Home Blog Page 641

[Viral Video]Enugu community cries out over demolition of ancestral homes, as SSG claims land grabbers behind problems

Despite a viral video showing homes marked for demolition, farms and crops mowed down by bulldozers, and the cries of the Nchatancha Nike community members, the government of Enugu State has disproved claims of demolitions and forceful ejections from the community.

Community members were seen in the video expressing concern over losing their ancestral homes lamenting that they have no where to move to.

Nchatancha Nike is one of the many communities affected by the ongoing construction of New Enugu City, a smart city flagged off by Governor Peter Mbah in October, 2023.

The government blamed the protests and disturbances, including yesterday’s attack on a bulldozer at the construction site, on land grabbers in the community, who sell portions of the already acquired and gazetted lands to unsuspected buyers, saying some culprits were already in the security net.

It said that although affected communities were already served a notice years ago when the land acquisitions began by previous governments, Mbah’s administration was approaching the mega project with a human face by ensuring that compensations and proper relocations were done before any demolitions. The Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, made the clarifications yesterday during a site visit with journalists at Nchatancha Nike where a bulldozer was attacked. He vowed that government would not be deterred in its determination to actualise the first phase of the New City in 24 months as already agreed with the China Communication Construction Company, CCCC, in October.

However, these claims by the government appears to be completely at variance with the complaints of the community members. Watch video of the protests, devastation in the community and impending disaster.

What a shame! We Lost a good man to Nigeria’s terrible healthcare system

By Comfort Obi

A reminder that in Nigeria sometimes money cannot buy you effective and competent healthcare…

On January 24, 2024, Nigeria lost a patriotic citizen. It lost Mr. Olaleye Franklin Adenibuyan. He died in circumstances that, at once, confounds, breaks the heart, and puts a big question mark on Nigeria’s healthcare system. To not a few people, Mr. Adenibuyan’s death was avoidable if only the hospital where he died lived up to its assumed status of a Teaching Hospital.

Let me make a confession upfront so you don’t accuse me of being deliberately emotional.

Mr Adenibuyan was my cousin-in-law. A fine gentleman, he was married to my cousin, Thelma. And we admired and loved both of them “die”, as young people would put it. Theirs was a relationship built on solid foundation; a partnership rooted in time. They loved wearing uniforms, and pranced around like teenagers who just fell in love.

Mr Adenibuyan had served his country, Nigeria, as a Police Officer before he relocated to the United States of America, USA, in 1989. But that relocation never stopped him from visiting his beloved country, his beloved Ondo State, and his more beloved community, Owo, two times every year. For him, it was a ritual. His love for Nigeria was that strong. And each time he visited, he bought more local fabrics for uniforms for him and his beloved wife Thelma. In their local fabrics, they promoted Nigeria’s culture, Nigeria’s fashion.

So, this year, 2024, as usual he set out from his Dallas, Texas, USA base for Nigeria and arrived Lagos on January 14, 2024. Each time he and his wife came home, either together, or separately, they usually checked into a Hotel at Ajao Estate. The Estate is close to the Lagos Airport. For the Adenibuyans, it was convenient as it saves them from the, atimes, punishing Lagos traffic (we call it go slow) to the Airport for a flight to Akure, Ondo State, en route Owo.

So, on this January 14, Mr Adenibuyan arrived Lagos and checked into the usual hotel. A luggage did not arrive from the US and so, he needed to buy something from a shop opposite the Hotel. That done, as he climbed up the staircase back to his room, the devil stepped in. Tragedy struck. He missed a step. And fell backwards.

As he fell, the family was told, he hit his head on the floor or wherever. The impact was grave. He lost consciousness. And was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. I cannot confirm what attention he got there. Obviously, his state was beyond what a small private hospital could handle. So he was quickly referred to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, LUTH.

Established in 1961, LUTH is a Tertiary Hospital affiliated to the University of Lagos College of Medicine. It is a 761 bed Hospital established to be a Centre of Medical Excellence. To its credit are some of Nigeria’s best brains in Medicine. Many of its products are those “making waves” worldwide. They were trained there. It used to be Nigeria’s pride. As were the University College Hospital, UCH, affiliated to the University of Ibadan, and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTH, affiliated to the Obafemi Awolowo University, former University of Ife. And some more.

I don’t know about others, but LUTH has lost its status as a Centre of Medical Excellence. It is now a shadow of itself. A shame to Nigeria. It has deteriorated. With Mr Adenibuyan admitted there, we experienced, first hand, the shadow LUTH has become. And our hearts broke.

The injury Mr Adenibuyan sustained to the head needed URGENT attention. It was a medical emergency. So, obviously, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, ICU – private wing, no less. Meaning the attention was expected to be top-notch. When one pays millions of Naira, even as Naira has lost its value, the least one would expect would be a first class attention. But not here. There was nothing special. Patients were kept in what I choose to call “an open mini ward”. No privacy. No screen. When the question of some privacy was raised, the answer was: “it is because there is no general monitor.”

Once Thelma heard of her husband’s situation, she began to make arrangements to come home. She works in one of the biggest and best Government-owned hospitals in Texas where she has risen to the position of a Director. So, once she was briefed of the prognosis, she knew she had to rush back to Nigeria. Her mission was to take her husband back with her to the USA once he was stable enough to fly.

Meanwhile, from the US, before she was able to secure a seat on a plane, she and the family rallied round to pay every kobo required, every kobo directly and indirectly demanded, officially or unofficially. No expense was spared.

But what did the family see at LUTH.

LUTH had no equipment. Nothing. After the millions of Naira deposited, one still had to pay, separately, for soap and gloves. For a scan to determine the extent of damage to the head, Mr Adenibuyan was taken to a private facility outside LUTH. Why? LUTH said its own scan machine was not in “a working condition.” A Teaching Hospital? The scan showed a lot of blood in the skull. Nothing was done. A couple of days later, LUTH declared triumphantly that the “bleeding has stopped”. The question we, as laymen, asked was: What about the blood already accumulated there? Our elementary understanding was that the blood “has caked there!” If true, we were nervous about the implication.

More surprises were afoot.

On January 17, three days after he was admitted, LUTH said Mr Adenibuyan needed an Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitoring machine. But this Teaching Hospital does not have the machine. When needed, it was explained to us, it is rented from outside. Cost: N400,000. The family paid. But the machine was not delivered until January 19th. And when it was delivered, it was left by the corner of Mr Adenibuyan’s bed for days, unused.

Perhaps, it was a coincidence, but the ICP Monitoring Machine was used only on the day Thelma arrived (24th) and began to ask questions. This was 10 days after he was referred to LUTH, and perhaps, 10 days after it should have been used.

Thelma arrived Nigeria at about 9.40am on Delta Airlines, and went from the Airport to LUTH to see her husband. She waited for about three hours before she was allowed to, after she incessantly requested to speak with his medical team. She wanted to know why the ICP had not been put in place as was revealed to her by Lekan, her step son, who was in Nigeria for a short vacation, and her husband’s younger brother, Deji. She wondered why the machine was just lying down there. When one of the doctors finally arrived, he tried to explain. But given Thelma’s background, and where she came from, the explanation made no sense to her. She hinted so in many ways, but was, at once very disciplined and too distraught to argue. But finally, she was told another doctor who would do that was being expected.

The doctor, an unassuming guy, competent, calm and collected finally arrived. We were sitting at the ICU waiting room when he walked past. Instinctively, and I guess, from his carriage, I knew he was the one, and I told Thelma so. She sent a message across that she would want to speak with him. Over an hour later, the Doctor came out from the ICU, and asked for Thelma. We followed him. And Thelma had a lot of questions and complaints. He listened, said he had just returned to the country the previous day, and was seeing Mr Adenibuyan for the first time, but quickly added “he is being attended to by a good team.” He explained to us where he thought he should, and apologized where he thought he should. For example, he agreed with Thelma that it was not right to intubate her husband without informing the family. He apologized it was wrong not to have carried the family along every step of the way. And then, calmly, he told us what the situation was, and the way forward.

He said Adenibuyan required an urgent surgery to release the pressure on the brain. He disclosed that the pressure was 61, far beyond the normal 15. This was what Thelma and Lekan consistently, subtly, suggested and appealed for: a surgery to release the pressure to the brain. It would entail a removal of a part of the skull bone to allow the brain swell and then, compress later to normal size. This should have been done, at most, three days after the unfortunate incident.

Anyway, better late than never, we consoled ourselves.

The time for the surgery was set for 4.00pm. But again, a problem.

LUTH does not have a drill. The family was told “there is only one place to rent it. Cost N200,000. No problem. This was on a Thursday. The surgery was meant to be done immediately. But the rental place said “drill not available until Friday afternoon”. Another vendor was frantically sought. He agreed for N180,000, and promised to deliver it against the 4.00pm surgery time. Great. Our spirit lifted some.

But another problem.

Unbelievably, LUTH does not have more than two functional surgery rooms. So, there is usually a queue. Adenibuyan had to wait. One doctor, obviously frustrated by the situation told us: “Today two are functional. Tomorrow, Friday, only one will be available.”

So, I asked why: He told us: “We have 22, but there is no manpower. Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, most have left. If the 22 are open, there will be nobody to man them. Nobody. So, why keep them open?” We were appalled. Our hearts sank. But we held unto hope.

So, either as a result of the queue, or the unavailability, yet, of the drill, the surgery was shifted from 4.00pm to 8.00pm. I left, and told Thelma I would be back by 7.00pm. But just before 5.00pm when Thelma went in to see her husband again, his health had taken a nosedive. Even then, the man who hadn’t opened his eyes for 10 days, opened them once he heard his wife’s voice. She held his hands tight. “Baby, you know why I came. I came for you. We are going back together. I will put you on a flight. We go back together. Your treatment will be taken care of in the US. And, you will be perfect. We’ll be fine, you and I.” The three Doctors Thelma met, she told them the same thing. “I am going back with my husband. That’s my mission. To take him back to the US with me.”

That was not to be. While Thelma held his hands, and CPR was being performed on him, he gave up. He died. In his wife’s arms. Same day she arrived Nigeria.

Since Adenibuyan’s passing, too many questions remain unanswered about our Country’s Healthcare system. Take LUTH for instance.

It is not that there are still no qualified medical personnel, even with the exodus, but here is the problem. There are no medical equipments. The medical personnel are just managing, barely managing. Or, how does one explain that a Teaching Hospital, LUTH, no less, does not have a functional scan machine; does not have ICP Monitoring Machine, or the equipment for drill?

It is the shame of a Country. Like I said earlier, it is not the problem of the Medical Personnel. I admit that the work ethics of a number of them is zero. Compared to what we see in some other climes, they need a re-orientation. There is no sense of urgency. Atimes there is no empathy. But I also admit that their work a environment is a major problem. It is not inspiring. I admit that their welfare is a major problem. It is depressing. I admit that knowing what to do, and not having the equipment to do it is frustrating. One of the doctors who spoke to us out of frustrations said: “You are talking about the equipment.Where is the manpower? Because of our situation, most of us have left. A number of those remaining are on the verge of leaving.” When I asked if he was on his way out too, he gave a knowing smile. I helplessly shook my head.

Since Adenibuyan’s death, regrets have been our food. Many “ifs”. What if he hadn’t been referred to LUTH? Perhaps he would still have been with us. What if LUTH had used the ICP machine as at, and when due? Perhaps, he would still have been with us. What if the drill was used as at the time it should have been used, perhaps he would still have been here with us. What if some sense of urgency had been exhibited, perhaps, he would still have been here with us.

The Federal Government shamelessly laments what negative effect the ”Japa” syndrome has had on Nigeria’s healthcare system. It shamelessly tells us that 42,000 Nurses have left Nigeria in the past three years. Why not? How has the FG treated them? What have you given them to work with? Now, shamelessly, it is putting obstacles here and there to stop Nurses from leaving. Why? My response is in one word: Shame.

Isn’t it a shame that the Nigerian Government, from State to Federal Government which throws money around as if it is going out of circulation, cannot boast of one good Government Hospital except Lagos State. I am reliably informed that Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, affiliated to the Lagos State owned Lagos State University, LASU, is very well equipped by the Lagos State Government. In our doubts at LUTH, one woman called us aside and asked: “Why did you come to LUTH? Why did you not take him to LASUTH? This type of injury is better handled there.”

We spend tons and tons of money, billions of Dollars, trillions of Naira, on frivolities, on things we can do without. How does one explain that $6.2m was spent, allegedly, without authorization, on foreign election observers when LUTH has no medical equipment? Of what use was the presence of the foreign observers to the masses? Did their presence stop us from rigging, from snatching ballot boxes, from doctoring results? Nigeria spent this money when LUTH has no medical equipments, not even a functional scan machine. How does one explain that the sum of one billion Naira was recently requested to enable a Committee fix Workers salaries? Yet, our premier hospitals are empty? Can you imagine what that obscene request could have done for LUTH?

But back to Thelma. We don’t know how to handle her, or what to tell her. She is distraught. Disoriented, almost. Her mission to take her husband home to their “second Country”, US, blew up on her face. “Oh, your husband loved you to death. He waited for you to come back , to see you before he passed on. He even opened his eyes for the first time in 10 days once you arrived”, Thelma is told in a bid to console her. Where do all those leave her?

All she knows is that the Nigerian healthcare system failed her. Her mission to take her husband back to the US with her failed. She was, at a point, making inquiries for an air ambulance to evacuate him to the US. That failed. Ironically, what worked was taking him back to Owo in a body bag! Sad!!

Mr Adenibuyan, as your beloved wife fondly called you, may your soul rest in peace. May you find peace in the fact that you are finally, finally back to your cherished Owo.

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com. Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Lawyers slam Akpabio, say Emefiele-led CBN interventions saved Nigeria’s economy

Constitutional Lawyers under the leadership of Yusuf Ahmed Tijani, on Monday, rose in defence of the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Godwin Emefiele, over growing allegations that he mismanaged the nation’s economy during his tenure as the number one banker.

The lawyers, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, said such claims that have no verified fact to back them were only ways of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

The lawyers also condemned Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, over what they called his baseless attack on Emefiele, describing it as a childish attempt to keep being an errand boy desperate to save his head from a pending EFCC case.

They said Akpabio was the one supposed to be arrested and prosecuted for his pending numerous criminal cases and not Emefiele, who worked to stabilise the nation’s currency during his reign as CBN governor.

The lawyers claimed that it was looting by the likes of Akpabio that was killing the economy and called on the Senate President to surrender himself to EFCC immediately.

They argued that all the reform programmes introduced by Emefiele during his tenure as CBN governor positioned the country on a sure footing economically.

The lawyers said for all the things that have been seen to have gone wrong after he left office, his successor, Olayemi Cardoso, and his management team should be held responsible.

The statement read, “It is clear to even the blind that the tenure of Godwin Emefiele attracted huge economic progress to the country.

“Immediately after he left office, things started changing and now, Nigerians are experiencing the worst economic hardship in the history of the country.

“Let us take the forex crisis as a clear example. Dr Emefiele managed the exchange rate correctly when he was in office.

“Under his leadership in the apex back, the exchange rate at the parallel market was N750.

“Immediately he was removed from office, things changed. Today, exchange rate at the parallel market is almost N1,700.

“The situation was badly managed to the point that dollar has dried up in the economy currently being managed by the clueless new CBN new leadership.

“How then can they prove that Dr Emefiele mismanaged the economy that they inherited?

“It is clear that these overrated people lack idea to manage the economy and to shield themselves, they needed to shift blame, no matter how unreasonable their claims sound in the ears of right-thinking persons.

“Our advice is that they should stop the blame game, fold up their sleeves and begin to work to recover the economy’s lost glory. If they need help, they should not hesitate to ask.”

Credits: Leadership Newspaper

INNOVA holds online workshops on PENCOM, NAFDAC, SCUML, CAC registrations and more

Prosecuting Our Convictions With Courage: A tribute to Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN (Aketi Baba)

By Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe, SAN

  1. INTRODUCTION
    Warning. I may not be able to write about Aketi in the past tense. I had the good fortune of being First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), when Aketi was NBA President (2008-2010). Our tenure commenced on my 46th birthday, August 29, 2008. I call it a good fortune because I was exposed, like never before, to forthright, courageous and multidimensional leadership.

I studied, understudied and drank from his wealth of conviction, leadership and intrepidity.

  1. AKETI – MAN OF COURAGE AND VISION

Aketi understood the possibilities inherent in the NBA Presidency and used it. Under him, NBA traversed the national landscape like a colossus. Some NBA Presidents are made by that office. But not Aketi. He enlarged the office, and in doing so enlarged the NBA. To mention but a few, he took on the Federal Government for refusing to prosecute the Halliburton corruption, challenged the court of appeal over their contradictory judgments, and used the NBA brand to fight the government to a standstill over their embarrassing refusal to transmit executive authority to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan when President Yar Adua was too ill to continue.

When as governor, Akeredolu became too ill to continue and power was not transmitted to his deputy, many of us recognised the failure of his handlers to stay true to his convictions. We recognised that this was not him; and that truly if Aketi baba was more in control, he would have handed over. And why am I so sure of this? I remember how he called me to the NBA secretariat at Lagos on December 2nd 2009 (my wedding anniversary), to notify me of his intention to resign on December 11, 2009 at the National Executive Committee meeting slated for Enugu that day if he was indicted by the committee of past presidents investigating the crisis in the NBA exco which he led, a crisis predicated upon his unbending principles and scarce righteousness. As it turned out, he was not indicted.

  1. AKETI – MAN OF PRINCIPLE
    Aketi is a man of contradiction (I couldn’t bear to say ‘was’). A compassionate man, yet principled almost to a fault. At the International Bar Association (IBA) annual conference in 2009 at Madrid, Spain, I told him of some NBA national officers who were at Madrid and had run into financial difficulty. I requested him to release to them (myself excluded) a small amount out of the $20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars) we went along with to organise a dinner for potential investors in Nigeria, and lawyers of other jurisdictions to mingle with Nigerian lawyers for business purposes. His point blank response to me was that he could not, for any reason, use NBA funds for any purpose other than what they were earmarked for! And stuck to his guns. Try as he may, Aketi could not wrap his mind around the idea of NBA officers paying the humongous IBA registration fees, paying the flight ticket from Lagos to Madrid and paying for hotel accommodation but expecting the bar to provide for their upkeep in Spain when they were not there as official representatives of the bar but conference participants. He was that jealous for the funds of the association.

Yet whenever Aketi saw evidence of poverty among his officers in particular, and lawyers in general, he was deeply moved to sorrow and often extended a helping hand.

While not permitting corruption he was highly empathic. On his first day as NBA President, at the inaugural meeting of his officers, he outlawed the title ‘sir,’ requesting his officers to call him “Aketi” or “Mr. President.”

  1. MAN OF MANY PARTS
    Quick but short tempered. Childlike innocence yet witty and astute, he once asked me at an Abuja Sheraton event how my day had been. “Hectic,” came my unhesitating reply. He took one look at a rather thickset lady standing by me, nodded his head sagely and with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes said “Yes, it has been hectic for you.” Boy, he could sing and dance. One moment he was singing Fela’s music and the next singing Christian hymns. He was at home with Roman Catholic Church liturgy as he was with Anglican or Pentecostal settings. And to some extent could pray Muslim prayers when occasion called for it. On the last day of the annual general conference of the NBA which held at Lagos 2009, as he made his speech to the conference, he made a public declaration of his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour.
  2. CONCLUSION
    Totally without airs; at home with both the noble and the rabble, man of deep compassion for the downtrodden, and scant patience for the excesses of the bourgeoise, man of nobility, dignity and humanity, a sterling leader of preternatural proportions. A transformational leader, a once-in-a-generation kind of leader. Aketi’s reputation is neither dimmed by the shenanigans of Nigerian politicians nor dented by the scandalous and salacious tales of those who ply in character assassination. Aketi was not a politician. He transcended politics. He was a statesman. A leader.
    Ikeazor Akaraiwe, Esq. SAN.
    NBA 1st Vice-President
    (Under Aketi’s Presidency).

Twitter @kizor
“…quit you like men, be strong…”
1 Corinthians 16/13

Final rites for acclaimed constitutional attorney, Ben Nwabueze, commence Thursday

The Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN’s National Burial Committee co-chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Monday, announced activities for the burial of the foremost Constitutional Lawyer.

Prof Nwabueze, extraordinary scholar, teacher, lawyer, winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and one-time Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 92.

A statement by the Committee said the burial activities will commence on Thursday, February 22, 2024 with a Valedictory Court Session at the Lagos State High Court Premises, Ikeja, at 2pm. The event will be presided over by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba.

As part of the obsequies to the dead, Friday, February 23, 2024, has been scheduled as a Day of Tributes at the Harbour Point Event Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 2pm.

The statement further detailed that the mortal remains of the eminent jurist will be interred at him country home in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Then, Friday, March 1, 2024 has been scheduled as the day for national tributes and celebration of the impactful and very worthy life and times of Akunnia Benjamin Obiefuna Nwabueze, the Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani, at Atani. The ceremony will commence at 12 noon.

Thereafter, the funeral train will move back to Lagos, where the group of eminent national leaders popularly known as The Patriots will hold a National Colloquium/Dialogue at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, March 18, 2024. The colloquium is scheduled to commence at 11am.

Prof Nwabueze, CON, who at the time of his passing was the most senior lawyer in Nigeria with a scholarly output that included over 34 books, 100 conference keynotes, and 200 peer-reviewed and scientific articles, and probably also the most prolific and influential legal scholar out of Africa, was the Chairman of The Patriots.

The National Burial Committee said in the statement that The Patriots deliberately settled for March 18 for the colloquium to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Nigerian National Conference, which was inaugurated on March 17, 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Until his death, Prof Nwabueze championed the cause of restructuring, which he believed was the only pathway to an egalitarian and prosperous nation.

The statement which was signed by Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, Secretary of the National Burial Committee, further said: “The historic National Colloquium being organised in honour of Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, a foremost champion of the 2014 National Confab, will be chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Chairman of The Patriots.

“Expected at the various events of the obsequies announced above are delegations and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, former Presidents and Vice Presidents of Nigeria, serving and former State Governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly.

“Others include present and former members of State Houses of Assembly, envoys of Foreign Missions in Nigeria, leaders of socio-cultural and political groups, members of the Bench and the Bar, close associates and friends of the late eminent jurist.”

Below is the press statement.

PRESS STATEMENT
Monday, 19th February, 2024

Anyaoku, Iwuanyanwu, National Burial Committee Announce Final Obsequies For Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, CON

The National Committee For the burial of Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, co chaired by by His Excellency, Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, CFR and Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, CFR, President-General of the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo has announced the final funeral rites of departed Elder Statesman, Eminent Jurist and Constitutional Icon, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, CON, who was until his demise the Chairman of Eminent National Leaders of Nigeria popularly known as The Patriots as follows:

  1. Thursday, 22nd February, 2024 – Valedictory Court Session at the State High Court Premises, Ikeja, Lagos State by the Judiciary at 2pm. To be presided over by the Chief Judge of Lagos State
  2. Friday, 23rd February, 2024 – Day of Tributes in Lagos at Harbour Point Event Centre, Amadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos at 2pm.
  3. Thursday, 29th February, 2024 – Family Private Burial Ceremony in Atani, Anambra State.
  4. Friday, 1st March, 2024 – National Tributes and Celebration of Life in Atani, Anambra State at 12noon.
  5. Monday, 18th March, 2024 – National Colloquium/Dialogue at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs NIIA, 3/5, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos is being organised by the Patriots at 11am to coincide with the the 10th Year Anniversary of the Nigerian National Confab of 2014, inaugurated on 17th March, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The historic National Colloquium being organised in honour of Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, a foremost champion of the 2014 National Confab, will be chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Chairman of The Patriots.

Expected at the various events of the Obsequies announced above are; delegations and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Former Presidents and Former Vice Presidents of Nigeria Various State Governors including host Governors in Lagos and Anambra States, Former Governors, Delegation and Members of the National Assembly, Former Senators and Former Members of the House of Representatives,

Others are; Present and Former Members of State Legislative Assembly, Envoys of Foreign Missions in Nigeria, Leaders of Socio-Cultural and Political Groups, Delegation and Members of the Bench and the Bar, Close Associates and Friends of the late eminent jurist.

Thank you.

Signed:
Olawale Okunniyi
Secretary,
National Burial Committee

Abductors demand N100 million ransom, police demand N50,000 bribe from Abuja kidnap victim’s family

By Ademola Popoola

The family of a man kidnapped in Abuja has alleged that the police demanded a bribe of N50,000 to trace the victim over whom the kidnappers have also demanded a N100 million ransom.

Alfred Ahọn was kidnapped on the morning of 1 February in the Mpape district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after he set out from home on a journey to Lagos.

His wife, Senami, and one of their neighbours, who requested to be anonymous because of fear of intimidation, said the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) in the Mpape police division requested the money.

“We went to the police in Mpape division so they can help track the number but as usual they are asking for money. The DCO is asking for N50,000 deposit to track,” Mrs Ahon said.

They told PREMIUM TIMES that the police officer said they needed to connect with the State Security Service (SSS) which has the skill and tools for such an investigation, but would need to settle the SSS as they would demand some token before taking up the investigation.

“They clearly told us they don’t have the equipment to track but the DSS and that they have to sort the DSS out before it can be done,” the neighbour corroborated.

This is not the first time an allegation has been made of the police in Abuja demanding money before acting on a kidnapping case reported to them.

Sixteen days after the kidnapping of Mr Ahọn, he has not been released and the police are yet to respond on the matter.

The kidnappers have also reportedly threatened to kill the man if the wife failed to provide the N100 million they demanded by Saturday.

‘One chance’ victim

Mr Ahọn 60, had left home for Lagos on the fateful day to see his children who had just been offered admission to a tertiary institution.

“Her two children in school who just gained admission are the reasons the man was going to Lagos before the unfortunate incident happened,” the neighbour narrated.

Mr Ahọn retired from service with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) but continued working as a contract staff to support his family and two children in school.

“He is just a common public servant who has retired but had to go back as contract staff so he could fend for his family,” Mrs Ahon told PREMIUM TIMES.

“He wanted to give his children some money and be with them but unfortunately, he couldn’t get to his children and he couldn’t get back home,” his 48-year-old wife said.

Because Mrs Ahọn was ill that day, she could not see her husband off to the junction where he could take a commercial vehicle to the next motor park in Jabi.

She suspected the kidnappers operated a “One Chance” unbranded taxi her husband took that morning.

“His wife was not that strong and could only see him off to the door from where she saw a Toyota car waiting for him outside. She went back to bed hoping that he would call her when he left the park for Lagos,” the neighbour said.

“She woke up around 11 a.m. and tried to contact him but the line was unavailable.

Read Also: As power generation dips to 3,500mw, why are states not exploring power generation?

“She waited for some time hoping he would contact but still no word from him. She started panicking but waited till evening to call her children in Lagos if their father had got to Lagos. But they said they had not heard from him.”

Neighbours, friends and family gathered thereafter to look for the man. They visited many motor parks in Abuja before reporting to the nearest police station.

“We have visited all motor parks in Abuja to check if his name was on their manifests but we found nothing,” Mrs Ahọn said

Police demand N50,000, kidnappers demand N100 million

According to the family, when they got to the Mpape police division, the police DCO demanded N50,000. They said the DCO was in mufti so they could not get his name.

Subsequently, the kidnapper contacted the wife on Sunday morning (two days after the kidnap) to inform her that her husband had been kidnapped and demanded N100 million as ransom.

“It was early morning on Sunday when the wife was contacted through the man’s phone by the kidnappers who told her they were holding her husband and that if she wanted him alive she should go and look for N100 million and must not tell anyone,” the neighbour said.

“She told them they should let her hear from her husband to believe their story but they hung up the call.

“On Monday, the kidnappers called back and gave the phone to the man who was crying, lamenting of torture and begging his wife to go and look for what they demanded.

“They called around the same time yesterday (Monday) and threatened the woman before they allowed her to speak with her husband who was crying and wailing, seriously complaining of torture.”

“The husband begged her to please look for money so he can be released and that’s where we are now”

The retired civil servant was still with the kidnappers as of the time of filing this report.

Police PRO’s reaction

On Wednesday, an X user, @True consciences, posted about the incident on his X account tagging the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who later responded.

“Nigerians!!! Please help us cry loud so that those in authority will hear us. The family has reported to the Police in Mpape and they are asking for money to track the number used to contact the kidnappers. Please help call on the Police authority to rescue him @Princemoye1.” he posted

He further narrated the bitter experience of the family.

“Mr Alfred Ahọn was crying bitterly on the phone yesterday when the kidnappers allowed him to speak with his wife. They’ve hurt him seriously and he’s an old man in his 60s. Please help call on the Police authority to rescue this man from the den of kidnappers.”

Responding to this, Mr Adejobi said the X user should contact him privately and cease passing the information on the channel.

“Let the relations talk to me via SMS, with useful info. And we should stop discussing it here forthwith for sec reasons. Thanks.” he posted.

The X user further claimed in his subsequent post that the police PRO had not picked up several calls put through to him since Wednesday.

“It’s almost 24 hours since we sent you the SMS as you directed and we are yet to get feedback considering that we have a 60-year-old man in captivity of the kidnappers. We’ve called your number several times but nobody picked up the calls  What else do we do?” he requested bitterly.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, when contacted, said she was in a meeting. She promised to call back but did not and did not also answer subsequent calls to her line.

This article was originally published by Premium Times

Policeman, six others feared dead as terrorists invade Police Headquarters in Zamfara

Not less than seven persons, including a policeman, have been reportedly killed when terrorists attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Zurmi, headquarters of the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A report by Channels Television late on Sunday, said the merchants of terror invaded the town on Sunday evening.

An indigene of the town, Babangida Zurmi, told Channels Television that he had yet to speak with any of his relatives as of 9:45pm because most of their numbers were switched off.

Zurmi said: “As we speak now, I can’t get in touch with anybody in the town.

“Their numbers are switched off.

“That means the bandits are still around.

“We need help from relevant authorities.”

Another source told Channels Television that the bandits attacked the town with a mission to avenge the killing of two persons by a local vigilante in the area.

He said apart from the Divisional Police Headquarters, several shops were also burnt by the bandits.

The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the development to Channels Television.

Abubakar, who spoke via the telephone, said he was still gathering more information on the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters.

Lawyers are not traders, The Legal Practitioners Act is the only authority that allows practice of Law in Nigeria

By OluKayode Ajulo, SAN

The purported signing of the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) Agreement between the Nigerian and United Kingdom governments has garnered significant media attention. This agreement aims to foster collaboration in various sectors, including finance, trade barriers, healthcare, investment, customs and trade facilitation, agriculture, intellectual property, creative industry, and legal services. Speculations have arisen regarding provisions that may permit UK lawyers to engage in legal practice within Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has strongly criticized the provision allowing UK lawyers to practice in Nigeria, following the announcement of the agreement by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment. While the Minister has maintained that no such provision exists in the agreement, it is essential that we examined the legality of this alleged provision within the framework of the Nigerian law.

It is important to note that the legal profession in Nigeria is regulated by statutes and subject to specific regulations. Sections 8(1) and (2) of the Legal Practitioners Act Cap L11, LFN, 2004 establish that a “legal practitioner” has the right to represent clients in all Nigerian courts, contingent upon the payment of annual practicing fees. However, certain enactments may restrict the right of representation in specific courts.

Section 24 of the same Act defines a “legal practitioner” as an individual entitled to practice as a barrister or both as a barrister and solicitor, either generally or for specific purposes. The Act clarifies that an individual can practice as a barrister and solicitor only if their name is listed in the roll. Inclusion in the roll requires that a person, whether Nigerian or foreign, be called to the Bar in accordance with section 4 of the Act and provides the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with a certificate of their call to the Bar as mandated by section 7(1)(a) and (b) of the Act.

In the case of Tijani v. F.B.N. Plc (2014) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1387) 57, it was held that :
“Section 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act defines a legal practitioner as a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor……….” (P.74, paras. F-G)

Also in the case of Oketade v. Adewumi (2010) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1195) 63, it was held that:
“By the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, a person is entitled to practice as a barrister and solicitor if, and only if, his name is on the roll. And “legal practitioner” means a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor…………By section 2(1) of the Act, the only person in the legal profession wearing his professional name to practice law in Nigeria is a legal practitioner and the definition of a legal practitioner in section 24 of the Act does not include a firm”.

Furthermore, in the case of F.B.N. Plc v. Maiwada (2013) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1348) 444,
“By virtue of section 24 of the legal practitioners Act, Cap. L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, “legal practitioner” means a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor…..Only legal practitioners, human beings called to the bar, can practice by signing documents.” (Pp. 482-483, paras. G-A; 506-507, paras. H-C; 532, paras. E-F)

Section 4(1) of the Act stipulates that a person may be called to the Bar if they are a Nigerian citizen and meet the necessary character and qualification requirements. Similarly, non-Nigerian citizens can also be called to the Bar if they fulfill the requisite qualifications and character criteria. Furthermore, the Act allows for the possibility of practicing as a barrister authorized by warrant, subject to specific conditions.

Under section 2(2)(a) and (b) of the Act, the Chief Justice of Nigeria may grant authorization to practice as a barrister in specific proceedings to individuals qualified to practice as advocates in countries with legal systems similar to Nigeria. However, such authorization is contingent upon the payment of a fee specified in the warrant, and legal practitioners whose names are listed in the roll take precedence over those authorized by warrant.

Based on the aforementioned provisions, it is evident that the practice of law in Nigeria by foreigners cannot solely be facilitated through agreements or memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed by the Nigerian and UK governments or any other foreign nation. The rigorous processes outlined in the Legal Practitioners Act must be diligently followed, and unqualified individuals cannot gain admission to the Bar through unofficial channels unless the legislation is amended. Any attempt to contravene these regulations will be strongly opposed.

Overall, the essence of this discussion, pertains to certain personalities being more devout in their adherence to Christian principles than the Pope himself. This observation arises from the fact that the Attorney General of the Federation, who holds the highest position in the country’s Bar Council and the Chief Legal Officer has not made any statement or press release regarding the signing of the Agreement. Instead, we have only heard voices such as the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment championing and expressing strong support for the Agreement, seemingly focused on the economic benefits while disregarding the potential negative impact on the legal profession in Nigeria.

However, it remains clear and indisputable: lawyers are professionals, not traders. Our profession has its own boundaries and should not be interfered with by unqualified outsiders for any reason, as they may lack the foresight to comprehend the risks this Agreement poses to the legal profession and the erosion of its professional standards.

John J. Parker, a former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit in his address to the student body of the University of South Carolina Law School, Columbia, eloquently distinguishes the aforementioned subject matter. He argues that “the practice of law is a profession – not a business or a skilled trade. While both involve elements of profit and service, the fundamental difference lies in this: the primary objective of a trade or business is personal gain, whereas the primary objective of a profession is public service.”

One finds this proposition rather puzzling, as it is not difficult to imagine a future where, through a simple decision from a trade minister or any other government official, a non-Nigerian citizen could potentially gain the ability to run for a position in our National Assembly, the Office of the President, or even become a Governor of a State, all through a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Conclusively, as a legal practitioner with a proven track record in Nigeria, I firmly believe that our noble profession consists of honourable men and women who should not be subjected to interference based on trivial matters, unrealistic or theoretical approaches, as it is already built upon solid foundations that remain unblemished to this day.

Join us for updates on our WhatsApp Channel

Judgement without justice

By Sesugh Akume

wo weeks ago, on Monday 29 January, the Honourable Mr Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court (Court 9) sitting in Abuja held in the matter of Sesugh Akume v Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria (FHC/ABJ/CS/1491/2020) that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court erred when a Freedom of Information (FOI) application I had made to the Supreme Court was not answered within 7 days as stipulated by law.

Some time in 2020, I made an FOI application at the Supreme Court to find out the status of Osakue v EDOCASA (the second FOI case filed at the Supreme Court since 2018 which seeks to establish that the FOI Act is applicable at the state level), but was denied.

After a week, I again wrote the Supreme Court’s chief registrar about the obligation to respond to mine within 7 days, and of the optics and implications of the apex court in the land being a lawbreaker. I again got no response.

Left with no further choice, I approached the Federal High Court, Abuja a second time over the same subject of FOI, against the same Supreme Court. The first was the matter of Sesugh Akume v Supreme Court of Nigeria & Another (FHC/ABJ/CS/1161/2020 seeking the status update of Martins Alo v Speaker, Ondo House of Assembly —  the first FOI case filed at the Supreme Court since 2018 which seeks to establish that the FOI Act is applicable at the state level. Upon doing so, I was furnished with the information requested.

The questions before the court were whether the Supreme Court was right in not providing the information within 7 days as stipulated by law. And where the answer was in the negative, a declaration that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court erred in not doing so. Also an order compelling them to immediately furnish me with the information; and an award of five hundred thousand naira (N500 000.00) fine, being the statutory amount for denying an FOI application; and two million (N2 000 000.00) naira as damages and the cost of the litigation.

After several hearing notices were served on the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court (the respondent in the case) a defence was finally entered one year later on 27 September 2021, wherein a counter-affidavit in opposition to the suit along with an exhibit and a written address in support of the counter affidavit were filed.

The respondent contended that due to COVID-19 the information could not be provided as there were few staff working at the time on a rotational basis, and the record rooms were fumigated and, therefore, out of bounds within that period and long afterwards. That these I ought to have known and was indeed aware. Furthermore, that the information applied for had been provided and the case was thus overtaken by events.

The FOI Act provides that where information requested cannot be provided within 7 days the public institution is to inform the party applying for the information.

In reply, our lawyers wanted the court to determine whether there was any evidence that the Supreme Court notified me that the applicant might take longer than 7 days even if by a text message.

They contended that the issue before the court was no longer about providing the information after being sued, but whether it ought to have been provided timeously within the stipulated 7 days, and whether on the balance of probability the information would have been provided had the respondent not been dragged to court.

Justice Nwite held that indeed there was no evidence before the court that respondent contacted me of the inability to provide the information within 7 days, not even after my reminder letter, which was wrong.

The judge, however, declined awarding the fine, damages and costs on the ground that the FOI Act provides that upon conviction the erring party is to pay the sum of N500 000 but there was no conviction in this matter, as the term ‘conviction’ usually applies to criminal matters, but this is not a criminal matter.

This is one area I respectfully disagree with the judge, and hope to necessarily appeal this part of the judgement for further interpretation and illumination at the higher courts. Whether or not there can be conviction in a civil matter? And whether or not declaring a party to have erred but without consequences for wrongdoing, and without compensation to the injured party is miscarriage of justice?

It is my firm belief that there is indeed conviction in civil matters and such convicted party is made to pay a fine, even if the nature of this conviction is different from that in criminal matters. Second, that there must be consequences for wrong doing, and whenever there is an injury there must be a remedy/compensation.

To be sure, Section 7(5) of the FOI Act 2011 states that: ‘Where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the defaulting officer or institution commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine of N500,000.’

First, the framers of that provision knew from the outset that FOI is a civil not a criminal matter but went ahead to use the expression ‘conviction’, and it ought to be understood and interpreted in the context it is used, in my view.

Second, in the (unreported) case of Alabi v National Assembly & 2 Ors with suit number FHC/L/CS/1234/2013 delivered by the Honourable Justice J T Tsoho (now Chief Judge) of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, and delivered on 26 September 2014, the court held that, ‘…“fine” means … a pecuniary criminal punishment or civil penalty payable to the public treasury… an imposition of a fine connotes conviction for an alleged offence.’ This reasoning was upheld on appeal in the matter of FRSC v Alabi [2020] LPELR–51060 (CA). (This case pertained to the power of FRSC to impose a fine on alleged traffic offenders, etc.)

In other words, according to the learned jurist, and corroborated by an appellate court, a fine (which can be a civil (non-criminal) penalty payable to the public treasury) connotes conviction for an alleged civil offence. It means clearly that there can be conviction in a civil (non-criminal) matter. The conviction (or declaration of wrongdoing) precedes the imposition of a fine. Just like a conviction precedes a sentencing in criminal matters.

Refusing an FOI application is an offence because Section 7(5) of the FOI Act 2011 designates it so. It is a civil (as against a criminal) offence for many reasons including the fact that the wrongdoer in this case is declared ‘liable’, as against ‘guilty’ were it a criminal offence. Another reason is the fact that I, the injured party can seek redress in court by myself, it’s not the state suing. Civil cases begin when a person (or entity) claims that another person or entity has failed to carry out a legal duty owed them.

Civil offences involve violations of administrative or civil rules resulting in civil penalties and fines. This, in my view, falls in the category of mala prohibita, whereby the actions or inactions are wrong because the law prohibit such. Refusing an FOI application is a violation of regulatory requirement or obligation under the FOI Act 2011, and therefore, could be termed a regulatory misdemeanor or regulatory infraction, with the specific penalty of a N500,000 fine. Where a court finds a party liable of wrongfully denying an FOI application, which is offence (this finding one liable is itself conviction, whether in a civil or criminal matter) but doesn’t go the full length to award the commensurate fine stated by the law for such offence, it seems a miscarriage of justice to me.

On the issue of award of damages and the cost of litigation, the Latin maxim, ‘Ubi jus, ibi remedium’, in English, ‘Where there is a right, there is a remedy’, means the law ensures that if the plaintiff has a right they must have the means to a remedy if they are injured in the enjoyment or exercise of the right.

Clearly, I suffered injury resulting from the refusal of the FOI application causing to me to seek redress in court for 4 years and all the inconvenience that goes with it. No compensation for the pain and no consequences whatsoever to the offender is like having a judgement but no justice to me.

Another issue the appellate courts are to be invited to interrogate is whether the judge was right to suo motu (by himself, on his own accord) raise the issue of ‘conviction’ and enter judgement on it without giving the parties a chance to address him, and whether this is not a denial of the right to fair hearing? In Sesugh Akume v National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/273/2021 before Justice D U Okorowo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja (which among other things seeks to enable local governments in Nigeria to directly access federal funding for primary healthcare as against State Primary Health Care Boards doing so and administering the funds on their behalf) the judge suo motu raised the issue of the joinder or non-joinder of all state governments in Nigeria seeing as what we seek affects them. We had the opportunity to address the court on why it wasn’t necessary to join them as parties in the suit, and NPHCDA also had the opportunity to oppose our view. We shall hear the court’s decision on 18 March. I think that is the proper way to go about it.

Justice Nwite’s fearlessness and blindness to the parties involved in this matter and not minding whose ox is gored in delivering the judgement to the best of his ability is worthy of note and commendation. To be honest, based on the obnoxious judgements we’ve seen from Nigerians courts, I settled and made peace with this matter being dismissed and costs awarded against me. This outcome came a pleasant and rather salutary relief.

Sesugh Akume, a public policy analyst wrote from Abuja.

1...640641642...1,468Page 641 of 1,468

TIPS

Load more