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United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Representative and Director Sub Regional Office in Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson, yesterday, backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria first policy, saying it offers a clear pathway to scale domestic patronage of Nigerian products and service.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3-day Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition (MiNE 2025) organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos, Amb. Johnson said local patronage remains a catalyst for industrial growth, and that UNIDO strongly supports MAN’s advocacy for stronger local procurement frameworks.

The opening ceremony of MiNE 2025 is the first step in a 3-day celebration of the Nigerian brand, and it is part of activities marking the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN.

Delivering his keynote speech as Special Guest of Honour at MiNE 2025, themed ‘Nigeria First: Prioritising Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria’, Amb. Johnson commended the foresight behind this year’s theme, describing it as ‘both timely and visionary.’

He said the heme aligns perfectly with the global drive for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable industrialisation – the very core of UNIDO’s mandate under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 9): ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation.’

The UNIDO Rep said it also resonates with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, which places Made in Nigeria at the centre of all public procurement and business activity, with a strong emphasis on empowering local industries.

He, however, said the call to prioritise patronage of made-in-Nigeria must go beyond rhetorics and patriotic sentiments. ‘It is a strategic economic proposition that can only succeed with deliberate, coherent and coordinated action at all levels of Nigerian society,’ he emphasised.

Amb. Johnson’s words: ‘From Japan’s keiretsu model, to South Korea’s chaebols, to China’s Made-in-China 2025 policy, the underlying lesson is the same: no country industrialises without first industrialising its mindset and deliberately cultivating domestic demand for locally produced goods.

He, however, pointed out that Nigeria First is not about isolationism, but about intelligent integration and about ensuring that Nigerian producers have a fair chance to compete, to scale, and to contribute meaningfully to national development.

It is about ensuring that every public procurement decision, every corporate purchase, and every consumer choice help build local capacity and strengthen the national value chain. It means efficient production, responsible consumption, quality products and value addition,’ the UNIDO Rep stated.

The UNIDO Envoy also pointed out that industrial transformation is a shared responsibility, noting that while government must provide the enabling policy and infrastructure, the private sector must continue to innovate and invest; development partners like UNIDO will also continue to provide technical expertise, global best practices, and catalytic funding support.

To this end, Amb. Johnson said UNIDO remains committed to expanding collaboration with MAN in areas such as sustainable manufacturing and resource efficiency, SME digital transformation, industrial parks and cluster development.

He listed others areas of collaboration to include standards and certification for export readiness; women and youth empowerment through industrial skills.

‘What I see here today is not just an exhibition, it is a demonstration of faith. Faith in Nigerian industry, faith in local ingenuity, and faith in the future of this great nation.

‘UNIDO stands ready to continue walking this journey with you providing technical support, fostering innovation, and ensuring that no manufacturer, big or small, is left behind,’ he said.

Earlier in welcome address, MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye called for evident and far reaching corrective and disciplinary measures against violators of the Nigeria First policy, saying it is the only way to truly align government spending with Nigeria’s industrial policy goals.

He insisted that now is the time to create the policy framework for transitioning the Nigeria First policy from executive pronouncements to legislative imperative and ultimately, to unfettered and bold implementation.

‘We cannot continue to allow policy inertia to undermine our development potential,’ the MAN President charged.

The MAN boss specifically said beyond policy enforcement, ‘We must also establish a functional, independent compliance agency or institution tasked with auditing patronage levels, recommending corrective action, and publicly disclosing performance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

‘Let it be known which institutions are genuinely driving local economic empowerment and those that are not. And we should take evident and far reaching corrective and disciplinary measures against the latter.’

Justifying his call for disciplinary measures against non-compliance, Meshioye said patronage of made in Nigeria products is a rallying call, a national policy proposition that speaks directly to Nigeria’s economic survival and long-term transformation.

Besides, recent developments in the economy, he said, are reminders of the urgency of this call. He said, for instance, that figures from the rebased Nigerian GDP, published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are striking.

The figures, he lamented, shows that industry’s share of GDP declined from 27.65 per cent in the 2010 base year to 21.08 per cent under the 2019 rebased structure.

Moreover, the manufacturing sector’s average five-year performance is also negative (-0.76%), particularly between 2019 and 2024, whilst sectors such as services and agriculture expanded.

‘This underscores a deeper concern. Nigeria’s industrial base continues to shrink. In essence, the rebased GDP figures signal a troubling shift from production to consumption, and from production to services and informal value creation. This is definitely not sustainable,’ Meshioye stated.

He insisted that if Nigeria must build a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking economy that investors will have confidence in, it must re-industrialise, and that process must begin with deliberate support for local manufacturers.

He, however, said such support in the mold of the ‘Nigeria First’ agenda is not about closing the country’s doors to the world; it is about opening the right doors to Nigerian-made solutions, Nigerian jobs, and Nigerian ingenuity.

‘Every industrialised country in the world today began its journey by nurturing local content and leveraging public and private procurement as an avenue for galvanising scale production and economic development. Nigeria must not go the opposite direction,’ the MAN President emphasised.

‘As a matter of urgency, we must institutionalise mechanisms that prioritise Made-in-Nigeria products in government contracts, public spending, and private-sector procurement.

‘Existing Executive Orders-including 003 and 005-must be aligned with the Nigeria First policy and fully implemented, enforced and monitored.

‘Quite importantly, there must be consequences for non-compliance. We should eliminate the prevalence of selective compliance,’ he said.

For the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, ‘Prioritising the patronage of made-in-Nigeria products is an affirmative action! A call for national reorientation! A call to the Nigerian Government to use Nigerians money to prioritise Nigerian products! A strident call on government to co-create a policy framework for the effective and unfettered implementation of the Nigeria First policy.

Nigeria is deepening engagement with international development partners to attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and strengthen the country’s project pipeline through renewed collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

High-level bilateral discussions between the Federal Ministry of Finance and representatives of JICA and MIGA held on the sidelines of the ongoing World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite and members of the Nigerian delegation.

The talks focused on exploring new opportunities for cooperation aimed at boosting investor confidence, expanding private sector participation, and supporting Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging international partnerships to accelerate economic growth and development.

‘The Nigerian Government remains committed to working with international development partners to drive sustainable growth, create jobs, and strengthen critical sectors of the economy,’ the statement said.

JICA and MIGA, both long-term development partners, expressed their readiness to continue supporting Nigeria’s development agenda, particularly in areas such as infrastructure financing, project guarantees, and investment facilitation.

The ministry’s statement further noted that the collaboration between Nigeria and these agencies is expected to open new avenues for investment and deepen economic cooperation. ‘As Nigeria continues to prioritize economic diversification and growth, the collaboration with JICA and MIGA is expected to play a key role in unlocking new opportunities for the country,’ it added.

The meeting also reflected the growing confidence of international development agencies in Nigeria’s reform agenda and the government’s commitment to creating a stable environment for investment and business growth.

Both JICA and MIGA have been active partners in supporting development initiatives in Nigeria and across Africa through financial guarantees, technical assistance, and partnerships aimed at mitigating investment risks and promoting inclusive growth.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has organised a week-long leadership retreat for its newly promoted Comptrollers with a focus on strengthening leadership capacity, innovation, and institutional integrity across commands and formations to promote accountability, boost trade facilitation, and quick cargo clearance from the port.

The retreat, held at the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi Auditorium of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, was declared open by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), DCG Sulaiman Chiroma, and officially closed by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resource Development, DCG Greg Itotoh.

Declaring the event open, DCG Chiroma described the retreat as part of the Comptroller-General of Customs’ ongoing reforms to prepare newly promoted officers for higher responsibilities in line with global Customs standards.

He charged the officers to be deliberate in leadership and uphold the values of discipline, accountability, and innovation, stressing that their performance would define the image of the Service in the public space.

Chiroma said, ‘This retreat provides an opportunity to realign with the CGC’s three-point agenda: collaboration, consolidation, and innovation, to ensure that every officer contributes meaningfully to the modernisation drive of the Service.’

He noted that Comptrollers must demonstrate professionalism and teamwork in translating the vision of the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, into measurable achievements that will impact trade facilitation and border security.

In his closing remarks, DCG Itotoh commended the participants for their commitment throughout the retreat, describing their promotion as both a reward for hard work and a call to greater responsibility.

He said the new rank places them in the Frontline of Customs leadership, where integrity, professionalism, and accountability must guide every action.

He said, ‘The Nigeria Customs Service expects much from you. You are now managers of men and resources, and you must embody the discipline, excellence, and transparency that define the vision of the Comptroller-General. Every decision you take in your command will reflect not just on you, but on the Service as a whole.’

Itotoh further reminded the participants that promotion comes with higher expectations, urging them to leverage the training to improve efficiency and mentor their subordinates.

He added that their loyalty to the institution should translate into impactful service delivery, enhanced stakeholder trust, and sustained revenue performance.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, also delivered a lecture during the retreat titled ‘Stakeholder Management, Media Community, and Employee Relationship.’

Maiwada explained to the Comptrollers the importance of effective communication in achieving organizational goals, advising them to shun listening to gossip and inculcate the habit of befriending all productive staff and stakeholders.

Speaking on public relations, AC Maiwada said, ‘PR is not just about information dissemination; it is about relationship building, maintaining credibility, and ensuring that every Customs officer becomes an ambassador of the Service’s integrity.’

He further emphasized that transparent communication and positive engagement with the business community remain essential to the success of the Comptroller-General’s reforms.

On their parts, Comptrollers Usman Yahaya, Murtala Mu’azu, and Josephine Egwakide, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the closing ceremony, expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team for their support and trust.

They pledged to discharge their duties effectively, protect the image of the Service, and ensure that the CGC’s vision of institutional excellence and stakeholder confidence is fully realised.

Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, has earned a triple win at the Seven Star Luxury Awards, the benchmark of excellence in the international luxury hospitality industry.

At the ceremony in Tróia, Portugal, Transcorp got three awards, affirming its dominance in business, events, and leadership: Best Luxury Business Hotel (Nigeria and Africa) – Transcorp Hilton Abuja; Best Luxury Event and Conference Centre (Nigeria and Africa) – The Transcorp Centre; and Best CEO of the Year – Uzoamaka Oshogwe, managing director/chief executive officer, for her leadership and visionary growth strategy.

The awards are consistent with Transcorp Hotels Plc’s capacity to deliver premium, end-to-end hospitality experiences for business, diplomatic, and lifestyle clientele on the continent.

Speaking on the awards, Oshogwe said: ‘These awards are more than symbols of success; they represent a shared commitment to redefining African hospitality. At Transcorp Hotels, we push boundaries, invest in innovation, and position Nigeria as a global destination for world-class business and leisure experiences.’

Seven Star Luxury Awards celebrate the pinnacle of achievement in the global luxury and lifestyle industries, honouring brands that exemplify excellence, innovation, and sustained impact.

With these wins, Transcorp continues to set pace in luxury hospitality, strengthening its reputation as home of excellence through Transcorp Hilton, Aura by Transcorp Hotels, and Transcorp Event Centre.

Relatives, friends and other sympathisers could not hold back their tears on Wednesday during the Service of Songs organised for the deceased Arise TV anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who died when armed robbers stormed her apartment in Abuja.

The service of songs, which attracted many mourners in black attire including her father, mother and siblings, was held at the Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt.

Delivering the homily, Rev. Fr. Ezeunara Charles, described the event as emotional and recalled the last time he visited the bereaved family he was asked to prepare for a bigger celebration.

The priest said they were also preparing to attend the traditional wedding of Somto when the tragedy occurred.

He asked members of the congregation to reflect on what they would be remembered for after their demise describing death as a sure reality.

He said though Somto’s life was brief but it was impactul describing her as someone special.

The priest said: ‘What will you be remembered for when you die? The reality is that as human being we must die. We are gathered here because of sommy. Nobody saw it coming. We lost somebody special. I want to beleive she is a good woman. I listened to her tributes.

‘I was prepared to go to her traditional marriage. She served in various capacities. Her memories linger. She was a good woman and I console the father and the mother. She was young and she will live forever in our memory.

‘I encourge us to be strong. God is aware. God will not abandon us. Nigeria will become better. Lets change our ways and embrace the path of goodness’.

The Officiating Priest, Rev.Fr. Prof. Columbus Ogbijah, described the deceased as a bright star and the darling of her family.

‘But she is no longer with us. We commit the parents, siblings and family and all of us mourning her passing that God in his wisdom will console us and guide us in our faith’, he said.

The Representative of the Arise Television, Andy Omano, said Somto was a great asset to the Arise news crew.

Omano said her life was short but impactul describing her death as painful.

Omano said: ‘Sommy was a great assets to Arise TV. She was with us for a short time but she made her marks. We want to give God thanks that we had the opportunity of working with her. It is painful that she wont be with us again. She lived a short but impactul life’.

As the Nigerian stock market sustained momentum growth in First Quarter, 2025, a key development relevant to the pension industry is the performance of the NGX Pension Broad Index (NGXPBI), The Nation has learnt.

The NGX Pension Broad Index (NGXPBI), which serves as a benchmark is designed to reflect the performance of stocks typically invested by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

This was shown in the First Quarter, 2025 of the National pension Commission (PenCom).

The report showed that as of the first quarter of 2025, the NGXPBI recorded resilient growth, closely tracking the overall market while maintaining a more stable outlook due to its emphasis on fundamentally sound companies.

This trend, according to PenCom, suggests improved returns for pension portfolios with equity exposures aligned with regulatory guidelines.

The report read: ‘The upward trajectory of the NGX Pension Broad Index (NGXPBI) reinforces the strategic importance of equity investments in boosting long-term pension fund performance.

PFAs stand to benefit from both capital gains and robust dividend payouts, particularly from firms in the banking and industrial sectors. Investor confidence was bolstered by improved policy clarity in the financial markets, enhanced foreign exchange liquidity, and strong dividend announcements by leading listed companies. The financial sector continued to gain from ongoing recapitalisation initiatives and sustained policy reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

‘The stock market growth was buoyed by strong corporate earnings, continued investor confidence, and improving macroeconomic indicators. The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose from 102,926.40 points at the start of the quarter and closed at 105,660.64 points as of 31 March 2025, reflecting a quarterly gain of 2.66%. Investors showed strong interest in key sectors, particularly consumer goods and banking, with several mid-cap stocks, such as Honeywell Flour Mill, Presco, and PZ Cussons, delivering impressive year-to-date returns of over 50%. [Source: NGX, April 2025]

‘Market capitalization also followed a positive trajectory, supported by increased trading volumes and market breadth. Although detailed figures for Q1; 2025 capitalization are pending, the consistent rise in equity prices implies that the capitalization likely exceeded the ?62.76 trillion recorded at the end of Q4:2024’, PenCom stated.

The forum of state chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday dissociated itself from the lawsuit currently before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to halt the planned elective national Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Speaking with newsmen, chairman of the forum and chairman of the party in Edo state, Tony Aziegbemi, took a swipe at some of their colleagues, Austine Nwachukwu (Imo) and Amah Abraham Nnana (Abia), for dragging the party to court seeking to halt the PDP convention.

He said as a result of this, the Forum has decided to suspend the two Chairmen, while calling on the National Working Committee to take disciplinary action against any NWC member found to be directly or indirectly connected to the court case.

Aziegbemi said, ‘We distance ourselves completely from the suit and the plan to use it to stop the PDP from holding its National Convention. This is not right. We want to state clearly that we are solidly behind the Damagum-led NWC, and we will give our full support to ensure a hitch-free convention.

‘The evil plot of the APC to turn Nigeria into a one-party state will never succeed. We hope other organs of the party will draw inspiration from our decision. We must all stand firm and make the right choices.’

Tamrose Limited, a leading oil and gas service company has announced the successful repayment of a $10 million loan it obtained in 2019 from the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund), the dedicated financing scheme managed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for growing capacity in the oil and gas industry.

NCDMB confirmed that the final instalment was completed on September 30, 2025, with no missed payments throughout the six-year repayment period according to a statement by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, GM Corporate Communications, NCDMB.

At the time of accessing the loan, Tamrose operated with only four security patrol vessels. With the support of the NCI Fund, the company expanded significantly and today owns a fleet of 15 vessels comprising 10 security patrol vessels and five platform supply vessels. This growth, achieved within six years, positions Tamrose as a leading indigenous marine solutions provider to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The Executive Chairman of Tamrose Limited, Mr. Ambrose Ovbiebo, disclosed that the repayment milestone reflected both the rigorous standards NCDMB applied in selecting beneficiaries and the impact of its interventions in building real capacity among indigenous players. For Tamrose, it marks a defining moment in its growth journey and reinforces its position as a proud beneficiary and flag bearer of the NCDMB legacy.

In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Ovbiebo, expressed appreciation to the Board for its unwavering support of indigenous companies.

He stated that the repayment milestone also marked a defining moment in the company’s growth journey as a marine solutions provider and as a proud beneficiary of NCDMB’s intervention.

In recognition of this achievement, Tamrose proposed to host a celebration event at the NCDMB conference hall in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on November 13 2025.

The event will be attended by oil and gas stakeholders across the country and will serve as an opportunity to showcase how the NCI Fund has empowered indigenous companies, while also highlighting broader benefits, including job creation, human capital development, and value-chain expansion.

The event will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the positive outcomes of NCDMB’s funding interventions and the importance of sustained collaboration in building capacity within the sector. It will also serve as a platform to encourage more indigenous operators to take advantage of structured support systems like the NCI Fund to expand their businesses and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s local content objectives.

Nigeria has presented its economic progress to the international financial community at the G24 meetings held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington D.C., with key discussions centered on trade balance, currency cooperation, and sustained macroeconomic stability.

The Nigerian delegation, led by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed that the apex bank is developing a framework that will make currency swaps with other countries mutually beneficial.

Cardoso said the initiative aims to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global trade and enhance liquidity support for key trading partners.

‘We are working on a framework that ensures currency swaps are a win-win arrangement, serving the interests of both Nigeria and our partner countries,’ he explained.

He further noted that Nigeria’s trade surplus has risen to 6 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a development he attributed to consistent and disciplined macroeconomic management.

‘The improved balance of trade reflects the impact of sound policies that are now beginning to yield tangible results,’ he stated.

According to the CBN Governor, there is a strong link between maintaining macroeconomic stability and achieving sustainable growth.

‘Our focus remains on implementing policies that support stability, growth, and disinflation,’ he said. ‘These measures are essential for maintaining investor confidence and supporting the recovery of productive sectors.’

A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance said the participation of Dr. Uzoka-Anite at the G24 meetings represents the government’s continued engagement with global financial institutions to advance Nigeria’s development goals.

‘Dr. Uzoka-Anite’s participation in the meetings demonstrates the Nigerian government’s commitment to engaging with international financial institutions and stakeholders to drive economic growth and development,’ the statement read.

‘Her presence at the G24 meetings also reflects the government’s proactive approach to fostering economic cooperation and dialogue with global partners.’

The G24 platform, which brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from developing and emerging economies, provided an opportunity for Nigeria to present its reform-driven progress and discuss policy coordination on global financial challenges.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Nigeria’s continued engagement in such multilateral discussions ‘marks a significant step forward for the country’s economic growth and development,’ as it seeks to deepen collaboration with international stakeholders to strengthen resilience, attract investment, and improve living standards.

The G24 meetings, held in parallel with the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, serve as a forum for developing countries to articulate their positions on international monetary and financial policies and promote strategies that support inclusive and sustainable growth.

Seldom has the verdict of a foreign tribunal riveted Nigerians as the opinion of Judge Ewan Paton of the Property Tribunal, London, U.K, in respect of the ownership of No. 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, North London. The dispute arose from the objection of one ‘Ms. Tali Shani’ to Mike Ozekhome’s application to the Land Registry in England to be registered as the owner of the property which was ostensibly transferred to him by another ‘Tali Shani’, this time, male.

So, two Tali Shanis, therefore, jointly laid claim to the same property. In the event, the judge found that neither existed as a matter of fact; in other words, their evidence was fabricated. He, therefore, ruled that the claims of both the objector to Ozekhome’s registration (Ms. Tali Shani) and that of Ozekhome himself failed.

The Tribunal also found, however, that the property was purchased by the late Gen. Jeremiah Useni way back in 1993. In its words, the General ‘was in truth the sole legal and beneficial owner of this property (albeit registered in a false name)’. The Tribunal further found (in the same portion of its judgment – Paragraph 200) that the Gen. ‘must in some way have been connected to (the) transfer (to Prof, Ozekhome) and to have directed it (as) he was clearly close to, and on good terms with the respondent’; adding for good measure that there was ‘no question of this being some sort of attempt by (Prof. Ozekhome) to steal the General’s property without his knowledge’, and furthermore (in paragraph 202) that ‘it was the decision of General Useni to transfer the property to (Prof. Ozekhome)’.

Had the tribunal stopped there, none of the fuss and dust raised by Ozekhome’s involvement would have arisen and nothing would have been amiss. However, it did not, as it held that certain evidence proffered by the Ozekhome and his son (in particular, some documents he submitted to the Land Registry such as a copy of the Nigerian passport of Mr. Tali Shani, which showed that he was born in April 1973 – 20 years before he purportedly purchased the property in 1993 and the oral testimony of the purported transferor, Mr. Tali Shani) were ‘contrived’ and ‘invented’ (Paragraph 206 of the judgment). In other words, they were perjured.

Now, giving or fabricating evidence before a judicial tribunal is a very serious offence. That is the law both in England and in Nigeria. The issue is, however, more nuanced than that – and this is where most commentators (including supposed ‘learned’ ones, i.e. legal practitioners) got it wrong. This is because they failed to grasp the elementary point that context is everything – even in a judicial proceeding and any apparently damning revelations that may emerge therefrom.

More specifically, any allegation of the commission of a crime (any crime -including perjury or forgery) is required to be established by evidence according to the applicable standard – beyond reasonable doubt. This process consists of a formal charge, plea and defence, if any. Where such a charge is denied (as it, undoubtedly is, in this case), the prosecution is required to prove, not only the conduct, act or acts and words or omissions of the defendant which are alleged to constitute the offence (called ‘actus reus’ in law) but – even more importantly – the mental element or guilty mind which accompanied such overt act or acts or with which it was contemporaneously done. In law, this is called ‘mens rea’. If it is missing, no crime is committed and the prosecution (or conviction) must fail.

That being the case, the obvious question is: what guilty mind (or malevolent or other untoward or even fraudulent intention) could possibly have informed the allegedly false evidence which Ozekhome and his son purportedly proffered before Judge Paton? What was his or their aim, goal, motive or objective? Did they intend, by such conduct or words to fraudulently ‘corner’ (to use the tribunal’s words, ‘steal General Useni’s property without his knowledge’)?

These questions were answered by the tribunal categorically and unequivocally in the negative in Paragraph 202 of its judgment. I believe this is a complete exoneration of Ozekhome and his son.

I repeat: no crime can be committed without the requisite mental element or guilty mind: where it is lacking, an accused person is innocent. In Ozekhome’s case, the worst that he can be accused of is over-exertion – borne out of over-anxiety – faced with the prospect of losing what was rightfully his, to an individual who was clearly intent in reaping where he (or she) did not sow. In other words, Ozekhome was the victim here – and no one else.

Thus, he deserves sympathy for losing what was clearly intended by the adjudged owner (Gen. Useni) to be either an outright gift or otherwise to him. He has been more sinned against than sinning. It is, therefore, strange and uncharitable that naysayers have gone to town crying for his head. Are they crying more than the bereaved?

Who, by the way, are the bereaved?

His benefactor, Gen Useni is dead (may his soul rest in peace). It is not hard to imagine that he would be turning in his grave at the needless fuss being made over his property and the unfortunate distress to which it has exposed Ozekhome. History, however, will vindicate the just. Suffice it to say that if he made any mistakes (and we all make mistakes, don’t we, being human) they were mistakes of the head – not of the heart.

I believe that Judge Paton was wrong in the legal conclusions he drew, even from the facts as found by him, in his judgment. I believe that certain legal issues arose for determination (and might still be relevant, going forward) – some of which, unfortunately, he did not advert his mind to and address – as he was legally bound to do.

I believe that public perception that the Tribunal somehow indicted Ozekhome and his son is borne out of sentiment rather than the facts – much less the law. The same can be said of Judge Paton himself – with all due respect. This is because, in Nigeria, it is settled beyond cavil that, sentiment has no place in judicial adjudication.

Neither Ozekhome nor his son can (or should) be indicted by revelations emanating from an objection (caveat) or judicial proceeding lodged or instituted at the behest of a fictitious, anonymous, faceless and bogus person. Both the caveat and the suit were non-existent in the eyes of the law. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand: it must fall, as ex nihilo nihil fit (out of nothing comes nothing).