The National Human Rights Commission panel investigating allegations of human rights violations against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) heard on Tuesday in Abuja how policemen in Rivers killed a young man in the presence of his mother.

Petitioner Mrs Victoria Agori made the allegation while testifying before the panel on a case she filed asking for the prosecution of the police officers that killed her son, Daniel Agori and the release of his body for burial.

“Justine Adaka gave the order to kill my son and my son was killed right in my presence.

“Daniel Agori did not make any statement before they killed him like a chicken.

“These policemen are bad people. They called me mother of a kidnapper and cultist but my son was neither a kidnapper nor a cultist.

“He was a footballer and hairstylist. He was to travel to Spain.”

When asked by James Idachaba, the respondent’s counsel, if the panel was the only place she had taken her case to, Agori said no, pointing out however, that the Federation of International Women Lawyers and some human rights activists had been helpful.

She told the panel that she had been threatened repeatedly by unknown telephone numbers and that it was due to such threats that she had to leave Port Harcourt.

Agori said that the police had been telling her for over a year that they were investigating the matter but that there had been no outcome on the investigation.

Earlier, Counsel to Agori, Mr Abiodun Olutekunbi, told the panel that the petitioner and her two sons, late Daniel and David and one Silver Ogbonna, Daniel’s fiancé were bundled to the Unit Command at Aluu in Ikwerre, Rivers on May 10, 2019.

He alleged that on arrival at the station, after a brief chat between SP. Justine Adaka and DSP. Yusuf Bello, in the presence of the petitioner the policemen ordered that the Daniel should be killed immediately.

The counsel disclosed that the deceased was detached from a joint handcuff and blindfolded with a shirt and shot to death at point-blank range.

Olutekunbi also alleged that Daniel’s mum was bleeding from her private part because the nozzle of a gun was used by the policemen to assault her.

Asked what he wanted the panel to do for his clients, the lawyer said: “We want the panel to order the prosecution of SP. Justine Adaka, DSP. Yusuf Bello and Musa before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“We also seek the order of the panel for the immediate release of the corpse of Daniel Agori for proper burial.

“We further pray for the order of the panel for compensation of one billion naira.”

He also prayed for an order of the panel to subpoen the public relations officer of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit in Rivers.

The panel Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadama, adjourned the matter until Jan. 26 next year for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

The North East governors have backed the call on the Federal Government to engage mercenaries in the fight against insurgents in the region.

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, stated this on Tuesday on behalf of his colleagues during a visit to Borno State to condole with the government and the people over the recent killing of farmers in the state.

According to him, the governors are in support of the recommendations made by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on how to win the war against Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents terrorising the region.

“Our dear brother, we are here to condole you over the killing of farmers by Boko Haram insurgents; we are indeed saddened and traumatised,” Governor Ishaku said.

He added, “I will key into your request, which you said that the Federal Government should invite some mercenaries to come and help us out of this problem because what you cannot do, what you cannot solve, I think we should invite who can solve it for us.”

The visit was in the wake of Boko Haram’s beheading of 43 farmers from Zabarmari community who were attacked on Saturday last week at Koshobe, a village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno.

Apart from engaging mercenaries, Governor Zulum proposed the immediate recruitment of youths into the military to boost its strength, as well as the provision of mine resistance armoured personnel carriers and other equipment for the military, police, and other security agencies involved in the insurgency fight.

During Tuesday’s visit, Governor Ishaku said, “We cannot continuously be mourning, there has to be a time to stop the mourning.

“All of us in the North East Governors Forum, we are pleading with the Federal Government to find a solution to the issue of Boko Haram.”

The Taraba governor also appealed to the Federal Government to look into the infrastructural deficit in the region and give it the needed attention.

According to him, it is embarrassing that the North East has an allocation of 0.35 per cent in the nation’s budget despite the problems of insurgency and others in the region.

“This is very unfair; I will once again call on the Federal Government that the issue of Mambila hydropower project should be looked at as matter of urgency.

“Without this power, we will not indeed have any meaningful development,” Governor Ishaku Stated.

Governor Zulum, in his response, extended his appreciation to the delegation for the visit.

Other governors on the visit included Ahmadu Fitiri of Adamawa, Bala Mohammed from Bauchi, and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.

*Mohammed advocates capacity-building in tourism sector

The Federal Government has paid 2,186 firms employing 12,117 individuals under the payroll support as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said.

Mohammed stated this in Makurdi, Benue State on Monday at the formal take-off of the North Central Zonal Headquarters of the Nigerian Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

He said the Federal Government has been doing a lot to alleviate the impact of the pandemic, especially as it affects the Creative and Tourism Sector, through its N75 billion Survival Fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

The minister also hailed the impact of the hospital industry, saying tourism has now become a major catalyst for economic growth and social well-being of the citizenry in most countries around the world, especially the developing countries.

In Nigeria, he said, the travel, hospitality, tourism and other related services have over one million private establishments employing over 9.8 million persons in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister said the country’s hospitality industry contributed about 4.8% to the country’s total national output (GDP) and utilised about 1.6% Nigerians in the year 2016.

Quoting Price water House Cooper’s 2019 hospitality report, Mohammed noted that the hospitality industry was expected to grow by 12 per cent yearly till 2023, making it one of the fastest growing markets, before the advent of Covid-19.

The minister also canvassed for training and retraining for players in the industry to maximise the potentials in the sector.

He said capacity-building for players in tourism is key to the development of the sector.

He said: “Now, one of the prerequisites for tourism to develop and play its desired role in the socio-economic life of a nation is availability of well-trained personnel. This forms the basis for the Federal Government’s decision to have a specialised training institution for the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria, which culminated in the establishment of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

He thanked the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom for building and donating the edifice to NIHOTOUR and described the gesture as a giant stride in the development of tourism in the state and the country.

Ortom, accompanied by Deputy Governor Benson Abounu and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Mrs. Ngunan Addingi, conducted the minister and the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Kangiwa, round the institute, which will be offering certificate, Basic Advanced Certificate, Diploma, Professional Certificate and Post-Graduate Diploma in various fields in tourism and hospitality.

Thenigerialawyer

•Say life has no value under him

•Describe Garba Shehu’s comment as insensitive

By Adedayo Akinwale

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has demanded the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari following the mounting security challenges in the country with the government appearing helpless.

The Forum also expressed outrage over the massacre of Borno rice farmers, saying life has no value under Buhari’s administration.It added that, “In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign.

”The Director of  Publicity and Advocacy of the  Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement issued Tuesday, described the response by the President’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, as ‘most insensitive’.The forum said it had consistently drawn attention to lack of political will to fight the Boko Haram insurgency and other threats such as banditry, rustling and kidnapping.It added that it had offered suggestions on how the security infrastructure could be improved and leadership of the military could be made more effective.

NEF said obviously, despite  advice and concerns from many other Nigerians, these had  made no impression on President  Buhari.It stated: “Northern Elders Forum (NEF) joins Nigerians in expressing outrage at the killings of farmers in Borno State and many other people on a daily basis in many parts of the North. Our voices have been raised without pause for a long time against pervasive insecurity in our region.

“These particular killings have been greeted by the most insensitive response by spokespersons of the President. The lame excuse that farmers had  not sought permission from the military to harvest produce merely expose the misleading claims that our military had secured vast territories from the insurgency.”

“Under this administration, life has lost its value, and more and more citizens are coming under the influence of criminals. We do not see any evidence of a willingness on the part of President Buhari to honour his oath to provide security over Nigerians.“In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign,” it added.The Forum pointed out that these killings and the reality they expose would make relocation of citizens and resumption of economic activities a lot more difficult to achieve even for a leadership that attaches priority to them, adding this administration does not.

noted that elsewhere in many parts of the North, many farming communities had not been allowed by bandits and kidnappers to plant crops.It said those who did were being prevented from harvesting by these same criminals, adding that the prospects for famine are real in the face of limited production of food in many of our communities.

On Thursday, website of popular women’s right group, Feminist Coalition, and two others allegedly suffered a cyber attack and became inaccessible to Nigerians.

system and advocates digital rights in Africa, has written a Freedom of Information request to the Nigerian Communications Commission demanding information on the alleged secret blocking of the domain names of #EndSARS related websites by the Nigerian Government.

On Thursday, website of popular women’s right group, Feminist Coalition, and two others allegedly suffered a cyber attack and became inaccessible to Nigerians. 

When accessed with a Nigerian mobile network, the websites cannot be reached but when a user uses a VPN, the sites become accessible.

PIN in a statement on Friday described the action as violation of constitutionally and globally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression and access to information.

The statement reads, “Websites related to the campaign have been inaccessible as reported by many citizens and from independent checks carried out by Paradigm Initiative. These attempts are an unacceptable violation of constitutionally and globally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression and access to information.

“In a similar development that occurred in October 2017, we monitored and challenged the Nigerian government’s censorship directive through the Nigerian Communications Commission, an agency which is supposedly independent.

“The NCC must not continue to offer itself to be used by the Federal Government under any guise to intimidate citizens who engage in legitimate protests and exercise their digital rights by leveraging digital platforms for the protest.”

The group’s Senior Program Manager, Adeboye Adegoke, added, “Section 39 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expressly provides that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides similarly that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression.

“This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

Speaking also, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of PIN, said the group had sent a FoI request to the NCC to answer key questions such as who ordered the recent blocking of websites, the reason for the blocking, disruption, or restriction on the websites.

He said, “We want to know under which legal provision this is being carried out and if the NCC authorised the blocking, disruption, or restriction of these websites. We also need to know if the owners of the websites were informed that their websites will be blocked, and if they were given an opportunity for a fair hearing.

“Another question that must be answered is: Did the NCC act independently or was it acting on behalf of other government institutions? In a country with increasingly closed civic spaces and one that must do more work to protect freedom of expression and press freedom, a dangerous precedent could be set if the NCC continues to carry out the restriction of access to websites that are critical of the government or that support citizens’ right to contribute to our democracy.”

THE Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) of the Federal Government will create two million jobs annually in the country.

Sylva disclosed this at the inuaguration of the programme by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the introduction of gas for the powering of automobile and other engines was a step in the right direction, adding it remained a cheaper and cleaner source of energy.

The gas products are Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

CNG is a cleaner alternative to gasoline and diesel fuels while Autogas is the common name for LPG when used as fuel in internal combustion engines.

The LNG is, however, a suitable option to power large long distance trucks.

“It is very important to note that this shift to gas underscores Mr President’s seriousness and determination in the development of Nigeria’ s vast gas resources.

“Under the directives of the president, we will continue to strengthen the gas value chain as it is vital to transforming the economy of our great nation.

“This initiative is envisaged to create 2 million jobs per annum, promote skills acquisition and enhance technology transfer in addition to growing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ” he said.

He said that government was focused on delivering sustainable energy while ensuring gas availability and accessiblity in the country.

This, he said, would help boost gas-based industrialisation and promote economic diversification, adding that his ministry had focused on implementation of the initiatives to drive home the directives.

He added that the current administration was dedicated to implementing programmes that would improve the life of citizens, create jobs and indigenous expertise and stimulate other sectors of the economy.

The minister further said that as a country, there was the need to think of long term strategies to grow the economy in real terms.

” A significant part of it is harnessing the gas resources to focus on manufacturing and productivity; not until this is done, we will not achieve the desired result.

” In January this year, I inuagurated a National Expansion Gas Programme as a mechanism to boost utilisation of natural gas in the short, medium and long term.

” This is also part of the Federal Government’s bid to key into global shift from crude oil to other alternative energy as emphasised in our declaration of the year 2020 as a year of gas.

” As part of roll out strategy which Mr president is unveiling today, selected stations across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will start the installation of facilitiesfor gas products and conversion capabilities.

” The process is now well on course as you can see today.

” The availability of auto gas as an alternative will afford Nigerians cheaper, cleaner and additional choice of fuel, cheaper than the price of PMS, cleaner for our environment and better for our auto mobile and other engines,” he said.

He also commeded the president for his firm leadership, other stakeholders and the patrotism shown by organised labour in the face of daunting economic challenges facing the country.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), Mele Kyari, said that the use of CNG and LPG had continued to get acceptance across the world for its low cost and impact on the environment.

He reiterated that it would provide cheaper alternative source of petrol for motorists in the country.

Kyari said that between 2016 and 2019, the Federal Government spent ovet three trillion naira subsidising the pump price of petrol in the country.

He said this never benefited the masses, adding that the economic effect of COVID-19 had made it impossible to continue with the subsidy regime.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that the high point of the event was the handing over of five buses that would be powered by CNG to organised labour by Sylva.

The buses would be used for mass transportation to help reduce the high cost of transportation occasioned by the hike in the price of petrol.

NAN

Former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Tuesday, urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, to adjourn her ongoing trial sine die over alleged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s abuse of court process.

Also making the plea for the adjournment before Justice Taiwo Taiwo were the 7th, 8th and 9th defendants in the money laundering charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Ubong Okon Effiok, his two companies; U & U Global Services Ltd and Prince Mega Logistics Ltd are 7th, 8th and 9th defendants respectively, Frontline Ace Global Services Ltd and Asanaya Projects Ltd are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the trial.

Others in the case include Garba Umar, and his two companies; Slopes International Ltd and Gooddeal Investment Ltd as 4th, 5th and 6th defendants respectively.

Paul Erokoro, SAN, who was counsel to Oyo-Ita, at Tuesday’s sitting, prayed the court to adjourned the matter sine die (until further notice) over the complaint by lawyers to the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants that the anti-corruption agency had frozen the bank accounts of their clients even when the matter was still pending before the court.

Mr Erokoro urged the court to make the order until the EFCC placed before the court the evidence that it had unfrozen those accounts.

“It is a very sad development. We just want to submit that appropriate order should be made.

“We urge the honourable court to adjourn this proceeding sine die until the prosecution placed the evidence that they have taken steps to correct this error and that they are now prepare to prosecute this matter in one court,” he enjoined.

Counsel to the 7th, 8th and 9th defendants, Okechukwu Ajunwa, also corroborated Erokoro’s argument.

“I align myself with the submission of learned senior counsel,” he said.

Earlier, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, told the court that the matter was slated for trial continuation and that he was ready to take the evidence of the next witness.

However, counsel to the 4th defendant, Augustine Ananukwa, objected to the trial continuation.

According to him, we are not ready because of the recent event.

“During the pendency of this suit, the bank account of the 4th defendant was frozen.

“We made enquiry on whose order was this account frozen, we discovered it was not coming from this court.

“We are unsure how the prosecution got the order,” he said.

According to him, this constitutes an abuse of court process.

The lawyer stated that since the order did not emanate from the court where Justice Taiwo was presiding over the trial, his client would not be able to go on with the matter.

Ananukwa, who urged the court to direct the EFCC to immediately unfreeze the account, said the act had subjected his client, a family man, to hardship.

Also speaking in the same vein, counsel to the 5th and 6th defendants, Chitoo Mbama, also opposed Abubakar’s submission for trial continuation.

Mbama said the accounts of her clients too were frozen by the anti-graft agency.

“My lord, due the freezing of the accounts of 5th and 6th defendants on whose behalf I am standing before your lordship, we will be unable to proceed with this matter,” she said.

The lawyer also prayed the court to direct the prosecution to unfreeze the accounts of her clients.

Justice Taiwo then asked Abubakar, “Who gave the order.”

Responding, Abubakar argued that the reason given by counsel to the defence was not enough to stall the trail.

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the interim forfeiture order on the affected accounts was gotten from Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo.

Justice Taiwo, who was visibly infuriated by Abubakar’s response, said the act portrayed that the anti-corruption agency did not have confidence in his court to have filed the matter in another court when the trial was still pending.

“When was this order gotten? I will not take this case. It means you did not tell Justice Ogunbanjo that this matter is pending.

“It is a slap on my face; a direct affront on my power as a judge of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If you had told me this is what you have done, I wouldn’t have gone ahead at all.

“The EFCC cannot tell me they don’t have checks and balances,” he said.

Justice Taiwo said he could not undo what had been done by Justice Ogunbanjo because the court had a coordinate jurisdiction.

Abubakar pledged that an application would be filed to seek an order to unfreeze the accounts.

He informed that the application filed before Justice Ogunbanjo was a civil suit, filed at the Federal High Court (FHC) registry and the chief judge, in his wisdom, assigned it to the other judge.

He said contrary to the impression, the EFCC had confidence in the court.

“The criminal matter before your lordship is a part of a whole,” he said.

He explained that the application of the interim forfeiture contained two charges.

“In the application before Justice Ogunbanjo, we exhibited FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CR/61/2020 between the FRN Vs. Kabir Tanimu Turaki and 5 others,” he said.

He further explained that the bank accounts listed in the application before Justice Ogunbanjo contained some of the bank accounts before Justice Taiwo and the other charge, which was before Justice Ekwo.

According to him, the two cases emanated from the same case file but because of the multiplicity number of defendants, the prosecution decided to split the two charges for ease of prosecution.

He said the EFCC only filed the application at the registry and the chief judge assigned it.

He said in the interim forfeiture application, the two criminal charges before Taiwo and Ekwo were exhibited for transparency sake.

“In line with this, we submit that we did not engage in abuse of court process.

“We also did not file that application as a result of lack of confidence in any of the Judges of this honourable court.

“We only did it in pursuant to our statutory duty and utmost transparency,” he said.

Abubakar apologised to the judge for any action taken that might displease the court.

“We affirm our confidence in your lordship ability to do justice in this matter and all other matters,” he added.

He, however, opposed the prayer that the trial be adjourned sine die.

According to him, such an application amounts to application for stay of proceeding which is against the letter and spirit of Section 306 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

He added that such an application would run contrary to provision of Section 19(2C) of EFCC Act 2004 and Section 20(3) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012.

Abubakar, who urged the court to discountenance the defence argument, said the forfeiture application was neither filed at FCT High Court or any of the state’s courts but at the Abuja division of the FHC because of the anti-corruption agency’s openness.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the ruling on the matter until Dec. 3. NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva to work out the pump prices of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LNG).

Buhari, who did the virtual launch of the auto gas scheme, urged Nigerians to embrace the gas for fueling vehicles as their alternative fuel.

On his own, Sylva launched the auto gas station at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Lugbe, Abuja.

The event was the launch of the National Gas Expansion Programme and National Auto-gas Roll-out Initiative.

He also launched the gas fueled five buses at the venue, which he handed over to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

He said that the government will release 100 of the buses to the union going forward.

But Sylva, whom reporters asked to state the prices of the gas that was just launched, said “Well, Mr. Mr. President has asked me to work out the price. It is cheaper than PMS. That is all I can say.”

The report had earlier put the same question to the NNPC Group Managing Director (GMD), Mallam Mele Kyari, who said the price changes every day.

But as the reporters insisted on knowing the current price, the NNPC boss said he had no figure to release to avoid being quoted.

He however submitted that the auto gas will be cheaper that the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

But he did not react to the question of how the customers know when they are cheated.

“It changes every day. I have no figure to give you so that you don’t quote me. But I know that it is cheaper than PMS.”

Buhari appreciated Nigerians and Organized Labour for restraint, understanding and patience as the country tackles myriad economic challenges, assuring that the Federal Government is working hard to ameliorate the situation.

Speaking at a virtually held event at the State House to unveil National Gas Expansion Programme and National Auto-gas Roll-out Initiative, President Buhari said: “Let me now express my deep appreciation to Nigerians for their patience, and Organized Labour for its maturity and patriotism as we collectively navigate these global economic and other challenges.’’

He urged Nigerians to embrace the use of gas as an alternative to fuel, noting that: “It is no longer news that the vast Natural Gas resources, which Nigeria is endowed with has hitherto been used sub-optimally as a result of a dearth of gas processing facilities and infrastructural connectivity for effective and optimal domestic utilization.

“As I mentioned above, with a proven reserve of about 203 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and additional upside of 600 TCF ranking Nigeria as the 9th in the world currently, the need for domestic gas expansion and utilization is apparent.’’

President Buhari said the deregulation of the downstream sector had exposed many to price volatilities in the global market, urging attention to more affordable alternative for energy, especially with Nigeria’s heavy reserve.

“Therefore, the roll-out of the National Gas Expansion Programme, Auto-gas initiative is coming at the right time, especially in light of global crude oil market fluctuations coupled with the full deregulation of the local PMS market.

“These developments have made it imperative to focus on gas as an alternative fuel to move Nigeria from the conventional dependence on white products for autos and prime-movers of industrial applications, to cleaner, more available, accessible and affordable energy source.

“The outcome will not only cushion the effect of the downstream deregulation that this government has to painfully implement, but also create new markets and enormous job opportunities for our people.’’

The President said the auto-gas initiative will lead to increased domestic gas utilization and enrich the trajectory of national economic growth and development, adding: “I therefore encourage everyone to embrace gas in form of LPG, CNG and LNG as an alternative fuel for autos and other prime-movers.’’

“The Minister of State Petroleum Resources is hereby directed to commence the process of hand over of mass transit buses to Organized Labour as part of our government’s pledge to continue providing support that will ease the transportation challenges Nigerians are facing at this time.’’

Sylva said the Ministry is focusing on development of skills, technology and manpower as well as growth in the utilisation of LPG, CNG and LNG.

He added that the National Gas Expansion programme which was initiated this year to boost the utilization of gas in the short and medium term “is expected to create two million jobs per annum, promote skills acquisition and enhance technology transfer in addition to growing the nation’s GDP.”

Kyari informed that from 2016 to 2019, the Federal Government had spent over three trillion Naira subsidizing the pump price of petroleum products particularly PMS, insisting that the subsidy regime did not benefit the masses that the President is passionate about.

He added that the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it impossible to continue with the onerous subsidy regime.

*Urges CJN To Liaise With Executive, NASS To Reduce Supreme Court Workload
*Says Production Of Many 1st Class Law School Graduates, Evidences Standard In Legal Education

Fmr. Chairman of the Body of Benchers & 2nd Republic Speaker of House of Representatives, Chief George Uwechue, SAN has stated that there is an imperative need to urgently restructure Nigeria, as he expressed his thoughts on some national issues.

He said he believes that the way forward towards development in Nigeria is through restructuring and adequate devolution of power, thus, he said “I honestly believe that Nigeria needs restructuring, and urgently too”.

In addition, he said the clamour for resource control should not be taken for granted by the Federal Government and therefore, the need for adequate attention.

“This issue of resource control and restructuring have been the subject of discussions by the Afenifere, the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and the South-South groups in recent times. Happily, as reported in the media a few days ago, a meeting was held between the South-South Leaders with the Federal Government, in which the Special Assistant to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari received their demands, which we hope should be taken seriously by the Federal Government.

“The other issue of the feasibility of a peaceful devolution of powers from Nigerian’s strong centre to the States or regions, are among the matters the Federal Government is expected to consider as a matter of urgency. The final issue of “outright break up the country”, is unpatriotic; we should in-deed, urge for the expansion of ECOWAS, just as the Europeans who, after two devastating world wars formed the European Union”, he said.

In another development, the learned silk described the recent #EndSARS protest as a long-overdue step.

“There is no doubt that the protests have been long overdue. The actions of SARS/ Police on our roads, constrained most elders like me to go by air whenever travel inevitable.

“The protests were supported by all and sundry and on the 11th of October, 2020, the Inspector General of Police promptly abolished SARS and created SWAT, as an alternative for the time being.”

On the thousands of people being called to the Nigerian Bar yearly, he said he does “not believe that Nigeria produces too many Lawyers, notwithstanding the fact that, even if as you stated, over 6,000 people are called to the Bar every year. The number of people called to the Bar each year must be considered along with the candidates for each year.”

Similarly, he said contrary to assertions that the Nigerian Law School produces too many first-class graduates, he said the “standard of legal education has greatly increased and thereby, enhancing the quality of the students produced in the Law School.”

Furthermore, reacting to whether the 72 Senior Advocates of Nigeria designates recently announced are too much to be conferred the exalted rank, he noted that there “is no legal or equitable basis, to deny a person who has met the requirements, the right to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria”.

In addition, the learned silk also expressed his thought on the notion that there should be established, divisions of the Supreme Court in some regions.

He said, “The issue of creating divisions in the three geo-political regions to reduce the heavy dockets at the Supreme Court, begs the issue from where will the Justices of the various division come? America, a Federation like Nigeria, comprising fifty States has one Federal Supreme Court with nine Justices only of that court; but each of the fifty States has its Court of Appeal and Supreme Court leaving only Federal and strictly constitutional issues, to the Federal Supreme Court.”

However, to reduce the present workload of the Supreme Court, he suggested that the Chief Justice of Nigeria should liaise with the Executive and Legislature “to seek the best way forward on this matter.”

Meanwhile, he encouraged members of the Legal Profession to explore alternative dispute resolutions so that cases will be reduced in Court.

In addition, the learned silk said the Buhari led administration has faired well in the fight against corruption.

“As to corruption, I believe that the President has maintained his genuine interest of fighting corruption, if not eliminating it completely, irrespective of who, as you have seen, is involved.

“I acknowledge that some critics, including some highly placed Nigerians, had expressed some concerns over his failure to acknowledge in the course of his appointment, that nepotism is an integral part of corruption, having regard to the provision of Federal Character in our Constitution. I advice that such criticisms should be taken seriously, and there is still time to address those areas of concern”, he said.

Meanwhile, he said “all hands must be on deck” in a bid to tackle the current security challenges ravaging the Northern part of Nigeria, adding that “The same affects the revamping economy”.

In Buhari’s rule of law scorecard, he said there is a need for him to work closely with “his Ministers and Advis-ers, particularly the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, over the areas in which people have raised such concerns.”

“I pray that his final legacy shall be his transfer of power to his successor through the same process, as was done by Jonathan”, he added.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and other matters Tuesday delivered its first judgment: it dismissed a petitioner’s N300million compensation claim.

Panel chair Judge emeritus Doris Okuwobi came down hard on the petition, filed by Mr Bonu Pascal against the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS), on the ground that it was a ‘judicial trap’ intended to deceive the tribunal.

The panel had been sitting since November 3, and had yet to conclude any of its 210 petitions.

Pascal’s petition, the fourth on the day’s list was filed on Monday.

It sought the Tribunal’s assistance to recover the N300m judgment sum awarded Paschal as compensation for the 2018 killing of one Jimoh Kehinde.

The sum was awarded against the police in 2018 by Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, but was subsequently reviewed downwards on appeal.

Before the petition could be heard, Police counsel Joseph Ebosereme raised a preliminary objection.

He informed the panel that the matter was already the subject of a civil suit that had been litigated up to the Supreme Court, before which it was pending.

“It is an abuse of court process presenting a matter already pending before a competent court. It amounts to double jeopardy in our constitution,” the police lawyer said.

According to him, the petitioner was aware that the N300m judgment debt had been slashed by the Court of Appeal in Lagos.

“The police filed an appeal, judgment was delivered at the Court of Appeal reducing the amount from N300m to N30million,” Ebosereme said.

He informed the panel that the Police had even approached the Supreme Court to further challenge that decision.

The counsel explained that Paschal attempted to enforce the judgment by obtaining a garnishee order nisi from Justice Aikawa.

“We’ve applied that the garnishee order be set aside too,” Ebosereme said.

He added: “They are canvassing seriously that they want to garnishee N300m and then come back and garnishee N30m. They have invariably increased the judgment sum to N330m. My lord it is high time counsel are warned so that they will stop to deceive the court. This is deliberate. This is deliberate.”

He prayed the panel to dismiss the petition, arguing that “If this panel allows this petition, it will affect the matter that is pending in court. It will the open the floodgates. All matters before courts will come before the panel. We’re praying that the petition be struck out.”

But applicant’s counsel Olalekan Ghazzali opposed him. He contended, among others, that Paschal had a right to be heard.

In a bench ruling, Justice Okuwobi upheld Ebosereme’s argument that the petition was an abuse of process.

She said:” On the reply of the petitioner’s counsel that it is within the petitioner’s right….to present its petition, this panel must subject itself to the jurisdiction of the appellate court and must not attempt to take any proceedings which will overreach the decision of the appellate court.

“The fact that there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court against Appeal CAL/91A/2018 IGP vs Bruno..& Anor, is clearly established by the notice of appeal dated 7th October 2020. There is also an application in court for the setting aside of the garnishee order made by Aikawa J of the Federal High Court.

“For the petitioner in his petition to seek redress for restitution against police brutality and enforcement of the judgment sum in the petitioner’s favour by requesting for enforcement of N300m, is a grave abuse of process of court.

“The enrolled judgment of the Court of Appeal reducing the judgment to N30m is crystal clear and the petitioner’s counsel (Olukoya) Ogungbeje Esq was before the Court of Appeal when the judgment was delivered. To now (petition) for enforcement of N300m is a grave misrepresentation and non-disclosure of the actual state of affairs with the case. The notice of appeal to the Supreme Court was endorsed in the first place by… Olukoya Ogungbeje Esq. I find that the…documentary evidence before the court so glaring that the process before the court is one that constitutes serious abuse.

“The panel cannot be called upon to secure obedience to a judgment which has been varied by the appeal court and subject to a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

“The attempt to pull a wool over the eyes of the panel is respectfully resisted by the respondents. On the whole we find this petition lacking in merit and one intended to put the panel on a collision course with proceedings pending before appellate courts. We will not fall into this judicial trap. The petition is incompetent, lacking in merit, and accordingly hereby dismissed for being an abuse of process of court.”