The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has insisted that it is opposed to the ban imposed on open grazing of cattle by South-West governors because the enforcement of the ban was tantamount to an eviction notice.

The governors had in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on January 25, declared the ban.

Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, President of the Miyetti Allah Association, addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting in Akure was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Governors Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Apart from South-West governors, governors in the South-East had previously banned open grazing and movement of cows on foot into the South-East.

But speaking with the Punch, the Secretary General of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, said the ban on open grazing was targeted to destroy the means of livelihood of the herdsmen and radicalise the herders.

He said, “They can’t put an end to open grazing by fiat because grazing is not motorcycle business; there must be an alternative. Secondly, if they say they are going to end open grazing, what is the timeline for it?

“They want to displace herders from where they earn their livelihood. It is not different from an eviction notice – it is just putting the eviction notice into effect. This is very unfortunate because they cannot come out to say they are embracing peaceful herders and then say they are ending open grazing. What do they mean by that? Is there closed grazing?

“From history, right from the time of Moses, grazing is open. By now, they should realise that they will not get the result they are looking for. We are in total support of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. I was part of the committee that reviewed the final document. The programme has a lot of components, and if implemented, it will address a lot of challenges.

“Look at Benue State and how the approach has created a militia. You can’t end open grazing by fiat as if someone is looking for a crisis, and these crises have a way of reverberating.”

Alhassan argued that asking herdsmen to stop open grazing and begin ranching was tantamount to asking farmers to begin mechanisation, without which they wouldn’t be able to do their farming activities.

He added, “If they say herders must begin ranching today, where is the ranch? For someone to develop a ranch, they need at least three to five years for it to mature. The facts are there. Ranches cannot be created overnight but they are just playing politics.”

On the issue of insecurity, he said herders had been victims of rustling and kidnapping and that if insecurity was to be addressed, it was not by making it an ethnic issue, because according to him, there are criminals in every ethnic group.

“It’s sad, because at the end of the day, we end up radicalising the herders,” he said. “When they are radicalised, who will benefit? The country will suffer worse insecurity. That’s why we are against this issue of eviction or ultimatum because it doesn’t work like that. There have not been proper laws at the national level to address these challenges and the National Assembly is just playing to the gallery. Let there be proper laws.”

He said if there had been an increase in the herders moving from the North to the South, it could be due to climate change, insecurity in the North-East, drought caused by environmental factors or Boko Haram. (Thepledge)

By Chibuike Nwabuko

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reacted to the insecurity in the country with particular reference to herders and farmers conflicts, clarifying that no state or community in the country is under any compulsion to release land for ranching.

Osinbajo made the clarification on Saturday during the 2021 International Zoom Conference with the theme: Patriotism, Security, Governance and National Development in Nigeria organised by Global Patriot Newspapers in collaboration with Nigerian Consulate, New York, NiDCOM and NIDO New Jersey Chapter held virtually and monitored by Sundiata Post.

The Vice President, who noted that the topic presents an opportunity to reinvent our economy, said that our security situation in not insurmountable and that government is prepared to co-operate with state governments, community leaders and vigilantes as well as other relevant stakeholders to stamp out insecurity in the country.

He expressed confidence that with the appointment of the new Service Chiefs and the new approach introduced to the fight against insecurity being put it place, life will soon return back to normalcy. Osinbajo also informed that the police is doing it’s best but said that we must admit that there is need for decentralization of the police and that very soon, with the help of the National Assembly, we will see steps to actualising that.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Consul- General, Nigerian Consulate, New York, U.S.A, Ambassador Ben Okoyen said that patriotism is key to building a nation with bond of unity.

According to him, the theme of the conference is an attempt to seek answers to Nigeria’s developmental challenges and what will be done to reverse the bad perception of the country. He also emphasised that Nigeria’s greatness has been challenged and there is need to seek the rebirth and what we need to do to get out of the wool.

To achieve this, he said, “Patriotism is key to redefine Nigerian ideology and Nigerians are obligated to be patriotic to the homeland and that the media has a role to play towards reshaping this negative perception of the country, especially in the area if security.”

Also in his presentation, the Nigerian in Diaspora boss, Abike Dabiri-Erewa while dwelling on patriotism, called for concerted effort to build our country as no one will do it for us.

She also called on government to build infrastructure, build institutions, reward merit and ensure that erring citizens are punished to prevent impunity.

In her words, patriotism is being a Nigerian even when things are going wrong not calling the country a zoo because government will come and go but Nigeria remains our country. It is also sad to see more qualified people ignored when it comes to employment or appointment whereas unqualified people are chosen- that is not patriotism. Patriotism is putting in your best in all areas you find yourself as a citizen, government must play it’s role and we the citizens should do our best. Patriotism is that whoever that falls foul of the law must be sanctioned. Some of the negativities we carry on social media is not patriotism and I expected that journalists should have been part of the panelists in this program to give us clue as to how this fake news would be curtailed.

On his part, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, who sounded furious on the failure of leadership in the country and the dangers of nepotism to the corporate existence of Nigeria today, said patriotism includes rising up to challenge what is wrong and speaking up against the ills in the society even as the expense of our life.

He said patriotism must be a way of life and it also means that we should preserve our culture. He recalled how the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello dropped their English names due to patriotism and believe in culture and called for the reintroduction of history in our curriculum.

Others who made contributions at the virtual meeting are: former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Femi Falana (SAN), President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, among others

Credit:sundiatapost

Death paid its cold unscheduled visit Sunday morning on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and took away Hon. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta.

Justice Ngwuta died this morning at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Hospital, Abuja having been admitted there since Saturday, 27 February 2021.

The apex Court in a press statement signed by its Chief Registrar, Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, Esq. has confirmed his death.

Ngwuta was to retire from the Supreme Court of Nigeria on March 30, 2021 by which time he would have attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The press statement reads: “The Supreme Court of Nigeria regrets to announce the death of the Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, JSC, CFR, by 2.30 am of Sunday March 7, 2021.

“He felt sick and was admitted in the last one week in the National Hospital, Abuja, but before he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital on Friday March 5 he tested negative to COVID-19 investigative test conducted on him.

“Hon. Justice Ngwuta was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.

“His remains have been deposited in the National Hospital mortuary pending the arrangement for his burial.

“Hon. Justice Ngwuta who was appointed Supreme Court Justice on March 22, 2011 was born on March 30, 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local government of Ebonyi State. His lordship had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria and got his LLB in University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). lle-ife in 1977 and BL at the Nigerian law school in 1978.

“May the late Hon. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta rest in perfect peace and grant his family, Judiciary and the apex court to bear the irreparable loss.

According to Wikipedia: Justice Sylvester was born in 1951 Amofia-Ukawu,  Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State, South-Eastern, Nigeria.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 after he graduated from the Nigerian Law School.

Justice Sylvester began his Law career in 1978 as a State counsel in Benue State Ministry of Justice, the same year he established his own law firm.

On October 1995, he was appointed as a Judge of the Abia State High Court.

On 22 May, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal and on May 2013, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice.

He presided over the ruling of the Supreme Court that affirmed Olusegun Mimiko as the governor elect of Ondo State in the May 2013 governorship election.

He also presided over the ruling of the Supreme Court that affirmed Kayode Fayemi as the governor elect of Ekiti State in the June 2013 governorship election and was supported by Justices Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and Suleiman Galadima.

He was arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) on 8 October 2016 on allegations of bribery and corruption.

However, the Court of Code Tribunal (CCT) ruled that they could in May 2018 that only the National Judicial Council could determine whether or not Ngwata would face trial.

In September 2019, Ngwuta resumed his duties as a Supreme Court Justice after a three year suspension.

He was Member, Nigerian Bar Association; member, International Bar Association; and, member, Nigerian Body of Benchers.

Something remarkable happened on Tuesday March 2, 2021; President Muhammadu Buhari placed a no-flight ban on Zamfara State and directed that all mining activities there should cease. Ordinarily, such far-reaching news items should have been celebrated across the nation. 

To appreciate the implications of the orders, we have to get the exact words used. Unfortunately, the President did not appear in person to deliver such far-reaching decisions; a remarkable squandering of an immense opportunity to put the Buhari mark on the anti-insurgency fight. Also that meeting of the Nigerian Security Council held for five straight hours and was chaired by the President himself should have shown his commitment to the fight if only he announced the decisions. 

Yet, the President chose to forgo this great opportunity of reassuring his nation, and the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) delivered the President’s message to the nation. Addressing the State House Correspondents, he said: “His Excellency the President has approved the imposition and enforcement of a ban on all mining activities in Zamfara State with immediate effect until further notice. He has directed the Honourable Minister of Defence and the National Security Adviser to deploy massive military and intelligence assets to restore normalcy to that part of the country. He has also approved that Zamfara State be declared a no-flight zone with immediate effect. 

Now, all non-state actors that have been causing problems to the innocent peoples, not just in Zamfara State or the North-West zone but also in the North-East and other parts of the country, the South-South, have been placed under surveillance by the Intelligence Agencies. We have heard of collusion with peoples from all walks of life, therefore both the Defence Intelligence and the organisations have been charged that while we look forward to having a non-kinetic peaceful resolution, we will not allow this country to drift into state failure. 

With effect from today, the new Service Chiefs have been given a new directive by the Minister of Defence, from the President and conveyed by the Minister of Defence, to reclaim all areas that have been dominated by bandits, by kidnappers, and other scoundrels and scallywags.

Already the President has given directives to all the military and intelligence organisations to trail and flush out all the peoples that have been on our watch list. And I can assure you there are quite a handful of people on our watch list. They will be trailed and be rooted out and they will be brought to book and be prosecuted and be made an example of.” 

Three far-reaching directives are in that short speech, unfortunately, only one, the no-flight zone imposition, has caught the nation’s attention. Analysts overlooked “to deploy massive military and Intelligence assets to restore normalcy to (the North-West)”. Does that imply that Buhari was publicly snubbing the theatrics of Sheikh Gumi, many Governors and Northern groups who have made wild and unimaginable cases for the equally wild bandits; that they be compensated, 

 be whitewashed with immunity … as the only way towards peace?

I think so. But it is even more far-reaching than that; (that all non-state actors all across the country have been under surveillance and that) “We have heard of collusion with peoples from all walks of life”. 

Hey, what is the nature of such collusion for which people have been under surveillance? Time will tell. The NSA said: “Now, all non-state actors that have been causing problems to the innocent peoples, not just in Zamfara State or the North- West zone but also in the North-East and other parts of the country, the South-South, have been placed under surveillance by the Intelligence Agencies.” This must include the killer herdsmen or the entire speech would be as worthless as an empty puff of smoke. 

And here is the big question: why the need to slap a no-flight ban on Zamfara or anywhere for that matter? Or has even the President himself become convinced now that the bandits have been receiving supplies by air? If so, has Nigeria not wasted valuable time disdaining this charge? May we please recall a great controversy: “Storm over alleged helicopter supplies to herdsmen in Delta” was the exact title of the Vanguard story of March 25, 2017. Delta State House of Assembly member, Chief (Hon) Evance Ivwurie, representing Ethiope East Local Government Area, alleged that “suspected sponsors of Fulani herdsmen were allegedly making arms supplies to them with a helicopter at the barren region of Ovre-Abraka and Ovre-Eku in his constituency”. The state’s then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, and the Department of State Service, DSS, according to that Vanguard report invited Ivwurie to “identify the helicopter and probably show it to the police, or else, they would take him into custody”. 

That was four years ago. As of the time of writing, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim is an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, having been promoted and has moved on to higher responsibilities. Perhaps, the DSS man who behaved like him could have been promoted too, they may yet play important roles in solving the mystery of who supplies hoodlums by air. That would be a remarkable irony; they would have had a head start of many years if…if what? And that is a great if. What kept them? 

In August 2019, the Niger Delta Voice published a confessional statement: Helicopters Drop Arms For Us in the Forest: I have Killed At least 5 People. – Fulani Herdsman”. According to the story; “Aliu Musa (20) an Arrested Fulani Herdsman has revealed that helicopters drop weapons for his boss inside Dinya Forest in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. 

Salmanu Isa (18) another herdsman was paraded alongside Aliyu Musa. He said: “I once saw that aircraft with fans on its head (helicopter) drop weapons for my boss while we were inside the forest at Dinja. 

“It was hovering and was very near ground. The man inside would drop the weapons for my boss who would now couple the weapons for our use. 

“It is only my boss who would go and pick the weapons while we would be watching from where we stood.” Musa said he had killed at least five people during their various operations, adding that he was paid N17, 000 after each operation.

For six years, a discussion on a social media group, Nairaland has witnessed free for all cursing and abusage because of a news item lifted from January 29, 2015 Leadership newspaper “We Saw Helicopters Dropping Arms, Food For Boko Haram – IDPs” 

Leader of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Monguno, Muhammed Sani, 50, said he had, on several occasions, spotted unusual delivery of items in big wooden boxes by air, and sacks being dropped in the bushes around Marte and Monguno where Boko Haram terrorists were camped. 

“Even before then, some of my colleagues and I have been sighting helicopters dropping items in sacks and some in boxes to them at the camp of Boko Haram near Chikungudu and Kwalaram villages. Many helicopters came to drop items packed in boxes and sacks to the Boko Haram insurgents at a bush camp between Monguno and Marte; then we would see the Boko Haram gunmen rushing to the spot to pick the dropped items,” he stated. 

Just after the FG announced the banning of flights over Zamfara, the Arewa Consultative Forum, asked that it be extended to Benue, Taraba and Borno states saying there were rumours that helicopters frequently dropped arms for bandits and insurgents operating in these states. “We believe that such an extended ban will curtail the operations of the criminals in these areas,” ACF said. 

Then on Thursday March 4, 2021, the Nation newspaper joined the air-supply-for-hoodlum’s allegation chorus with a story titled “Helicopters Dropping Weapons, Food for Bandits”. The story claimed: “There is credible intelligence that the bandits get their arms and ammunition by airdrop. Although Zamfara State has no airport, helicopters routinely fly into the state on a high number. It is believed that the action will lead to the cut off supplies to bandits’ cells in the forests by 70 to 90 per cent”. 

Yet, it added that “Besides, helicopters are also used to illegally transport gold minerals from (Zamfara) state. Top licensees and illegal gold miners were said to be involved in bitter guerilla ‘war’ in the state. The affected gold merchants include a firm belonging to a former Head of State, ex-governors, ex-ministers and influential businessmen. The rivalry led to the formation of banditry clusters by licensees and illegal miners”. 

Why did we waste all the precious years before Buhari decided to act on the reports that hoodlums were being supplied by air? If all the trouble makers are to be checkmated, and that includes the killer herdsmen, why has it taken this long to send a clear message to them, publicly? Especially after Shiekh Gumi who has enjoyed a cozy relationship with them and has served as their Ambassador has equated the herdsmen with angry Fulani herders? So, why did the NSA not mention them directly by name? 

Also why did it take years before action is taken against illegal mining of a mineral as valuable as gold? If Nigeria regulates crude petroleum exploitation, why did it surrender the Zamfara gold to illegal miners? And why didn’t Nigeria learn a fast lesson from the terrible experience three African countries reaped from “Blood Diamond” – the Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone’s bloody conflicts? If the illegal mining is not for ever so that the central government would take it over as it does the oil deposits, we may have just postponed the evil day. 

That is why this great move, this wholesome move, this worthy-of-applause move, to curb insurgency everywhere in the country, may just be too little, too late. 

For six years, a discussion on a social media group, Nairaland has witnessed free for all cursing and abusage because of a news item lifted from January 29, 2015 Leadership newspaper “We Saw Helicopters Dropping Arms, Food For Boko Haram – IDPs” 

Leader of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Monguno, Muhammed Sani, 50, said he had, on several occasions, spotted unusual delivery of items in big wooden boxes by air, and sacks being dropped in the bushes around Marte and Monguno where Boko Haram terrorists were camped. 

“Even before then, some of my colleagues and I have been sighting helicopters dropping items in sacks and some in boxes to them at the camp of Boko Haram near Chikungudu and Kwalaram villages. Many helicopters came to drop items packed in boxes and sacks to the Boko Haram insurgents at a bush camp between Monguno and Marte; then we would see the Boko Haram gunmen rushing to the spot to pick the dropped items,” he stated. 

Just after the FG announced the banning of flights over Zamfara, the Arewa Consultative Forum, asked that it be extended to Benue, Taraba and Borno states saying there were rumours that helicopters frequently dropped arms for bandits and insurgents operating in these states. “We believe that such an extended ban will curtail the operations of the criminals in these areas,” ACF said. 

Then on Thursday March 4, 2021, the Nation newspaper joined the air-supply-for-hoodlum’s allegation chorus with a story titled “Helicopters Dropping Weapons, Food for Bandits”. The story claimed: “There is credible intelligence that the bandits get their arms and ammunition by airdrop. Although Zamfara State has no airport, helicopters routinely fly into the state on a high number. It is believed that the action will lead to the cut off supplies to bandits’ cells in the forests by 70 to 90 per cent”. 

Yet, it added that “Besides, helicopters are also used to illegally transport gold minerals from (Zamfara) state. Top licensees and illegal gold miners were said to be involved in bitter guerilla ‘war’ in the state. The affected gold merchants include a firm belonging to a former Head of State, ex-governors, ex-ministers and influential businessmen. The rivalry led to the formation of banditry clusters by licensees and illegal miners”. 

Why did we waste all the precious years before Buhari decided to act on the reports that hoodlums were being supplied by air? If all the trouble makers are to be checkmated, and that includes the killer herdsmen, why has it taken this long to send a clear message to them, publicly? Especially after Shiekh Gumi who has enjoyed a cozy relationship with them and has served as their Ambassador has equated the herdsmen with angry Fulani herders? So, why did the NSA not mention them directly by name? 

Also why did it take years before action is taken against illegal mining of a mineral as valuable as gold? If Nigeria regulates crude petroleum exploitation, why did it surrender the Zamfara gold to illegal miners? And why didn’t Nigeria learn a fast lesson from the terrible experience three African countries reaped from “Blood Diamond” – the Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone’s bloody conflicts? If the illegal mining is not for ever so that the central government would take it over as it does the oil deposits, we may have just postponed the evil day. 

That is why this great move, this wholesome move, this worthy-of-applause move, to curb insurgency everywhere in the country, may just be too little, too late. (Independent)

Magu, former acting chairman of the EFCC, was suspended in July 2020 following allegations of corruption levelled against him.

Ihuoma, a management consultant, whose firm, Crincad & Cari Nigeria Ltd, was contracted by the PRTT for consultancy service, told the Abuja federal high court on Thursday about monies and properties recovered through Maina.

“By January 2016, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the national security adviser (NSA) met with Maina in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE),” he said.

“After the meeting in Dubai, Maina gave the delegation intelligence report that led to the recovery of N1.3 trillion out of the N3 trillion promised to recover.

“The money was reported to the senate committee that investigated Maina’s reinstatement back to the civil service in 2017.

“Equally, the task team petitioned the senate on the need to revisit the 7th assembly joint committee that its report was quashed by the federal high court in view of the fact that the 222 choice property valued at N1.63 trillion that was handed over to the EFCC was being mismanaged.

“One of the properties in question located at No 42, Gana Street, Maitama, had been illegally acquired by a renowned lawyer while the property was still subject to litigation.”

He said the property valued at N6 billion in 2011 was sold to the lawyer in 2015 at N1 billion.

“We believe that the task team stood by her integrity and accountability, not minding the persecution by the EFCC before this honourable court,” he said.

‘MAGU SHARED PROPERTIES TO FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES’

Ihuoma alleged that when Magu appeared before the house of representatives committee that investigated the reinstatement of Maina, he denied that the EFCC was a member of PRTT and that properties recovered were not handed over to the commission.

The witness said he had petitioned the AGF through his company, informing him of the lies told by the former acting chairman of the EFCC.

“That led to Malami petitioning Mr President and demanding that EFCC should account for the 222-property valued at 1.63 trillion which eventually led to the setting up of Justice Ayo Salami-led Judicial commission of inquiry,” he said.

“Magu admitted before Salami that he shared and allocated most of these properties to most of his friends, associates, colleagues under some presidential directives but failed to make available to the commission the evidence of that presidential directives.”

Narrating further, Ihuoma stated that Maina gave an intelligence report to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of a plan to siphon N35 billion from the head of service pension office.

He said that led to the questioning of Winifred Oyo-Ita, former head of service, and five other management committee members, adding that the ICPC indicated readiness to prosecute the matter.

He also said in March 2013, the defendant gave intelligence to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the then minister of finance, and the EFCC, leading to the mop-up of N15 billion from customs, immigration, prison pension office.

Ihuoma said despite that the running cost of the PRTT was not paid, Maina was the only member of the team that was sacked.

He added that Maina “deserves to be reinstated back as approved by the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2017” and should be returned to the civil service.

Okon Abang, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to March 5 for the continuation of trial.

Maina is on trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

(Midpointmall)

The ancient traditional practice in Etinan local government area of Akwa Ibom state which denied female children the right of inheritance to their father’s properties have finally been nullified.

A State High Court sitting in Etinan presided by Justice Idiong quashed the practice on Wednesday while delivering a judgment in a suit brought before the Court, by eight children of late Obong Patrick Joseph Noah of Edem Ekpat in Etinan council area.

They had filed the suit against their aunt, Mrs. Gertrude Ekanem to stop her from inheriting the landed property of her sister, late Immaculata Noah, who died and left behind the property without a husband or a child.

The case with the suit number HET/3A/2019 between Mr. Michael Patrick Noah and seven others and Mrs. Gertrude Ekanem, originated from the Etinan District Court, whose judgment the appellants appealed to the Chief Magistrate Court and the High Court.

In their evidence, the appellants contended that their aunt cannot inherit her sister’s property located at number 24 Iman Street, Etinan, because she is a woman and had also been married out of the family.

In his judgment, Justice Pius Idiong described such practice as anachronistic, primitive and unconscionable, which should not exist in the 21st Century society.
The Court held that any custom that denies a woman an inheritance on the ground of her sex, is not only unfair, but runs contrary to the fundamental objective of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Justice Idiong argued that although the Courts are enjoined to apply, administer and give effects to the custom and tradition of the people of its area of jurisdiction, the Court does not have to apply customs, which are unreasonable, discriminatory and an affront to the law.

He further held that the custom of the people of Edem Ekpat in particular and Etinan Local Government Area in general, denying a woman the right to inherit intestate property of her parents or siblings, where the deceased died without a male child, debases such a woman and contravenes section 42 of the 1999 constitution.

The Judge also disagreed with the Village Head of Edem Ekpat, Chief Emmanuel Okokon Eboh, who had testified as a witness that when a woman dies in Edem Ekpat without a child or husband, her property reverts to her family and not her sister, who has been married out to another family.

Justice Idiong saluted the trial District Court in Etinan for refusing to uphold such offensive customs and the appellate Chief Magistrate Court, for upholding the decision of the lower Court.

The higher Court declared that the native laws, discriminating against women, whether married or not, are nullity and unenforceable throughout Etinan Local Government Area.

Justice Idiong dismissed the appeal with cost awarded against the eight siblings, including two married sisters, who joined their brothers to deny their married aunt the right to inherit the landed property of her only sister.