The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday expressed belief that the ongoing Anambra State cargo airport project would be successful in serving the interests of the trading population of the state and its environs.

Sirika stated that airports could be viable if they are built with specific objectives in mind, and therefore, advised the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to sustain the ongoing collaboration with the regulatory authorities to ensure that all regulations and guidelines for the construction and operation of airports are met.

The Aviation Minister made the appeal when he received the state governor in his office in Abuja.

Sirika, in a statement made available to journalists by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, commended the Anambra State Government for embarking on a cargo airport project that would positively impact on the economic development of the state and the South-east region at large.

According to him, “the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies will always give the necessary guide and cooperation to states embarking on such projects in order to ensure that all internationally set standards are met.”

Earlier, Obiano had said the Anambra State International Cargo Airport located at Umueri would be ready for inauguration in April 2021, and that the state would be honoured to have him (the minister) perform the task.

Obiano said: “We are sure of the date because we have the money to compete it. We are not asking for any assistance neither are we taking any loan. I am here personally to brief you on the project and to invite you to unveil it for us in April 2021.”

Obiano told the minister that the decision to embark on the airport project was informed by the need to cater for the economic interests of the state and its environs.

The airport, he said, has the second longest runway in the country after the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, and is being built with the best available materials to guarantee a lifespan of 100 years.

“The airport is just a few kilometres from Onitsha town, the economic nerve centre of the South-east region. It is strategically located, and it is a worthwhile investment,” he said.

According to the governor, the construction of the airport has been guided by recommendations and guidelines of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as it hopes to meet the best international standards.

Despite the claim by the presidency that those calling for restructuring are threatening the corporate existence of the country, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has thrown its weight behind other regional socio-political groups and prominent Nigerians, calling for restructuring following what it described as the failure of the country.

There have been renewed agitations for the country to be restructured to avoid its break-up with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, joining the fray at the weekend.

Adeboye spoke at a symposium alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; and a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

The respected cleric had warned that it was either the country restructured as soon as possible or it broke up.

But the presidency in two separate statements said Buhari would not be pressured to make any decision that would not be in the interest of the nation, describing the calls as “recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the president to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up.”

Following what they described as the presidency’s “very uncouth and rude warning,” an elder statesman and chieftain of the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF); and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to purge himself of dictatorial tendencies and be more tolerant of dissenting public opinion.

However, NEF yesterday joined these regional groups and advised Nigerians not to be tired of demanding the restructuring of the country.

The forum argued that the Nigerian state has failed in the management of security, insisting on the need to revisit the way the country is structured to provide security for citizens.

Speaking on a live television programme monitored in Lagos, NEF spokesperson, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, insisted that the country must be restructured to address fundamental issues that ought to have been addressed since Nigeria gained independence.

He said: “The two basic functions of the state are to secure citizens and provide for their welfare. Now, the Nigerian state is failing in both camps. So, restructuring for us means addressing those failures and identifying ideas, suggestions, and changes that can actually fit into the process of improving them.

“Policing is a fundamental issue. Here in the north where I come from, you could spend three days with bandits ravaging communities and you will not see a single policeman. Something is wrong with the way the country is structured to provide security for citizens. So, we need to revisit some of these issues.”

The NEF spokesperson stressed that the Nigerian constitution must be revised to “deal with issues that divide Nigerians rather than unite them.”

He explained: “We need to look at our constitution, look at the way it provides for the Nigerian state, the federating units, allocate responsibilities in power, the works of vital institutions, or the failure of vital institutions to work and how we can improve them.

“When we make demands for the restructuring of the country, we are not necessarily saying that the government is deliberately causing the problems – they are cumulative issues, matters that should have been addressed a long time ago but they were not addressed. Nations must accept to revisit how they live.

“Nigerians have a right to ask for changes, for amendment, for improvement in the manner in which we live. There is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is for the government to specifically say we don’t want to hear anything about restructuring.

“Right now, no one will dispute that the federal government carries too many responsibilities most of which it doesn’t discharge, has too many resources and is not well run. It has become a focus of intense competition – the type of competition that makes the political system unstable. Everybody wants the presidency. Everybody wants to go to Abuja. Abuja is everything. This is wrong.”

He added: “Many conferences whose recommendations have not been implemented need to be implemented.”

“We believe that Nigerians should never (be) tired about demanding that their country must be made to work. If the government is not going to do it on its own, it needs assistance. If it needs some pressure, we believe we can provide that pressure.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the 18th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The Minister also revealed that the Council approved the construction of a new deep seaport in Bonny, under Private-Public- Partnership (PPP) programme and the construction of a railway Industrial park in Port Harcourt.

“The Federal Executive Council today, approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities.

“It also approved the construction of a deep seaport in Bonny under PPP and construction of a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt.

“The railway line will be at the cost of $3,020,279,549. The industrial park, which is under PPP, at no cost to federal government, will cost $241,154,389.31.

“The Bonny deep seaport will cost $461,924,369, at no cost to the federal government.

“The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway will have new branch lines: from Port Harcourt to Bonny and from Port Harcourt to Owerri are new lines.

“There is another connecting to narrow gauge to standard guage at Kafanchan.

“There is a branch line from Gombe or before Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashua. That’s what has been approved,’’ he said. (NAN)

…Suspect, accomplice, to be charged to court after Investigation – EFCC

The Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command on Wednesday says it has arrested a Dubai-bound passenger, Sanusi Labaran with 5,342 Automated Teller Machine, ATM cards concealed inside a sack of beans while trying to board a flight, Ethiopian flight to Dubai through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA.

The Comptroller, Nasir Ahmed disclosed this while handing over the suspect and other seized items of seven pieces of memory cards and one SD card to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Zonal Office in Kano.

Ahmed further said investigations will reveal whether the ATM cards were in use or expired and how much was domiciled in the ATM cards.

The Comptroller commended his men and officers at MAKIA for the job well done while describing the act by the suspect as a disservice to the nation as it has a negative impact on the economy and foreign reserve of the country.

According to him, “The Custom were empowered with Section 150 to search and section 157 empowers for detention and seizures of the ATM.

“The law will take it course. We will hand him over to the EFCC. We are 100 per cent sure that the EFCC will do a thorough job because this a disservice to the nation,” Ahmed said.

Responding the Kano Zonal Head, Mr Sanusi Aliyu vowed that the suspect and other of his accomplice will be charged to court upon completion of its investigation and one’s prima facea case is established.

“EFCC will conduct a diligent and thorough investigation into the reasons why one person is carrying over 5,000 ATM to another country.

“EFCC will not only stop at investigating the person in whose possession the items were recovered but will go a long way in tracing the owners of the cards and reasons behind efforts to ship the cards to Dubai.

“After the completion of the investigation and one’s prima facea case is established, the suspect and his accomplice will be duly charged to the court of law.

“The mere fact that he alone was holding over 5,000 ATM cards raises a very strong suspicion and red flag. We believe he is not alone. He has other people that have been working with him either independently or as a group.

“The fact that he has a resident permit in Dubai tells us he probably has been in this business for a time. We will join hands with all relevant agencies to find out how many times he has left this country and then for what purpose and should we have any offence linked with his earlier travels, we will also coopt that into the charges that he will face before the law in the court,” Mr Aliyu however stated.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says administrative actions, legal reforms and technology interventions were needed to curb Illicit Financial Flows(IFFs) in the country.

ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stated this at a webinar on Understanding Illicit Financial Flows for the Development of Innovative Ideas in curbing the menace, organised by the commission, in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the country has no business borrowing money for development because it can generate a lot of money through its economy.

“As we know, many Africa countries are struggling to find capital for development.

“Often times, the strength, size and potential of our economy is discussed but the benefits are never seen or realised for the good of the people because a substantial amount of the capital leaves our shores.

“They leave in different ways. One of the ways is described as Illicit Financial Flows(IFFs). IFFs can be referred to as money that is illegally transferred or illegally used.

“But sometimes, money that is legally earned is illegally transferred and it becomes dented,” he said.

He further explained that, “when companies do business and earn profit but decided to transfer it, claiming that the money was earned in some other jurisdiction it becomes a crime.

“They are denying the country where the business took place, the country that bears the consequences of environmental degradation and other challenges the chance for development.

“They leave the problem behind and take away the money that would have been used to solve the problem.”

Owasanoye, however, stated that a lot of administrative action, some legal reform and technology intervention were needed in order to check IFFs in the country.

Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Economic Matters, said that poor governance and weak regulatory structure gave room for legal loopholes.

“I think some of the things that made it easier for IFFs to happen are poor governance and weak regulatory structure where there are legal loopholes.

“Criminals will try to explore such legal loopholes in order to perpetrate IFFs. Sometimes, policy inconsistency too.

“For instance, if a law in one’s country enable certain forms of activity and the law in other countries also gives a loophole, then you might find companies getting away with double non taxation.

“There is also the issue of tax incentives which a lot of countries give to attract foreign exchange.

“Usually, this can lead to tax competition. If your tax incentive is the one that you keep adding incentives, very soon, all the companies in your neighborhood will have very low returns on tax,” he said.

Dipeolu tasked African countries to incorporate international tax rules in their domestic framework as they try to improve international tax system.

He applauded ICPC for bringing all the concerned agencies together to share common understanding of the problem of IFFs, and said there was need to understand this issue and the danger it causes.

On her part, Ms Irene Ovonji-Odida, a Ugandan lawyer and politician said that Africa on the global stage was seen as a very poor continent.

She said but in actual fact, when one looked at the natural resources the continent was endowed with, “no doubt, Africa is actually the richest continent.

“There is no country that has advance its economy through reliance on foreign investment.

“The issue of IFFs is very critical because while Africa is on the one hand crying about it and looking for overseas assistance, we have this huge IFFs that have been going in the past years.”

In addition, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has warned state governments to desist from signing badly negotiated agreements with offshore arbitration clauses.

He noted that certain arbitration clauses attached to some agreements signed by states and federal officials had exposed the country to illicit financial flows and exploitation by foreign entities.

He said, “This challenge begins with agreements, very badly negotiated agreements. Agreements that were signed by states, agreements that were signed at the federal level and people cede away the fortunes of the state or the country without knowing it.

“As state governments bring people to their states on investment roadshows, going out to market their states, know that you are also marketing IFFs except you know what sort of agreements you want to be signing.”

Owasanoye stressed that the arbitration clauses attached to agreements with foreign investors were important, adding that it was not wise to agree to the resolution of disputes in foreign courts.

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan says banning the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) is not the solution to cases of extrajudicial killings by the Police unit.

His statement comes after the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, last week, banned F-SARS personnel and other Tactical Squads of the Force from embarking on routine patrols.

Senator Lawan stated this on Wednesday during plenary in response to a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on extrajudicial killings and human rights violations by SARS operatives.

According to the Senate President, one of the solutions is to arrest and prosecute police officers who have engaged in extrajudicial killings.

Federal lawmakers who debated the motion say the abuse and human rights violations by the police, particularly, SARS have reached alarming levels.

The Senate is consequently directing its committees on Police and Human Rights to investigate cases of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings by the police.

The lawmakers are also asking the police to set up hotlines for Nigerians to report abuses and human rights violations by its officials.

The upper chamber is further asking the police to set up a monitoring unit to look into the operations of its men.

Two Ex-Workers of Signatious hotels and suits, a hotel owned by Chief Kenneth Gbagi, a Former Minister of education and an Ex-DG of Legal Aid Council, have dragged before the Delta State High Court seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

The applications with suit numbers—EHC/FHR/80/2020 and EHC/FHR/79/2020, was prepared by the law firm of Tri-Lex Partners, based in Delta State.

The applications which has Mr Victor Ephraim and Ms Roseline Okiemute Diaghwaria as Applicants in the respective applications is praying the Delta Court sitting at Effurun Judicial Division the following;

A) A DECLARATION that the Assault, stripping naked and forceful seizure of property, confining the movement and abduction of the applicant is Unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of their rights as provided via s.34(1), 35(1), 37, 41(1) and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

B) A DECLARATION that the act of the 1st and 2nd Respondent in directing that the applicant stripped naked and be shown to the members of the 2nd applicant staff is a violation of the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, private and family life, movement and personal liberty.

C) A DECLARATION that the 1st respondent is not a fit and proper person to hold any office of public trust.

D) A ORDER directing the 1st and 2nd respondent to make a full page public apology and publish same in vanguard and punch newspaper within 5 days of the judgement.

E) A Sum of N3,000,000,000 (three billion naira) as special, general, punitive and exemplary damages in favour of the applicants against the respondent.

F) Interest of 20% per annum on the Judgement sum from the date of judgement until final liquidation of same.

And any other Order(s) this honourable court may seem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.

Recall that on the Applicants had alleged that the Respondents had force them to strip naked on the 18th day of July, 2020, in the presence of armed security officers attached to the 2nd Respondent.

TheNigerialawyer recalls also that, the 1st Respondent was alleged to have directed his two 15-year-old children to film the incident and thereafter post same on the internet, thus making the videos and pictures go viral.

Similarly, the applicants had alleged that the 1st Respondent had illegally withdrawn from the respective Bank Accounts of the Applicants huge sums of money, at gun point. The incident which is a fallout from a tips said to have been given the Applicants by a guest at the hotel, which the 1st respondent alleged that it doesn’t belong to them.

The case is yet to be set for hearing as at the time of filing this report.

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday ordered that a 37-year-old man, Hameed Ayinla, who allegedly defiled his 9-year-old stepdaughter be remanded in a custodial centre.

The police charged Ayinla with defilement.

Chief Magistrate F.M Kayode–Alamu, who did not take the plea of Ayinla, ordered that he be remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.

The magistrate ordered the police to file the matter at the Ikeja Sexual and Domestic Violence Court.

Kayode–Alamu adjourned the matter until 10 December, for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Olu Olubiyi told the court that Ayinla committed the offence on 13 September, at No. 6, Kunle Ojo St., Ori-Okuta, Owutu Ikorodu.

He alleged that Ayinla defiled the nine-year-old girl who is his stepdaughter.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State which prescribes life imprisonment for convicts.