The Chief Security Officer of the University of Port Harcourt, Amadi Wali, was on Saturday killed by unknown gunmen.
The University's Deputy Registrar, Information, Williams Wodi, told journalists on Sunday in Port Harcourt that Mr. Wali was killed at about 8.30p.m.
He said Mr. Wali had gone to investigate a distress call about a robbery attack in the home of a professor living on the campus when he was shot.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Federal government and academic union agreement lapses in 2012
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its four-month-old strike, but promised to resume by 2012, if the Federal Government fails to honour the agreement signed by the two parties on Wednesday. Ukachukwu Awuzie, the ASUU president, said that the agreement would lapse in 2012. He declared that "the agreement does not give financial autonomy to the universities, but has made certain prescriptions that will enhance administrative autonomy for smooth and effective running of the institutions from departmental to council levels.
"Strikes are avoidable, but for strikes to be avoided, government must be sincere and implement agreements," he said. "It must dialogue with unions when it is incapable of implementing agreements."
Mr. Awuzie added that the agreement prescribed UNESCO's recommended minimum of 26 per cent of the annual budget to education by both the Federal and state governments.
He said "We urge the civil society groups to demand from government, a budgetary allocation of at least 18 per cent to the education sector in 2010."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
How They Survived Hard Times in US
Nigerians in the US narrate their ordeal in the hands of their hosts while trying to settle down
For many Nigerians, the lure of the “American Dream” and the desire to achieve success in “God’s own country,” as the United States of America is fondly called, is the reason why many people choose to go the extra mile to travel to and live in that country.
This desire to travel abroad reached a crescendo in recent years, with many Nigerians opting to abandon their country for Europe and America, owing largely to the frustrations they face at home. The migration, as it concerns Nigerians, assumed higher momentum in the mid 80s. Many Nigerians still recall the TV advert in the 80s imploring the country’s citizens not to check out of Nigeria but to stay and work towards realising a better nation. Not many people heeded that call.
Chris Ikeakonam was one of them. He left Nigeria in 1988 for the United States in search of a better life. Although Ikeakonam was a film editor in Nigeria, he decided to relocate to America because that was what many people were doing at the time. “At that time, things were difficult in Nigeria. A lot of people were leaving because they felt there were more opportunities abroad, especially in the US. Like everybody else, I came to improve myself and live the American dream, as it was said.”
Ikeakonam was not the only one who left Nigeria in search of the American dream. Sunny Ofili is another. He left Nigeria in 1993 with the resolve to become successful in that country. A former journalist with the African Guardian, Ofili said he decided to relocate to the US when it became increasingly obvious that his salary as a journalist in Nigeria could not sustain him.
Today, many years after they first came to live in America, Ikeakonam and Ofili are happy men because of the achievements and heights they have attained. Both men can today, lay claim to having achieved the American dream. They each own their own houses in America, apart from being accomplished professionals, given their current status as IT professionals and businessmen.
But the road to success was not easy. In separate interviews with Newswatch, both men said they had to do menial jobs to sustain themselves when they first came to the United States. “When I first came here, I had to get a job as a security guard. I just had to do that because I didn’t have the legal requirements to get a better job. I was a security guard for a long time before I later set up a cleaning business which I was personally involved in," said Ikeakonam.
Reflecting on those early days, Ikeakonam said it was a difficult moment of his life. “ It was rough. It was as rough as it can get. It was like coming to a country to meet some of your friends who were going through hardship. So, you joined them because you didn’t want to quit. And because you didn’t want to quit, you stay and continue searching for what you came for.”
Then he met a guy who allowed him to live with him and his wife. "They had one bedroom apartment – one room and a living room, and he allowed me to sleep in his living room. So I went and bought a sleeping bag and a pillow. I would get up in the morning, take my bath, and come to the living room. When they are in the living room, I can’t come out to sleep, so I had to wait for them to get back to the bedroom, to be able to sleep.”
Ofili narrated his own experience: “Looking back today, I can say it’s been very fulfilling, but initially, things were difficult, adjusting to the new environment, the weather and job situation. It was never easy. I worked menial job, menial jobs that a lot of people dread. I worked at a fast food restaurant cleaning plates. I washed plates while I was in school here. I got a degree in journalism and lots of certification in information technology. During that period I had to go to school, I worked at night as a bar man.”
Ofili and Ikeakonam’s experiences are not different from that of many others who relocated to the United States.
Chuka Onwuemene had a similar experience. Onwuemene, a resident of Maryland, came to live with his parents in the US after his father won the US visa lottery in 1994. “ I had three jobs at a time. I first worked at a fast food restaurant, from Monday to Friday. I later decided to get a week end job and I did, working as a concierge. I did the two jobs for four months before I later got another job in a research facility. I did all these jobs before I later went to the university. I was working 44 hours in the research facility. When I got the research work, I told my employers at the fast food restaurant that I wanted a night shift and they agreed. I was working forty five hours there. At weekends, I would go for my concierge work on Friday night, come back Saturday morning, go back Saturday night, come back Sunday morning and go back Sunday night, then come home to rest and I’m off to the research facility in the morning.”
Onwuemene now works for IBM. Like Ikeakonam and Ofili, Onwuemene admitted that the beginning was rough but that he was able to surmount the challange through perseverance and hardwork.
The experiences of the three Nigerians offer a glimps into what many immigrants, including Nigerians, go through in the US. Newswatch investigation showed that even many who possess the relevant papers to work in the country, are not immune from doing odd jobs at some point in time. This is because of the need to earn more money.
As one American citizen put it, "there is no free lunch” in America, and so, to survive, many Nigerians and Africans, including Ethiopians, Ghanaians, Sudanese and Tanzanians, whether in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York or other parts of America are forced to take up menial jobs.
Atimes, because many people do not have the legal requirements to work, they end up being exploited by their employers who choose to pay them low wages for their services. This category of people are classified as illegal immigrants. But there are countless Nigerian professionals who work in different sectors of the American society whether as lecturers, doctors, nurses, IT experts and others. This is aside the many Nigerian students in different schools and higher institutions across America, some of who work to sustain themselves and augment what they get from their families as living allowance.
Chinonso Opurum, an Economics student at Howard University, in Washington DC, said he had to source for a job, even as a student. “It is tough here. You have to work hard to survive, even as an international student. Coming here as a student, I didn’t want to be idle. I know I needed a job and I went for it. I do some summer job.”
Obinna Nneji, a Chemical Enginnering student of the same university, also told Newswatch that he works to sustain himself. On September 9 when Newswatch visited Howard, Nneji told the magazine that he was on his way to work. He works as a salesman in a shop and his remuneration, he said, depends on what he is able to sell.
Afolabi Olayinka, another Nigerian student of Social Works at the University of the District of Columbia, in Washington DC, said he has lived in America for four years, but admitted that “life in America is tough,” and that one had to be independent and hardworking to survive. “Many students have no choice but to work to support themselves, especially if you have little or no financial support from your family or government. You have to find a way to do that. Rent is about $700 a month which is one of the cheapest you can find. In my own case though, I’m lucky I have my family here, so I don’t worry about accommodation.”
The stress and hardship many people of African descent go through contrasts sharply with the image most people in Nigeria or Africa have of America: a land of plenty, where life is easy.
According to Omolola Aneni Onojide, a Business and Public Administration student of the District of Columbia University, those who see America in such light obviously “watch too much CNN and other international stations” where fabulous and fantastic images of America are shown.
Onojide, the daughter of a former Nigerian banker, said she used to live in comfort in Nigeria with her family but that things are no longer the same today given the bills her family has to pay in the US. “It’s difficult not having the money to afford regular things that you can easily afford in Nigeria.” Contrary to what many of her compatriots back home feel, Onojide said “life is not always greener on the other side of America,” and that she prefers her country, Nigeria to the US, especially because of the warmth, love, and bond Nigerians exhibit in their daily life which she said is lacking in the US society. “I’m not saying that there’s nothing good here, but I prefer Nigeria. I think it’s only good to come here to study, then one can go back home and get a job.”
Juliet Okeke agrees. The Informations Systems major of Howard University said she looks forward to returning to Nigeria someday to contribute to nation building. On her university experience so far, Okeke said she’s glad for the opportunity to study in a historically black university: “The school experience is great. It’s interesting coming here and having to adjust to different social and cultural changes but so far, I’ve learnt a lot.” On the image of America as an eldorado, Okeke replied: “ From what I have seen here, I can understand why people see America that way. They say it’s a land of opportunity. If you come here and have the right skill and mindset, you can get almost any opportunity you want.”
Such opportunities are the main attractions to many people, inspite of the obvious challenges, including racism, they have to endure in the country. Many who spoke to the magazine, said that, at one point or the other, they were victims of racial discrimination, either due to intolerance, xenophobic tendencies of people of their host nation, past unsavoury experiences, or simply due to ignorance of Africa and Nigeria. “When I first came here, it was not anything funny being the new African girl,” was how Onojide jocularly replied to the question of whether she had been a victim of racism. According to her, “some Americans don’t know much about Africa, they don’t know common geography.”
But, whatever the challenges of living in America, Onoisewealu Osunbor, a Nigerian from Edo State, who currently lives in Maryland, and who has lived in the country since the early 90s, said America ranks head and shoulder above Nigeria in many ways: “ I would choose this society over Nigeria anyday, no matter what hardship I may have experienced here. Relative to the country of my birth which has slowly witnessed a decline from a dream to nightmare for its collective citizenry, the society here is a Godly one, overall. In Nigeria, evil easily thrives, and those who oppose it get ostracised.”
Although many people compare America and Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, Osunbor prefers to look at it from another angle. “ I will compare them on the basis of material condition of man. In America, I can safely tell you, there is no abject poor, except one chooses to be so. Many foreigners, Nigerians inclusive, have found fame and wealth here, and the society assimilates easily.”
Yet, the infrastructure in America is an attraction of its own. The transport system, electricity supply, roads and communication facilities are top class. Those are things Aisha Ozoiya, an accounting student of Howard University, wants the Nigerian government to provide in the country. “In terms of infrastructure, this place is amazing, with the transportation, the internet and communication facilities.”
Tade Fayemi, a 20 year-old Finance student and indigene of Ogun State, agrees: “Some of the things which we consider to be big deal in Nigeria are taken for granted here: things like transportation, internet communication and health care. Whereas you have to have money to access these things in Nigeria, it’s different here. The government here find a way to ensure that citizens of all classes enjoy these facilities. Whatever other challanges there might be, most people here are still able to access these things."
Ozoiya wants the Nigerian government to emulate its American conterpart by creating job opportunities for its citizens. Such a situation will not only ensure that many idle hands have jobs, but will also inspire Nigerians in the Diaspora to think of returning home to contribute to nation building.
Okeke said there is a surprisingly huge African and Nigerian population in America, some of whom are not keen to return home after their studies due to the poor state of infrastructure and lack of employment opportunities in Nigeria.
For Ikeakonam, it is surprising that “Nigerian leaders come here and see the level of development" and yet are not embarrassed by the level of technological and infrstructural advancement. “Given our resources as a nation, what will it take to have similar things in Nigeria? They just don’t care,” Ikeakonam told Newswatch.
African view: Insane with greed
The current corruption harks back to Africa's most notorious kleptocrats
I was settling down to write this letter when a back-page column in the Punch newspaper seized my attention.
 |  We have observed people amassing public wealth to a point of madness or some form of obsessive or compulsive psychiatric disorder -EFCC's Farida Waziri |
The columnist in that issue dealt with the well-flogged subject of corruption in the country.
I had thought that there was hardly anything more to say about the brazen ravage of the Nigerian treasury by public officers and officials but this columnist brought a fresh insight into the subject.
Obsessive, compulsive
That insight was provided by the executive chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Farida Waziri in a public lecture.
Her statement bears quoting verbatim: "The extent of aggrandisement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggests to me that some people are psychologically unsuitable for public office.
 Some say the Delta crisis and amnesty are rooted in greed |
How else does one describe a situation in which a public officer who has stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the public purse acquires property in key Western countries and, of course, South Africa, maintains multi-million bank balances abroad and yet continues to steal?
They can hardly keep track of their wealth, the full extent of which they must hide from even their spouses and children.
Their obsession with stealing is such that they are totally incapable of having any feeling for the scores of millions of other Nigerians around them who are bearing the consequences of their action in poverty, deprivation, disease and hopelessness.
Business as usual
The Niger Delta crisis is a direct product of that obsession.
Officials at all levels cornered so much of the revenue from oil and gas that there was nothing left for the welfare of the hapless populace.
| Dollars will also start flowing again - into the permanently open mouths of gluttonous public officers  |
The youths responded by stealing oil to acquire weapons. Eventually revenue into the public purse was reduced by half.
There was less money in the kitty to steal. Panic set in! Amnesty came to the rescue. High-profile militants have since surrendered their arms. They are now talking peace with the government.
What happens in this new era of peace in the region?
I think oil and gas will resume flowing in the pipelines. Dollars will also start flowing again - into the permanently open mouths of gluttonous public officers.
The situation will return to normal. Business as usual.
Honestly, Mrs Waziri's concern and suggestion of psychiatric evaluation of some people in public service made comic reading only here.
Something tells me that the legacy of Mobutu Sese Seko, Jean-Bedell Bokassa and Sani Abacha (former leaders of Zaire, the Central African Republic and Nigeria respectively) is alive and well somewhere not far from here.
SSANU, NASU suspend strike
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have suspended their four-month old strike for two weeks. The workers said the unanimous decision to suspend the strike was to open fresh negotiation with the Federal Government and failure to reach an agreement would lead to an indefinite action that would cripple the university system.
Speaking to Daily Sun, the SSANU Chairman, Unilag, Comrade Olusegun Odusanwo, explained that the decision of the workers to suspend the strike was reached at a congress meeting held at the university auditorium yesterday.
He said that the National Executive Council (NEC) had requested branches of the union nationwide to sample the opinion of their members on the lingering strike in order to allow the opinion of the majority to prevail.
Odusanwo affirmed that majority of the SSANU members in Unilag supported the suspension of the action for two weeks, to allow fresh re-negotiation.
Speaking to Daily Sun, the SSANU Chairman, Unilag, Comrade Olusegun Odusanwo, explained that the decision of the workers to suspend the strike was reached at a congress meeting held at the university auditorium yesterday.
He said that the National Executive Council (NEC) had requested branches of the union nationwide to sample the opinion of their members on the lingering strike in order to allow the opinion of the majority to prevail.
Odusanwo affirmed that majority of the SSANU members in Unilag supported the suspension of the action for two weeks, to allow fresh re-negotiation.
Militants Threaten To Rock the Boat
Rehabilitated militants are demanding to be paid their allowances or they will return to the creeks to cause havoc
Less than six days after their graduation from the Rivers State Social Development Institute, SDI, Okehi, Rivers State, more than 200 ex-militants are up in arms with the officials of the Social Rehabilitation Committee, SRC. The ex-militants, who graduated at a colourful ceremony, September 24, held the officials hostage for several hours recently. They were protesting the non-payment of their allowances.
The militants came with hired buses and before 11a.m. on that fateful day, blocked the gate leading to the offices of the SRC located in the GRA, a highbrow area of Port Harcourt. They did not allow any vehicle to either leave or enter the premises. The crowd spilled over to Moscow Road where the back gate of the Rivers State Government House is located.
However, the timely intervention of the Mobile Policemen and a police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, prevented the demonstration from becoming violent.
Some of the ex-militants who spoke to Newswatch said the officials of the SRC were tossing them around instead of paying them money government promised them. Iyorikimbo Israel said the treatment they received from government was not encouraging. “Government wants us to go back to the creeks and if we do, it will be terrible. I lost nine of my brothers and mother in the crisis. What is sweet in life again for me? So, if I go back to the creeks, it will be total destruction,” he said.
Israel, who graduated from the Welding and Fabrication Department of the SRC, hails from Okrika in Okrika local government area of the state.
William West Diepriye, a trained driver from the Institute, said he needed the money to buy a vehicle to use for commuter services. “It is not everybody that wants to belong to the co-operative society to do business. I want to work alone and buy a Toyota Haice bus that will ply inter-state,” he told Newswatch.
Similarly, Sogboeye West Daye said he does not want to belong to any co-operative society, adding: “Those who do not want to be in co-operative society should be allowed to operate alone.”
But Albert Horsfall, chairman of the SRC, said he was highly disappointed over the demonstration and attitude of the ex-militants. “They are not reasonable at all because they are not appreciative of the new lease of life we are giving them,” he said. According to him, the SRC has already paid its own counterpart funding into the banks, waiting for them to come up with their contributions and do the necessary documentations. He said while the documentation was going on, the beneficiaries became impatient and stubborn over the whole issue. Horsfall is of the opinion that somebody must have instigated the ex-militants to demonstrate. He explained that the essence of clustering them into co-operatives was to save them from squandering any cash given to them and find reason to return to the streets later. “But if anyone insists on going solo, what will be done is to divide what is in the co-operative and give the person his share,” he told Newswatch.
Two hundred and ninety eight ex-militants graduated from the training camp in Okehi in Etch LGA of the state after six months training. Out of the number, seven graduated in sport, 47 graduated in welding and fabrication, seven in fitting, 42 in sea faring/marine, and 26 graduated in business and commerce. Similarly, 15 persons graduated in fashion/designing, 19 in computer operation, while 61 persons graduated in driving. Another 22 ex-militants were trained as electricians, 32 in agriculture, 13 in arts/video coverage and four in Music.
Eleven of the graduates received awards as the best graduating students, while one Soibi Wisdom Simon of the Sea Faring/Marine department received an award as the best behaved student. Their certificates were presented to them by Godwin Abbe, the minister of defence and chairman, Presidential Panel on Amnesty, while Chibuike Amaechi, the state governor, decorated the award recipients with medals.
Amaechi noted that the ex-militants were mostly driven into the creeks by poverty. He offered automatic employment to 20 graduands. He said the rest of the graduands would receive funds that would help their different trades and skills through a micro finance scheme with financial institutions. Amaechi, who described the training as an opportunity for the repentant militants to change their lifestyle, urged them to serve as ambassadors of change in the society. He also charged them to collaborate with government through their conduct to change the negative face of the state in order to fast-track development and attract investment and goodwill to the state.
Horsfall said some of the challenges the amnesty committee faced at the initial stage of the programme include accommodation, funds, inadequate equipment coupled with the difficulty in dealing with ex-militants who might still be secretly armed. He recalled that they were given a broad task of identifying and rehabilitating militant youths of Rivers State origin, hence the committee prepared for the challenges of rescuing a potentially lost generation.
Horsfall announced that two of the ex-militants who graduated with football certificate have been scheduled for trials abroad in England with Chelsea and Arsenal Football Clubs in the United Kingdom, UK.
Atiku, Anenih, culture minister, others on fresh list of bank debtors
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday unveiled the list of about 616 Nigerians and firms that are indebted to five banks in Nigeria to the tune of about N450 billion.
The five banks are Unity Bank Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank, Wema Bank Plc, Spring Bank Plc, and Bank PHB Plc.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in August published the first list of those who are indebted to the five banks whose management were dissolved by the CBN. The banks are Union Bank, Oceanic Bank, FinBank, Intercontinental and Afribank.
Prominent names in the new list published yesterday are, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Otunba Johnson Oyewole Fasawe, Chief Kola Daisi, Femi Otedola, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Culture and Tourism Minister Adetokunbo Kayode and powerful ruling party chieftain, Anthony Anenih, among others.
According to the apex bank, as at October 5, 2009, 149 firms and individuals' non-performing loans in Bank PHB stood at N170 billion, while the non-performing loans for Spring Bank Plc stood at N95.6 billion. A total of 221 firms and individuals accounted for the debt.
The CBN also stated that Unity Bank Plc was exposed to non-performing loans to the tune of N36.6 billion by 120 firms and individuals., The CBN said the same list will be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) any time from today.
The commission is expected on receipt of the list, to invite the affected individuals with a view to persuading them to settle their debts to the banks.
The non-performing loans for Wema Bank stood at about N102 billion with a list of 81 debtors, while the list of Equatorial Trust Bank loans defaulters stood at about N46.2 billion with 45 debtors.
The apex bank had restated its commitment to enthroning a sound banking system in the country.
To achieve this, it had promised to take the same steps it earlier took in the case of the first set of five banks whose management it (CBN) earlier removed.
Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is listed as an individual debtor to Spring Bank to the tune of N111,150,439.42; Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, is a director of three companies - Netlink Digital Television, Mofas Shipping Line Nigeria and Transvari Services Limited - which collectively owe over N9 billion; while Chief Tony Anenih and Osahon Asemota are listed as directors in Mettle Energy and Gas Limited that also owes Spring Bank over N2 billion.
Several firms in which Chief Cletus Ibeto is listed as director, including Ibeto Cement Company Limited and Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, also owe about N4 billion to Spring Bank. The National Sports Lottery Limited, which has Chief Kola Daisi as chairman, owes the same bank over N7 billion.
Adetokunbo Kayode, the current Minister of Culture and Tourism, is listed as an individual debtor of Bank PHB to the tune of N110 million.
Conoil Plc., a firm known to be largely owned by businessman Otunb Mike Adenuga, with an authorised limit of N7.5 billion under Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), had a balance as at June 30, 2009, of N19.866 billion. Adenuga is the only non-executive director of ETB removed in last week's last shake-up by the CBN at the bank. Another firm listed as BYSJ Project Account had an authorised limit of N5.7 billion, but a balance of N5.972 billion with the same bank.
Among visible names on the original publication that also appeared on yesterday's list are Peter Ololo, through the firm Petosan Oil and Gas Company Limited, which owes BankPHB N4.6 billion. Zenon Petroleum, which chairman is Femi Otedola, owes the bank over N5 billion
Also listed are three firms that have Arumemi Johnson, chairman of Arik Air as director. They are Ojemai Farms Limited, Ojemai Investment Company Limited and Rockson Engineering Limited and collectively owe BankPHB over N10 billion.
CBN, in the advertorial accompanying the first list had described the debtors as the largest and vowed to continue publishing the list of defaulters on an on-going basis.
The apex bank had said in that statement: "Following the recent regulatory action of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the five banks, it has become necessary to use this medium to request the following defaulting customers of the affected banks to pay without further delay, their indebtedness, failing which the banks will take appropriate legal actions to ensure repayment."
The five banks are Unity Bank Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank, Wema Bank Plc, Spring Bank Plc, and Bank PHB Plc.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in August published the first list of those who are indebted to the five banks whose management were dissolved by the CBN. The banks are Union Bank, Oceanic Bank, FinBank, Intercontinental and Afribank.
Prominent names in the new list published yesterday are, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Otunba Johnson Oyewole Fasawe, Chief Kola Daisi, Femi Otedola, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Culture and Tourism Minister Adetokunbo Kayode and powerful ruling party chieftain, Anthony Anenih, among others.
According to the apex bank, as at October 5, 2009, 149 firms and individuals' non-performing loans in Bank PHB stood at N170 billion, while the non-performing loans for Spring Bank Plc stood at N95.6 billion. A total of 221 firms and individuals accounted for the debt.
The CBN also stated that Unity Bank Plc was exposed to non-performing loans to the tune of N36.6 billion by 120 firms and individuals., The CBN said the same list will be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) any time from today.
The commission is expected on receipt of the list, to invite the affected individuals with a view to persuading them to settle their debts to the banks.
The non-performing loans for Wema Bank stood at about N102 billion with a list of 81 debtors, while the list of Equatorial Trust Bank loans defaulters stood at about N46.2 billion with 45 debtors.
The apex bank had restated its commitment to enthroning a sound banking system in the country.
To achieve this, it had promised to take the same steps it earlier took in the case of the first set of five banks whose management it (CBN) earlier removed.
Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is listed as an individual debtor to Spring Bank to the tune of N111,150,439.42; Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, is a director of three companies - Netlink Digital Television, Mofas Shipping Line Nigeria and Transvari Services Limited - which collectively owe over N9 billion; while Chief Tony Anenih and Osahon Asemota are listed as directors in Mettle Energy and Gas Limited that also owes Spring Bank over N2 billion.
Several firms in which Chief Cletus Ibeto is listed as director, including Ibeto Cement Company Limited and Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, also owe about N4 billion to Spring Bank. The National Sports Lottery Limited, which has Chief Kola Daisi as chairman, owes the same bank over N7 billion.
Adetokunbo Kayode, the current Minister of Culture and Tourism, is listed as an individual debtor of Bank PHB to the tune of N110 million.
Conoil Plc., a firm known to be largely owned by businessman Otunb Mike Adenuga, with an authorised limit of N7.5 billion under Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), had a balance as at June 30, 2009, of N19.866 billion. Adenuga is the only non-executive director of ETB removed in last week's last shake-up by the CBN at the bank. Another firm listed as BYSJ Project Account had an authorised limit of N5.7 billion, but a balance of N5.972 billion with the same bank.
Among visible names on the original publication that also appeared on yesterday's list are Peter Ololo, through the firm Petosan Oil and Gas Company Limited, which owes BankPHB N4.6 billion. Zenon Petroleum, which chairman is Femi Otedola, owes the bank over N5 billion
Also listed are three firms that have Arumemi Johnson, chairman of Arik Air as director. They are Ojemai Farms Limited, Ojemai Investment Company Limited and Rockson Engineering Limited and collectively owe BankPHB over N10 billion.
CBN, in the advertorial accompanying the first list had described the debtors as the largest and vowed to continue publishing the list of defaulters on an on-going basis.
The apex bank had said in that statement: "Following the recent regulatory action of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the five banks, it has become necessary to use this medium to request the following defaulting customers of the affected banks to pay without further delay, their indebtedness, failing which the banks will take appropriate legal actions to ensure repayment."
12 Years after, Abiola family to reconcile today
Twelve years after the death of Chief Moshood Abiola, and the crisis that followed the sharing of his estate, the family has scheduled a reconciliation meeting for today at the late politician's Ikeja residence, in Lagos.
This is coming at a time government seems to be showing interest in getting back to the country Abiola’s assets trapped abroad.
Federal Government has resolved to investigate the allegation that some foreign firms are sitting on Abiola's wealth. But the government wants the family to first resolve their internal differences so that it could have enough evidence to probe the alleged corruption.
A source told THISDAY that Abiola’s extended family members were unhappy with the way the name of the business mogul and politician was being dragged in the mud over his property and insisted children must come together.
According to the source, Abiola was a rich man while alive and it is unbelievable to say he died bankrupt. They intend to settle the issues at the family meeting slated for 11 am.
The issue of Abiola's last will has been a subject of litigation both at home and abroad, with one of his wives, Gloria, claiming that her four children were not taken care of in the will.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently invited Gloria and Abiola’s eldest son, Alhaji Kola Abiola, to Abuja over the issue.
The aspect of the case that attracted the federal government was the way foreign firms were said to have conspired to sit on wealth belonging to Nigerians.
EFCC’s invitation was said to have been prompted by a petition by Gloria, who was said to have been disturbed by insinuations that Abiola died bankrupt because of his involvement in politics in 1993.
Gloria, added the source, had alleged that the will, which she had probated, was forged and that the assets of her late husband were being fraudulently diverted in collaboration with some foreign firms.
The issue of Abiola’s will and assets is, ordinarily, a private matter that should be dealt with by the family. But the criminal imputations and disagreements within have drawn government’s involvement. THISDAY learns from the invitation that over 165 documents relating to Abiola’s interests in banking, oil, and other conglomerates were submitted to the anti-graft agency. On the basis of this, EFCC invited necessary parties for interrogation.
Perhaps, in reaction to newspaper publications about the management of Abiola’s assets, one of the administrators of his estate, Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge, wrote a letter, dated May 30, 2008, to the family to try to clarify issues relating to Abiola’s property in the company’s custody. They disclosed that Abiola was indebted to some organisations and had gone bankrupt because of his involvement in the 1993 presidential election, which he was poised to win before it was annulled by former military president Ibrahim Babangida. Attempts by Abiola to reclaim the presidential mandate led to his incarceration and subsequent death in prison detention.
Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge claimed there were no substantial funds belonging to Abiola withheld by international banks as some of the monies had been used by his eldest son, Kola, to clear his father’s debts.
“If some huge sum existed offshore, the question that has to be asked is, why was it not used during chief’s lifetime to discharge this indebtedness? We believe, as was set out in the 3rd March report, that Chief MKO Abiola, for all his fabled wealth prior to his election campaign, was effectively bankrupted by his efforts. The only way in which he would have been able to restore his fortune would have been to assume the office which was so summarily and brutally denied him,” Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge stated.
In the letter, the firm expressed dismay at the publications in which Gloria alleged that foreign firms were sitting on her husband’s assets and that the 1989 version of Abiola’s will that she probated was forged.
This is coming at a time government seems to be showing interest in getting back to the country Abiola’s assets trapped abroad.
Federal Government has resolved to investigate the allegation that some foreign firms are sitting on Abiola's wealth. But the government wants the family to first resolve their internal differences so that it could have enough evidence to probe the alleged corruption.
A source told THISDAY that Abiola’s extended family members were unhappy with the way the name of the business mogul and politician was being dragged in the mud over his property and insisted children must come together.
According to the source, Abiola was a rich man while alive and it is unbelievable to say he died bankrupt. They intend to settle the issues at the family meeting slated for 11 am.
The issue of Abiola's last will has been a subject of litigation both at home and abroad, with one of his wives, Gloria, claiming that her four children were not taken care of in the will.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently invited Gloria and Abiola’s eldest son, Alhaji Kola Abiola, to Abuja over the issue.
The aspect of the case that attracted the federal government was the way foreign firms were said to have conspired to sit on wealth belonging to Nigerians.
EFCC’s invitation was said to have been prompted by a petition by Gloria, who was said to have been disturbed by insinuations that Abiola died bankrupt because of his involvement in politics in 1993.
Gloria, added the source, had alleged that the will, which she had probated, was forged and that the assets of her late husband were being fraudulently diverted in collaboration with some foreign firms.
The issue of Abiola’s will and assets is, ordinarily, a private matter that should be dealt with by the family. But the criminal imputations and disagreements within have drawn government’s involvement. THISDAY learns from the invitation that over 165 documents relating to Abiola’s interests in banking, oil, and other conglomerates were submitted to the anti-graft agency. On the basis of this, EFCC invited necessary parties for interrogation.
Perhaps, in reaction to newspaper publications about the management of Abiola’s assets, one of the administrators of his estate, Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge, wrote a letter, dated May 30, 2008, to the family to try to clarify issues relating to Abiola’s property in the company’s custody. They disclosed that Abiola was indebted to some organisations and had gone bankrupt because of his involvement in the 1993 presidential election, which he was poised to win before it was annulled by former military president Ibrahim Babangida. Attempts by Abiola to reclaim the presidential mandate led to his incarceration and subsequent death in prison detention.
Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge claimed there were no substantial funds belonging to Abiola withheld by international banks as some of the monies had been used by his eldest son, Kola, to clear his father’s debts.
“If some huge sum existed offshore, the question that has to be asked is, why was it not used during chief’s lifetime to discharge this indebtedness? We believe, as was set out in the 3rd March report, that Chief MKO Abiola, for all his fabled wealth prior to his election campaign, was effectively bankrupted by his efforts. The only way in which he would have been able to restore his fortune would have been to assume the office which was so summarily and brutally denied him,” Edwards Angell Palmers & Dodge stated.
In the letter, the firm expressed dismay at the publications in which Gloria alleged that foreign firms were sitting on her husband’s assets and that the 1989 version of Abiola’s will that she probated was forged.
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