Business

Rivers Produces Four New SANs …As Lawyers Defy NBA President’s Boycott Order

Published

15 years ago

August 31, 2011

Against the order of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),Joseph B. Daudu (SAN), urging all lawyers to boycott last Friday’s swearing-in of newly appointed Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the event went on as planned.

Among the SANs sworn-in were three from the Port Harcourt branch of the Bar in Rivers State, namely Faye Dikio, Granville Abibo and David Ezega while the fourth, Morrison Ibinabo Quaker also of Rivers origin, is from the Lagos Bar.

Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, shortly after the opening ceremony of the NBA conference last week, the NBA President,Mr Joseph B. Daudu had directed lawyers to boycott the planned swearing –in of the SANs in protest against the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The NBA President had condemned the alleged refusal of the NJC to receive court summons served them by the High Court saying that the judicial council headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Katsina-Alu acted far below the high expectations of their revered calling.

The NBA President dismissed as subjudice, the recommendation by the NJC for the suspension and subsequent retirement of the President of the Court of Appeal, stressing that the CJN’s action and the decision of the NJC have brought shame to the judiciary.

It was to protest these, that the NBA President directed lawyers to boycott the swearing in of SANs in Abuja last Friday.

But a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Barrister Arnglad Imabibo in an interview told The Tide that the boycott order was not necessary as it was the personal opinion of the NBA president.

In a related development, the Alliance for Truth in Defence of Freedom described as partisan and parochial, the hue and cry over the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

In an advertorial published in the Guardian of Sunday, August 28, 2011 and signed by Alhaji Ramonu Obalowu, the alliance stated: “The National Judicial Council shall have power to –(b) recommend to the President the removal; from office of the Judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph and to exercise disciplinary control over such office (paragraph 21 of the 3rd Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended).

The alliance stated that on February 5, 2009, the NJC suspended a Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Chudi Nwokorie, sitting at the Owerri Division, the NBA, ACN and others said nothing; on February 24, 2011 the NJC suspended Justice Idris Habib of Bauchi State High Court, “the NBA, ACN and others did not say anything; on May 26, 2011 the NJC recommended the removal of Justice Ibrahim Ana of the Zamfara State High Court, “ the NBA, ACN, ASUU and others did not do anything, and now, the NJC suspends Justice Ayo Salami of the Court of Appeal and all hell has been let loose”.

“ ACN and its partners have been stage-managing outrage to protest a breach of the rule of law” the Alliance said, and asked; “is this a confirmation of the relationship between Salami and ACN”?

‘They say NJC no longer has power to suspend judges. This is politics taken too far. Enough of the orchestrated campaign to destroy discipline in the judiciary, Nigerian is bigger than any individual” the Alliance statement noted.

Soye Wilson Jamabo

Transport

Automated Points Concession : FAAN Workers Gave 72hrs To Revise Decisions In PH

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The trapatriate Unions conprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), has given 72 hours Ultimatum to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Omagwa Airport, Portharcourt to revise its recent decision on the concession of Tollgates and Parks to private hands.

The chairman of the Trapatriate Union, Comrade Felix Ohwoefe gave the Ultimatum yesterday immediately after the joint Unions meeting held at the Airport office of the union, Omagwa, Portharcourt.

Comrade Ohwoefe who double as the chairman of the National Union of NUATE said the two Unions have agreed to take drastic actions if the Authority of the Airport declined to step down it’s decision of concessioning the major revenue points to private hands.

According to the Union chairman, the two union was not aware of the concession plans, and that there were no due process to the procedures.

Comrade Ohwoefe said any attempt for the Airport Management to decline it’s demands towards the concession will result to barricading all entrance and access points of the Airport.

Expressing the the challenges associated to the concession, the Union Chairman said the gesture might resulted to massive sack of workers in the Airport.

The chairman also expressed foul play on the part of either individuals or government in the terms and conditions so given to the concessionaires, demanding the reasons of contracting the automated points to private hands for only 14 millions, when the FAAN is presently generating over 28 million naira monthly, even when the tariff was not reviewed upwards.

He describes the process to the procedures as fraud with intention to increase unemployment in the state.

“We are not against the concession of the Automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.

“Secondly, if the concessionaires is taken over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently, we are generating to the Management over 28 Millions monthly, but we had that the private company is required to pay only 14 Millions monthly, which is far below 5 percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.

“The process is fraud either on the part of individual in the Government, or Government itself.

” The unions is saying no to the Concession until we come to a terms of understanding ourselves., we are afraid of loosing workers, we don’t want to loose any workers if due process is not followed in this hard of economy, we even demanding for employment of more workers in FAAN.” Comrade Ohwoefe said.

The Union used the opportunity to called on the minister of aviation, and the President of the Country, Bola Tinubu to intervene.

When contacting the Management of the Airport Authority through the head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, she said the management has not given her the approval to say something.

Transport

FAAN Announces Pick-Up Points for Go-Cashless Cards

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced designated pick-up points for individuals wishing to obtain their Go-Cashless cards ahead of the March 1, 2026 deadline.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Director Public Affairs and Consumer protection, Henry Agbebire and made available to the Tide last Friday in Portharcourt.

According to the statement, Go-Cashless cards is at all FAAN commercial offices and access gates of Airports in the country .

The release further stated that cards will also be available at designated branches of Fidelity Bank Plc from March 16, 2026.

FAAN in the statement said the cashless policy followed the Federal Government directive mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to transition to a cashless system to enhance transparency and reduce revenue leakages as well improve transaction traceability in the Aviation sector.

FAAN reiterated its commitment to full compliance with the directive, appealing to the public for their understanding and cooperation during the transition period.

FAAN also inform that the Go-Cashless cards can still be obtained at the designated points after the March 1, deadline.

The Authority assures airport users that the initiative will promote faster, safer, and more convenient transactions across its airports nationwide.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank To Empower Women With Sustainable Entrepreneurship Skills, HAP2.0

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship women-empowerment initiative, the HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 (HAP 2.0).

According to the report, the programme is designed to equip women with practical, income?generating skills and structured pathways to entrepreneurship.

Accordingly, the HAP 2.0 will build on the success of its inaugural edition held in 2023.

During media chat with journalists to herald the launch of HAP 2.0, the Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, explained that the initiative has been enhanced to deliver greater impact.

He said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 reflects their commitment to continuous improvement, having evaluated feedback from the first edition, they have returned with stronger partnerships and deeper mentorship programmes to ensure that women acquire not just skills, but sustainable economic opportunities.

Mr Ede, who said the programme is guided with real?world learning, also said that participants will undergo intensive apprenticeship training under reputable institutions and industry experts across selected fields such as hair styling, shoe making, auto mechatronics, and interior decoration.

Additionally, he said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 goes beyond skills acquisition by offering participants a wide range of business advisory services.

These include business and financial literacy training, mentorship support throughout the apprenticeship journey, access to Fidelity Bank’s women?focused and SME financial solutions, as well as guidance on business formalisation and growth strategies.

Emphasizing the bank’s vision further, Ede said: “By integrating structured mentorship with entrepreneurial development, Fidelity Bank is positioning women not just as trainees, but as future employers, innovators, and economic contributors within their communities.

This aligns with our mandate to help individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper”.

It is noteworthy that interested participants are encouraged to indicate their interest by visiting https://bit.ly/Apprenticeshipbyherfidelity.

It is important to note that Fidelity Bank Plc is ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, with a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, with 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

It is reported that the Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.

By: Nkpemenyie mcdominic, Lagos