I am sexy and focused — Tamara Eteimo

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Read Time:6 Minute, 27 Second

When A-list movie director, Charles Novia, was asked to name his best five actresses in recent times, he mentioned Mercy Johnson as number one and Tamara Eteimo as number two. Such is the rising profile of the Bayelsa State-born  actress who only recently shot her own produced film.
Here, Tamara  opens the door to her world and takes us through the mind of the girl behind the actress. Excerpts:

What has been happening?; have you started music like you said you would?

Tamara-Eteimo

A lot has been happening, although I have not gone back to music as fully as l would want.   I rapped in the movie l am working on and may release the music in future. I have been shooting; I did a job in Port Harcourt with Nse Ikpe Etim, Kalu Ikeagwu and Blossom Chukujekwu. It was great going back to  my roots.

By the way I am producing now; It is my first movie, ‘Somewhere Down The Line’ is the title of this movie and by the special grace of God, I will say that it’s a good one and we did our best in the movie.   On the set were Yemi Blaq, Bukky Wright, Racheal Oniga, Yinka Ayelokun, Mary Lazarus, Adetomiwa Kukoyi, Yinka Salau and lots of other great actors.

The film was directed by Alex Mouth, a fantastic director. In the movie I played two characters.   That is what l call using one stone to kill two birds.   I am also launching my website soonest where all about me will be revealed.

How do you intend to keep with the competition with so many new faces springing up in Nollywood everyday?
Children are born daily and they all have different abilities and selling points. In other words, great talents emerge every day. Just like there are many stars in the sky, but some stars do shine brighter than others without stress.

Like they will ask in the house of the ‘Next Movie Star’, what differentiates you from the next housemate?   I am a Bayelsan, not short, not tall, not fat but slim and I am fair in complexion.   I am sexy and focused,  I am passionate.   I am good at what I do and I have confidence.

How far can you go into a character?
I try my best to interpret a character to the best of my ability.   I try to live the character for the period of that shoot. I also research the character too if the need arises because there are some characters that you just need to research to understand.

When I acted the role of ‘Itohan’ in ‘Itohan’, Superstory, I had to learn how to play football with professionals. It wasn’t easy but it was fun because every character is an experience for me. My directors help me in my characterisation too, in ‘Itohan’ Mrs. Pat Oghiri Imohbio helped me a whole lot.

She didn’t make me feel like I was working with her for the first time.   I try to go to the extreme length to interpret my role. And acting nude is a different ball game? I think it’s been abused so I will not act nude.

You said in one interview you granted that you wish to take your art to Hollywood; would you act nude there?
Like I said, it’s been abused but it has to be relevant before I will give it a thought but I am more particular about making a difference and going nude is not accepted in this part of the world.

What challenges have you had in interpreting roles?
Every role comes with its challenge and ‘you are as good as your last performance’, they say . These are theatre words that help in keeping me and my character, so I would not say I didn’t do this well or I acted this better.   I don’t have a best or worst character, every character has its interpretation and that’s what I love about my job because I play different personalities at different productions.

So far, what movie would you say you have given your best and what’s your worst character?
I don’t believe in a lead role all the time, once you are good you will stand out. Funny enough, some minor characters stand you out to the extent that they mistake them to be major characters depending on how you handle the role. I will use ‘Finding Mercy’ by Desmond Elliott for example.

I acted in just four scenes where I played Blossom Chukujekwu’s girlfriend. It felt like it was more and I loved my character there. People identify with my role and they remember my key lines. So you can steal a whole movie with just one scene. I won’t also deny the fact that the Director helped my characterisation.

What is your fan base today; how did your fans react to your lead role in ‘Itohan’?
My fan base is increasing by the day and its amazing how one will go and people say your name. .., you will be wondering where you met the person and they say they watched your movie.   And it’s amazing too because it shows that we appreciate our works and a lot of people watch our movies.

Tamara-Eteimo

We read recently that your brother was murdered in Cuba; can you share with us what led to his death?
My brother was killed in Cyprus. He was a student of Ganni American University when he died. Stanley Royal Eteimo organised and produced music while in school. On the day he died; he had a show and he was to perform.  He got there without my other elder brother and his girlfriend as he had to perform.

Getting there he saw a classmate of his and decided to chat with her, her boyfriend got jealous and threatened my brother that he would kill him and nothing would happen because he was in his country. They argued, after that, we didn’t hear anything from my brother until we received a call that my brother didn’t come back to his hostel.

That was the last time my brother was seen until his body was found at a beach. They said he committed suicide, which to me, is a big lie.   The hotel where the show was held refused to release the CCTV to show us what really happened.

What do you think of the justice system in the world today; using Nigeria as a case study?
My opinion about Nigerian justice system is that it doesn’t actually work. Often, people say that there is a problem of access to justice but in my own limited experience of the Nigerian justice system, it is not about the access to justice, but about justice been rendered.     The Bayelsa State government  also sent a letter to the Ambassador of the Cypriot Embassy but nothing happened.

Recently, you were nominated for the AMVCA; why do you think you were nominated and which movie do you think you were nominated for?
I was nominated for the movie ‘Desperate Housegirls’ and in the category of ‘Best Supporting Actress’ in drama. I will say that my work is appreciated and all my passion is been noticed and in that note I am highly honoured and grateful.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Kidnapping the Chibok girls is not necessarily a bad thing” – UK Islamic preacher says

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Read Time:1 Minute, 43 Second

A United Kingdom-based Islamic preacher, Mizanur Rahman, is being investigated by police after a video showed him praising Boko Haram for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls.

In the video posted online, the 31-year-old Rahman claimed that killing non-Muslims was ‘not necessarily a bad thing.’
 
According to reports, Rahman also praised the terror group for its activities.
 
“People want to make it out as though history began on the day these girls were taken from – sorry I should say these women – were taken from this high school in Nigeria.
 
“They didn’t do to these girls what the Nigerian government had been doing to the Muslims all these years. They didn’t rape anybody. They didn’t torture. They didn’t murder any of these girls.”
The preacher was quoted to have described the terrorist group as being “full of good messages,” including its support for al-Qaeda.
 
Rahman, said to be a follower of a firebrand preacher, Anjem Choudary, was convicted in 2007 for a murder-related case and bagged a six-year jail sentence. He was released from prison in 2010.
 
Choudary, who set up the banned Al Muhajiroun organisation with exiled Omar Bakri Muhammad, however, said Rahman was a ‘good friend’ who had given a measured response to the crisis.
He said, “I believe if you look at what he was saying it was very measured. You just have to look at the atrocities that, especially in 2011 and 2012, that were carried out against the women and child of Al Mujahideen by the Nigerian government.
 
“That story has not been told, and this is retaliation for that. The Americans are only interested in Nigeria because of its oil reserves. Otherwise, they would not be bothered.”

 
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said, “We are aware of the video and we are assessing its contents. We are not prepared to discuss this further.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria can solve Chibok girls’ problem alone without Western military intervention – Chimamanda Adichie

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Read Time:2 Minute, 16 Second

**What we need is a better equipped military, a better trained military: we don’t need Americans to send people in

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the prize-winning Nigerian writer, has said she opposes Western military intervention against Boko Haram, the rebel group that recently kidnapped and holding captive, more than 200 girls.

She said while Boko Haram’s actions had forced members of her own family to flee the area, a foreign attack on her homeland would be counterproductive. “Now we have American drones helping us in this forest and even the French have sent in people – shouldn’t they be fixing their own economy?” she said.

“We can solve our own damn problems,” she added.

At the same time Adichie, speaking at the Hay Festival, welcomed the social media campaign Bring Back Our Girls that has drawn the support of many in the US, including Michelle Obama. She pointed out that the Twitter hashtag ?#‎bringbackourgirls? was started in Nigeria and not, as has been claimed, in America. “It was very much a grassroots social media Nigerian campaign. The fact that westerners are sharing in something started locally is fine with me.

“I recognise that the campaign made a difference. People paid attention and then the [Nigerian] government had to sit up a little bit.”

Adichie argued that local knowledge would be more useful in finding the girls than US drones. “I’m sure that there are hunters in that area who know that forest very well. Why haven’t they been used? Why aren’t we depending on them?

“What we need is a better equipped military, a better trained military: we don’t need Americans to send people in.” Stopping herself at this point, she joked: “This is my Nigerian nationalist rant”.

Adichie was speaking about her latest novel Americanah, which explores the experience of two Nigerian immigrants – one in America and one in Britain. The author, who grew up in Nigeria, said that when she moved to the country to study she adopted an American accent to try to fit in better. “When I went to the US, I remember feeling a sense of dislocation. It was ostensibly an English-speaking country, but I couldn’t understand what people were saying.”

After an American lady in the audience asked a question, Adichie assured her that she could only tease the country because she had so much affection for the place. “It’s like a rich uncle who doesn’t remember my name but gives me pocket money,” she said to audience laughter.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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MR IBU, RUTH KADIRI, UCHE IWUANYANWU, PLAYING REVEREND SISTERS IN NEW COMEDY (Photos)

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Read Time:23 Second

John Okafor (aka Mr. Ibu) and Ruth Kadiri, are playing Reverend Sisters in a new comedy, which is currently being shot in Lagos. John Okafor is playing Reverend Sister Saka, while Ruth Kadiri is playing Reverend Sister Rosemary. The movie is being directed by Prince Iyke Olisa, and also stars Uche Iwuanyanwu and Madrama Ezinne.

John Okafor and Ruth Kadiri

Madrama Ezinne, Ruth Kadiri, John Okafor, and Uche Iwuanyanwu

The sisters working out!

 

 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Uduaghan: Incoming Govt Won’t Abandon Delta Health Facilities

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Read Time:3 Minute, 24 Second
The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the weekend inaugurated the renovated Eku Baptist Government Hospital in Ethiope East Local Government Area  of the state and expressed confidence that the administration after him would not abandon his government’s extensive and comprehensive health facilities and projects.
 
Uduaghan said safeguards in terms of “deliberate policies and programmes” had been entrenched in the system to guarantee sustenance of the widely acclaimed modern healthcare projects, facilities as well as associated human capital programmes initiated or instituted by his government.
 
Specifically, the governor said the state government had signed a five-year agreement with a competent company towards the maintenance of the ultra-modern facilities in Eku Baptist Government Hospital.
 
To make good the state government’s takeover of the management of the once famous Eku hospital in late 2009, the government in the last couple of years committed about N2 billion into the comprehensive renovation of all existing facilities in the hospital.
 
It also upgraded the old structures in the different departments through the installation of computerised medical and healthcare facilities as well as an ultra-modern Accident and Emergency Complex and a modern mortuary.
 
Inaugurating the projects and facilities, Uduaghan said he had no doubt that his successors would not abandon the health institutions and the ultra-modern facilities established by his administration due to the said safeguards to ensure the sustenance in interest of the people of the state.
 
“Let me assure the management of the Eku Baptist Government Hospital and the Eku community that government will sign a five-year contract with a company to ensure that the equipment and facilities at the hospital remain in good condition,” the governor said.
 
He expressed his determination to restore the past glory of the hospital, which he noted had a history of nation-wide patronage by the people.
 
The intervention by the government, which led to the reconstruction and comprehensive re-equipping of the hospital was as a result of the entreaty of the Nigeria Baptist Convention and the Eku community government to take over the then badly rundown hospital.
 
“Objection from certain individuals in Eku community had put paid to the initial plans to convert Eku Baptist Government Hospital to the Delta State Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), which was eventually moved to Oghara, Uduaghan further revealed.
 
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr William O. Odunvbun, noted that the Uduaghan administration “has carried out a comprehensive renovation of all the old structures and provided ultra-modern accident and emergency complex and a modern mortuary. The hospital now boasts of 16 slice CT-Scan, ultra-modern dental unit and laboratory equipment.”
 
Odunvbun further explained, “Eku Baptist Government Hospital has 150 bed spaces, comprising maternity ward, male and female wards; pediatrics and private wards, additional 20 bed space in the new accident and emergency complex.
 
“This transformed secondary health facility with the assistance of the state government, recently, secured five years full accreditation for Family Medicine Training from both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPCN) and the West African College of Physician (WACP).”
 
Nonetheless, the Eku community, in an address read by Prof Uvie Igun, observed that: “This hospital, which is very dear to every Eku descendant, was very sick and near death. We cried to you (Uduaghan) and you answered our cry and came to the rescue of the hospital.
 
“Uduaghan, Eku community welcomes you to Eku as our adopted son, to touch the lives of every Eku descendant.”
 
THISDAY also learnt that shortly after the decision to take over the management and upgrading of the hospital, the state government pensioned all staff of the Eku hospital laid off at the time the hospital was depressed by much decay.
 
Senior state government officials, including the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Otumara, the Commissioner, Directorate of Special Infrastructure, Orezi Esievo, as well as the Senior
 

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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War Veterans Unveil Cenotaph, Insist on Biafra Republic

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Read Time:3 Minute, 32 Second
Forty-four years after the Nigeria Civil war ended, veterans and sympathisers of the defunct Republic of Biafra yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the defunct republic is realised in their lifetime.
 
To buttress their determination, the Biafran war veterans unveiled a multi- million naira cenotaph in memory of their fallen heroes killed during the Nigerian/Biafran civil war.
 
Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, stated this in an interview with journalists at Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area in Enugu State, during the maiden commemoration of Biafran Day (May 30) when the Igbo leader, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, declared the Republic of Biafra in I967.
 
 
While maintaining that they would not rest on their oars until the republic is realised, they called on all genuine Igbo people across the globe to rise up and join the crusade of putting in place the Biafran Republic.
 
They insisted that their agitation for freedom from the entity called Nigeria would continue until the Biafra Republic is enthroned.
 
Kanu regretted that despite the declaration of the ‘No Victor No Vanquished’ position after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war in 1970, successive governments, including the present Goodluck Jonathan- led administration, have continued to deliberately marginalise and make life unbearable for the Igbo nation and its people.
 
He stressed that it was time for the Igbo people to pull out of Nigeria, which he described as “a failed nation, where nothing works.”
 
Kanu, noted that it was unfortunate and painful that  44 years after the civil war ended, the federal government has bluntly refused to pay soldiers who fought on the side of Biafra all their benefits and entitlements, whereas, all their counterparts in the northern and western parts of the country have received theirs.
 
The Radio Biafra boss, who said despite all odds, they remained eternally grateful to the Biafra leader, late Ojukwu and others who laid down their lives for the struggle, warned the federal government not to constitute a clog in the wheel of progress of the proposed republic, saying they should allow the will of God be done, by letting the Igbo people go.
 
He however, wondered how any right thinking fellow would want to remain in a nation where he or she has no stake or recognition, stressing that the Igbo would soon move from bondage to the promise land where God has already prepared for them, like the Israelis when they left Egypt.
 
“It is the watershed in the history of the geographical expression called Nigeria. It is the aftermath of the mistake of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Lugard," he said.
 
Kanu further regretted that 47 years after Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra, the reasons that led to his decision were still evident "in the failed nation called Nigeria."
 
He decried the sufferings and agony being faced by common Nigerians as a result of corrupt and bad governance in the country.
 
The Baifran chief insisted that Nigeria is doomed, especially since the country is driven by world acclaimed selfish and corrupt leaders, who do not believe in the well being of the poor masses.
 
He pointed out that as long as the intention and purpose of the amalgamation of North and South were designed to cheat the South, the nation would never move forward, “because any country that makes injustice its watch word can also never prosper.”
 
According to him, "No amount of National Conference can solve Nigeria's problem because the leaders are not sincere and there is deep-rooted hatred among the different nationalities in the country."
 
Kanu maintained that the only panacea to Nigeria's problems is to split it into different regions, calling on the Igbo people to embrace and keep faith with Biafra, which he assured, would definitely come to reality.
 
Highlights of the event, which featured many Biafran war veterans from different parts of Igbo land clad in their uniforms, was the formal unveiling of the cenotaph and the official hand over of the leadership of Biafra to Kanu.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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LASU Fees: Students’ Position Now Before State Exco, Says Fashola

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Read Time:2 Minute, 43 Second
The lingering issue between the students of the Lagos State University (LASU) and the State Government may soon be resolved, as the parties have been holding talks on ways of reaching an agreeable fee regime for the school.
 
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who dropped the hint at the weekend, again assured the students of the institution that the State Executive Council was currently studying their paper to the government on the increase in school fees, promising that where there was need for adjustment or amendment it would be effected accordingly.
 
It would be recalled that following several agitations by the students on the fees increase, Fashola met with them severally and it was agreed that the students should make their independent study and present to government a position paper on the way forward.
Fielding questions at a live television interactive session with media executives at the Lagos Television, Ikeja, to mark Democracy Day in the state, Fashola said the students have presented their paper, which is now before the Executive Council for consideration and approval.
 
“I have passed it out to the council. We have told the students that we are not inflexible and where we see the need for adjustment or amendment, we will do it so that they can understand it better,” Fashola said, noting however, that going by the position paper, “the students were not against the increase but the parameters used in calculating the fees.”
 
Fashola reiterated that the increase in fees regime was one of the many recommendations made by a visitation panel inaugurated at the instance of the students in a petition to the House of Assembly.
 
“There were many recommendations made by the panel many of which we accepted. It is the school fees that has become so vexatious as it were. What we have done is that we looked across schools, federal, state and private schools and tried to stay somewhere in the middle,” he explained.
 
The governor said government also decided that the new fee was not going to affect sitting students, but only new intakes, adding that in consideration of qualified but indigent students, government also increased its budget for scholarships and bursaries from N700 million, to about N1.2 to N1.3 billion “in order to ensure that no child was left behind.”
 
On the reason for the increase, Fashola further explained: “We felt that there was no convergence of universal learning. We had begun to see LASU as a school only for children of the poor. For me, that is a very dangerous thing to do. A university where children of the rich and the poor cannot sit together! The rich are taking their children to private schools. For me that is a time bomb for the future. They may not see it now.
 
“In the event, the students have come back to me three years after at the instance of their lecturers who are saying that we should reduce the school fees otherwise they would go on strike. But the same lecturers are asking us under Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to increase their salaries”, he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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No Rift Between Bafarawa and Shagari, Says Dingyadi

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Read Time:1 Minute, 44 Second
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Sokoto State and Media Aide to former governor Attahiru Bafarawa, Malam Yusuf Dingyadi, Sunday said there was no rift whatsoever between Bafarawa and Mukhtari Shagari.
 
Speaking with THISDAY in Sokoto yesterday, Dingyadi maintained that Bafarawa's relationship with the leader of the PDP and the state Deputy Governor was cordial contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
 
He emphasised that Shagari had been carrying all members along in the party without any discrimination.
 
Dingyadi blamed detractors for spreading the malicious rumour in order to create disaffection in the PDP.
 
He said Bafarawa joined the PDP in order to bring the desired change in the state and as such had no cause to engage in any rift with anybody let alone the PDP leader in the state.
 
The PDP stalwart pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was currently worried by the mass defection of its supporters to the PDP in the state and were busy spreading false messages in order to create disharmony within the ranks of the party.
 
"As you are aware, PDP is waxing stronger in the state, while many APC supporters are leaving their party in large numbers to join the PDP especially in the rural areas.
 
"So, there is no iota of truth that Bafarawa has a rift with the deputy governor because he is not seeking for any position and therefore, has no reason to dominate the party. This malicious rumour is the handiwork of detractors in order to create disaffection in the PDP," he averred.
 
Dingyadi said Bafarawa was not given money to join PDP, contrary to rumours being spread in the state by the APC.
 
He stated that no amount of machination by detractors would deter Bafarawa from achieving his objective of uniting with progressives to wrest power from the APC.
He added that there was no division among the party leadership in the state, saying all hands were on deck to ensure APC's defeat in 2015.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Firm Challenges Voiding of Patents for Ballot Boxes

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Read Time:4 Minute, 30 Second
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega and four others have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the minister’s alleged unlawful voiding of patent rights held by a firm, Bedding Holdings Limited (BHL).
 
Aganga on March 19, this year, issued a gazette purporting to void about six patent rights held by the firm shortly after the  Federal High Court had in a judgment on January 28 this year, awarded damages of about N17.3 billion against INEC for infringing one of the patents.
 
BHL, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/408/2014 filed on May 30 by its lawyer, John Okoriko, wants the court to among others, set aside the gazette on the grounds that it was unlawfully issued, and that the law relied upon by the minister contravened provisions of the constitution.
 
The plaintiff, who raised three questions for determination, is seeking five reliefs among which is an order nullifying the gazette described as “Gazette No 18 Vol 101 Government Notice No. 24 dated March 19, 2014 and title: Use of patents for service of government agencies (INEC) order 2014,” purporting to revoke the patent and designs rights of the plaintiff, without notifying and compensating it as required by the Patent and Designs Act.
 
It contended that the gazette issued by the minister under the provisions of Paragraphs 15, 16 and 17 of Part II of the 1st Schedule to the Patent and Designs Act, was  inconsistent with the provisions of sessions 1(1)and (3), 6, 36, 44 and 251 of the Constitution and 6 and 25 of the Patent and designs Act.
 
BHL asked the court to declare that the issuance of the gazette after the court had, in two subsisting judgments, delivered on June 5, 2012 and January 28, 2014 held that it was the bona fide exclusive owner of the patents which the gazette sought to void, was contrary to the principle of rule of law.
 
It is also seeking a declaration that the gazette issued after the two judgments cannot have the retroactive effect of revoking its exclusive right over the Transparent Ballots Boxes and Proof of Address System/Scheme (PASS) associated with the process of the application of the Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines, being used by INEC in procuring and compiling voters register, with a view to depriving it of the royalties, including the award made against INEC for earlier infringements.
 
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the provisions of the Patent and Designs Act relied on by the minister in issuing the gazette is inferior and inconsistent with  the provisions of sections1(1)and (3), 6, 36, 44 and 251 of the Constitution and 6 and 25 of the Patent and designs Act.
 
It equally seeks a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of sections 1(1) and (3), 6, 36, 44 and 251 of the Constitution and 6 and 25 of the Patent and Designs Act, and the subsisting judgments of the court, the minister cannot validly issue the gazette revoking its adjudged exclusive rights over the inventions.
 
The plaintiff’s affected patent and design rights purportedly revoked by the minister’s gazette are “RP No. 10511 (for collapsible steel frame structures); RP No. 12994 (for transparent ballot boxes); RP No. 16642 (for electronic collapsible ballot boxes); NG/P/2010/202 (for Proof of Address System Schemes – PASS); RD No. 13841 (for electronic collapsible ballot boxes); RD No. 5946 (for transparent ballot boxes) and RD No. 3962 (for collapsible steel frame structures).”
 
Also named as defendants in the suit are the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; the Registrar of Patents in the ministry, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and INEC.
 
BHL’s Group Executive Chairman, Sylvester Odigie, averred, in a supporting affidavit, that the patent and designs rights which the minister sought to void were among many of such rights his company owned and which were duly registered with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
 
He stated that when INEC infringed on his firm’s rights over the transparent ballot boxes, it sued the commission and some others and got a judgment on June 5, 2012 where the court adjudged it the bonafide owner of the exclusive patent right over the transparent ballot boxes and restrained INEC and others from further using the boxes without its consent.
 
Odigie added that when INEC committed a similar infringement in respect of his firm’s patent over the process of applying the DDC machines for voters’ register, it equally sued and got another judgment on January 28 this year in which Justice Ibrahim Auta awarded N17.3billion damages against INEC for the infringement.
 
He averred that rather than obey the judgments, INEC and others appealed. He added that while parties were awaiting the determination of the appeals by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, INEC allegedly influenced the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment to issue the gazette purporting to void his company’s patents and designs rights, some of which formed the subject of the pending appeals.
The defendants are yet to respond to the case.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Ahmed Assures Kwarans of Infrastructure Devt

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Read Time:1 Minute, 54 Second
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, at the weekend  assured the people of Tsaragi in Edu Local Government Area of the state of the determination of his administration to provide more infrastructure that would  open up the area for better economic activities.
 
Ahmed, who made the disclosure shortly after inaugurating the Tsaragi Market road, also noted that the said road would assist the people in transporting their farm produce from neighbouring communities to the market.
 
Represented by his deputy, Mr. Peter Kisira,  the governor commended the people of the area for maintaining peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
 
He explained that the essence of the road was to ensure that commercial activities in the market run through out the week smoothly.
 
He noted that apart from the provision of infrastructure, the state government would also look into the welfare of the people of the area.
 
He maintained that other road projects in the local government would be given due attention and consideration.
 
In his address, the  state  Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, said the inauguration of Tsaragi road was a demonstration of government’s sincerity and commitment to making life easy for the people of the state.
He said the Tsaragi market road contract  was awarded at the total sum of N129,369,844.41.
 
He explained that the successful completion of the road would reduce the hardship of the benefiting communities in the areas of transporting people and agricultural produce from one community to the other.
 
In his own remarks, the Chairman of the local government area, Alhaji Abubakar Alfa Tsoga,  said the completion of the road was a clear testimony of the interest of the government for the people of the area.
 
He described the governor as a lover of peace and a committed leader who always had the interest of his people at heart.
 
He appealed to the state government to assist the local government with the provision of tractors, seeds and other farming implements to boast agricultural production in the area.
He also urged to government to support them with graders to enable them open up more feeder roads for the people of the council.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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