Business
Charting A way Forward: Minister Of State for industry, Enoh inspects The Save Sugar Company in Benin Republic
…Calls for immediate action
Joel Ajayi
January 14th, 2025, a day etched in the annals of Nigerian-Benin relations, Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Fed. Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment was in Cotonou to inspect the once-thriving sugar production facility.
Savé Sugar Company, a joint venture between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
On arrival in Cotonou,the Minister of State for Industry Sen. John Owan Enoh, paid a courtesy visit on his Benin Counterpart ,Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Minister of Commerce and Industry Benin Republic, to express appreciation for the extra security measures put in place by the government of Benin Republic to secure the Savé Sugar Company which was Established in 1975.
The meeting between both ministers, brief yet significant, resonated with shared concerns and aspirations of both countries. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman remarked:
“This visit marks a historic moment. Since the inception of the company, no Nigerian minister has visited the facility. Your bold step signifies a commitment not only to the sugar complex but also to the bilateral relations between our nations.
” . Thereafter, the Minister of State proceeded on an on-site inspection of the facility and observed that the company has experienced changing fortunes and now lies almost decrepit with the last managers, _Compliant of China_ ,having vacated in May 2023,at the expiration of a twenty year lease agreement.
Unfortunately,the deteriorating situation with the _Savé Sugar Company Ltd_ predates the exit of the Chinese. A joint assessment visitation in 2021 was quite damning and recommended that Nigeria sell its equity holding in the company. This was declined by the Buhari administration, which instead preferred that upon expiration of the lease agreement with COMPLIANT, the two governments competitively source for new core investors.
Senator John Enoh, flanked by members of his team, meticulously examined the infrastructure, assessing its potential for revival.The Minister of State for Industry, after the inspection, remarked.
” Various meetings at both technical and policy levels have continued to be held , but away from these,action is needed.Seeing is believing is a common popular saying.
“This visit is an eye opener, and more than anything else, we seek its revival. The two countries, as a matter of urgency, need to get a worthy core investor within the shortest possible time.This is not just about sugar; it is about livelihoods, partnerships, and the shared future of our nations.
However, where that is not feasible, the recommendation of the 2021 joint assessment report which submits to the selling of our equity in the company will be brought to the table for possible consideration. Action starts today.”
Business
Court Orders Arrest Of Wike-led FCTA Director, 10 Others
By Aliyu Galadima
An Abuja High Court has issued a bench warrant against the director of investigation and prosecution of the FCTA, Joseph Eriki, and 10 others.Justice Suleiman Belgore has issued an order to compel the director and others to appear before the court for a suit filed against them.
The Judge’s decision followed the application of the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, who lamented the failure of the efforts to ensure that the suspects appear in court.
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Joseph Eriki, the director of investigation and prosecution of the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, and 10 others.
The judge had issued the order to compel the appearance of Joseph Eriki and 10 others before the court, as they had been arraigned in a suit filed against them by the federal government.
The warrant was issued following an application by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, who stated that all efforts to ensure the suspects’ presence in court had failed. Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution had made several attempts to notify the suspects’ lawyers and sureties, but to no avail.
He cited Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ,ACJA, which allows for the issuance of a bench warrant to compel attendance in court.
The court agreed to the application, issuing the warrant to ensure the suspects’ appearance for arraignment on a six-count charge. The charges against the suspects include criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using a forged document as genuine.
They are also accused of using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty. The suspects allegedly entered a plot of land belonging to Etha Ventures and constructed structures without authorisation, to defraud the company.
According to the prosecution, the suspects fraudulently obtained a consent judgment for the land, which was given to Super Structures Limited. The case has been adjourned until June 4 for arraignment.
The court’s decision to issue a bench warrant highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the suspects to face trial. The suspects are facing a six-count charge, which was filed in February.
The court’s ruling emphasises the importance of a speedy trial and the need for the suspects to be held accountable for their actions.
With the bench warrant in place, the court is taking steps to ensure that the suspects appear in court and face the charges against them
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