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Sterling Bank Agric Loans Hit N100bn

By
James Orji
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The managing director/ chief executive of Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Suleman has disclosed that the commercial bank invested more than N100 billion in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The figure, Suleman said represents about 15 percent of the bank’s total loans portfolio, he said.

The bank’s chief executive stated this in his closing remarks at the Agriculture Summit Africa, ASA 2022 with the theme: “Engineering a Trillion Dollar Agricultural Economy,” which held recently both physically and virtually with more than 10,000 attendees from across the world.

Agriculture is one of the five sectors of the economy that the bank has focused its investments on since 2018 as part of its HEART of Sterling strategy. The others are health, education, transportation, and renewable energy.

Suleiman observed that the bank is the biggest promoter of the sector apart from the Bank of Agriculture.

“When we started the journey about five years ago, we were very clear in our minds that we did not just want to make it a talk show and we have been changing the focus of the conversation from moving away from identifying problems to providing solutions and now we are bringing stakeholders together in a bid to effectively move the conversation forward with action.

“We started it because we wanted to focus on agricultural financing where there was a significant gap. Every time we meet a stakeholder or a regulator, we noticed a different perspective of what the problem was and therefore it became clear to us that if we do not bring all the stakeholders together to harmonise their views and understanding, we will continue to remain in the dark,” he said.

The CEO noted that the summit became imperative as part of the global conversation on food security due to the consequences of global trade which was so obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a global disruption in the supply chain.

“So, this conversation about food security in Africa is one that we will continue to sponsor because of its existential purpose which is about leveraging our competitive advantage,” he said.

The Agriculture Summit Africa, ASA, is one of the continent’s leading, privately funded platforms dedicated to increasing the value of the agribusiness value chain by creating a convergence of private and public sector interests, development finance institutions, agribusiness investors, and players.

Task Force To Dispose Pre Election Suits

By
Ayodele Oni
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Federal HIgh Court Abuja

By Ayodele Oni

Worried by high number of pre election suits before it, the Federal High Court of Nigeria has constituted a special task force of Judges to swiftly hear and determine such cases before it.

The information was contained in a circular letter issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho.

There have been instances when litigants do not get favourable judgement due to late filing or late disposal of pre election suits thus giving opponents undue victory.

The circular explained that the task force became necessary to designate a team of Judges following the large volume of pre-election suits that have flooded the court.

According to the circular, Judges who are members of the Task Force will suspend all regular cases in their respective courts, due to the urgency of the electoral cases, which are time-bound.

“In view of the large volume of pre-election cases filed so far; with the imminent attendant risk of lapsing, it has become necessary to constitute a Task Force to speedily dispose off the matters, particularly in those Judicial Divisions with a glut of them.”

A statement by the Assistant Director of Information of the Court,  Dr Catherine Oby Christopher indicated that Justice Tsoho further stated that the Judges will have four weeks within which to dispose of the pre-election cases.

NIMASA Focused On Making Maritime Sector Attractive-DG

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Bashir Jamoh

As part of efforts to review performance and strategize to achieve its mandate the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has organized a 3-day Management strategic session.

Speaking during the opening of the session, the Agency’s Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, noted that continuous internal stakeholders’ engagement is a key component of the current administration to achieve a successful implementation of her tripod mandate of ensuring Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Shipping Development for the Nigerian Maritime industry.

Dr. Jamoh disclosed that in order to achieve the mandate of the Agency, it requires collective efforts from all stakeholders, which will in turn help drive investors’ confidence in engaging in businesses in the Nigerian maritime sector.

“Shipping is crucial to the survival of the global economy, as was exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, where virtually all sectors of the global economy were grounded, except the shipping industry. For us at NIMASA, we are focused on driving the Agenda of the Federal Government in making the Nigerian maritime sector attractive for investors, while we keep building the capacity of our people to make them compete favourably with their counterparts in the comity of maritime nations”.  ​

On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) ’Laoye Jaiyeolawho hinged his presentation on providing leadership in uncertain times, noted that the maritime industry is capable of playing a leading role in reshaping the Nigerian economy.

He used the opportunity to enjoin the Management of the Agency to move with the trend in order to meet up with modern day realities in ensuring the Nigerian maritime sector is in tandem with its counterpart in other maritime climes.

“With the global uncertainty due largely to the Ukraine-Russian war and adapting to the new normal brought unto humanity by COVID-19 which has led to weakening global stability, Blue Economy is the future. Leaders should embrace the use of technology in the maritime sector and acquire new skills in-demand. This is the only way Nigeria can provide leadership in the maritime sector”, he said.

Buhari Rejects Plot To Remove INEC Boss

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed suggestions that he’s planning to remove Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The president spoke following insinuations that some elements in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC are not happy with some reforms being made by the commission in order to make the 2023 election free, fair, and credible.

What riled these hawks the most in the present INEC leadership, it was learned is its decision to use the Bimodal Voter Registration System, BVAS in next year’s general election as a way of eliminating voter fraud and rigging.

But Osita Okechukwu, the Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN and a staunch member of the APC recently described the technology as a “vaccine to vote rigging”.

In spite of this, pressure is being mounted on the president to fire Prof. Yakubu less than four months into the critical election, according to sources in the presidency.

Reacting, the president said on Tuesday that he has no such intention.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who spoke at the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, IDEI in Abuja on Tuesday said there are no plans to replace the INEC boss or stop the use of BVAS in the 2023 general elections.

The president who acknowledges the role of INEC in ensuring that the 2023 elections go ahead as planned, said the use of technology cannot be underestimated.

Adesina said, “Recently, there was one group that said the chairman of INEC was going to be removed because maybe they didn’t want BVAS.

“How many times has the president spoken about the role of technology in getting him into office?

“He has spoken about it locally and internationally that three times he contested, three times he ended at the Supreme Court because the government of the day would just write results.

“Technology came and there are permanent voter cards, so it is difficult to write results.

“So, how and why can the same person have issues with BVAS? I saw that group on television, alleging that there was a plan to remove the INEC chairman and the media gave them that opportunity.

“Such things should be treated with contradictions because they don’t make sense, at least not under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari,” the presidential spokesman said.

Recall that Ugo Chinyere, the spokesman of the Conference of United Political Party, CUPP had last month alleged plot to remove Prof. Yakubu.

Afenifere: Who’s Yoruba Leader ?

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Pa Fasoranti

Chief Reuben Fasoranti says he has not relinquished his position as the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere.

The nonagenarian Yoruba leader spoke in light of the controversy trailing the endorsement of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP by Ayo Adebanjo, the interim leader of the group.

Adebanjo had hinged his decision to support Obi on fairness and justice to the south east which he said has never produced the president and commander in chief for the country.

Obi is one of the leading presidential candidates for next year’s presidential election apart from Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the APC and PDP, respectively.

Fasoranti, had last week, in what looked like a division in the group, endorsed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election in an elaborate ceremony in Ondo state attended by some top Yoruba leaders and politicians.

But speaking on the endorsement of Obi on Tuesday, Fasoranti said the authority still lies with him as the leader of Afenifere, and that he has not ceded his position to Adebanjo, saying “I’m still the leader of Afenifere.”
he said further that “Afenifere has not endorsed Obi, we are endorsing Jagaban (Bola Tinubu) for the presidency.

“As you can see, the trend, the approval and the acceptability. You could see what happened when Tinubu came to meet me in Akure. Media carried the whole thing. Adebanjo does not have the capacity to warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Can he do that successfully?

“What happened was that Adebanjo took a stand and I took a stand. I didn’t call him and he didn’t call me. We never spoke about the (Tinubu’s) visit. As you can see, Jagaban is accepted and we approve of him. Obi has no stand in our mind at all.”

Adebanjo had earlier claimed that he was now the leader of the group after Fasoranti handed over to him as the interim leader.

In March last year, the 95-year-old Fasoranti said at a meeting held by the members of the group that he was retiring after leading the group for 13 years, adding that he needed to yield the position to a new leader.

He, thereafter, named Adebanjo as the Acting National Leader, while the former Financial Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, became the new deputy leader.

Speaking after the endorsement of Adebanjo by Fasoranti, the Secretary General of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide, who was in the meeting said: “It was commendable of the immediate past leader of Afenifere to name Adebanjo, who is also one of the right-hand men of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as his successor.

“Fasoranti needed someone younger and energetic that can add to the political template of Nigeria. To support Adebanjo, we appointed Chief Olaitan as acting deputy leader.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learned that some APC governors in the south west were the ones that put pressure on Fasoranti to endorse Tinubu.

“The governors’ reason is hinged on the fact that Tinubu is the only Yoruba candidate in the 2023 presidential election, and it will be wrong for us to support another candidate from another region. Posterity will not forgive us if we lose this chance”, a source close to the Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu told the magazine on Wednesday.

PDP Appeals To Commercial Bus Drivers To Rescind Decision Over Ongoing Strike; Consider Commuters Plight

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Commuters Standed in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

Opposition Party in Lagos State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appealed to the striking members of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, JDWAN, to rescind the decision on its ongoing strike and consider the plight of commuters who have been going through hell since the strike commenced Monday.

It would be recalled that JDWAN had threatened to commence a seven-day strike over alleged extortion and harassment by  motor park management and thugs popularly known as Agberos in Lagos State.  This kicked off on Monday, 31st October, 2022.

Hundreds of Commuters are left stranded in different Bus Stations in the state following the withdrawal of operations by many commercial drivers.

The strike has seen Lagos, literally, at a standstill. And so grounded the socio-economic activities in the State.

Hakeem Amode, the  Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Tuesday, urged the aggrieved transport workers to dialogue with the All Progressive Congress-led Government to end the suffering of commuters.

“The continued fleecing of the commuters and transport operators in Lagos State which has resulted in the members of the sector declaring strike, calls for the attention of everyone living, commuting, and working in the state of excellence.

“We sympathise with the Lagos State transport operators on their strike and urge them to consider the plight of ordinary commuters in Lagos who also bear the brunt of their agitation through the exorbitant transport fares which have eaten deep into their salary.

“We urge them to come up with an acceptable condition of operation and dialogue with the APC government to find a mutually beneficial position that would not put the people of the state in more agony,” Amode said.

The PDP also added that the transition of the National Union of Road Transport Workers to the Lagos State Parks Management Authority was the major cause of the problem, which degenerated into this present situation.

It stressed that the failure of successive administrations to invest in the productive development of the youth had increased the menace of motor park touts in the state.

“The government’s failure in education and youth development sectors had driven a lot of our youth to scavenge for daily collection of fares from transport operators.

“The recent promulgation of the State Parks Management Authority bill gives credence and legitimacy to this act,” he said.

PDP sympathised with the transport operators in the state, said that some drivers paid daily between N7,500 and N2,500 which caused them loss of profits.

It said that the daily injuries they suffered from motor park touts while enforcing collection of levies was also a matter of serious concern.

The statement said that the PDP administration, if elected in 2023 general elections, would reduce the burdens on transport operators.

The spokesman said that the PDP Government under its governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran and his running mate, Funke Akindele, would “do everything possible to ensure that the era of multiple taxation and collection of illegal dues on the road become a thing of the past.”

He said that the focus of the PDP government would be targeted at channeling the energy of the youth to education, sports, technology and community services.

Davido’s Son’s Death: Atiku, Orji Kalu, Akindele Commiserate With Davido

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has joined millions of people around the world to commiserate with Award Winning Musician, David Adeleke, popular as Davido and his fiancé, Chioma Rowland, over the death of their Son, Ifeanyi. He drowned in the family swimming pool in the Banana Island area of Lagos.

In a tweet, Atiku Abubakar noted: “My thoughts and prayers are with Davido and Chioma and the Adeleke family at this time. I pray for God to strengthen and comfort them.”

Also sharing in the pain of the Adeleke family is All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu. He said that he has cancelled his official engagements on Tuesday to mourn the death of Davido’s son, Ifeanyi.

He also expressed his condolences via his Facebook page on Tuesday.

Kalu said, “Dear David/Chioma, I am sober, I am deeply saddened by the loss of your son, Ifeanyi. I have cancelled my official engagements today to mourn him quietly.

“Ifeanyi will be missed by everyone. May the Creator accept our prayers on his behalf.”

In the same vein, PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Funke Akindele  mourned the demise of Ifeanyi, praying for the deceased’s parents over the loss.

The actress wrote, “This is so sad!! Ha!! Rest In Peace little champ. May the Almighty God comfort Chioma,Davido and their families.”

Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday announced suspension of political activities in honour of Ifeanyi.

The party also commiserate with Davido and his father, Dr Deji Adeleke, over the loss of their son and grandson.

The statement partly read: “Our condolence goes to Davido, our youth ambassador. We commiserate with our father figure, Dr Deji Adeleke and the entire Adeleke family.

“We pray the good Lord grant the family the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

Yoruba Will Secede Before December – Akintoye;  Says Danger Has Enveloped The Country

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Dr Banji Akintoye

By Akinwale Kasali

Prof. Banji Akintoye, Pan Yoruba Group leader of  Ilana Omo Odua, a Yoruba self-determination group, has lamented the influx of  foreign terrorists, who have taken over the country.

The Professor of History said that the foreign terrorists have not only taken over the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, but all  the whole country.

Painting a grim picture of the state of insecurity  in the country, Akintoye said the Nation was already in serious danger.

He spoke at the Congress of the group held in Ibadan on Tuesday via telephone. Akintoye said the solution to the insecurity was for Yoruba people to get their own nation.

He said this would be achieved before the end of December while assuring members of the group who gathered to elect the  interim leadership of the party that they were holding series of meeting to make sure this was achieved.

He said, “Our nation is in serious danger, there is insecurity in our land.  Foreign terrorists brought by the Fulani are all over our land but we shall drive them away.

“By the grace of God, we shall have our country before the end of December. I repeat, we shall have our nation before the end of December by the grace of God.”

Lending his voice, the Interim General Secretary, Ilana Omo Oodua, Chief Kunle Adelakun, popularly known as Eruobodo, said Nigeria was designed to fail and since the few oligarchs ruling the country refused to heed the call for restructuring, self-determination was the way out.

“We, Yoruba people, are ‘progressively naughty by nature’ and we would not allow the Nigerian contraption and the fraudulently imposed 1999 Constitution destroy our God-given intellect, human capital resources and promising future which is at par compared with the developed nations of the world.

“Our great people whom I call compatriots in the struggle and journey to freedom; I want to state clearly to us today that our hope for liberation might be scuttled if you fail in your task and responsibility.

“We must endorse the truth and the yawning of the over 65 million people for a new ‘Republic’ – the Yoruba Nation that would serve as  ‘a hub of intellectual innovation and technological development’, which is destined to set a purposeful agenda and model for the rest of Africa.

“Let me say this to all – Nigeria is going nowhere, not because we don’t want it to grow or because we lack the intellectual capacity to make it work, but, it cannot work simply because Nigeria has been hooked to slave masters and the ruling class who are hell-bent to thwart democratic principles to favor their greed, ego and personal interests.”

Alleged Lagos Drug Baron, Ademola Kazeem, Declared Wanted By NDLEA

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ademola Kazem owner of Adekaz Hotel

By Akinwale Kasali

Ademola Kazem, the owner of Adekaz Hotel,  has been declared wanted by the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over alleged offences bordering on drug trafficking and money laundering.

NDLEA’s Director on Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that properties belonging to Kazeem have been sealed following the failure of the Lagos socialite to honour its invitations. An order by a Federal High Court in Lagos on October 17, 2022 authorized the sealing of the properties.

He added that Kazeem was fingered after the arrest of some drug traffickers attempting to export cocaine to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and other destinations outside Nigeria.

According to Babafemi,  seven properties of the wanted suspect — six in Lagos and one in Oyo State have been sealed. His bank account with a balance of N217 million has also been blocked.

The statement partly reads:

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has declared wanted Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) over offences bordering on exportation and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as money laundering.

“The decision to declare the suspect wanted followed his failure to honour NDLEA invitations and an order granted the Agency by a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday 17th October 2022. The wanted drug kingpin was uncovered as the sponsor of some traffickers arrested by the anti-narcotics agency in their recent attempt to export cocaine to Dubai, UAE and other destinations outside Nigeria.

“Soon after the arrest of one of his mules, Bolujoko Muyiwa Babalola, a Lagos BRT driver, on 27th June at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem who is also the Chairman of Adekaz Global Integrated Services, went underground. Following his failure to honour invitations sent to him, the Agency approached a Federal High Court in Lagos with three prayers: to attach and seal his identified properties in Lagos and Ibadan; declare him wanted and block his bank account with a cash balance of Two Hundred and Seventeen Million Naira (N217,000,000.00), all of which were granted.

“As a result, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 26th October 2022 sealed six of the identified properties located on Lagos Island. They include: 105 Tokunbo street off Broad street, Lagos Island; 1 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 3 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 54 Palm Church street, Lagos Island; 26 Agarawu street, Lagos Island; and 41 Foresythe street, Lagos Island. The other one is located at 1 Irepodun zone, Adepoju bus stop, Ajoda Ayedun, Ibadan, Oyo state.”

In another development, as stated by the agency, another suspected drug baron, Udemezue William, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on his return from Brazil on Friday, October 28, 2022.

The NDLEA stated that William’s arrest was with the support of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and followed the earlier arrest of some drug couriers linked to him as their sponsor.

The statement said: “In a related development, the Agency on Friday 28th October arrested another drug baron, Udemezue Obunike William at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on his return from Brazil. His arrest with the support of the Nigeria Immigration Service followed the earlier arrest of some drug couriers linked to Udemezue as their sponsor. They include two mules: Messrs Adolphus Anayochukwu Okeke and Anayo Michael Nnanna. The 52-year-old father of four children who claimed to be a businessman, Okeke Adolphus Anayochukwu was arrested at the Abuja airport by NDLEA operatives with 20.75 kilograms of black liquid cocaine on Tuesday 15th March upon his arrival onboard Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil through Doha, Qatar to Abuja. The liquid was discovered upon search of his luggage stuffed with six smaller bags containing 32-makeup mascara, which tested positive to cocaine.

“On the other hand, a Brazilian returnee Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March. Nnanna was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kilograms of cocaine, which is the largest seizure of such at the airport, since it began international flight operations years ago.

“Further investigations of the two traffickers revealed Udemezue Obunike William as the drug baron behind the cocaine cartel. As a result, he was watch-listed and arrested upon his return from Brazil on Friday 28th October.”

It further stated, “In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), CON, OFR, commended the officers and men of the Agency involved in the clinical investigation that led to the unmasking of the two barons. He said gone are the days when drug kingpins can hide behind traffickers and remain faceless, warning that the new NDLEA will continue to unravel them one after the other if they fail to back out of the criminal trade.”

Ex-Commissioner Docks Fmr Gov Fayose Over Unpaid Legal Fees

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ayodele Fayose and Owoseni Ajayi

By Ayodele Oni

As things fall apart between former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state and his estranged ex-attorney general and commissioner for justice, Owoseni Ajayi, Governor Fayose, was on Tuesday docked at the State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti over alleged  N900 million indebtedness to his Aide.

Ajayi, who was Fayose AG during his first and second term tenures as Ekiti governor between 2003-2006 and 2014-2018, reportedly fell apart with Fayose for his refusal to endorse him as his successor.

The suit, filed by Ajayi on 17th December, 2018, with  number HAD/113/2018, the claimant, said he handled a total of 18 cases through his law chambers for the former governor, with each costing a sum of N50 million as professional fee, which he alleged were not paid for.

Ajayi said those cases were prosecuted for Fayose between 2006 and 2014, which bordered on his impeachment in 2006 and the corruption case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among others.

In the writ of summon deposed to by the claimant, Ajayi prayed the court for an order compelling Fayose to pay the professional fee without delay.

Ajayi also sought an order compelling the defendant to pay 20 percent interest on the debt from October 5, 2018 and 10 percent from the day of judgement.

Fayose in his preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the case on the premise that it was statute barred, improperly constituted and that the claimant failed to comply with the conditions precedent.

While being cross-examined  in court, Fayose, described himself as a  full time politician, and he admitted to his statement on oath of April 16, 2019 that the suit was ill-conceived and lacking the legal validity to fly.

Speaking on his relationship with the former AG, Fayose said;  “Yes, I knew him, he did some few works for me.

“Between 2006 – 2017, he was working with me and also keeping documents for me.”

Ajayi was represented by Barrister Bayo Idowu, while the former governor was represented by his counsel, Ahmed Tafa.

Justice L.O. Ogundana, the presiding Judge, adjourned to December 13, 2022,  when both parties would adopt their final replies and written addresses.

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