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An attack on the Nasarawa 30 is an attack on all women across the globe — CSOs fume

A coalition of over 300 civil society groups and individuals have condemned the shooting, arrest, and detention of 30 unarmed nude women who staged a peaceful protest in Nasarawa state, stressing that: “the misuse of security services and the abuse through the judiciary to promote partisan propaganda and political agenda should be rejected by all.

In a statement signed by Dr. Eki Yemisi Omorogbe, International Law and Policy in Africa Network
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-Convener, Womenifesto, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo (Gender and Development Action-GADA), Chidi Anselm Odinkalu (Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA) and others, the coalition in a Press release titled: A CALL ON AGENTS OF THE NASARAWA STATE GOVERNMENT TO END THEIR ILLEGAL ATTACK ON INNOCENT WOMEN, said the harassment being meted on these women “shows the failure of the Nigerian Police Force and the Government of Nasarawa State in Nigeria to uphold the right of citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to protest, assemble and freely express themselves.”

Read the full statement below.

Nigerians are unhappy to hear of the arrest, prosecution and persecution of 30 women in Nasarawa, among others, for exercising their rights to protest against an INEC instigated miscarriage of justice in the Nasarawa gubernational election of 2023, and the decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the results as declared.

The prosecution of these 30 women shows the failure of the Nigerian Police Force and the Government of Nasarawa State in Nigeria to uphold the right of citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to protest, assemble and freely express themselves.

These women were nude, demonstrating clearly that they were both committed to peaceable protest & unarmed. It is a travesty to then accuse them of being violent when in fact, they were the people violated by the attack from the uniformed personnels, including with projectiles. Security agents, nearly all of them male, assaulted, beat up, shot at, and seriously injured some of these women in clear violation of the Constitution and in full public view. Locking them up in indefinite pre-trial detention at the instance of those whom they were protesting against constitutes POLITICAL PERSECUTION.

The misuse of security services and the abuse through the judiciary to promote partisan propaganda and political agenda should be rejected by all and it is upon this ideological and ethical basis that Project – Free Nasarawa 30 is rallying its regional and international network to ensure that the further violation of the rights of these women stops with a call on the government of Nasarawa State to end the abusive use of state power

Project- Free Nasarawa 30 is a national and non-partisan coalition comprising of civil right activists, citizens’ journalists, rights’ organisations and international advocacy and solidarity groups demanding the immediate release of the Nasarawa 30, a group of women currently in jail over no crime they committed even as contained in the unacceptable charges filed by the current Nasarawa State government against these women for exercising their rights to assemble and express themselves.

Project – Free Nasarawa 30 rejects in totally the tactics and aggression against these women, and calls for the immediate review of their bail conditions to grant them freedom without the culture of punitive bail terms that have been unethically and wrongly adopted by the current judicial bench to justify empty allegations against the Nasarawa 30.

An attack on the Nasarawa 30 is an attack on all women across the globe.
End the persecution now!
Free Nasarawa 30 unconditionally TODAY!

Signed

Dr. Eki Yemisi Omorogbe, International Law and Policy in Africa Network
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Co-Convener, Womenifesto
Amb. Nkoyo Toyo (Gender and Development Action-GADA)
Chidi Anselm Odinkalu (Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA)
Richard Inoyo (Citizens Solution Network)
Yemi Adamolekun (Enough is Enough)
Adaora Sydney Jack (Gender Strategy Advancement International)
9jafeminista
Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls
Above Whispers Foundation
Action Aid Nigeria
ACTS Generation GBV
Ade Grange Child Foundation
ADEM Community Human Development Foundation
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
Ajegunle Community Project
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
Alliance for Credible Elections
Alliances for AFAica (AfA)
Amazing Grace Inspirations
Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
Amnesty International Nigeria
ARDA Development Communication Inc.
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.
ASWHAN
ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)
Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN)
Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
AWEP
ANWIB
AWFAN
FEBWE
FEDAN
BLECCA Foundation
Bring Back Our Girls
Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
Cece Yara Foundation
Cedar Seed Foundation
CEE-HOPE Nigeria
Centre for Good Governance and Accountability
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Change Managers International Network
Center for Women’s Health and Information
Centre for Media and Development Communications
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)
Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)
Choung-Dung Women Association.
Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
Community and Youth Development
Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society
Community Partners for Development.
Community Life Project (CLP)
Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
Community Women Initiatives (CWI)
Country Associates Network (CAN)
Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)
Champion Women Entrepreneurs Mentoring Association (CWEMA)
CWEMA
Daria Media Foundation (DMF)
Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
Diaspora Womanifesto2019
Dinidari Foundation (DF)
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
Edo Women’s Development Initiative
Education As A Vaccine (EVA)
EiE Nigeria
Emerge Women (EW)
Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)
Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
FACICP Disability Plus
FAME Foundation
Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
FIDA Nigeria
First Future Leadership
FOMWAN
Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
FRED
FEDAN
Gender Action Awareness Trust
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Gender and Development Action (GADA)
Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender Development Initiative
Gender Equality Center
Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)
Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Green Spring Development Initiative
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation
Heal Disability Initiative
Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative
Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria(HERFON)
HEIR Women Development (HWD)
Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development
Hope for New Life (HNL)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)Nigeria
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)
International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)
International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)
Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)
Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
Jana Health Foundation (JHF)
Julie Oyegun
Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)
Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
KMashi Gamji Women
Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)
Kilimanjaro Youth Foundation
League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
LEDAP
Lift Initiative
League of Queens International Empowerment
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)
MBULA Women Association
Media &Teens Network
Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children
Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and Children
MODAC
Mothers United and Mobilised (MUMs)
More Women in Politics
My Voice My Future NGO
Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)
NAWE
NNEW
NAWORG
Nigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
National Centre for Women Development
National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)
NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women
Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN
Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)
NEWA
NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society
Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
Nigeria For Women Project
Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee
Nigerian Express
Nigerian Women Politics Forum
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)
Ogun Women Alive
Okwuzi Women Forum
Olive Community
Development Initiatives
Onomese Foundation
Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD)
Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
Ovie Brume Foundation
Partners West Africa
Peasant Dragnet
Princess Olufemi-Kayode
Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
Project Alert on Violence Against Women
Ray of Hope Community Foundation
Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Sesor Empowerment Foundation
She Forum Africa
Safe Space Initiative
Save a Child Lend a Hand Foundation
Sheforshe Africa Initiative
She Mentors Initiative
Shout Global Health
Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)
South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
Support For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI)
TechHerNG
THR Media
The Inclusion Project (TIP)
The Priceless Jewels Foundation
THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE
Tonia Bruised but Not Broken Foundation
Transformation and Development Center (TDC)
Transition Monitoring Group
Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)
UC Women Commission
UTO Foundation
Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI)
Voice of Ogun Women (VOW)
West African Network for Peace
WEWENETWORK AFRIQUE
WEPDN
Widows Development Organization (WIDO)
Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC)
Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)
Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)
Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)
Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
Women in Mining
Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative
Women Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)
Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI)
Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)
Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI)
Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)
Women for Women International (W4WI)
Women Foundation Initiative (WFI)
Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC)
Former Women Action Organization (WAO)
Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)
Women in Agriculture (WIA)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Women in Politics Forum (WiPF)
Women Information Network (WINET)
Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)
Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)
Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)
Women Lead Agric (WLA)
Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Women of Vision Development Initiative
Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN)
Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program
Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF
Women Right to Education Programme (WREP)
Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri
Women’s Rights and Health Project
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
Working Moms Africa (WMA)
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
Women Initiative on Climate change
Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)
Women in Management Buisness and Public Service (WIMBIZ)
WISCAR
Women Democracy Network Africa – Nigeria
WomenPreneurs (AWEBO)
Yiaga Africa
Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI)
Zonta International Club of Lagos 1
50MAWSP
100 Women Lobby Group (100WLG)

ECOWAS: It’s a disgrace to Tinubu, Timi Frank on decision of Mali, Niger, B’ Faso

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has said the withdrawal of three member states comprising the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is a national disgrace and shame to Nigeria.

Frank described the inability of Tinubu to peacefully resolve the lingering issues leading to the exit of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS as below par, adding that it does not augur well for the leadership roles his predecessors have played in keeping the sub-region united and peaceful.

“Whether Tinubu likes it or not, he met the 15-member regional group established about 49 years ago intact when he assumed the reins of leadership as chairman in July 2023. But history will record that things fell apart during his ineffectual, riderless and neglectful stewardship in less than seven months,” Frank said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger had last Sunday announced their immediate breakaway from the ECOWAS and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States.”

The regimes have been having fractured ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020 as they have been struggling with jihadist violence and poverty.

The three regimes were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions but they had maintained their hard-line positions in recent months.

Frank in his reaction to the withdrawal said the buck should stop at the table of President Tinubu who is the present chairman of the body for failing to use his position to foster peace through effective dialogue but rather had maintained a hardline stance including a botched attempt to spearhead the use of arms to restore democracy in Niger.

He said, “Since assuming office as President of Nigeria, Tinubu has demonstrated his lack of nuanced understanding of regional politics and empathy for poor and suffering Nigerians – his primary constituency.

“No man can give what he does not have. His poor leadership of the regional body has led to its ongoing disintegration just as it has brought untold hardship upon Nigerians.

“Your inexperience and that of those handling the economy has destroyed our economy. Investors have refused to come into the Region and particularly in Nigeria as they are seen pulling out of Nigeria on a daily basis .

“For instance, Tinubu met the exchange rate of Naira to Dollar at about N600 to a dollar but today it is about N1,500 to a dollar. Besides, his knee-jerk removal of fuel subsidy has further impoverished Nigerians with people finding it difficult to feed or afford skyrocketing transport fares.

“Above all, insecurity is on the increase with the nation’s capital – FCT – and other parts of the country rendered increasingly unsafe by incessant kidnappings and gruesome killings.

“How can a man who has not been able to secure and ensure peace in his house be counted upon to provide leadership to a politically, culturally and religiously diverse 15 sovereign nations?

“Today, Tinubu is destroying ECOWAS just like he is doing to Nigeria. Tinubu has introduced regionalism into the governance of Nigeria.

“His latest move which must be rejected and resisted by all is to move the nation’s capital back to Lagos through the back by relocating key government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos. Injustice cannot but breed discontent and disunity.”

Frank called on President Tinubu to retrace his hasty steps and toxic economic policies both as chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria and equally to ensure that the powers entrusted to him do not ruin the country and the sub-region socially, politically and economically.

“To say the least, you won’t be on private visit when your house is burning.The right thing to do was to come back home immediately and have an emergency meeting in furtherance of your resignation as ECOWAS chairman, if you has any iota of shame left .
It is insensitive and a glaring sign of incompetence.

The activist called on the President to seek advice from former Nigerian Presidents who also acted as chairmen of ECOWAS on how to lead Nigeria and the subregional organization.

Darkness in power? By Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

No reason has been proffered, no single explanation has been offered and there is a general sense of abandonment of the people, to their fate. Never has the nation witnessed such gross darkness and never have a people been so pauperized and traumatized as is the present condition of Nigerians.

Since the advent of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the nation has been thrown into inexplicable darkness, by way of power outage. Everywhere you go, generators are booming, with very poisonous smoke emitting from their silencers, enough to cause damage to human organs and reduce life expectancy. How can anyone be so comfortable in this situation? What have we done wrong as a people to deserve this state of rot and misery?

You cannot generate power on your own, so you have to depend on those authorized to do so by law. You cannot afford to stay in darkness either, as you need to preserve your refrigerator, get yourself prepared for work, get your children ready for school or work and generally to take care of other necessities of life. For this and other reasons, virtually every home has a generator, most offices, places of worship, factories, schools and almost all corporate entities have generating plants. Government ministries and parastatals also depend on generators to function. In essence, the nation is held down by reason of failure of government to provide the most essential infrastructure for its people. Let us examine the legal angle to this avoidable conundrum.

The Constitution in its section 14 (2) (b) has imposed a statutory obligation on the government towards the people when it provides as follows: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Leveraging on this provision to win votes from the people, the ruling party made a solemn promise to “Generate, transmit and distribute from current 5,000 – 6,000 MW to at least 20,000 MV of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within ten years, whilst simultaneously ensuring development of sustainable/renewable energy.”

Power generation is thus the main issue in regard to the socio-economic development of our nation and any leader who is unwilling or is unable to meet this basic obligation has failed his people. Presently, factories are closing down and relocating to other friendly jurisdictions for their businesses to survive. The government claimed that it has removed fuel subsidies and as such the cost of petroleum products has increased astronomically. In the absence of a stable power supply, you need to buy fuel or diesel to power your generator.

So, in the midst of a spiraling exchange rate, insecurity, unemployment, mass poverty and hunger, perpetual darkness has been the gift of the present government to the people. The impression that our leaders in power have conveyed to us is that it is practically impossible to have stable and permanent power supply; that we don’t have the resources to build the needed energy plants that will meet the needs of all Nigerians and that we must accept generators as second nature, if we must function and survive, as a people. It is totally unacceptable. We have been told several tales of billions of dollars pumped into the power sector, with little or no results, causing Nigerians to conclude that there must be some demons and principalities, holding the power sector in the jugular.

The average experience of those depending upon public power supply is that of total frustration, resulting from absence of any supply at all, irregular supply, low voltage, high voltage, load shedding, constant blackouts, extortion by members of staff of the companies involved and naked corruption. This has in turn led many to believe that there is some sort of collusion between the regulators, transmitters and the distributors of power, with generator importers and marketers, with diesel marketers and suppliers, with candle manufacturing companies and the importers of rechargeable energy solutions generally, to milk us dry.

To get electricity to the consumer, there has to be a transformer, to which power will be transmitted and then distributed to individual consumers. These transformers are in most cases archaic, old, dysfunctional and unable to bear the load of the electricity consumers. So, what happens in most cases is that the fuses plugged to these transformers get blown up due to excess load, whilst some get stolen outrightly, leading to blackout. In some other cases when the fuses don’t work optimally, there is then the problem of low or high voltage, which impacts upon and at times damage valuables, leading to fire incidents resulting in several deaths.

To survive these frustrations, you have to develop an alternative means of power supply on your own, the commonest of which is the generator. In the present situation in Nigeria, public power supply is the standby option for many, while homes and offices are powered through the generators as the main source of power. The absence of basic infrastructure fuels corruption and it is a disincentive for selfless service, as our leaders in office, having tasted the allure of stable power supply through generators funded with the commonwealth, would want to perpetuate their lives of luxury when out of office, and so they use this as an excuse to dip into the public treasury to amass enough resources to help them secure and sustain basic infrastructure when out of office, all of which are out of the reach of the common man. Stable power supply is critical to life and existence, it is vital to economic growth and development and it is the foundation upon which all other development initiatives can blossom.

It was this terrible scenario that the present administration promised to change through its Renewed Hope agenda when it was canvassing for votes, but now, after close to one year in office, all we get is one story or the other, leading to the usual blame game of failure of past regimes. In the past, we used to get some form of explanation as to the cause of power outage, between national grid collapse, low gas supply, vandalization, drop of water in the dam and turn around maintenance. That has become a thing of the past, as if to accept our fate that power outages should be second nature. The solution from the present government was to tinker with the law by granting autonomy to the States to generate and distribute power in limited measures.

Private entities can also go into off grid arrangements. I do not know of any State in Nigeria that has taken up the challenge of generating and distributing its own power beyond the rhetoric of the campaign promises. Yet, this is the secret behind the development and success of any economy. The money and energy invested by private individuals and corporate entities to generate power are simply mind boggling.

The President, the Governors and indeed all our leaders cannot continue in this fashion of self convenience amid the calamitous sufferings that the people are going through. We need to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, since the reforms are not working. Let the government gather all the major stakeholders together in a conference in order to deliberate and agree on the terms that will birth a revolutionary blueprint for the immediate and urgent transformation of this critical sector. We cannot claim to be the giant of Africa and yet wallow in darkness.

The corruption bedeviling the power sector must be addressed frontally given the monumental loss that its failure has caused Nigeria. A good number of our leaders travel to other countries to see the value that a stable power supply brings to their people. Interestingly, smaller African countries like Egypt, South Africa and Rwanda have defeated this monster with lesser cost compared to the sums committed to the Nigerian project.

I had opined then that President Buhari would fix the issues plaguing the power sector but alas, he left it the same way he met it, if not worse. The agony of the people in this area must be mitigated by all means possible. Unless our leaders are only deploying epileptic power supply as some deliberate instrument of oppression to frustrate many Nigerians, to halt their development initiatives and to collapse their industries and investments, this blackout must stop. We cannot continue to exploit pain and suffering to force people to support and patronize the government or to surrender to the programmes and policies of the ruling elite. No one should wield power in and through darkness. Let there be light.

NBA may lose its value to Nigerians and its members, Okutepa SAN

By J. S. Okutepa, SAN

No too long ago, CAC was ordered by a Federal High sitting in Abuja to register another lawyers’ association outside of NBA. Many have said it is a welcome development. Others have said there is no need for another lawyers association outside of NBA. I belong to the later group. But I am not going into that discussion here.

The only association of lawyers now is NBA. NBA was not formed to play partisan politics. The principal aim of the NBA is to promote and fight for the welfare of members and then promote the rule of law. It was not formed to promote the self-serving interest of those who were to lead the association.

Very soon, the elections to the offices of NBA will hold. As usual, many lawyers are aspiring to lead the association in various offices.

It is no longer news that the NBA constitution and rules forbid lawyers from going around inducing lawyers for votes.

That is what is written in black and white. But are lawyers aspiring to lead the bar association respecting these rules. I do not think so. I have been consistent in speaking against this practice of violating our own rules. We have allowed the rules guiding our elections to be violated with impunity.

The way we have allowed NBA politics to be played will soon destroy whatever is left of the nobility of this profession.

The same way we see evil and coloured it with arid legal technicalities to the prejudices of democracy in Nigeria is the same way we have chosen to allow NBA politicians go around polluting and weakening our noble association in the name of NBA politics. Many of those who need mentoring are being given false hopes in the name of promises. The leadership of our association must do something.

We need leadership of NBA that can restore the lost glory of the legal profession, not leadership that wants votes by divide and rule. We need leadership of NBA that can restore the lost glory of recruitment processes to the bench and mobilise lawyers to fight against politicisation of appointments to the bench across board in Nigeria.

We need NBA leadership that can ensure that there is no political and self-serving interest in judgments being delivered by our courts both in political cases and other cases. We need NBA leadership that ensures that judgments of courts are obeyed and enforced without lawyers circumventing it. We need NBA leadership that is above board and can frontally fight the dwindling fortunes in the legal profession.

We don’t need NBA leadership that only issues statements and always signs patronizing songs of the goodness of the systems even when the blind can see that the system is bad. We don’t need leadership that wants power for the sake of it. We need NBA leadership that can and know how to use leadership for the greatest good of all.

We need NBA leadership that can put an end to the hereditary of recruitment of judicial officers. Let Nigerian bench at all levels be populated by those who have the strength of character. We need leadership of the bar that can fight and put an end to recruitments to the bench being done on the basis of the interest of those who are in the position of authority . We need leadership of NBA that will ensure that recruitments to the bench at all levels be on the basis of merit and intergrity.

We must go back to the purity and nobility of the reasons for the formation of NBA. The way we are going, unless we retrace our steps, NBA may lose its values to Nigerians and its members.

A Treacherous Conspiracy Against Lower Courts: Who is in charge of lower courts?

Bayo Akinlade Esq

In a recent publication I read that the AG of Kaduna State was assuring the Magistrates in his State that he would see to the needs of magistrates asking for at least a N200k minimum wage income. Now this gets me thinking –

  1. Are we saying that lower court judges who entertain and handle cases worth millions of naira go home with less than 500k monthly pay?
  2. Who is in charge of the lower courts? Is it the Executive arm of Government or the Judiciary?
  3. Who has the powers to make the conditions of service better for the lower courts? Is it the Attorney Generals or the Chief Judges?

In my opinion it is very embarrassing, appalling and downright unacceptable for lower court judges to be paid peanuts, not have access to affordable housing and for many not to have cars to take them to work. What is even more treacherous is for the Judiciary to be so underfunded that it cannot provide a suitable working environment for lower court judges. Yet we are expected to take our dispute to these courts, expect a homeless and car-less lower court judge to resolve our dispute when his own general life issues are not resolved?

What are our Chief Judges doing to remedy this situation?… Most of them are doing NOTHING! and there lies the treachery.

In Lagos State I was made to understand that our Lagos State Law Reform Commission did an extensive review of the Magistrates Courts Law of Lagos State but where is that review today? When I asked, they told me it’s before the Chief Judge for his lordship’s comments…. So whatever is going wrong in our administration of Justice system in Lagos State is on the table of one person….?

If our Chief Judges continue to crush the necks of our lower court judges then be rest assured that one day the entire justice system will collapse and we will know who caused that collapse.

But before it collapses, may I humbly plead with our heads of courts (who’s days are numbered) to set the machinery rolling to adopt reforms around our Magistrates Court Laws and Magistrate Court Rules.

Our children and children’s children will be better off for it.

Apprehension as unknown men abduct another Lawyer from his home at Keffi Nasarawa State, demand N50 million ransom

As kidnapping is fast becoming a routine in Abuja and its environs, the kidnap of a senior lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Keffi Branch, Garba Armi Esq, on Monday night has sent more shock waves around the legal community.

Read also: Tragedy: Men in Army uniform invade Abuja lawyer’s home; wife, four children taken away!

Garba Armi like Chris Agidy, Esq., who was taken from his home at Galadimawa area of Federal Capital Territory the (FCT), and who is yet to return home, was carried off from his house at Angwa Kare Keffi Nasarawa State, near the FCT.

Read also: Kidnappers invade Army Estate, seize lawyer’s wife and in-law

BarristerNG.com reports that the armed Kidnappers stormed the senior lawyer’s house at Angwa Kare Keffi at about 11:30 pm in the night and whisked him away amid flurry of gunshots.

Read also: Lawyers speak as outrage mounts over insecurity and mass kidnappings in Abuja

Speaking to BarristerNG.com, the Chairman of NBA Keffi branch, Barrister Nuhu Igya, disclosed that the kidnappers called Armi’s family Tuesday morning and demanded a ransom of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) for his release.

Read also: Could this be the kidnapper who murdered Nabeeha?

Condemning the incident and rise in kidnapping, Nuhu Igyaa urged Security agencies to ensure his safe return.

BarristerNG.com

A Comparison: Betta Edu Versus Kemi Badenoch, Richard Odusanya

Corruption is a cancerous virus, it destroys every society it permeants, one of the most pervasive types of crime that can ever happen to a Nation: it fuels transnational crime, wastes public resources, destabilizes countries, and impedes good governance. Authoritarian countries and those veering towards authoritarianism increasingly weaponize corruption to perpetuate power at home and undermine democracy around the world. Undeniably, good governance is essential for sustaining economic transformation in developing countries.

The latest socio-political development vis-a-vis “Bring Betta Edu Back” brings to fore another vista in our beleaguered history which every strong advocate of good governance and fair society like myself must condemn in the strongest terms with regards to the two different societies that produced Kemi Badenoch and Betta Edu, it is a good example of a rotten society on one hand and a decent society on the other side. Based on empirical evidence, the British society is more of law abiding, sound moral compass and fairness doctrine. 

Whereas, it is the opposite of such with our system in Nigeria. These are the difference between the two societies that produced Kemi Badenoch and Betta Chimaobim Edu same age bracket and black colour. The system we run is obviously an enabler of ‘Economic Terrorism’ it is evident that corruption has been entrenched in all facets of public governance and the country. Otherwise, how else does one explain a situation where public office holders become terrorists.

Shame of a nation. Institutional fragility and systemic failure. In a decent society, there would be nothing like “Bring Betta Edu Back” she would have resigned from office including everyone connected to the fraud. But, this is Nigeria where anything goes. Before I continue permit me to share with you one of the feedback from an octogenarian from the United States of America. On the subject of “Betta Edu: Unending Era Of Profligacy Recklessness And Corruption”

Elder Oluwole remarked as follows:

“I read this your forwarded piece but must have failed to react to it. My attention was drawn to it early today by an opinion-writer I usually correspond with in regard to the latest political events here vis-a-vis my coined mantra: New America, nay, New World (in less than twelve (12) months) with implications for Nigeria AND Nigerians.

“For starters, a disclosure: I devote time to read published opinions on Nigeria by younger Nigerians (75 years and below) to see why we the “wasted generation” failed Nigeria; and also to see if these younger ones can redeem our situation or, at least, don’t walk our failed road.

“So like Nigeria whose previous government is always better than the present one, so we are. Indeed, none of Nigeria’s endemic problems is solved since self-rule of 1952. At best, it has been vicious circles of “solutions” begetting problems as democracy.

“Betta Edu today is purposely the poster boy for corruption-fighting in Nigeria. But it is the height of hypocrisy to ignore the legal maxim of coming for or to equity with not only clean hands but also clean hearts. So that it is not seen as sanctimoniousness a butt of social media joke.

“It is even more hypocritical if those prescribing solutions are products of corruption in all its ramifications. For me, regardless of re-invented analogies, regurgitated solutions don’t indicate scholarship. Let proffered solutions be products of painstaking inquiry into roots of problems.

“The primary root of Nigeria’s multifaceted problems is democracy itself which has too low prescribed qualifications for its practitioners, aka politicians. So, if politics is the engine that drives electoral or representative democracy in Nigeria it had irretrievably broken down, since the introduction of McPherson Constitution, as values that are political substructure were never installed. It’s akin to something on nothing.

“In retrospect you should today agree with late British prime minister Harold McMilan that, at the time we became self-governing, we were very ill-prepared AND ill-equipped for it.

“Let me, therefore, request for your opinion that, in our peonage, you agree with our having our own white winning Kemi Badenoch. Remember her? To that end, let me be reading you regularly please.”

Your reader

Oluwole, octogenarian

U.S.A”

These are profound, very succinct, lucid, thought provoking and eruditely factual response from one of my highly respected reader, and an octogenarian from U. S. A.

But I question the system. A system where billions of naira can be transfered to private accounts is flawed. Very flawed. It should not happen. Not in Nigeria. It is too dependent on the ‘goodness of man’, and you do not find a lot of that here in Nigeria. If laid down processes and procedures have been abused or flouted, then not only the Minister and the other ‘Shehu lady’ should be punished, but everybody in the loop. No wonder ‘nothing works in this country’.

One is inevitably tempted to think and unconsciously compare our country with the United Kingdom. How is it that these things seem to work effortlessly in the UK, with same Nigerians, yet they are not able to replicate same level of character when at home?

Olukemi Olufunto “Kemi” Badenoch, a British/Nigeria politician serving as Secretary of State for Business and Trade since 2023 and President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden in Essex since 2017.

“No Black person ever went broke telling white people what they want to hear.” is a popular saying

With that in mind, this is Kemi: “I tell my children this is the best country in the world to be Black – because it’s a country that sees people, not labels.” Back of the net. She continued: “It wasn’t a tough decision for us to reject the divisive agenda of critical race theory. We believe, as Martin Luther King once said, people should be judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin.”

In conclusion, I like to put it on record that integrity, dignity, and wisdom are true indicators of beauty. Therefore, it is important for the system to be cleaned up and the masquerade unmasked. This is obviously an unenviable task before our dear President Bola Tinubu.

Richard Odusanya

[email protected]

How Gbajabiamila allegedly tried to corner $30bn, 66 property traced to Tunde Sabiu

By Segun Olatunji, First News Online

●Aso Rock cabal intensifies witch-hunt of Obazee
●Continues to starve Special Investigator’s team of operational funds contrary to President Tinubu’s directives

Details emerged at the weekend about how President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and the new cabal at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, allegedly attempted to corner the $30billion looted funds and the 66 landed choice property traced by the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee to Tunde Sabiu, a former Personal Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was also learnt that the Presidency cabal has intensified its fight against the complete government take-over of the four erring banks seized by the Central Bank of Nigeria early this month by allegedly arranging for their cronies to surreptitiously buy over the affected banks.

The former owners of the seized banks, it was further learnt, are negotiating with some highly-placed Presidency officials on how to retrieve the banks from the CBN through the backdoor.

CBN had on January 10 announced the sack of the managements of Union Bank, Titan Trust Bank, Polaris and Keystone banks and dissolved their Boards in line with the directives of President Bola Tinubu following a report of the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, on the erring banks.

The Aso Rock cabal, it was learnt, had on a number of occasions allegedly concocted lies against the Special Investigator with the aim of convincing President Tinubu to halt his investigations and eventually sack him.

The cabal has also allegedly been shielding many of the suspects that should have been interrogated by the office of the Special Investigator.

Competent Aso Rock sources said if not for the determination, resilience, courage and the unwavering devotion to duty exhibited by the Special Investigator, he and his team would have been unable to retrieve the four banks from their sacked managements and dissolved Boards, as top government and Presidency officials were busy hobnobbing and conniving with them and other alleged looters of the nation’s commonwealth.

Several efforts were also allegedly made by the cabal to prevail on the Special Investigator to compromise his investigations and reports to the President.

The cabal also allegedly instructed the Special Investigator to report to them first before briefing and presenting his reports to the president.

It was gathered that trouble, however, started when the Special Investigator refused to be dictated to by the Aso Rock cabal on how to go about his job and who to investigate.

The Special Investigator, it was learnt, refused to take instructions from members of the cabal, insisting that it’s against the presidential directives and mandate given to him by President Tinubu who appointed him.

As a result of the Special Investigator’s refusal to dance to the tune of the cabal, it was learnt, they have ensured that his team of investigators is continuously starved of the necessary funds to enable them to carry out their assignments, contrary to repeated instructions from President Tinubu that their operations should be adequately funded.

Meanwhile, competent sources told First News that Sabiu through his lawyer, had at a recent meeting with the Special Investigator agreed to refund $30billion and also forfeit to the Federal Government 30 per cent of the 66 choice houses and other landed property allegedly traced to him.

The Special Investigator, it was learnt, had planned to brief President Tinubu on his return from his trip to France with a view to securing his approval to commence the implementation of the agreement reached with Sabiu.

It was however learnt that when Gbajabiamila got wind of Sabiu’s deal with the Special Investigator, he allegedly trailed the former presidential aide to the venue of the recent book launch on former President Muhammadu Buhari by his chief spokesperson, Femi Adesina in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu also attended the book launch. But the President’s Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila, who was supposed to stay behind at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the absence of his principal, was said to have also headed to the venue of the book launch where he sought audience with Sabiu, who was also in attendance at the event.

Gbajabiamila was said to have there and then fixed an appointment with Sabiu for 11 pm that night.

At the meeting, Sabiu was said to have disclosed to Gbajabiamila his plan to refund the $30billion loot and also forfeit some landed choice property to the Federal Government, having reached an agreement with the Special Investigator.

It was further learnt that Gbajabiamila, during the meeting, instructed Sabiu to henceforth relate with him on the matter instead of the Special Investigator.

Gbajabiamila allegedly also told Sabiu that he had already made recommendations to Tinubu to sack the Special Investigator, adding that the President had transfered to him the mandate to recover looted funds as well as the landed choice property.

Sabiu and his lawyer, who was in company with him at the meeting with Gbajabiamila were said to have been shocked by Gbajabiamila’s utterances and instructions.

Sabiu, through his lawyer, later got across to the Special Investigator to inform him that his client had been instructed by Gbajabiamila not to relate with his office anymore on the recovery of the looted funds and forfeiture of his landed choice property to the Federal Government, as the President had directed him (Gbajabiamila) to take over the recovery of the looted funds and the forfeiture of the property.

Gbajabiamila then allegedly gave Sabiu and his lawyer a private bank account in which he should deposit the $30 billion.

The President’s Chief of Staff was said to have also told Sabiu that only 20 per cent of the refunded $30billion loot will be paid into FG’s coffers while the remaining 80 per cent will be shared amongst top government officials, including three serving Ministers and some highly placed Presidency officials, whose list was shown to him.

Sabiu and his lawyer were then said to have called the Special Investigator to inform him that they could no longer continue any discussion with him on the matter following Gbajabiamila’s instructions that they should no longer relate with his office.

The Special Investigator is said to be currently preparing a report on the development, and which he plans to hand over to President Tinubu on arrival from his trip to France.

Efforts by our correspondent to speak with Gbajabiamila on the various allegations proved abortive, as he could not be reached on phone.

Meanwhile, a coalition of 259 anti-corruption, civil society and human rights groups, Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER), has however called on President Tinubu not to allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to rubbish the credibility already secured for his administration in the international community through the invaluable works of the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee.

COTER also urged President Tinubu to warn Gbajabiamila to steer clear of what the Special Investigator has been doing successfully since his appointment, which involves handling the very delicate and dangerous national assignment of investigating and recovery all the funds looted by powerful individuals from the CBN and other Government agencies.

COTER’s President, Dr Peter Chima Chukwu and General Secretary, Mallam Auta Ibrahim Koko, stated these in a statement in reaction to Gbajabiamila’s alleged intervention in the functions of the Special Investigator.

According to them, “Obazee has successfully been laundering the image of this country and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration internationally through his bold and courageous work as CBN Special Investigator. So, Gbajabiamila cannot now come and attempt to usurp that office or the Special Investigator’s role after Obazee has taken all the risks to achieve so much in recovering funds from the Federal Government’s coffers and the vaults of the CBN.

“Gbajabiamila should face his own job, which he’s yet to excell and discharge effectively, and stop being a meddlesome interloper. The job Mr President gave him, he has not done well in the first place. Who gave Gbajabiamila the mandate to recover looted funds? Certainly, President Tinubu didn’t do that. We believe this Government should not allow itself to be forced or coerced by some unpatriotic and corrupt elements in government to thread the ignoble path of the previous administration. At least, there should be some decency in government this time round under President Tinubu. Gbajabiamila should be stopped from meddling in the work of the Special Investigator.

“But if he refuses to be called to order, COTER shall not hesitate to mobilise all the civil society groups in Nigeria against him.”

“We commend the Federal Government for fishing Obazee out for the job and we urge the President to adequately appreciate him with a special National honour/award.

“The Special Investigator should also be considered for higher national assignments because we have the confidence in him, that he’ll always deliver. Nigeria should not make the mistake of allowing other countries, international agencies and organisations who are watching events in Nigeria now with keen interest to snatch Obazee away from us. Nigeria seriously needs Obazee at this moment of our journey as a nation.”

Report by firstnewsonline.ng

#AFCON 2024: Now, It’s “One Nigeria”

By Desmond Ekwueme

Ahmed Musa is not Ijaw. Victor Osimhen is not Fulani. Kenneth Omeruo is not Kanuri. William Troost-Ekong is not Tiv. Samuel Chukwueze is not Hausa. Alex Iwobi is not Yoruba. Kelechi Iheanacho is not Isoko.

Ademola Lookman is not Igbo. Stanley Nwabali is not Igala. Chidozie Awaziem is not Idoma. Ola Aina is not Nupe. Zaidu Sanusi is not Ibibio. Calvin Bassey is not Itshekiri. Frank Onyeka is not Yoruba.

Moses Simon is not Igbira. Francis Uzoho is not Berom. Ojo Olorunleke is not Jukun. Paul Onuachu is not Urhobo. Alhassan Yusuf is not Efik.

Semi Ajayi is not Ndokwa. Bright Osayi-Samuel is not Gwari. Joe Aribo is not Ogoni. Terem Moffi is not Igbo. Raphael Onyedika is not Fulani.

By the last check of Yours Sincerely, the Super Eagles have players of Muslim faith just as there are Christians. In fact, captain Musa is a Muslim and his vice Troost-Ekong is a Christian.

I dare ask, Where are the ethnic warriors and their sponsors who let Hell loose during the last general elections? Where are the politicians who were bent on dividing the people and destroying the nation on ethnic and religious lines for their selfish interests?

Where are those who killed, who maimed, who burnt houses and who destroyed the properties and businesses of innocent and law abiding citizens on ethnic and religious grounds?

Where are those who claim to be more Nigerian than others? Where are their children? Is Osimhen their son? Is Lookman their son? Is Bassey their son? Is Chukwueze their son? Where are those who called Nigerian youths lazy? Where are those who won’t allow their children to play football because sports is for the children of the poor?

Where are those who relegated sports to the background? Where are those who say sports is merely for image making? Where are those who say sports is ordinary recreational activities?

Where are those who have almost destroyed sports on account of their gluttonic lifestyle? Where are those chasing away the ex-internationals from managing and running sports because they want to take over to milk the sector dry and bury it’s dry bones?

Where are they? Where are the real enemies of Nigeria? Who can stop this celebration? Isn’t it clear that good will always overpower evil? When last did Nigerians celebrate together like this?

The Super Eagles through their victory against Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in the Round of 16 of the ongoing AFCON tournament have spoken and issued a clear advice to whoever cares to listen.

Super Eagles say, hide your faces in shame and stop destroying the country on the guises of ethnic bigotry and religious extremism!!!

© DESMOND EKWUEME

FAAN Hq, CBN Departments relocation to Lagos and what’s obtainable around the world

Edited by Philip Obin

It is not uncommon for countries to have their political and commercial capitals situated in different states or cities. This is often due to historical, economic, or geographical reason for

Having separate political and commercial capitals can have its advantages. It allows for a division of power and resources between the two cities, which can lead to a more balanced and efficient governance.

Additionally, it can also lead to a more diverse and varied economy, as each city may have its own unique industries and businesses.

This also reflects the complex and multifaceted nature of modern governance and economics, and the need for adaptable and dynamic approaches to managing them.

For example, Washington D.C. is known as the political hub of the United States of America. It is home to the White House, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Capitol building. The city’s rich history and architecture attract millions of visitors each year.

On the other hand, New York City is the commercial capital of the United States. It is the center of global finance, commerce, and culture. The city is home to Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, and a wide range of multinational corporations.

Moving on to China, Beijing is not just the political capital but also a cultural hub. It is home to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, including the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City.

Shanghai, on the other hand, is China’s financial and commercial capital. It is one of the world’s largest ports and a hub for international trade and investment.

In Germany, Berlin is the political and cultural capital. It is a city steeped in history and home to numerous museums, galleries, and monuments. Frankfurt, on the other hand, is the financial hub of the country and a major center for the European economy.

Moving on to Canada, Ottawa is the political capital and home to the Canadian parliament. Toronto, on the other hand, is the business and financial capital of the country. It is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange and a wide range of businesses, including major banks and multinational corporations.

In South Africa, Pretoria is the political capital and home to the government and administrative offices. Johannesburg, on the other hand, is the commercial capital and the largest city in the country. It is a hub for mining, finance, and telecommunications.

Yamoussoukro is the political capital of Cote D’Ivoire. It is a small city with a population of just over 300,000. Abidjan, on the other hand, is the commercial capital and the largest city in the country. It is a hub for commerce, finance, and industry.

There are several other countries where the political and commercial capitals are located in separate states, such as:

Bolivia: Political capital is La Paz while commercial capital is Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Malaysia: Political capital is Kuala Lumpur while commercial capital is Selangor.

Myanmar: Political capital is Naypyidaw while commercial capital is Yangon.

Finally, in Nigeria, Abuja is the political capital and home to the government and administrative offices. Lagos, on the other hand, has been the commercial, business, and financial capital of the country; and one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa and a hub for trade and investment.

In conclusion, knowing the difference between a country’s political and commercial capital is crucial for understanding its economic and social landscape.

We must strive to educate ourselves and others to avoid speaking out of ignorance.

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