Obasanjo Lambasts Buhari

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May 3, 2018

By Akinwale Kasali

Prior to the 2015 Presidential Election, former president Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo threw his weight behind the All Progressives Congress candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. He openly supported his candidature and endorsed him as the incoming president of the nation.

Three years down the line, Obasanjo has changed his rhythm, condemning the Buhari administration, describing it as a failure.

Obasanjo went further to discredit the ambition of Buhari seeking a second term in office, saying that even morons would not describe the mediocre performance of President Buhari as superlative.

In a statement made by the former president Obasanjo, he reiterated that he would not endorse failure, adding that he had not shifted ground on his open letter to Buhari, which he wrote on January 23, 2018.

In the January letter, Obasanjo had scored Buhari low on economy and security, accusing him of running a clannish administration, among others.

The statement further read, “For the record, Obasanjo has not and cannot endorse failure.

“His position remains as stated in his January 23, 2018 statement on the state of the nation. Chief Obasanjo sympathises with the plight of the campaigners and supporters of Buhari.

Fidelity Bank Grows Profit By 94 Percent

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Bayo Bernard

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May 3, 2018

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By Bayo Bernard

The managing Director and chief executive officer, CEO of top new generation bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo has expressed satisfaction with the end of the year audited result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. The results indicate that the high flying bank surpassed the 2016 results in all key indices, for the year ended 2017.

As a result of the performance, the management of the bank has decided to pay 11 kobo dividend to its numerous shareholders as a way of putting smiles on the faces.

The details of the results released by NSE also showed that gross earnings grew by 18. 3 percent to N179.9 billion from N152billion in 2016.

Profit after tax soared by 93.7 percent to N18.9 billion juxtaposed with N7.9 billion in 2016.

Net interest income, NIM increased by 15.4 percent to N17.5 billion in 2017, while Net operating income rose by 9.9 percent from N86 billion to N78.3 billion, total asset grew by 6.2 percent from N1.3 trillion to N1.4 trillion in the period under review.

The management cut total expenses by 2.3 percent to N65.7 billion from N67.2 billion, while liquidity Ratio stood at 35.9 percent compared with 33.2 percent in 2016.

Okonkwo disclosed that, the Bank sustained its performance through disciplined balance sheet management, strategic cost reduction, increased focus on the corporate, commercial, SME segments and continued execution of its retail and digital banking strategy.

According to him “We are delighted at the results, which showed strong growth in key revenue lines, significant traction in our chosen business segments and a corresponding decline in our operating expenses despite the high inflationary environment”, he said.

“Total operating expenses declined by 2.3% to N65.7 billion leading to the cost-income ratio dropping to 67.5% from 77.3% in the 2016FY,” Okonkwo said, explaining that the bank has implemented its Business Process Review Project to impact positively on operational efficiency.

“The combination of the strong net revenue growth of 9.9% to N7.7 billion and the 2.3% decline in total expenses which translated to cost savings of N1.5 billion resulted in our increased profitability.

“Increased digitization has resulted to over 25% of the bank’s fee-based income as customers’ adoption of its mobile/internet platforms improved to 35% in the 2017FY and led to a 21.0% reduction in vault cash holding,” the bank’s boss stated, adding that “the bank’s retail banking strategy continued to deliver good results. Savings Deposits grew by 15.2% to N178.6bn, accounting for 23.0% of total deposits from 19.5% in the 2016FY.

This has improved the bank’s low-cost deposits ratio to 77.0% of total deposits,” he stated

Again, IG Idris Shuns Senate

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 2, 2018

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For the second time in nine days, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has once again failed to show up at the Senate as ordered by the senate.

Idris was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Joshak Habila, for his appearance before the Senate on the arrest and detention of Senator Dino Melaye last week.

A security source had informed the magazine that the IG had arrived at the National Assembly ‎Complex while the Senate had begun a closed-door session.

It was however reliably gathered that the IG is being represented by the DIG, who is currently waiting to be called into the Senate chamber at the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

The Senate had, last Thursday, rejected taking Habila, while the IG accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi State during his official visit.

Expired G-Glutamin Syrup Causes Concern

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 2, 2018

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By Akinwale Kasali

Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, makers of G-Glutamin Syrup has intensify efforts to mop up expired G-Glutamin Syrup after public outcry against the brand.

For the past three months, the magazine has observed that expired G-Glutamin Syrup are still been sold in the market.

The law stipulates that three months before the expiration of a drug, it must be off the shelf and not to be sold or consumed. But reverse is the case of G-Glutamin Syrup. It is still been sold in the market, which poses a threat to the health of consumers.

Health experts says expired drugs are dangerous to health, which could lead to renal failure, hypertension, especially when the consumers are children.

But the makers of the drug told the magazine of their determination to mop-up the drugs from the market.

Chike Nwaolisa, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited lawyer, explained to the magazine the company’s failed effort to mop-up the expired drugs.

He expressed his frustration that the failure of some pharmacies to return the expired drugs on their shelves for destruction is part of the issues the company is contending with. But he promised that the company won’t rest on its oars in mopping up the expired drugs.

“Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited is a responsible company that always makes sure that expired drugs are not the shelves of pharmacies for consumers consumption. We make sure that expired drugs are mopped-up and destroyed by NAFDAC. We pay NAFDAC for the destruction of these products, despite the fact that we lose money, but we don’t joke with quality and standard”.

Pharmacist Ngozi Emelonye, has warned parents to beware of the drugs.

Okorocha Unleashes Terror On Imo Communities

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Chidiebere Onyemaizu

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May 2, 2018

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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Imo state government under Governor Rochas Okorocha has allegedly concluded arrangements to resort to brute force to enforce the newly introduced #3,000 levy on every taxable person in every community in the state. However, communities in the state are girding their loins for a battle against the levy. Feelers from virtually all the over 500 autonomous communities in Imo indicate that the levy is not popular with the people and will therefore not be paid, threats of severe of sanctions for obstinate communities and their traditional rulers notwithstanding.

Many Imo communities lament the levy is obnoxious and illegal. They allege the levy which is pegged at #6million per community amounts to over #4billion if fully paid by all autonomous communities in the state will be is going into Rochas’ private pocket to be used in funding and rigging his son-in law, Uche Nwosu, into power as his successor next year.

The angry communities have vowed that agents of the government will not be allowed to enforce the levy as they are battle ready to resist them. To this end, taxable male adults and youths in several communities are reportedly forming what has been described as ‘Self Defense Groups’ to thwart enforcement of the levy. Sources allege the Imo government is weighing the establishment of a special Taskforce charged with enforcing the levy, should taxable persons in the communities refused to pay peacefully. One of the mandates of the task force, it has been learnt, will be to mount roadblocks in strategic roads in all Imo communities with the view to identifying defaulters.

If the “offender” is operating movable property such as a vehicle, motor-cycle, bicycle etc at the time of “arrest”, such property will be confiscated and receipt issued to him/ her for that.

The task force will also be empowered to raid communities to fish out those who refused to pay the levy and varying degrees of sanctions applied. However, the Self Defense Groups, according to highly placed sources, are ready to engage, fist for fist and brute for brute, Imo government agents-a special Task force or any other body-set up by governor Okorocha to enforce payment of the levy.

In a letter emanating from the office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Community Government, Culture and Traditional Rulers, dated April 3^rd 2018 and entitled “Payment of Autonomous Community Adult Development Levy of Six Million Naira”, the Imo state government warned that “any recognized autonomous community that fails to pay the development levy will be merged with a sister autonomous community that had paid and salaries/allowances of the Traditional Ruler of the erring community will be suspended”.

The letter went further to inform that “to facilitate the payment, the government has provided community Adult Registers for autonomous communities where communities will enlist names of at least 2,000 leviable adults”

Citing a recent report released by a research and economic intelligence group, Economic Confidential which listed Imo state as among 17 states in Nigeria that will collapse without federal government’s financial support, some supporters of governor Rochas Okorocha insist the levy will to an extent help the government shed financial burden of bringing developmental projects to the communities.

Spirited efforts made by the magazine to have Sam Onwuemedo, Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, react to the Magazine’s enquiries on the controversial levy failed as he did not pick The source’s calls nor respond to Short Message Service, sms, sent to him.

2019: Intense lobby for Buhari second term begins

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Uche Mbah

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May 2, 2018

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Intensive lobbying is said to be going on in Nigeria in connection with Buhari’s second term agenda, raising fears that those that raised opposition against his contesting may have capitulated on their position.

Three former presidents and a retired Chief of staff gave a scatting verdict against the second term bid. Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a verdict on the second term, advising Buhari not to run. Ibrahim Babangida insisted he must relinquish power to the younger generation while Theophilus Danjuma asked natives to protect themselves because the army is not to be trusted with their security.

But recent activities indicate intense lobbying to make the trio change their mind on the Buhari Issue. This magazine was informed that the Bourdilon house of the All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu, is now a mecca of sorts.

Tinubu is believed to be the magic wand that will make the deal possible.

Indications are that nocturnal meetings invoking stakeholders have been ongoing at Tinubu residence where political bigwigs converge to make decisions. “Even Aisha is said to be begging for her husband to be forgiven his sins and be allowed a second term”, a source close to Bourdillon said.

Buhari on his own appears aloof from the whole negotiations. But the only person who is currently bold about his presidential ambition is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also highly connected with a deep pocket. The tacit endorsement of the puppeteers has made it difficult for any other aspirant to be serious, not counting new entrants to the game.

The apparent endorsement by Donald Trump shows that the puppeteers are acting on behalf of their affiliates to global Banksters and political godfathers. Though Trump complained about the massacre of Christians in “certain parts of the country”, he was mock-praising the president on his fight against corruption.

The APC crisis is orchestrated to leave the infighting going on to weaken any opposition that Buhari may have within the party. He is ready to sacrifice party hegemony towards his ambition.

If he finally comes back, the country will probably see the worst Islamic fundamentalism ever known in the country, and the Herdsmen agenda will b completed.Currently, in the history of the country, this is the first time hat the DSS and NSA are working at cross purposes, exposing our country to diplomatic and security conspiracy.

FG Bans Codeine Syrup

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 2, 2018

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By Akinwale Kasali

Following the abuse of codeine based syrup by Nigeria youths, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

This statement was made by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole yesterday.

The directive came less than 48 hours after a documentary titled, ‘Sweet, Sweet Codeine,’ was aired on BBC. The documentary which has gone viral showed some Nigerian youths who were addicted to codeine displaying symptoms of mental illness and confined to an ill-equipped rehabilitation centre. The ages of this youths ranges from 15-26 years of age.

The minister said the decision to ban codeine became necessary due to the gross abuse of its use in which some youths have become addicted, leading to mental illness.

Adewole said cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all cough syrups that contain codeine in the country.

he minister noted that NAFDAC had an emergency meeting with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group to inform them that there was an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine-containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal had been abolished.

The statement read in part, “The PCN has been directed to continue enforcement activities on pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendor shops and outlets throughout the country.”

NAFDAC was also directed to fully carry out its functions among others: to regulate and control the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs, including inspection at points of entry of drugs, drug products and food for compliance with the new directive.

Adewole said the ministry would ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies namely, NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, for effective implementation of extant Acts, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and usage.

“Furthermore, these agencies shall work together to increase pharmaco-vigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related substances of abuse,” Adewole stated.

Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki has warned that the spate of drug abuse in Nigeria will become catastrophic if left unchecked.

Land owner fears for his life over legal tussles on his land

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Uche Mbah

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May 2, 2018

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By Chibuike Osuji
Aderotimi Lateef Balogun, a Lagos based business man has alleged that since he bought a piece of land from a Lagos Lawyer and Estate Agent, Babatunde Olabode Johnson, Principle Partner, Johnson and Johnson Solicitors, his life has been a nightmare following litigation that followed the land purchase and subsequent threat to his life. According to Balogun, he has been trailed by unknown men since the he bought the land in 2012 without being informed that it is under litigation.
Trouble started in 2012 when Balogun purchased a piece of land situated at plot 278 Modupe Davis street, Lagos from Johnson at the cost of 92,000 British Pounds. No sooner has he purchased the said property than Modupe Davies, who claimed original ownership of the Land, surfaced to lay claim to the land. But indications are that the case had been on before Balogun made the purchase.Johnson had already won possession of the land and waited for the mandatory three months for appeal but since there was no appeal during the specified window period, he went ahead and sold the land to Balogun. Months later, Davies resurfaced with a claim to the land.
In the subsequent Court cases right up to the supreme Court where the case was struck out by a five Man panel headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen, they lost all appeals and resorted to intimidation and harassment of current owner of the land. Since then he has been dragged to various police stations in Lagos and even to the public complaint commission of the Nigerian Police, claiming he has been in possession of what belonged to Modupe Davis. “Eni (the Lawyer to Modupe Davies) instead of dealing with Johnson and Johnson who he ha case with, has resorted to taking me from place to place. I wonder if it is a ploy to frustrate and intimidate me out of my rightful property”, Balogun said. Incidentally, Johnson appears not to have done enough in the way of preventing the harassment on Balogun making him to lose man hours and during his time of being dragged about, according to Balogun, making him pass through emotional torture.
Now , according to him, Eni has resorted to intimidation.”I cannot move freely anymore. I now feel very unsafe. I am crying out so that the Police, government, Nigerians and other security agencies will take note.Unknown people have recently been trailing me. He even wrote a petition against me at the state Police Public Complaint Bureau, PCB. He then was trying to force me to sign a document I know nothing about, but I refused in the presence of PCB. He was advised by the PCB that I cannot be given a court order regarding the case. I cannot say what their next line of action will be”, he lamented.

Tax Debt: OAU Sealed

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 2, 2018

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By Akinwale Kasali

For several weeks now, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been in the news over sex for marks scandal that rocked the institution.

Officials of the Osun State Internal Revenue Service today stormed the institution, and sealed the main gate and the administrative block over a tax debt of N1.8 billion.

The magazine gathered the officials of the revenue agency, together with heavily armed security operatives, stormed the university and sealed the institution after getting an order of the court to do so.

 An official of the institution revealed that the officials came with policemen and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and shut the main gate before going ahead to seal other places.

He said the closure of the main gate led to agitations from the staff and others who had business at the campus.

He said, “Officials of Osun State revenue agency sealed our main gate, the secretariat and other places this morning. They came together with armed policemen and NSCDC officials.

“They closed the main gate but some of the staff, commercial bus drivers and business operators especially food vendors and others became agitated and this led to a serious crisis. The gate was eventually opened but other places remained closed.”

Details Later….

Abducted Customs Officer Feared Killed

By

Steve Ubana

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May 2, 2018

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By Stephen Ubanna

Hopes of rescuing Rasheed Abdulsalam, the abducted Customs driver, attached to the Nigeria Customs, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, by a combined team of the Customs, Army and the police who had been in search for him looks slim as people feared that he may have been killed .

This is evident going by the rumours making the rounds in Sango Otta, Ogun state and its environs that he has been killed by the” fireworks”. The rumour became more pronounced last week that ” fireworks” had ”killed the abducted Customs officer, as traders were scared a many smugglers were forced to go underground for fear of reprisal attack by Customs Personnel.

The alleged killing of the abducted Customs officer by” fireworks” dominated the talks of traders and their Customers in the market. Okada riders in the Ogun state Commercial hub are said to be more careful in the way they volunteer information to visitors as they refused to be drawn into any discussion over the fate of the abducted Customs officer.

Given the situation on ground, they were suspicious of as well dressed passengers as security operatives or informants to the Police or Customs Authorities. The situation was so bad at Sango Otta, a passenger remarked.

More worrisome is the fact that most of the Okada riders who make a living by crossing bags of foreign par boiled and cartons of poultry product for their smuggler Customers at an agreed spot at Otta may have been thrown out of business for now because of the tight security at the land border.

They claimed that the alleged killing of the abducted Customs officer may have forced the Customs Authorities to tighten up security at the border Communities in Ogun state to forestall smuggling of rice, poultry products and vehicles rice into the busy Sango Otta and the Lagos market .

That much was confirmed by a trader who said that there several vehicles loaded with rice at the Republic of Benin side of the Communities in Yelwa and other local government areas that share boundary with Republic of Benin but could not find their way into the Nigeria market.

The trader disclosed that the difficulty in crossing rice from Republic of Benin into the Sango Otta market and other parts of Ogun state due to the tight security along the Sango Otta – Idiroko road had jerked up the price of rice per bag.. He disclosed that a bag of foreign parboiled rice if found at the market now sells between N14,000.00 and N15,000.00 as against N12,000.00.

He fears that the price may go higher than that because of the anger in the face of Customs patrol teams and those at checkpoints who are under instruction by Muhammed Uba Garba, the Comptroller, FOU, Zone A, to ensure that foreign rice did not enter the Nigeria market. The anger of the seized of their goods may have forced them to abduct Abdulsalam as they laid ambush for the FOU, Zone A Lagos Roving Team which was led by Jack Okpabi Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs.

The team acting on information were said to be on patrol at Sango Otta axis on Saturday, April 14, 2018, over a large stockpiling of vehicles and rice in a hideout in the area. Notwithstanding the general impression being created over the gruesome murder of the abducted Customs officer, there are those who still believe that he is alive and would be released by the smugglers when the dust might have settled.

Trouble may have started when the smugglers frustrated the FOU, Zone A, Roving team from getting to the location where alleged smuggled items were hidden as they were said to have laid siege on the Customs team from Shop Rite, along the Lagos- Sango Otta Express Way.

The Customs officers who got wind that the smugglers were prepared for them were said to have decided to beat a retreat to avoid bloodshed. Abdulsalam , who is still in the custody of the smugglers may have been unlucky to fall into the waiting hands of the fireworks when he tried to make a u-turn from the Sango- Otta Shop-Rite premises to join his Colleagues who were waiting at a distance for him when the smugglers swooped on him and other occupants of the Customs Hilux Van.

The anger of the seizure of their goods may have forced them to abduct Abdulsalam as they laid ambush for the FOU, Zone A Lagos Roving Team which was led by Jack Okpabi Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs at Shop Rite, along the Lagos-Sango-Otta Express Way.

It would be recalled that the team acting on information were said to have been on patrol at Sango Otta axis on Saturday, April 14, 2018, over a large stockpiling of vehicles and rice in a hideout in the area.

Muda Yusuf, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said what is driving the smuggling of of rice across the border is the high tariff. Yusuf lamented that irrespective of where you source your forex to import rice through the nation’s seaport,the importer is bound to pay 70 percent levey. He noted that it is the high tariff and 70 percent levy that may have forced many rice importers to relocate to Cotonou port in Republic of Benin and other ports in the West African sub-region which found their way into the Nigeria market through illegal routes.

He would want the government to consider a downward review of the tariff of rice to curb its smuggling constant clash between smugglers and Customs officers. ”Rice is not contraband and could be imported through the nation’s seaport”, he said. He maintained that what has created the smuggling problem is the high tariff.

He disclosed that the market share of smuggled rice in the country is still bigger than the share of rice produced locally which has given officers and men of the FOU, national wide much job to do as they go after rice smugglers. From Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto to Zamfara states the story is the same: intensified anti-smuggling operations and seizure of thousands of bags of foreign parboiled rice from smugglers.