II

Agroup, Campaign Against Corruption in Judiciary,

has urged ttie Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. : to probe the alleged N6bn fraud rocking the National Judicial Institute.

The group said th is in a statement by its leader, Mr. Oludare Lateef, in Lagos on Monday.

He said. "Nobody should shield any official of the NJI from investigation . This is necessary t9 ensure that the judiciary retains public confidence." .

Lateef added that the disagreement between the CJN and the then Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Other Related Commission, Dr. Uriah Angulu, on the issue made it mandatory for the CJN to i nve~igate the alleged fraud .

''This must not go unexplained. ' It is better for the CJN to step aside as the Chai rman of the Governing Council of the NJI to ensure that he is neutral when the probe of the .a1leged fraud is on," he said. '

La teef " said the development; might not be unconn~cted with the controversy that led to the removal of Angulu from his acting position, adding that the situation ' could give the impression that some public officers were: above the law.

'Agriculture, priority for FG'

PERMANENT Secretary, State House. Abuja,

Dr. Ibrahim Dawud, said on Monday that agriculture still remained the mainstay of Nigeria' 5 economy as it contributed more than 40 per cent to the Gross Dometic Product.

Dawud told the News Agency of Nigeria that agriculture also remained a priority to the Federal Government.

He said it was nec~ary for all stakeholders. particularly the private sector. to invest and be in the dliving seat for agriculture to regain its status as the number one economic driver in Nigeria.

" If you look at the rest of the countries of the world. private sectors had always been in the driving seat in agriculture development.

')'\11 the government does is to facilitate, create enabling environment where banks will support those private sector that are in agrioulture and where markets will be open and value added processes will be put in place.

"I think that way when you now see infrastructure development by the Federal Government, by the state governments in terms of roads, in terms of other infrastructure like power. a ll these will be giving the necessary support and impetus for agriculture to strive,"

TUESDAY. MARCH 29. 20 11

Ifl ~~~~ ~ ...... Q ~ 1 ,.

• L-R Director, Port Inspectorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mr. Segir Momodu; IT Deputy Manager, Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wladislas Zarnowiescki; Director-General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii; and Deputy Comptmller of Customs in Charge of Automated Systems Control Unit of Data, Mr. Ambrose Akwuelegwu, during the inauguration of NAFDAC-E Clearance office, in Lagos ... o n Monday. Photo: Stanley Ogidi

PD~ ACN bicker over arrest by JTF Chukwudi Akasike,

Port Harcourt

THE Action Congress of Nigeria and the

Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State are currenUy at loggerheads over the arrest of members of the ACN. _

Five members of the ACN were allegedly arrested by operatives of the Joint Task Force, who stormed Lewe Community in Gokana Local Government Area of the state at about lOpm on Sunday.

Those arrested ' were

that they were taken away by security operatives.

He expressed surprise that the JTF could invade a place without any reason, claiming that the unprovoked arrest of the ACN members was politically-motivated.

Kobani said, "They were abducted a t about lOpm last night in . Lewe Community when four JTF trooper vehicles invaded their community. The (arrested persons were members of the ACN.

"The invasion was unprovoked and clearly a part of the harassment and intimidation currently

being used by the PDP. The whereabouts of these persons remain unknown."

But the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Celestine Ebemeri , who is from Gokana Local Government Area, faulted the claims of Kobani , saying the arrest was not targetted at the ACN members.

Ebemeri said the ACN 's description of the incident as an abduction of their members was incorrect, insisting that what the JTF did was to arrest some youths who were smoking Indian hemp within the community.

He said, "It was abduction; it was only a n arrest. The JTF visited

not

an area where some youths were always smoking Indian hemp and arrested them. It has nothing to do with politics."

Also reacting to the allegation, a spokesman for the JTF, Col. Timothy Antigha, explained that it was wrong for Kobani to use the word 'abduct' , adding that the JTF operatives were not involved in kidnapping a nd politics.

Antigha warned that the JTF would resist any attempt by a ny misguided politician to drag it into political issues.

NEWS 9

Academy commends

Mimiko on mega schools

Sunday Aborisade, Akure

THE Nigerian Academy of Letters has described the

establishment of mega public primary schools with modern facil ities by the Ondo State Government as a progressive measure that is capable of improving the educational sector in the country.

The NAL team led by its founding president. Prof. Ayo Bamgbose; the current president. Prof. Ben Olugbe; and other members. Professors Ayo Banjo. Olatunji Oloruntimehin, Kunle Adeniran and Romanus Egudu. gave the commendation when they paid a courtesy visit to the state governor .

A statement by the Press Officer to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Dayo Akindele, on Monday. explained that the team was received by the SSG, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola. on behalf of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The statement added that the academy was particular about the establishment of mega primary schools which Mimiko said were designed to take the primary school education system to the next level.

The schools were designed to accommodate not less than 1,000 pupils and would be equipped with all the necessary facilities including functional laboratories well-stocked libraries, sports fac ilities in a child-friendly environment just as each of the schools will cost the government N350m to construct.

identified as Bariala Baravi , I\agbara Gbarakaa, Sunday Afii. Barivule Gboro and Legio Mgboh .

Speaking with THE Ogun PDP crisis: OPC, COSEG protest against judge

PUNCH on the matter. the National Treasurer of the ACN in the state. Mr. Kenneth "obani. insisted that members of the party were not arrested. but abducted by the JTF operatives on the orders of the PDP in the state .

Kobani added that the whereabouts of the five members of the ACN were yet to be ascertained. claiming

Friday Olokor, Abuja

Acoalition of four groups on Monday visited the

premises of the Supreme Court and Federal High Court in Abuja to protest against the alleged conduct of a Judge of Federal High Court in Abuja.

The groups also urged the Acting Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Ibrahim Auta. to

re-assign Justice Abdul Kafarati from handling cases arising from the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The protesters also despatched a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Justice Aloysius Katsina-A1u. asking him to intervene in the matter to save the judiciary from ridicule.

The petititon was copied

Auchi farmers picket oil flow station

HUNDREDS of farmers in Auchi. Edo state.

have peacefully protested against the delay by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation . to pay them their outstanding o il sp ill compensation , the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The farmers. d isplaying lheir cutlasses and other farm implements. blocked the entrance gates to the now station at Aviele. near Auchi. after locking out the station manager. Mr Duke Ijirigho.

Chan ting war songs, the farmers said they would not back down from the picketing of the now sta tion until the NNPC management fulfilled its obligation to them .

A spokesman for the farmers. Mr Audu Momodu,

told journalists that they were taking the action because NNPC had decided to play politics with the issue.

Momodu, who decried the management's attitude toward their plight, said the farmers would not be held responsible for any consequence that might arise from their action .

He lamented that the series of meetings between the farmers and the NNPC on the issue had not yielded any meaningful results. hence, the demonstration.

He said. "They have made several promises and have refused to fulfill any: we did not even see the relief materials they promised at the earlier stage.

"Nigerians should know we have been patient enough

and we can no longer exercise more. it is our means of livelihood we are talking about here." he said.

The chai rman of the farmers' union. Alhaji J afaru Amedu. said all they wanted "is the immediate payment of compensation as recommended by the National Oil Spi ll Detection and Response Agency."

But Ijirigho's appeal and entreaties fai led to assuage the farmers' anger as they refused to unlock the gates.

Ijirigho appealed for calm. saying that Abuja was already handling the matter.

An oil spi ll on August 10. 2008. that lasted 42 days destroyed more than 169.251 hectares of farm land in Auchi.

to The Presidency; President. the Court of Appeal. Justice Isa Salami; Nigerian Bar Association: Inspector-General of Police: Director-General. the State Security Service: and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) .

The organisations. under the aegis of Coalition Against Annulment, included Oodua Peoples Congress. Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Group. Centre for Ethics Development and Democracy and the National Association of Nigerian Students.

The protesters, who were led by Executive Director of CEDAD. Ismail Olawale; Kazeem Dauda and Femi Davies. said Justice Kafarati should be removed. claiming that he was partial in handling certain cases before him and his a lleged collaboration with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to perpetrate injustice to the people of Ogun State.

Some of the placards displayed by the protesters include. 'UAD demands that for free. fair elections. we need impartial judges.' 'NANS demands resignation of Justice Kafarati.' 'Nigerian democracy stinks'. 'Save our democracy. Kafarati must quit now' and

'Bassey Ikpeme truncated June 12. Kafarati may h'uncate 2011 .'

The groups fur ther urged the CJN to investigate why all matters involving the PDP always had the special attention of Justice Kafarati .

They also want the CJN to investigate for review. the injunction granted by Justice I\afarati which held that the Joju Fadairo led-faction of the PDP in Ogun State should not be recognised as the legitimate executive. and the judgment which declared the Obasanjo's faction of the party as the authentic faction of the PDP in the state.

They are also asking the CJN to reassign the case between the Ogun State F'tlP and Peoples Party of Nigeria in line with the directive of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that all election matters be treated in the state from where they originated.

Speaking during the protest. the FCT coordinator of OPC. Chief Adedeji Oluwole. warned that there would be a repeat of the popular June 12 impasse if the corruption in the judiciary was not addressed. saying it was a threat to the country's democracy.