People, Places and Events
CAMEROON
Amnesty expresses concern
Amnesty International has expressed concern over secret executions taking place in Cameroon following the abortive attempt by some soldiers last April to overthrow the government of President Paul Biya.The worldwide human rights organisation noted in a statement that even though forty six persons were publicly announced to have been convicted in connection with the abortive coup, nearly 120 people were believed to have been executed.
National unity campaign
The Cameroon National Union (CNU) party has launched a national information and awareness campaign simultaneously in all 10 provincial capitals of the country in order to re-establish contact with the grassroots organs. The operation was aimed at shaking the CNU out of the deep slumber into which it had fallen in the last few months.During the various opening ceremonies of the campaign in Yaounde, Douala and other places urgent appeals were made, new clear plans were outlined and future plans of action defined.
Firstly, there were calls for increased and constant vigilance in the face of diverse policies of enemies of the established order. By this call, the CNU intends to safeguard and consolidate a genuine and lasting national unity. There was also a call for a systematic re- evaluation of the objectives, strategy, method and mode of action of the party against a background of its previous lukewarm and hesitant attitude.
Saudi oil pipeline
A plan to build a 3,520-kilometre oil pipe- line from Saudi Arabia to the Atlantic Ocean Port of Douala in Cameroon has reportedly raised questions in Washington about the intent of the American company backing the project as well as its source of financing.The Washington-based Trans-Africa Pipeline Company (TAPCO) announced on July 18 that it has secured agreement with the Sudanese Government to begin the 162-centimetre pipeline, which could carry up to four million barrels of oil a day at full capacity. TAPCO officials said that the project would provide an alternative route for shipments of Middle East oil in the event that hostilities in the Gulf spread.
At the signing of the agreement, the Sudanese Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Sharif At-Tuhami Said, called the plan the "strategic dream" of the international oil trade.
CHAD
Habre reshuffles government
President Hissene Habre has reshuffled his government, the first since he came to power in June 1982. Higher Education Minister Gouara Lassou was named foreign minister, a post which had been vacant since the death last year of Mr Idriss Miskine. The higher education ministry was abolished, while the new defence minister, Capt. Ndilnodji, had his post attached to the President's Office.Former defence minister Royouang Yoma was named minister of Justice and Interior Minister Tahar Guanassou became minister of livestock. Mr Ibrahim Mahamat was appointed the new interior minister while the minister of state for agriculture and rural development, Mr Dono Ngardoum Djidingar retained his post.
The only woman in the new government is Mrs Fatime Kimto, minister of social affairs, formerly secretary of state responsible for the advancement of women.
Nigeria wants troops withdrawn
Nigeria's Minister of External Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, has said that Nigeria will continue to insist on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Chad. The presence of such troops, he said, will not encourage the parties in the conflict to achieve national reconciliation.Dr Gambari stated that although relations between Nigeria and Cameroon had suffered some setback in the past, the present Nigerian administration had demonstrated the willingness to improve their ties.
On the Middle East conflict, the Minister remarked that the resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel by some African countries was unfortunate. He said that Nigeria had extended co-operation to friendly countries with the sole aim of reviving and stimulating the world economy.
Niger President's Stopover
On his way to Saudi Arabia where he is to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Niger President, Seyni Kountche, stopped over in N'djamena for talks with President Habre. Answering questions by newsmen, Kountche said, "We are very much attached to the establishment of peace in Chad. Even though we did not go to Addis Ababa, we took an active part in the preparation for the Addis Ababa meeting, which unfortunately could not be held.The brotherly country of Congo and its President, Sassou-Nguesso, are trying to bring Chadians together. We commend these efforts and initiatives. All Chadians must forget their quarrel in order to meet in Brazzaville. This is the only condition for putting an end to the Chadian tragedy. On the OAU wherever the 20th Summit will be held, the Heads of State will transcend all these difficulties; that is the Chadian crisis, the Western Sahara conflict and many other problems. We hope that the supreme interest of our organisation will prevail.
It must be recalled that since April 1980 in Lagos, when the basis for the real development of our continent was laid, the OAU has not really addressed itself to the problems of our under-development and under-equipment.
ECOWAS
Council of Ministers communique
The Council of Ministers of ECOWAS has issued a communique at the end of its two- day meeting in Lagos, which said that it had adopted: a report of its commission on trade, customs, immigration, money and payment; the report of the committee of governors of the Central Banks relating to the creation of a single monetary zone and the West African economic recovery pro- gramme; and the emblem of the Community.It requested the promoters of Ecobank to take into account the promotion of trade within the sub-region and had taken note of the report presented by the executive secretary of ECOWAS, Dr Abubakar Ouattara, urging the strengthening of co-operation among member states and the establishment of contact with countries and financial institutions for financial assistance within the context of regional co-operation. The Council had selected the firm of M Pierre Goudiaby Atepa, Dakar, to design the Fund's headquarters in Lome.
All the member-states of ECOWAS had been represented at the meeting, its 15th session, with representatives of Multinational Programming and Co-operation Centre of Niamey, the West African health community and the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce as observers.
Lome convention
The third convention between the 10-nation European Economic Community (EEC) and 64 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners will be signed in Lome in early December if current negotiations reach fruition, ACP ambassadors have said in Brussels.These negotiations for "Lome-3" may well be concluded at a restricted ministerial meeting set for October 9-10, said ambassador Francis Okello of Uganda, chairman of the ACP Ambassadors Committee.
Good progress has been achieved on the main features of the new agreement. But since the last ministers' gathering in Luxemburg in June, there has been heavy going on certain key aspects, including trade, invest- ment, the "STABEX" scheme for stabiliz- ing ACP export earnings, and the supply of EEC farm produce to the ACP's at reduced prices.
The Europeans are divided meanwhile on the overall financial contribution by the Community. France is proposing a minimum 50 per cent increase on the "Lome-2" figure of 5.6 billion ECUS, but Britain has reservations.
GHANA
The electric car
Hope Computer Corporation, the Danish company hoping to manufacture and sell their electric cars in Ghana, elsewhere have announced that the Ghana angle of their operations are proceeding without any hitch (Talking Drums July 30 1984 p.16).Mr Otuo Mensah the Managing Director of Oturoh Electrical Services which signed the contract with Hope Computer Corp. for the importation of 700 of the electric operated cars into Ghana is said to have got an import licence from the Secretary for Transport for the importation of two of the cars into Ghana this year.
The Secretary for Industry is also reported to have given the go ahead for Mr Otuo Mensah to send eight Ghanaians to Denmark to be trained in handling the cars. The company is hoping to establish a factory in Ghana to produce the cars in 1987.
Hope Computer Corp. are also said to be hoping to sell 2,000 of the cars in the United Kingdom next year. To date, only a prototype of the electric car has been made by the Danish company.
Col. Baidoo advises chiefs
Lt-Col. E.A. Baidoo, Central Regional Secretary, has urged traditional rulers in farming areas in the Central Region to mobilise their people to go into serious farming to ensure increased food production to feed the nation.He made this call when he addressed the chiefs and people of Twifo-Hemang during his tour of the Lower Denkyira Traditional Area to inspect government educational, health and agricultural projects.
Chiefs, he said, have the responsibility of offering the necessary leadership to the people in their respective areas for their development. EEC food aid The European Economic Community (EEC) has approved a food aid allocation of 470 tonnes of skimmed milk powder, 100 tonnes beans, 50 tonnes sugar and 50 tonnes fish for Ghana. The food aid will be distributed by three non-governmental organisations,
Film festival ends in Cuba
A week-long festival on Ghanaian films has ended in Havana, Cuba. The five-day festival was organized by the Ghana Film Industry Corporation under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and formed part of the implementation of the Protocol for Cultural Cooperation between Ghana and Cuba for the year 1983/84 signed in Havana, Cuba in 1983.The opening ceremony at which the Cuban Vice Foreign Minister was present, was performed by the Director of Cinimateca of Cuba and Ghana's Charge d'Affaires in Cuba Mr Chris Kpodo.
The inauguration of the festival was also attended by Cuban government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps as well as Ghanaian students in Cuba and a cross- section of the Cuban public.
Two films 'Two Years Of Transforma- tion' and 'No Tears For Ananse' were shown at the inauguration. Other films shown during the festival were: 'Power To The People', 'June 4th', 'Ghanaian Kids In Cuba', 'Doing Their Thing', 'I Told You So', 'The Boy Kumasenu', 'Tongo-Hemile' and 'You Hide Me'.
Co-operation with Libya
Ghana and Libya have agreed to expand co- operation in the field of agriculture. This will lead to the exchange of agriculturists between the two countries, with Libya also assisting in the provision of essential agricultural machinery.Agreement was reached during the week- long visit of a four-man Libyan agricultural team to Ghana. Ghanaian agriculturists will receive further training in Libya. The team had discussions with the Secretary for Agriculture, Mr John Ndebugre.
The team, made up of an expert in irrigation, vegetables, and research, saw projects for the incubation of eggs, irrigation, pineapple plantation and rabbit breeding in the Greater Accra region.
Sugar report presented
A technical report prepared by a delegation from the Sugar Industry Ministry of the Republic of Cuba on the agro-industrial rehabilitation of the two major sugar factories in Ghana has been presented to the government.The report which gave recommendations on how best the Komenda and Asutsuare sugar factories can resume full production was presented by Mr Miguel Martinez Mole, Charge d'Affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Ghana.
It also suggests means of making the Ghana Sugar Estates Limited (GHASEL) self-supporting in terms of sugar-cane, the raw material for the production of sugar in the two factories.
Dr Charles Buadu, Secretary for Industries, Science and Technology, received the report on behalf of the government.
LIBERIA
Doe to run for presidency
General Samuel Doe, has announced he would run for the presidency in general elections due to be held in October next year.General Doe, who came to power in a military coup in 1980, made the announce- ment after meeting with seven senior army officers. General Doe heads the interim national assembly, a transition body set up this month as part of the move towards transferring the rule from the military to a civilian government.
On July 26, General Doe lifted the ban on political activities imposed since the overthrow of the administration of President William Tolbert. He, however, did not say whether he plans to form a political party.
Decree allowing political activity
The Government has issued Decree No. 88 reactivating political activities, including the formation of political parties in Liberia. The new decree repeals Decree 2(a) promulgated by the defunct People's Redemption Council in 1980 which prohibited political activities. Decree 88 also revokes Decree 75(a) which empowered the Special Elections Commission to deny the registration of political parties or independent candidates whose members or officers at any time whatsoever had engaged in activities or had otherwise expressed converse or adverse ideological aims and objectives that are against our intrinsic values as a people and our republican form of government.The new decree, however, emphasised that the reactivation of normal political activities within the republic does not relieve any person, organisations or political party from criminal or civil liability if any act of theirs is violative of the laws of the Republic of Liberia.
UPPER VOLTA
Assassination attempt
The Deputy Chief of Staff of Upper Volta's Armed Forces, Maj. Amadou Sawandogo, has been seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, the Daily Sidwaya newspaper has reported. The paper said that Maj. Sawadogo, wounded in the head and wrist by a sub-machine gun, was flown to Paris, where he underwent an emergency operation.The attack took place on the night of 18 July, but was only made public on 25 for security reasons. The identity and motives of Sawadogo's attackers were unknown. Radio France International, reporting the same incident, and citing the Government's daily paper, Sidwaya as its source, said that Sawadogo's operation had been "technically successful."
Over $7m recovered
A former Upper Volta Head of State and 93 senior government officials, including a dozen cabinet ministers, have been jailed or fined heavily for corruption by the People's Revolutionary Courts in the last seven months, the Justice Minister, Mr Raymond Poda has said.He told a Press conference in Ouagadougou that the public trials had enabled the government to recover the equivalent of over $7 million stolen or illegally taken from the public coffers. He did not say whether more trials would be held.
Aid agreement with Canada
An aid agreement has been signed between Upper Volta and Canada at the Ministry of Equipment and Communication. The agreement, which covers Canada's participation in the construction of the Kompienga hydroelectric dam, amounts to 15,000,000 Canadian dollars, that is about 6,000 million CFA francs.NIGERIA
No formal request for fugitives
There is no formal request yet to Britain, or any other country for that matter, for the extradition of Nigerian fugitives.External Affairs Minister, Dr Ibrahim Gambari said this while speaking to news- men in Ilorin, Kwara State. Dr. Gambari said the Fugitive Offenders Act of 1867, as reviewed in 1967 stipulated that offences committed by fugitives should be well documented and sent to countries harbouring such fugitives, for proper examination.
"We are yet to send formal request on the fugitives," Dr Gambari said. "We cannot do anything unless we do our homework in order to avoid creating loopholes that may later work in favour of the wanted politicians.
Dr Gambari, however, gave the nation amurance that legal draftsmen were still busy collating the offences committed by the fugitives, with a view to separating the rumours flying around over their individual loots from allegations that were backed by concrete proofs.
Dikko kidnap Nigerian claims diplomatic immunity
Counsel for a Nigerian diplomat who together with three Israelis are charged with the kidnap of Alhaji Umaru Dikko, claimed before the Lambeth magistrate's court in South London that his client had diplomatic immunity.The four men standing trial are Israelis Alexander Barak (27), Levi-Arie Shapiro, (43), Messoud Abitol (31) and Nigerian Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf's counsel, Mr Nicholas Ezechie told the court that the British High Commission in Lagos on May 16 cleared Yusuf to enter the United Kingdom.
The magistrate ruled that the question of immunity be referred to the British Foreign Office which will clarify the procedure for accrediting diplomats.
Mr Ezechie told the court that neither the Nigerian government nor the Nigerian High Commission in London had any hand in the kidnap of July 5. The counsel to the three Israelis, Mr David Napley also said there was no question of any Israeli Government involvement in the matter as far as his clients were concerned.
New British charge d'affaires
A new charge d'affaires for the British High Commission, Mr Arthur Wyatt has arrived in Lagos. The diplomat, who arrived with his wife, Yvonne, is expected to take charge of affairs at the Commission, pending the arrival of the High Commissioner, Mr Hamilton Whyte, who is in Britain for consultation. Mr Whyte left Nigeria at the request of the Federal Military Government, following the recall of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Maj-Gen. Halidu Hananiya, in the wake of the Umaru Dikko affair. Mr Wyatt, who declined to comment on the strained diplomatic relations between his country and Nigeria, spent over 40 minutes with immigration officials who checked the diplomat's passport along with that of his wife.Mr Wyatt said that he had no misgivings about the immigration formalities, but added that as a diplomat, such a check was unnecessary. The diplomat, who is in Nigeria for the second time on an official assignment, was a counsellor in his country's High Commission in Lagos between 1972 and 1975.
Buhari promises fair trial
The Federal Military Government has asked a group of British clergymen to inform their followers back home that Umaru Dikko and other Nigerian fugitives would get a fair trial once their hosts agreed to extradition. The pledge was given by Head of State Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to a delegation of Anglican leaders. General Buhari, speaking publicly on the 'Dikko affair' for the first time, said: "Our interest is to try these fugitive politicians. The mode of trial may not meet British standards but, I assure you, it is quite a high standard as has been shown by the process already established by the tribunals."Buhari's advice to new envoys
Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has urged newly appointed envoys to constantly look for, and report on, areas of possible mutual co-operation between Nigeria and their countries of accreditation. Receiving 27 new envoys, who visited him at Dodan Barracks, Maj-Gen Buhari also urged them to make accountability their watchword.He said that the "utter failure of exhortations and mild punishment in the past" had prompted the Federal Government to enact new laws that provided extraordinary punishment for corruption. He added that a fair trial for all accused and humane treatment for the convicted would remain the Administration's watchword.
Maj-Gen Buhari said that he expected the highest standard of self-discipline from the envoys. "Without this you cannot foster discipline within your missions or present to the outside world the ideals of the new Nigeria which we of this Administration are trying to foster", he added. The Head of State said that the Federal Government was proud of the foreign service in the highest capacity.
He congratulated them on their appointments and expressed the hope that they would justify the confidence reposed in them. Mr Ignatius Olisemeka, the Ambassador-Designate to the US, on behalf of the envoys, pledged that they would live up to expectations. The Head of State later held a closed-door meeting with the envoys. Present at the ceremony were the Minister of External Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Gambari and Mr George Dove- Edwin, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.
Decree on military courts for armed forces
A new decree, known as the Military Court (Special Powers) Decree, has been promulgated by the Federal Military Government. The decree sets up a military count for the enforcement of discipline in the armed forces and it may be convened by the commanding officer of a unit of the armed forces.Known as Decree No 23, it gives to courts, convened under the decree, all the powers of a general court martial other than the power to impose a penalty of death or a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding five years. The court is to have the powers conferred on it to the exclusion of other courts.
Offences triable by a court under the decree are mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, insubordination, behaviour offences in relation to public and service property, offences in relation to property of members of the forces, making of false documents and miscellaneous offences relating to property.
The decree stipulates that a court set up under the decree shall consist of a president and not less than two other officers, all of whom are to be appointed by the com- manding officer of the unit. It further stipulated that an officer shall not be appointed a member of a court unless he has held a commission in the armed forces for a continuous period of not less than two years.
A decision of the court, in the case of a commissioned officer, is to be channelled through the service chief to the Army Council, the Navy Board or the Air Force Council for confirmation. The decree further makes provisions for an appeal, in the case of commissioned officers, to the Commander-in-Chief.
Delivery of new military aircraft
Two of the five G-222 twin-turboprop military transport aircraft ordered by the Ministry of Defence in 1982 for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have arrived in Lagos. The aircraft, which had earlier arrived at the Kano air force base from Italy where they were manufactured, were received by the NAF Director of Operations, Air Commodore Sule Natiti.The remaining three planes would be delivered in a few months. According to the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Wing Cdr. Tola Adediji, the aircraft, marked NAF 950 and NAF 951, would be based at Ilorin air force base. He said that they were meant for tactical support for both the army and the navy.
Wing Cdr. Adediji added that each of the planes could accommodate equipment, 44 fully equipped troops and 36 stretchers for aeromedical services. He said that they could also be put to civilian use such as fire- fighting, crop-spraying and photography, adding that other countries having similar planes included Italy, Libya and Argentina.
Denial of reported withdrawal from OPEC
The Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof. Tam David-West, has described as absolutely false and mysterious some Western media reports that Nigeria has pulled out of OPEC. He said in Lagos that a reported emergency meeting of OPEC to discuss the issue was also baseless, pointing out that a delegation of the organisation will soon visit Nigeria.The Minister stated that the delegation was visiting member countries to urge them to abide by production quotas as agreed at a meeting early last month.
Decree 4 creates two offences
The law in Nigeria today, according to the interpretation of Section 1 (i) of Decree 4 by Chief Judge Mr Justice Adefarasin of the Lagos high court is: "if you speak or write the truth and a public officer is embarrassed by it, you may go to jail for two years."Chief Judge Adetunji Adefarasin said that although the law could lead to absurdity and injustice, "it is nonetheless our law” His pronouncement was the interpretation of the Section 1 (i) of Decree 4 which Guardian Newspapers Limited had gone to court to seek.
Mr Justice Adefarasin made it plain that he had no jurisdiction to look into the matter. But in case he had, his interpretation of the subsection would have been that it creates two offences.
That section reads: "Any person who publishes in any form, whether written or otherwise, any message, rumour, statement or report which is false in any material particular or brings or is calculated to bring the Federal Military Government or the government of state or a public officer to ridicule or disrepute shall be guilty of an offence under this decree." Mr Justice Adefarasin said of its interpretation: "I would say that section 1 (i) of the Public Officers (Protection Against False Declaration) Decree 1984 makes it unlawful for the plaintiffs to publish any report or statement which is true but which brings or is calculated to bring the Federal Military Government or a state government or a public officer to ridicule or disrepute."
"The provision may seem harsh but it is nonetheless the law of the land and no one can question it.
He added: "It is my clear view that with the words "or" appearing in section 1 (1) of Decree 4 as it does between the word "particular" and the word "which" appearing in the third sentence of the sub- section 1 (i), two offences are created, the one making it an offence to publish a statement which is false in any material particular and the other making it an offence which brings into ridicule the Federal Military Government or a state government or a public officer." Mr Justice Adefarasin's pronouncement was the first by a high court judge outside the tribunal.
Two journalists, Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor were jailed one year each for contravening this decree. Also convicted were their employers, Nigerian Guardian who were fined N50,000.
Governor's car stolen
Gongola State Police Command are searching for the private car of the state Governor, Major-General Muhammadu Jega which was stolen at a petrol filling station in the state capital.The missing vehicle, a metalic green Honda Accord, 1982 model with registra- tion number GA 522 MH, was alleged to have disappeared during the period of fuel scarcity in Yola, the state capital. According to reports the driver of the vehicle parked the car at the filling station and went to buy fuel with a jerry-can when it was stolen.
Retrenchment at Daily Times
Three hundred workers of Daily Times of Nigeria Limited have been laid off. The workers, all from Times Publications Division, were the first batch of an esti- mated 500 workers of the company billed for retrenchment by the management.Those sent home included 14 journalists made up of nine photographers, two newsroom personnel, a Lagos week-end reporter, one proof reader and a features writer. Reasons for their retrenchment were given by the Daily Times management as laziness and dishonesty.
Funds for OAU
The Federal Military Government has authorised the release of $2,460,266.91 to the OAU. A statement signed by the Minister of External Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, said that Nigeria was not in arrears of payment of its annual contribution to the organisation and that the amount represented the full payment of her contribution to the OAU regular budget for 1984/85.It said that the measure was in response to "an urgent appeal" from the OAU secretariat, conveyed through a special message from the Organisation's Chairman, Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, to the Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement said that the Federal Military Government has also authorised the payment of $640,761.48 as Nigeria's contribution to the liberation committee of the OAU.
Tremor in Oyo and Ondo
Earth tremor in certain parts of Nigeria have confirmed experts forecasts that the West African coastline could be earthquake prone.The tremor that shook parts of Oyo and Ondo states came after seven months of the one that killed 140 people and left 200 missing in Guinea recently.
Reduction of sentences
The Supreme Military Council (SMC) has reviewed the sentences passed on four former civilian governors and three other public office holders by the Enugu and Ibadan zones of the Special Military Tribunals on the recovery of public property.At a meeting of the council in Lagos, the sentences passed on the former Governor of the Rivers state, Melford Okilo, by the Enugu zone of the tribunal, was reduced from 21 calendar years to 10. Members of the council took note of the pleas for leniency made by the tribunal that it had no evidence of unjust enrichment or illegal transfer of money from Nigeria in relation to two foreign accounts operated by Okilo. A communique issued at the end of the meeting said that investigations into the assets of Melford Okilo will however continue.
The council confirmed the sentences on Jim Nwobodo, the ex-governor of Anambra state, to 22 calendar years' imprisonment on two counts. Both sentences are to run concurrently, while the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Paul Egbogu, is to serve 21 calendar years in jail.
sentences on Alhaji Adamu Atta to 21 years on six counts. The sentences are to run concurrently. Also in the same zone, Prof Ambrose Ali will serve 22 calendar years while his aides, Augustine Omolaya and Sam Iredia, former commissioners, had their sentences reduced to five and 10 calendar years' imprisonment.
The tribunal had earlier sentenced each of the two men to 21 calendar years. The meeting of the SMC was presided over by the Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Resettle dependents outside barracks
The Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier M.M. Nassarawa, has appealed to friends and relatives to assist their sons and brothers in the army to resettle their civilian dependants outside the barracks.Reacting to a news item credited to him in the latest edition of 'Soldier' Brigadier Nassarawa explained that the decision to eject civilian dependents above 18 from the barracks, was an army policy.
