Author: Saint Augustine

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that the Executive arm of government was not to be blamed for the delay in passing the 2015 appropriation bill into law. Speaking in a radio programme monitored in Lagos by Primetime Reporters, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala who also denied knowledge of any blame against the executive arm of government in respect to 2015 appropriation bill also said that she was daily in touch with the committees who were examining those documents. She explained that because of the fall in oil price, the executive had to withdrew…

…Says Jonathan’s administration beneficial to businessmen President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid on Friday got a boost as a political association, Igbo Christian Traders and Gospel Ministers’ Association presented and distributed over 10, 000 musical compact discs in Lagos in support of his ongoing electioneering campaigns. Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Chairman of the association, Evang. Emmanuel Ezeani said that the six track album was in keeping with the association’s promise of working for him which it made in October 2014 when it joined other well meaning Nigerians in urging the President to declare his intention to run for the…

The former governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba has extolled the virtues of the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, for steadfastly working in support of her husband governor Obiano for the good of Anambra State. Dame Etiaba made the commendation at Anaedo Social Club field during the campaign tour of Nnewi North LGA. ‎The statement of the former governor was echoed by others at Nnewi South, Ihiala and Ekwusigo Local governments’ campaign for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra state. ‎The former governor said that the commitment of the…

By James Eze In one of his many seminal essays on Nigeria, Chinua Achebe poignantly observed that “Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.” Indeed since Nigeria began its current democratic experience, one of the most crucial tests we have had to face is the quest for a responsible and astute leadership – a leadership that represents the best the country has to offer in the management of the affairs of men. It is interesting to note that while the country continues its search for the right set of leaders that will consolidate…

A melodrama reminiscent of Nollywood theatrics ensued over the weekend along Onitsha-Awka end of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway by Nawfia, when the political campaign convoy of Mrs. Ekwunife ran for cover to avoid possible arrest for illegal campaign and breach of the peace in Anambra State. Ekwunife’s convoy which was en-route Awka after campaign stops in near-by towns turned and ran on citing heavy presence of security personnel by the Nawfia axis on the Expressway. The event which took place along the busy Onitsha-Awka end of the busy Expressway drew the attention of the villagers who suddenly noticed many cars in…

The Associate Convenor, Standing Conference for Mediation Advocates (SCMA), Barr. Valention Buoro has described the year 2015 as a year where Mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) would take a major leap into the judicial process in the country. Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Buoro noted that with the slide in oil prices globally, there was going to be scrambling for the available resources which according to him would trigger off crisis and consequently a lot of people could be hurt. He said that when people were hurt and they did not have money to litigate…

…Explains why December salary was delayed The Federal government has warned Nigerians to be wary of those it said were playing fast and loose with numbers especially as the 2015 general elections gears up with the sole aim of deceiving them. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who made this assertion while reacting to insinuations in some quarters that the Nigerian Economy was broke in a radio programme monitored by Primetime Reporters in Lagos dismissed the rumour as untrue. Okonjo-Iweala who admitted that Nigeria was in for tougher times in the months ahead…

Hundreds of agitated youths converged at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s office at Awka , Anambra State on Tuesday, demanding action by the Commission to stop aspirants not listed as their party’s candidates in the State from continuing electoral campaigns. The youths who marched through the streets of Awka in the scorching mid day sun to vent their anger said they were giving INEC forty – eight hours to enforce the provisions of the electoral laws on party candidacy or forget about holding elections in Anambra State. Presenting their grievances to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Engr Edwin…

A maritime Lawyer, Barr. Osuala Nwagbara has lamented the practice by customs officials to employ every available instrument to frustrate genuine complaint of over-assessment by the Nigeria Customs Service in matters of valuation describing it as a denial of port user’s access to justice. Barr. Nwagbara who was speaking at the 1st Shippers’ Day Celebration organized by the Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS) noted that Paragraph 13 of the 1st Schedule to the Act No. 20, 2003 which made the Comptroller General of Customs a semi-final authority to adjudicate on all disagreements on Customs valuation before a dissatisfied party…

…Says it moved 55, 000 containers from Apapa in 2014 The Nigeria Customs Service has faulted the claims that it focused more on revenue collection and meeting targets set at the detriment of trade facilitation describing it as misleading. Barr. Osuala Nwagbara had in the course of his paper presentation tagged,” Towards A New Port Order; The Journey So Far: A Lawyer’s Perspective”, which he presented at the 1st Shippers’ Day Celebration in Lagos noted that while the Customs Service World over were not only revenue generating agents of government but were also international trade facilitators at the ports, noted…