Home Blog Page 696

Love tangos with law as Appeal Court jurist weds National Industrial Court judge in Abuja

It was a meeting of love and the law as two top Nigerian judicial officers got wedded in Abuja on Friday.

The jurists Hon. Justice Abdulazeez Waziri of the Court of Appeal and Hon. Justice Zaynab Bashir (Ph.D) of the National Industrial Court sealed their relationship at the Supreme Court Central Mosque.

The two senior jurists and love-birds are

A wedding invitation card of the couple indicates that the marriage was sponsored by the ranking Hon. Justice Tijani Abubakar (CFR) of the Supreme Court.

The nuptial reception took place at an exclusive venue on Wikki Spring Street in the high-brow Maitama area of Abuja.

Right of Reply to Re: Elevations to the Supreme Court, By Emmanuel Fashakin

My esteemed learned friend, Dr. Emmanuel Fashakin, who wears two hats, medical doctor and lawyer; asked if my position would be the same if the learned justices of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal had given their decisions against the current administration?

My simple answer is yes, it would be the same. However, I reiterate that when I said “going forward,” I was speaking to future elevation exercises after the ongoing.

My position has nothing to do with the current exercise, which was why I prefaced the suggestion with the phrase “going forward.”

However, if vacancies in the Supreme Court are filled as and when due, in which case, whoever serves in the PEPT serves with no vacancy in the Supreme Court, my first paragraph would be irrelevant. Vacancies should be filled as they arise.

Perhaps, I should reproduce what I said in my first paragraph, which would be rendered irrelevant if my second paragraph were the norm.

  1. That going forward, elevation of any member of a Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to the Supreme Court should be placed on hold for a minimum of two years after conclusion of the assignment, for the following reasons:

a). If the Tribunal judgment happened to have been favourable to the government in power, the elevation of one or two of the honourable members thereof to the Supreme Court within one year of their said decision may be construed by an undiscerning public as reward for the job done, NO MATTER HOW HONEST AND PERSPICACIOUS THE DECISION WAS, OR HOW DESERVING THEIR ELEVATION IS.

b). Perception being reality, we ignore public perceptions however undiscerning they are, at our own peril. The justice sector in Nigeria cannot afford further dent, HOWEVER UNFAIR, on our collective image.

c). THIS SUGGESTION IS NOT INTENDED AS A PUNISHMENT on those who served in the Tribunal but to navigate our esteemed sector out of avoidable opprobrium.

Thank you.

Miss Nigeria Organisation celebrates first Miss Nigeria at 93

Ahead of her 93rd birthday on Thursday November 16, 2023, the Miss Nigeria Organisation celebrated the first Miss Nigeria — Miss Nigeria 1957 — Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude.

In a statement, the chairman of Miss Nigeria 1957 Rita Dominic joined family members, friends and professional colleagues in celebrating the nonagenarian.

The statement reads in part, “We are immensely delighted to celebrate the evergreen beauty and brave leader, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude, on the occasion of her 93rd birthday. Her courage, resolve and great strength of character are excellent qualities that have endeared her to us and many others.”

The statement noted Oyelude’s trail-blazing effort of inspiring young girls and women of all ages to achieve their dreams, particularly her ability to leverage the Miss Nigeria platform to make meaningful contributions to her country and humanity in general.

According to Mr. Fidelis Anosike whose Folio Communication owns Miss Nigeria 1957, “Chief Mrs. Grace Oyelude is a mother par excellence and a trailblazer for women empowerment.”

Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude was born on 16, November 1931 in Sabon Gari, Kano to James and Martha Oyelude. She won the maiden edition of Miss Nigeria in 1957. She contested with over 200 other Nigerian ladies and emerged the winner and would later use part of her 200 pounds prize money to travel to England where she studied nursing. She worked briefly in England before returning to Nigeria to serve in various capacities.

Whilst wishing her sound health and all round wellness. The Miss Nigeria 1957 chairman thanked God for the grace that has taken Chief Oyelude to the age of 93 years and prayed the Almighty God to grant her the strength to continue to serve humanity.

It would be recalled that after about 16 years of organizing the pageant to rave reviews, the founder and chairman of Folio Communications, Fidelis Anosike, recently transferred the responsibility of producing and organizing the Miss Nigeria Pageant to The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), owned by his wife Rita Dominic and renowned film director, Mildred Okwo.

Meanwhile, TASC is already putting finishing touches to plans for announcing the call for entries for the Miss Nigeria pageant, which will be held in the first quarter of 2024.

Ever Expanding BRICS: Nigeria to join or not to join

By Hon. Justice Usman B. Bwala (Rtd)

Throughout history, the preservation of peace and stability among nations has been of paramount concern to leaders whether city-states, empires, or nations as we have today. In the past, nations formed alliances as a means of preserving and protecting states. With the coming of the First World War, former alliances were seen as ineffective so the League of Nations was formed.

By 1939, the Second World War was on and when it ended in 1945 the United Nations Organization was established to check any global or state wars. Smaller continental groups were formed like the OAS, Organization of American States, OAU now AU African Union, with the aim of enhancing world peace. Other Organizations were formed like the Non-Aligned movement. With the collapse of communism and the USSR, Non-Aligned movement fell into the oblivion of history.

Of recent, a very powerful organization has emerged called BRIC meaning Brazil, Russia, India China. The genesis of BRICS was a side meeting of foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, in the month of September 2006 in New York. A formal meeting was held in Yekaterinburg Russia on 16th September, 2009 (Wikipedia). It became BRICS when South Africa joined it in 2010.

The name BRIC was coined by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sach in 2001 the original name being BRIC before South Africa joined (Wikipedia). The most populated countries in the world China and India being members, BRICS constitutes 40% of the world population. It’s becoming more of an economic powerhouse as it has established New Development Bank and a payment system. As of now, it meets once a year (Wikipedia).   

BRICS groups mainly include countries from Asia, Africa, and South America. At its latest meeting held in Johannesburg in August, 2023 six new states were admitted namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and UAE. The million-dollar question is: should Nigeria join BRICS or not?

Nigeria played its role as a colonial country under the UK and fought side by side in the First and Second World Wars with British Soldiers.  After independence, Nigerian soldiers were in Congo to maintain peace ever since then Nigeria as a nation has been active in the UN, AU, and ECOWAS. Our joining BRICS will further enhance our standing as a world power.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, our joining BRICS will solidify our being the strong country in Africa. Nigeria is the strongest country in ECOWAS and holds the chair as of now. Nigeria’s soldiers in collaboration with other ECOWAS countries stabilized and brought peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Gambia using the famous ECOMOG.

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa while Lagos state ranks as the 5th strongest economy on the continent. Joining BRICS will enable us consolidate and grow our economy further. About one out of four black persons in the world is a Nigerian. Nigeria plays an active role in world affairs joining BRICS will be a further testament.

BRICS is an expanding organization whose limit is the sky, joining it now will enable us explore and benefit this limitless powerhouse as two of the developed world powers (China, Russia) and two of the leading developing Nations, (Brazil and India) are members. Joining it now and not later we will benefit from it economically, politically, and militarily. Time waits for nobody, Nigeria should join BRICS without much ado.

BRICS may wish to admit as many countries as are willing to join, have a law to govern itself, and a permanent headquarters.

Finally, well done BRICS.

Hon. Justice U.B. Bwala (Rtd), a former judge of Borno State Judiciary wrote from Maiduguri

Re: Elevations to the Supreme Court, By Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN

Emmanuel Fashakin

The proffered solution by my highly esteemed learned friend, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, is rather harsh. Why should a justice have to wait for two years, or bypassed for promotion for two years, simply because he or she served on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal? Why should he be punished for serving the country in a very hot and high-pressure assignment?

To take the argument further, would Akaraiwe SAN waive the two year wait if the justice decides against the ruling President? Are we not then inviting the justices to pervert the course of justice for personal gain?

Read also: Elevations to the Supreme Court, By Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN

Mr Akaraiwe, SAN argued, correctly and reasonably, that the position of late Ogwuta JSC who died two and one half years earlier should have been filled soon after his death. He argued that it would have allowed his successor to have garnered two years experience on the apex court. The more reason why Mr Akaraiwe’s advocacy for delay of two years for justices serving on the PEPT before being elevated to the Supreme Court is surprising.

We need to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court as they arise. The prior service of the justices on the election tribunal should be irrelevant, unless there is evidence of corruption, or other malfeasance, by the affected justice

Emmanuel O. Fashakin, Attorney at Law & Medical Director, Abbydek Family Medical Practice, P.C.

Bizarre: For appearing one time too many in his dream, 20-year-old murders father

A 20-year-old man, David Felix has killed his father for allegedly appearing to him in a dream as a bird; a development that has thrown the people of Madakiya village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna into panic and confusion.

A neighbour who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Felix confessed to the crime after he was interrogated by his kinsmen before being handed over to the police.

According to the source: “Felix told newsmen on Wednesday that his late father recurrently manifested in his dreams as a bird with a human face, attempting to harm him.”

It was gathered that during interrogation at the headquarters of the police, the suspect again admitted to committing the crime.

He, however, expressed regret over his actions, saying, he took the action after waking up from sleep and hit his father with a pestle while the father was asleep.

It was gathered that the action of his son eventually led to his death.

Presenting the suspect before newsmen, the police spokesman ASP Mansir Hassan announced that charges would be filed once investigation is concluded.

Journalist101

Amidst rising inflation, Nigerian Law School hikes tuition fee to N476,000

In the face of hardship and extreme economic crunch, the Nigerian Law School has hiked up its tuition fee to N476,00.

The monumental increase in the fees was disclosed in a circular to the students admitted to the Law School in Abuja for the 2023/2024 session. 

The trending circular signed by the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isah Hayatu Chiroma ,showed nearly a 200 per cent increase in tuition of the school from about N296,000 to N476,000. 

The hike in the tuition fee came amid economic hardship caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy under President Bola Tinubu. 

Tinubu had, on May 29, 2023, announced, in his inaugural speech, the removal of the decade-long subsidy on petroleum products.

He then cited budgetary concerns as the basis of his decision. He revealed the desire of his government to channel the funds towards public infrastructure and improving lives.

Millions of Nigerians have continued to grapple with crippling poverty as the prices of commodities and services continue to rise with spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, raising the alarm over the increasing rate of suicide among Nigerians.

Elevations to the Supreme Court, By Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN

1: Respectfully Proposed:
That going forward in future exercises, elevation of any member of a Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to the Supreme Court should be placed on hold for a minimum of two years after conclusion of the assignment, for the following reasons:

a). If the Tribunal judgment happened to have been favourable to the government in power, the elevation of one or two of the honourable members thereof to the Supreme Court within one year of their said decision may be construed by an undiscerning public as reward for the job done, no matter how honest and perspicacious the decision was, or how deserving their elevation is.

b). Perception being reality, we ignore public perceptions however undiscerning they are, at our own peril. The justice sector in Nigeria cannot afford further dent, however unfair, on our collective image.

c). This suggestion is not intended as a punishment on those who served in the Tribunal but to navigate our esteemed sector out of avoidable opprobrium.

2: BEST SUGGESTION:
Vacancies in the Supreme Court and indeed, all courts should be filled in real time. The fact that as many as eleven vacancies are permitted to exist in the Supreme Court is an affront to the very idea of justice, and undermines jurists on the bench of the Supreme Court growing in experience. Permit me to explain, for example. JSC Ngwuta’s replacement would have garnered about two years experience on the Supreme Court bench by now, if a replacement exercise had commenced as soon as Ngwuta JSC departed two and half years ago. But whoever replaces him on the bench of the Supreme Court, has lost between two and three years experience on that bench of appointed in the next couple of months.

Experience obtained as a Justice of the Court of Appeal does not make up for the experience garnered as a sitting Justice of that Sui Generis court, the Supreme Court.

Thank you.

I.A. (Kizor) Akaraiwe, SAN

[View full list]Federal Judicial Service Commission nominates 22 Justices for Supreme Court elevation

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has put forward 22 justices from the Court of Appeal for consideration by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for elevation to the Supreme Court.

The FJSC’s list, disclosed on Thursday, reveals a regional distribution of nominees. Notably, the North-Central region boasts six nominations, while the South-West and South-South regions each contribute two. The South-East and North-East regions both have six and two nominees, respectively.

This announcement follows revelation in September 2023, highlighting the Supreme Court’s diminished roster, reduced to 11 justices after the retirement of Justice Amina Augie. Justice Amina’s departure, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70, emphasized the urgency of replenishing the court’s bench.

Below is the comprehensive list of nominated justices.

SOUTH EAST:

Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State) – Priority

Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) – Reserve

Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State) – Priority

Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State) – Reserve

Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State) – Priority

Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (Imo State) – Reserve

SOUTH SOUTH:

Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State) – Priority

Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State) – Reserve

SOUTH WEST:

Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State) – Priority

Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State) – Reserve

NORTH CENTRAL:

Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State) – Priority

Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau) – Reserve

Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State) – Priority

Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) – Reserve

Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State) – Priority

Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State) – Reserve

NORTH EAST:

Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State) – Priority

Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State)

NORTH WEST:

Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State) – Priority

Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) – Reserve

Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State) – Priority

Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State) – Reserve

Nigeria’s peace under new threats

By Bosun Emmanuel, Kontein Trinya, B. Aditsoma, C. Atoyebi, J. Atoyebi, A. Alabi, A. Mojirade, S. Braimoh, R. Olokodana

We, a group of concerned citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wish to draw the attention of the country to a volatile declaration read out at the Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos State, on 21st October 2023, by Prof. Isa Maishanu of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.  The declaration was essentially a resolution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), adopted at a meeting held in Saudi Arabia on the same day: 21st October 2023.  As observed from the video, Prof. Maishanu was reading from his cell phone, suggesting that the document had been received over the internet.

While we agree that Prof. Maishanu and the various groups he represented have a freedom of expression, we urge caution in the exercise of that freedom, especially ensuring that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not breached. It amounts to a violation of the Constitution for any individual, or groups of individuals, to seek to draw Nigeria into an international conflict, based on religious affiliations.

That the resolution read by Prof. Maishanu at Freedom Park was from the OIC should have cautioned the respected Professor from calling on the Federal Government to take sides with one party in a conflict that has assumed an evident religious posture. It is in the open that Arab nations generally support Hamas, based clearly on religious affiliations, which is why the OIC met on the issue and produced their resolution.

We are compelled to state that, based on Section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion,” the resolution of the OIC is not binding on Nigeria, on its people, or on its government. Nigeria is not a theocratic state, and no attempt should be made to create that impression. According to our laws, religion is “personal.”  Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees the freedom of religious convictions for its citizens.

We are surprised that the group, represented by the Professor who travelled all the way from Sokoto to Lagos for the purpose of the declaration, expresses horror at the genocide taking place in faraway Palestine, yet has been curiously silent all these years at the greater horror of a genocide being perpetrated by insurgents against Nigerians in states such as Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, and Kaduna, against the Hausa people and other minorities.  Thousands upon thousands of those people have been murdered by bandits, yet there has not been one protest from Prof. Maishanu’s group. Charity, they say, begins at home.  How come the charity of this group is starting in Palestine?  Are Palestinian lives more precious than Nigerian lives?

We wish to alert southern Nigeria, particularly the Yoruba people of the South-West, to beware of religious irredentists sneaking into the region to foment their intolerance. The Yoruba people would usually say that they do not adopt religion with insanity. The mishandling of religion in certain parts of Nigeria, which has had disastrous consequences, should not be imported into Yorubaland or anywhere else in the country. We kindly implore Afenifere, the respected leadership group of the Yoruba people, and other community leaders in Nigeria, to take note of what is going on.  This issue should not be taken lightly.

The group that organized the declaration has its root in Sokoto. They did not stop in Kano to make the declaration. They bypassed Kaduna, went past the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, before making a landfall in Lagos to also strongly urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to promptly redefine its existing international and diplomatic alliances in line with their private religious position.  Such declarations should be interrogated, to expose their real intention. May we ask, What again is being cooked for Nigerians? The Yorubas would rightly say that they do not mix insanity with religion.

In Yorubaland, the Constitution is upheld.  The society is commendably free from religious intolerance. Many families and family extensions there have Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists.  Should descendants of Oduduwa now begin to kill one another over religious differences?  Should the Binis begin to take up arms against the Ibos? Or the Biroms against the Itsekiris? 

We wish to remind Nigerians that every effort must be made to douse the fire of religious extremism in the country. The horrors that Nigeria has witnessed since 2009 when insurgency started, should be eliminated rather than be promoted.  All religious irredentists bent on violating the Constitution should be called to order. The Federal Government should treat as an act of treason every violation of Section 10 and Section 38(1) of the Constitution.

On the issue of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Government and the people of Nigeria are neutral.  That was clear in the message that the Federal government sent to the global community and to the parties in the conflict.  No section of Nigeria is more Nigerian than all the others.  Nigerians are still watching very keenly.

God bless Nigeria.

1...695696697...1,468Page 696 of 1,468

TIPS

Load more