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The
former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, will
return to Nigeria on Saturday, NEXT can exclusively report.

Mr. El-Rufai has
been on a self-imposed exile since November 2009, and even though he
had announced that he would return to the country in December, he
released a statement, five days to his planned arrival, saying he had
postponed his return for security reasons.

At the time, his
lawyer Bamidele Aturu, in an interview with NEXT, said that “in the
light of the uncertainty surrounding the exercise of public power in
Nigeria in general, and security matters in particular, it would be
decidedly unguarded for Mallam El-Rufai to return to Nigeria on 27
December 2009.”

Since then, a lot
has changed on Nigeria’s political scene, with the former Vice
President stepping into the shoes of ailing President, Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua. It is still not clear if this has a bearing on Mr. El-Rufai’s
decision to return, but sources close to him told NEXT that his flight
is booked and he will be arriving at the Nnamdi Azikwe International
Airport, Abuja, on Saturday, aboard a British Airways flight BA0083.

It is also unclear
what Mr. El-Rufai’s plans are once he returns to Nigeria, or what he
intends to do about the two arrest warrants issued against him. The
first warrant accused Mr. El-Rufai of conducting treasonable activities
abroad. While the second, issued on November 5, described Mr. El-Rufai
as wanted “for acts contrary to Sections 96, 120, 123 and 124 CAP 532
laws of the federation of Nigeria” as well as “some provisions of the
Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act (of) 2000.” Former
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael
Aondoakaa, had also announced the commencement of extradition
proceedings on Mr. El-Rufai, based on the Senate Committee on FCT’s
report, which also allegedly indicted the ex-minister.

Mr. El-Rufai is
also being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to account for almost $250 million spent during his tenure as
Minister of the FCT. He, however, in a terse email letter to the
anti-graft agency, ahead of his planned return last year, stated that
“for the avoidance of any doubt, I am returning to Nigeria on the 27th
of December, 2009. I will never be afraid to face a bunch of lackeys
like you.”

He is facing an
eight-count charge for criminal conspiracy and abuse of office while he
served as minister along with Altine Jubrin, a former director general,
Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), and Ismaila Iro, former
general manager of the same organisation.

As of the time we went to press, neither Mr. El-Rufai nor his lawyer Mr. Aturu could be reached for comments.

Mr. El-Rufai’s return might add to the complications and internal
crises presently experienced within the ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP). He is a card carrying member of the PDP, although it is
not clear which of the factions in the party he belongs to.

We
are no longer a courteous nation. We have lost our manners. What else
would you call it when you are holding an event and have confirmed
acceptances from the chief hosts, chairpersons of the occasion, and/or
special guests – all of whom will play key roles at the affair – and
they do not turn up?

How do you describe
an event for which a confirmed key speaker has being advertised as the
main attraction, and people pay to participate or to be delegates in
order to hear and meet that speaker, and then the speaker does not show
up?

We can lean towards
understanding when the VIP involved is of global or national stature
and whose time is at the mercy of critical events or stakeholders –
perhaps. But these days, any and every Tom, Dick and Harriet too often
do not take firm commitments to events seriously, regardless of whether
they are social, occupational or otherwise.

If you are lucky,
they are ‘ably represented’. This means that one hour before the event
is due to start, or 30 minutes before they are due to deliver their
paper, they conscript a staff member or a colleague to attend on their
behalf and read the speech that has all too often been pre-prepared for
them by the organisers of the event.

Phrases like “all
protocols observed” have become so hackneyed that some of us are too
embarrassed to use them. Now, we can add another phrase to the list of
clichés: “Mr. so and so, ably represented by Mr. here or Mrs. there”.

As an experienced
event organiser, you have not completed your preparations if you have
not already jointly identified with your VIPs, who will represent them
if they cannot make it. You had better have a copy of the speech so
that if they do not turn up, and the representative cannot make it, you
can still co-opt one of your team members or a friendly person of
importance present to read the speech.

Yes, they are busy.

Yes, the President
called them to Aso Rock. Please forgive me, but I have not yet heard
reasons like, “my constituents called an emergency meeting”, or “due to
an urgent situation in the organisation”, or “due to unexpected
ill-health.” What I HAVE heard are reasons like, “He had to attend a
colleague’s second wedding in another state”, or “she had to go to the
funeral of her colleague’s father-in-law”, or “they have gone to pay a
condolence visit”.

I have not heard
these kinds of reasons from international speakers and VIPs for events
either here or abroad. They check their diaries before accepting
invitations. When new demands on their time are made that conflict with
planned appearances, they consider them carefully and unless the new
request is unavoidable, they turn them down. When the unexpected and
unplanned occur, they either cancel their commitment or they contact
the organisers to arrange to come late or leave early.

If they are to be
represented, it is arranged at the time of commitment. On those
occasions, it is the representative’s name that appears on the
invitation card, not the VIP’s.

The representative reads his or her own speech, in which is also reflected the views of the VIP.

Show some respect

Why do our VIPs
think we should waste our time attending an event where their speech
will be read, sometimes badly, by a person we neither desire nor would
pay to see?

They could simply
circulate their speech or publish it and we could read it at our
leisure. I will want to stand for the president only, not for a
representative.

It is the height of
disrespect to the organisers and participants of events to expect them
to appreciate whomever you send. Say that you cannot make it and ask
the organisers if they will accept someone else who can bring a similar
perspective.

If a husband and
wife divide conflicting events on the same day between themselves so
that they can cover as many as possible, you could say that the
‘couple’ has been ably represented by the appearance of just one of
them. If an organisation is represented by any of its principal
officers, in their own right, the organisation can be said to have been
ably represented.

So, if the organisers are inviting you because of your organisation, ask someone else to do it.

If you have to
cancel your commitment, please do so. The event will survive. If a good
friend or political bigwig suddenly informs you about the wedding of
his daughter this weekend – a wedding that they have been planning for
several months – please tell him or her that regretfully you have
another commitment but you will visit them and the celebrants before
and after to show your support.

No one can ably represent YOU. We invited you because we wanted to see you, and hear from you, and have access to you.

If you cannot give us that, please have the courtesy to let us down with consideration, directness and with respect.

The Enugu State House of Assembly has
passed the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill into law. This
followed the presentation of a report from the joint committees on
Health and Judiciary and its third reading during the plenary at the
House on Tuesday.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, David
Atigwe noted that with the passage of the bill, affordable health care
services would be provided for all levels of income earners in the
state’s civil service.

Ruling on the motion to pass the bill,
the Speaker, Eugene Odoh, commended members for their useful
contributions since the inception of the bill.

He apologised for the delay in the
passage of the bill which, he attributed to other official engagements,
urging implementing agencies to put necessary arrangements for its
immediate implementation.

“With the passage of this bill, the contributions of Enugu State
civil servants will not be in vain as it will enable them to access
health care services at minimal costs,’’ he said.

The Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday said the current
review of the 1999 Constitution is not a self-serving exercise aimed at
benefiting the sitting members of the National Assembly.

Mr. Bankole, who
stated this before the House commenced voting on the amendment of the
constitution, said it is a joint effort by Nigerians to achieve a
people’s constitution because of the inadequacies of the document,
which has been in operation for nearly 11 years.

“Let me be clear:
this important project of constitution amendment is not a self-serving
exercise for the benefit of this National Assembly. No. It is a
conscious and concerted effort by Nigerians to achieve a people’s
constitution in view of the observed inadequacies in the procedure of
promulgation and vital contents of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

The Speaker, who
alongside his deputy, Usman Nafada, did not vote on the amendments,
urged the lawmakers to conduct themselves in such a way that they would
be remembered as members of the 6th National Assembly who allowed
patriotism, sincerity, and conscience to guide them in doing the right
thing for the nation.

Recalling that
Nigeria is operating its 10th Constitution since 1914, he reminded them
that the exercise was a rare opportunity to deepen, broaden, and
consolidate those key institutions needed for the growth and sustenance
of our democracy.

More responsive House

“This is our chance with history. Let us use it well to bequeath lasting legacies to our nation,” the Speaker stated.

Mr. Bankole said
members would continue to work towards building a more responsive and
people-oriented House of Representatives, which every member would be
proud of.

“We will also continue to support the executive arm towards the
realisation of our full potential as a blessed nation, rooted in the
ideals of sustainable democracy, even as we all know that governance is
a social contract between the government and the governed,” the Speaker
said.

Following a petition by some civil society groups
seeking the trial of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida over
his alleged indictment by the Okigbo Panel, the nation’s Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has requested for a
signed copy of the Okigbo Report from the group.

Responding to the petition, sent two weeks ago by 10
Nigerian civil society groups, Mr. Adoke acknowledged the receipt of
the petition in a reply dated April 16, 2010 signed by his Special
Assistant, Tunde Busari, requesting “for a signed copy of the Okigbo
Report attached to your letter under reference.” The groups, in another
letter to the Minister’s office yesterday, welcomed Mr. Adoke’s
response and his interest in the matter, which they described as
‘unprecedented.’ They said the minister’s response demonstrated the
willingness of the Acting President to exercise the requisite political
will to tackle the impunity of perpetrators of corruption, “which is
the single most important factor for the prevalence of high level
official corruption in the country.” The group however said a copy of
the report submitted to the Minister along with the petition is genuine
and reflects the original copy of the Okigbo’s Report, which they claim
is also in the custody of the government.

“Given that the Okigbo report is a public document,
and the huge public interest to see justice done in the matter, we urge
you to use your good office and leadership as the Chief Law Officer of
the Federation to obtain the original copy of the report from the
cabinet office through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation,” they wrote. The group also drew Mr. Adoke’s attention
to the fact that a member of the Okigbo panel, Ufot Ekaette, is now
serving with the incumbent government. They directed the Attorney
General to meet him, as he “will have original copy of the report.”
“Accessing or obtaining the original copy of the Okigbo report is a
public function, which would be best performed through the Office of
the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and in criminal matters
like this, the government can also be asked to submit the original copy
of the Okigbo report by way of subpoena,” the groups said, adding that
“pursuing the above suggested course of action will ensure that
substance and justice prevails over technicality.”

Time for concrete action

They called for a concrete action within one week of
the receipt and/or publication of this letter, given the minister’s
expressed interest.

“We are leaving open the possibility of taking all
appropriate legal actions nationally and internationally to ensure full
compliance with Nigeria’s voluntary international anti-corruption
commitments, including under the UN Convention against Corruption,” the
group said in the letter. “Prosecuting the case and recovering any
missing public funds would have significant implications for the fight
against corruption in Nigeria. It will also send a strong message to
the citizens and the international community that the government is
capable of preserving the legitimacy of governmental activity.” The
letter was signed by the directors of all the groups, including the
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Access to
Justice (AJ); Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC);
Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF); Women Advocates and Documentation Centre
(WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA); Committee
for Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR); Partnership for Justice (PFJ);
Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS) and Centre for the Rule of Law (CFR).

The groups sent a petition to the Attorney General on 7 April 2010
expressing concerns about the continued failure or refusal by
successive governments to prosecute those involved in the mismanagement
of $12.4 billion.

The management of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Tuesday,
debunked media reports that the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt
Refining Company (PHRC), Bashir Abdullahi, Turai Yar’Adua’s brother,
was sacked from the services of the Corporation in the wake of the
changes announced on Monday by the Minister of Petroleum Resources,
Diezani Alison- Madueke.

The NNPC, through a
statement signed by Levi Ajuonuma, its group general manager in charge
of Public Affairs, said “the former MD of PHRC is on a six months
Exploration and Production Attachment programme with Shell Petroleum,
which would see him traverse seven countries across the world where
Shell has its E&P Platforms.”

A national newspaper had, on Tuesday, reported in one of its lead stories that ‘Turai’s brother sacked in NNPC changes.’

Mr. Ajuonuma said
the report amounts to “deliberate mischief and celebration of
ignorance. The fact is that Mr. Abdullahi is one of the most
experienced chemical engineers on the pay roll of the Corporation. And
in recognition of this, the NNPC top management nominated him to attend
the six months SPDC facilitated E&P exposure course, beginning from
February 2010,” he said.

He added that
during the period, the former PHRC MD will tour Shell E&P operation
platforms in the Hague, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Houston, Canada,
Singapore, Qatar and Brunei.

The NNPC
spokesperson said that the essence of the training is to prepare Mr.
Abdullahi for higher responsibilities. “The course outline covers
intensive training in such areas like Economics, Strategic Planning,
Traditional E&P Business, Emerging Technologies, which also
includes Deep Water, Tar sands and Gas to Liquid,” he said.

The change

The NNPC further
said that Anthony Ogbuigwe, who was on Monday confirmed as the
substantive managing director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, has been
acting in place of Mr. Abdullahi since February 2010.

Ms. Alison-Madueke,
speaking at the State House, Abuja on Monday, announced a redeployment
exercise that cuts across the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR),
the NNPC, and some of its subsidiary companies.

She said the
changes and personnel movements are with a view to “greater efficiency
in line with the aspiration of the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan,
for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.”

Civil society
organisations under the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN),
promoting police accountability and respect for human rights, have
accused the police and the Borno State government of insincerity in the
aftermath of the Boko Haram crisis.

In a petition sent
late last week to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji
Bankole, NOPRIN’s programme coordinator, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said nine
months on, the Borno State governor, Ali Sheriff, refuses to release
the Panel of Inquiry report on the crisis which led to the loss of
hundreds of lives and the destruction of property worth millions of
naira.

“The governor of
Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, set up an Administrative Panel
of Inquiry one week after the crisis had been quelled. Although the
panel submitted its report to the governor one month after, the
governor is yet to make public the report, or issue a white paper,” Mr.
Nwanguma said.

Findings from an
independent investigation by NOPRIN also implicated the Borno State
government and the Borno State Police Command for failing to forestall
the crisis which rocked the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, between
July 26-29, 2009, despite several early warnings.

A Koranic teacher,
Babakura Fugu, whose father, Baba Fugu, was allegedly murdered by the
police for being the father-in-law to Boko Haram’s sect leader,
Mohammed Yusuf, had before the crisis alerted the Borno State governor
of Mr. Yusuf’s activities.

“I made a complaint
by a letter dated 15th July 2009, to the governor and the Attorney
General of Borno State, informing them of the activities of the sect,
which was duly acknowledged… But in spite of the receipt of the
letters, they refused or declined to act upon it,” Mr. Fugu said.

Mr. Nwanguma said
amongst the hundreds of victims yet to be compensated is the family of
late 72-year-old Fugu, who voluntarily submitted himself to the police.
His death is believed to be connected to his refusal to concede his
plots of land located behind Government College, Maiduguri, to the
state government.

“The Borno State
High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Mustapha asked the Borno
State government and the police to pay US$70,000 in compensation for
the extra-judicial killing of Baba Fugu. The federal government should
ensure they comply with the court ruling,” Mr. Nwanguma added.

Following released
video clips on international media showing Nigerian security officials
executing civilians after the crisis, NOPRIN decried the police’s
failure to unravel the identities of those involved; while still
awaiting the House of Representatives proposed public hearing into the
incident.

But in a reaction
from the Police Force spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, the faces of those
police officers shown in the clips could have been superimposed, thus
not providing enough evidence to make a case.

“It is possible
their faces can be superimposed so we are still looking into the issue.
It doesn’t take one month to investigate. It takes time. Investigations
are still ongoing,” Mr. Ojukwu said.

Amongst NOPRIN’s recommendations are that the Borno State government
immediately adequately compensate all victims of the crisis; while the
federal government identifies the ‘powers from above’ responsible for
making sure Mohammed Yusuf was killed and never prosecuted.