthy, if you have equity shares you are wealthy, if you have fixed deposit you are wealthy because all this create incomes for you.

“I encourage lawyers to find their passion by doing something that they are committed to, that can give them money within the rule of the profession,” he stressed.

In his opening address, the Chairman of Lawbreed Limited, Mr. Layi Babatunde (SAN) said lawyers are taught more about their responsibilities to others, such as the litigants, clients, and the court but were hardly taught how to live a balanced life.

“What I realize is that if a lawyer is financially stressed and challenged and he cannot plan his life and that of his family even the entire justice system suffers.

“So we leant about the rules of court practice, about professional ethics, how to make submissions and how to write opinions but we did not learn how to build capacity, how to build wealth in the proper manner and how to sustain this wealth.

“We did not also learn how to take care of our health and our wellbeing,” the senior lawyer stated.

Other panelists on the Webinar were Mrs. Jesmine Onyeukwu, a Canadian based productivity consultant and performance coach and Mrs Toyin Aralepo an accountant and founder Africa Finance and Strategy Hub.

Mr Femi Falana , SAN; in his intervention enjoined lawyers to expand their horizon beyond local practice, highlighting the vast opportunities provided by the ECOWAS Court and the ICC.

A cross-section of lawyers joined the webinar, including senior lawyers like Yusuf Alli SAN, Femi Falana, SAN, Dele Adesina SAN, Segun Odubela, SAN, Wale Adesokan SAN, Olumide Akinboro SAN, incoming National Secretary, Joyce Oduah, Richard Ahonarogho, FIDA Lagos Chair, Phil Nneji and Wada O Wada , Former NBA Young Lawyers Forum Chair .

The DCEO, Lawbreed, Mrs Adejoke Layi-Babatunde thanked the facilitators and attendees promising them of more to come

It Costs N2m To Destroy One Container Of Tramadol ― NAFDAC

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye has revealed that to destroy a container load of Tramadol cost the agency between N1m and N2m.

This is even as she revealed that NAFDAC has taken the fight against the importation of substandard and fake products to India and China, where two Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents were removed because they indulged in facilitating illicit drugs to Nigeria.

Disclosing this on Tuesday when she hosted a virtual media parley with the print media, the NAFDAC DG explained that for seven years when the agency was not at the ports, importers of fake and substandard drugs were having a field day bringing in dangerous products into the country.

According to Mrs Adeyeye, “Don’t forget that for seven years, we were not at the port and importers of dangerous drugs were having a field day. Our children were going wacko due to drug abuse that was almost becoming a normal thing in this country.

“In May of 2018, our officials returned to the ports and gave importers of these illicit drugs a run for their money. Many containers of Tramadol were impounded by NAFDAC and destroyed. To destroy a container of Tramadol, it costs around N1m to N2m.

“Importers of these illicit drugs, when it dawned on them that we are back at the ports, started diverting some of these shipments to neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region. We went after them in these countries and still seized their shipments.

As I speak, five containers of Tramadol meant for the Nigerian market are in the Benin Republic. The Nigerian Ambassador over there is currently making efforts to bring those consignments here for destruction. The NAFDAC Directorate at the port is up and running.

“There was a time I was in the United Kingdom (UK) for a family function and got alerted that 14 container shipment of Tramadol was on its way to Lagos. I quickly called our Port Directorate and alerted them to ensure those shipments do not enter the country.”

On what she met on ground when she resumed as NAFDAC DG, Adeyeye explained that ‘On resumption as NAFDAC DG, I was shocked at the state of decay in our laboratories all over the country.

We have seven laboratories nationwide, and many were in a state of rot. How can we certify drugs and foods when our labs are not properly equipped?

“As we speak, our laboratories have been given a facelift. Now we have some money to buy some detection devices, and this will reduce the numbers of goods that we need to take to the laboratory for examination.

“Last year, I was in India and China to examine some of their laboratories where goods meant for importation to Nigeria are tested.

In these countries, they have Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents who certify these products before they are shipped to Nigeria. We had to remove two of the CRI Agents because we found them culpable in allowing substandard drugs to come to Nigeria. We told them in China and India that we don’t want substandard goods in Nigeria anymore.”

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