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CJ FCT raises concern over decline in respect to human dignity in Nigeria

  • Tambuwal urges the judiciary to restore hope to Nigeria

By Lillian Okenwa

Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf on Thursday expressed concern over the continual decline in respect to human dignity in Nigeria.

Noting that a number of performance indexes indicate that Nigeria is below par in the matter of respect to human dignity, His Lordship who was Chairman of the Occasion of the 2023 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja, Unity Bar, held that it is the responsibility of lawyers to work towards raising the bar in this regard and in ensuring the protection of the rights of its citizens.

Declaring the Law Week open, Justice Baba-Yusuf, congratulated the Unity Bar for keeping up the age-long tradition of law week.

Tracing the origins of Law Week to the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who in 1958 made the Proclamation 3221—Law Day, a day set aside to remember the Law, Hon. Justice S. C. Oriji who represented the Chief Judge added that the importance of networking in events like this should not be neglected.

Keynote speaker and former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Waziri Tambuwalin his paper—The Crucial Role of Legal Professionals in Reforming Nigeria’s Socio-Political Economy, gave clues on how the judiciary could restore hope to Nigeria.

“In the judicature legal professionals are clearly dominant: the entire court system is manned by magistrates, judges, and justices who are legal professionals. The primary function of the judiciary is to ensure justice for the people. The courts play a huge role in deciding the fate of parties in a dispute. It also punishes people for committing crimes. The parties in dispute, in the case of Nigeria, may be between the tiers of government, between citizens and government, or between one citizen and another. Social conflict will escalate and where there is no hope that justice will be served by recourse to the courts, anarchy may result.

“In Attorney General of Abia State & Ors vs Attorney General of the Federation (2003)LLJR- SC the Attorneys-General of the 36 had challenged the power of the president in making an Execute Order altering the provision of Act of the National Assembly on revenue allocation formula. The Supreme Court held that the action of the President was lawful under his constitutional power to modify the law for purposes of implementation.

“This successfully resolved what would have injected a feud between the two arms of Government. In the protection of the rights of citizens against reckless use of governmental powers, the celebrated case of Shugaba Darman vs Federal Minister &Ors readily comes to mind. In the instant case, the Federal Minister of Internal Affairs had issued a deportation order against Shugaba then a legislator. The Maiduguri High Court ruled in favour of Shugaba, revoked the deportation order, and awarded damages to the tune of 350,000 Naira to Shugaba. The Federal government appealed the verdict to the Court of Appeal and again lost. Here the judiciary had effectively protected the right of a citizen against the state in line with the dictates of the rule of law.

“We had earlier indicated corruption as one of the socio-political challenges facing the nation. We also discussed legislative interventions through the enactment of laws. It is only when the judiciary applies the laws and culprits are punished that the desired deterrence is realized. In other words, through this process, the judiciary is able to curb crimes. Even in the relationship between the executive and the Legislature conflicts arise and it is the place of the judiciary to resolve such disputes.”

While the Solicitor General of the Federation Beatrice Jedy-Agba, in her goodwill message tasked lawyers on the need to continue using law as a tool for social justice, Chairman of NBA Gwagwalada Branch Emmanuel Tayo Ogunjipe who spoke on behalf of other visiting Chairpersons in the FCT — Bwari, Garki, and Nyanya/Karu Branch counselled that all three arms must work together to deliver justice to the citizens.

Giving an insight into what the Law Week has to offer, Chairman of the branch Afam Okeke revealed that throughout the course of the event, “we will explore various facets of the interaction. We will delve into topics such as subsidy and Nigeria’s energy sector, thriving in an ever-changing legal world, and the role of lawyers in shaping Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

“Our aim is to foster a robust dialogue, share insights, and inspire innovative approaches that uphold justice in this rapidly changing landscape.”

Army, DSS, Police, others must provide maximum protection for Kogi SDP Guber candidate – Federal High Court

By Ladidi Sabo

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday directed all security agencies in the country to “provide maximum security” to Murtala Ajaka, gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Making the order sequel to the prayers in a motion exparte dated 11 July 2023 and filed on the same day by Ajaka’s lawyers, led by S.E. Aruwa, SAN, Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, the Army, Navy, Department of State Services  (DSS), and the Police, to “provide maximum security to the Applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi State and elsewhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The Kogi chapter of the SDP had accused Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting with some security chiefs to arrest or abduct its candidate in the State’s November 11 governorship election.

The party in a statement issued by Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the Director of Communications for the Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Campaign Organization had alleged that the aim was to clamp the candidate into detention and possibly, to assassinate him.

Named as defendants in the fundamental rights enforcement suit marked —Suit No: FHC/AB3/CS/9 52/ 2023 are: Alhaji Yahaya Bello {Executive Governor Of Kogi State), Nigeria Police Force, The Inspector-General Of Police, the Commissioner Of Police (Kogi State Police Command), Department Of State Services, The Director-General Department Of State Services, The Director, Department Of State Service (Kogi State Command), Commandant-General Nigerian Security And Civil Defence Corps, The Chief Of Defence Staff, The Chief Of Army Staff and The Chief Of Navy Staff.

The Court in its ruling held:

“An Order is hereby made restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and anybody acting through or under the from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the Applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An Order is hereby made compelling the 2nd to 11th Respondents to immediately provide maximum security to the Applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi State and elsewhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“Applicant is hereby ordered to serve Respondents with all the processes in this suit together with the Oder of Court.”

The case has been adjourned to 21 July 2023 for hearing.

Ruling-in-SUIT-NO-FHCABJ-CS9522023

SUIT-NO-FHCABJ-CS9522023

FCT High Court halts FG’s move to demolish Trademore Estate

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday made an order restraining the Federal government and its privies from further trespassing on, making any attempt to demolish Trademore Estate.

Granting the order sought by Trademore International Holding Nigeria Ltd ( developers of Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja ), Hon Justice Zubairu Mohammed High Court No 51, Jikwoyi, gave an order for maintenance of status quo and an interim injunction restraining all the federal government defendants and their employees, agents, officials, privies and all those purporting to be acting for them or deriving title from them, and any other persons howsoever and whomsoever called, from trespassing, or further trespassing on, demolishing or further demolishing Trademore Estate, known as Plot 1981, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja.

Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, had on behalf of Trademore Estate filed a suit against some Federal Government functionaries and Agencies who had threatened to further demolish Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, over issues concerning flooding of the estate.

In the said writ of summons filed by Prof Ozekhome, Trademore International Holding had, amongst other reliefs, asked the court to restrain the Hon Minister of FCT, the Federal Capital Development Authority ( FCDA), the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC ) and the Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC ) from demolishing the estate with the buildings and appurtenances thereon; or evicting the occupants from the said Trademore Estate; or from trespassing on in any manner howsoever, into the Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja; or from carrying out any further or fresh demolition exercise of any structures or buildings in the said estate; or in any way interfering with the plaintiff’s exclusive right of ownership and possession of the said property.

Trademore Holding in the main suit complained to the court about earlier illegal, wanton, and unconscionable demolition of buildings belonging to innocent occupants in the estate by agents of the Defendants when it was manifestly clear that the three floodings ever experienced in the estate since it was built in 2007,were all caused, not by the Plaintiff or occupants of the estate, but by acts of gross negligence occasioned by the Defendants; or through outright inaction by agents of the Federal Government, by refusing to implement any of the anti-flooding measures jointly devised and agreed upon at various meetings and through several correspondences by representatives of the Federal government and Trademore Holding International Ltd ( owners of theTrademoreEstate ).

The Plaintiff argued, amongst others, that if the Defendants through the Ecological Fund had not built a very narrow carnal instead of a huge bridge to allow free passage of water coming from a now broken down and disused dam that runs through several adjoining settlements, coupled with several unstrained excavatory acts of other developers in the area, there would have been no incidence of flooding in the estate.

Trademore Holding, therefore, sought from the court an order for maintenance of status quo and also an ex parte order of interim injunction restraining all the Defendants,or their agents, servants, employees or privies howsoever and whomsoever, from any acts for further trespass or demolition of the estate or any part thereof, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction which was also filed alongside the writ of summons, statement of claim and the motion for an interim injunction.

In the ex parte application argued today ( 12th July 2023), by Benson Igbanoi, Esq, leading Miss Vivian Oluchi Uche ( holding the brief of the Plaintiff’s Counsel, Professor Ozekhome ), the learned trial Judge, Hon Justice Zubairu Mohammed granted all the Claimant’s injunctive reliefs against the federal government functionaries and agents.

He also specifically granted the second prayer which requested that ” all parties maintain status quo, while the Motion on Notice and Writ of Summons be served on the Defendants forthwith”.

His Lordship thereafter adjourned the motion on notice for hearing to the 22nd of September,2023.

On Monday 10 July 2023, Law & Society in an article: :Video: Danger Alert! A worse calamity than Trademore Estate disaster might be brewing in Abuja”, revealed that while a worse disaster could be brewing, the flooding is mostly from outside the estate.

Read the article here. https://lawandsocietymagazine.com/video-danger-alert-a-worse-calamity-than-trademore-estate-disaster-might-be-brewing-in-abuja/

Mmesoma Is Guilty, But Tinubu Is As Guilty As Hell!

By Ayo Lijadu

In the past one week or so, the story of a young 19-year-old girl, Mmesoma Ejikeme, whom the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), accused of falsifying her 2023 JAMB/UTME results, had gone viral and taken the front stage of national discourse, both in the traditional mainstream, as well as social media.

With the girl initially denying the accusation levelled against her by the examination body, (to the extent of posting an emotional-laden denial video which similarly went viral), emerging opposing camps, (pitching their tents either for or against JAMB and the girl, Mmesoma), fought verbally and bitterly, reaching fever-pitch heights on virtually all known media.

To cut a long story short, after presenting irrefutable evidence which the girl could no longer deny, she made a volte-face and finally admitted to commiting the crime.

Naturally, and most expectedly, JAMB wielded and applied sanctions for her crime and misdemeanor. You don’t commit a crime at your young age, refuse to accept your culpability, and then go ahead to ridicule and cast aspersions on the integrity of an institution like JAMB, and then expect that same body to give you a mere slap-on-the-wrist kind of punishment.

Now, the extreme severity or otherwise of the punishment handed out to the young girl is not an issue I would like to dwell upon in this article. That can be a subject matter of engagement for others who may like to take it up.

There are, however, more crucial and fundamental issues I believe this Mmesoma saga has thrown up which expose us for who we really are: a nation of hypocrites.

A young 19-year-old girl commits a misdemeanor which is condemnable, and for which she has been adjudged guilty and sanctioned appropriately.

However, what I find distasteful and nauseating is the hypocritical, sanctimonious, and self-righteous indignation of millions of adults who, while the Mmesoma saga lasted, unleashed salvos of condemnation upon the girl as if she had committed the most heinous of crimes ever heard about in this country. This same country where most of these people baying at this young first offender have repeatedly, through their moral, verbal, and financial support and electoral votes, elected adult scoundrels and other criminals and multiple offenders into the National and State Assemblies, as well as State and National political offices.

Typical and most appropriate example:

Just about the same time that the Mmesoma saga emerged, Senate Majority Leader and long-time associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, admitted under cross-examination at the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that the $460,000 dollars forfeiture by the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the United States of America in the early 1990s was, indeed, related to dealings in narcotics and money laundering offences.

For over thirty years since his forfeiture of this huge sum of money to the US Treasury for narcotics and money laundering-related offences, President Tinubu has refused to openly admit or address his culpability in the above-mentioned case each time accusations came up. Instead, his spokespersons and lawyers have repeatedly sang the same ridiculous medley of songs, to wit, “he was never convicted”, “it was a civil forfeiture”, “it was his bank accounts that were charged to court in the case and not Bola Tinubu himself.”

The last preposterous and asinine defense, that is, “it was his bank accounts that were charged and not Bola Tinubu himself”, being made by no less a personality than a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), by name, Festus Keyamo.

The obvious questions any reasonable person, (one who is still able to make reasonable use of his grey matters), should ask Festus Keyamo, (SAN), are:

(a) can a bank account having a name and profile attached to it open itself without the entity bearing that name approaching the bank to be recognized as the one
opening the account?

(b)not being a joint account, can anyone, other than the owner of an active account, authorize deposits into, (through providing account details), or withdrawals out of, an account? In other words, can a bank account, (without human prompting), and by itself,
be active in deposit and withdrawal activities?

Now, given that in every case of a suspected criminal asset believed by authorities as being linked to criminal activities, and before a final order for full or partial forfeiture is made by any court, interested parties to the asset are normally invited to produce identification and show proof of ownership of the asset, as well as show cause why they should not suffer forfeiture of the asset in contention, therefore;

(c) Who made identification or representation of ownership with regards to the funds in the Tinubu accounts forfeiture court case? Was it the inanimate bank accounts in Tinubu’s name which Keyamo, (SAN), said were the ones charged in the court case and not Tinubu himself, or his legal representatives?

(d) If in (c) above, it was the former, were these inanimate accounts able to adequately make depositions in their defence before the judge and convince the court not to seize the full amount of over $1.4 million dollars in them, but to allow them forfeit only $460,000?

(e) Did these inanimate accounts “walk up” to the courts to “speak” and “defend” their interests, or did Tinubu himself or lawyers appointed by him represent him in the final partial forfeiture decision arrived at by the court?

These are the relevant kind of questions anyone with his grey matters functioning at optimal level should ask a floundering and obviously less than intelligent Festus Keyamo, (SAN), offering such asinine defense that is so offensive to our collective intelligence as a people.

But, you know what? Hordes of apparently and seemingly unthinking people who boast of being the President’s ardent supporters and followers, despite being in knowledge of the above facts of his culpability in this drug-related case for decades, nevertheless turn blind eyes and deaf ears to the obvious facts of the case and continue to chorus the same medley of ridiculous songs in defence of the one whom they deliriously eulogize as the “master of political sagacity.”

At age 19, Mmesoma was culpable of altering her JAMB/UTME results, which offence one could say negatively affected only herself and her immediate family.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the other hand, (who was a fully grown and matured adult in his forties at the time), by the forfeiture of his over $460,000 traced to narcotics and money laundering dealings, was, and still is, culpable, (whether directly or indirectly), for spreading death and destruction, as well as negatively altering the destinies of millions of youths, in which age group Mmesoma belongs.

Whether we like to hear the truth or not, the illicit drugs and other related narcotic substances for which governments all over the world battle drug dealers, smugglers, and kingpins, do only one thing: deliver death and destruction to millions of impressionable youths who are the ultimate targets of these Merchants of Death.

That is how much more serious the culpability of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is, compared to Mmesoma Ejikeme, a mere child, who, (like other impressionable youths), look for good examples to follow, but for decades on end only see very bad examples from supposed elders and leaders.

If you have ever supported this President, having known about his drug case and culpability over the years, (as attested to by his close associate of over thirty years, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele), and you never dissociated yourself from him but continued to support him, and yet you had the effrontery to criticize and lambast a first-time teenage offender whose crime is far less in magnitude, then you are nothing but a monumental hypocrite.

The truth of the matter is, if Mmesoma Ejikeme could own up to her crime and culpability after one week of commiting the crime, and yet is not left off but adjudged Guilty, then, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who committed a more heinous offence related to narcotics and money laundering necessitating forfeiture of his funds, but who, after over three decades is yet to admit and own up to his own culpability, is As Guilty As Hell!

It is time for us to stop being a nation of hypocrites.

  • Ayo Lijadu is a veteran actor, former Presidential aspirant, and later Senatorial candidate of Kowa Party for Lagos East senatorial district in the 2019 General Elections. He features regularly in the daily TV soap, Tinsel, and writes from Lagos.

Nanny allegedly vanishes with madam’s baby boy in Abuja

  • Baby’s mother battling cancer

Following the disappearance of a baby boy with his nanny from their Gwarimpa residence in Abuja, a distraught Abuja businesswoman is calling on Nigerians to come to their aid.

Making the disclosure on Instagram on Monday, July 10, 2023, the businesswoman who revealed that the mother of the missing baby is battling cancer, said the nanny left the estate with the baby and never returned.

CCTV footage captured the nanny with the baby on her back exiting the residence.

The Instagram post reads:

“Please help find this baby and pray for his safe return. Taken by his nanny from an estate in Gwarimpa Abuja. Please be on the lookout and pray. The boy’s mum is battling cancer.. help please,” she wrote.

Did you know that limitation law does not count during the pendency of a suit ??? By Carrington Omokaro, Esq

Where an aggrieved person commences an action within the period prescribed by the statute and such action is subsequently struck out for one reason or the other without being heard on the merit or subjected to an outright dismissal, such action is still open to be recommenced at the instance of the Claimant and the limitation period shall not count during the pendency of the earlier suit. In order words, the computation of time during the pendency of an action shall remain frozen from the filing of the action until it is determined or abates.

EXAMPLE
You institute an action bothering on the declaration of title to land at the Federal High Court in 2006. The cause of action arose in 2004. Judgment was delivered by the Federal High Court in 2012. The aggrieved party appeals and the Court of Appeal just before delivering judgment in 2018 raises the issue of jurisdiction and rules that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction. 2004-2018 is 14 years which is above the 12 years limitation period in most land cases. However, the Claimant is still allowed to institute the action in the appropriate court. The “time” spent in the wrong Court will not count.

SEE, SIFAX (NIG) LTD Vs MIGFO (NIG) LTD (2016) 7 NWLR (Pt 1510) 10 (COURT OF APPEAL)

SIFAX (NIG.) LTD V. MIGFO (NIG.) LTD (2018) 9 NWLR (PT. 1623) 138 (SUPREME COURT)

ALDIN condemns the gruesome murder of 62-year-old Adetunji Ayaji, a physically challenged man

The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has condemned the brutal and gruesome murder of Adetunji Ayaji, a 62-year-old physically challenged man who was assassinated in his house in the Imasayi community, Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The septuagenarian was reportedly macheted to death around 3:pm on Wednesday, 5 July, 2023 by unknown assailants who allegedly broke into his house after his family members had departed for work.

The family members met his lifeless body in the pool of his blood upon their return.

In a press statement issued at the ALDIN Headquarters in Abuja, the National President of ALDIN, Ikem U. Uchegbulam Esq, described the vicious attack as dastardly, senseless and unconscionable.

“This deeply shocking attack is another horrific reminder of the real threats of violence and insecurity that persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people in the country continue to face daily in their struggle to survive”, the ALDIN boss said.

The association condoled with the family and the disability community on the unfortunate incident and reiterated that the lives of Persons With Disabilities matter.

In the same vein, ALDIN commends the Nigeria Police Force on the arrest of Siyaka Mohammed, the alleged murderer of Aisha Aminu, a Physically Challenged Woman and mother of three, who was murdered in a most inhumane and barbaric manner on 7 June 2023, at about 6 AM in her shop located in Obehira Okene LGA, Kogi State.

It would be recalled that Aisha was ferociously attacked by her 44 years old boyfriend, identified as Siyaka Mohammed. The savage assailant forcibly dragged her from the inner chambers of her shop and mercilessly stabbed her multiple times until she succumbed to her injuries.

Mohammed later fled but has now been apprehended by the police. The Association however, urge the authorities to speedily prosecute the suspect to serve as deterrent.

Noting with dismay that the apparent profiling, targeting and killing of persons with disabilities have gone on unchecked for too long, the association however insists that it must be stemmed.

According to the statement signed by the association’s National Director of Media and Publicity, Justice Christopher, “ALDIN therefore demands the swift investigation by the government, of these ugly incidents of unlawful killings of innocent citizens, particularly persons with disabilities with a view to bringing the culprits to justice and urge them to strengthen remedial measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Nothing but these will ensure the killings end and restore people’s confidence in the ability of the Government to guarantee the security of their lives and property.”

Police dismiss Inspector fingered in alleged stealing six-hour-old boy

  • Boy’s whereabouts still unknown

By Lillian Okenwa

Gender activist and Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi has again called on the police high command to expedite action in unravelling the whereabouts of Baby Joseph who was allegedly stolen when he was only six-hour-old by a police officer Inspector Samuel Ukpabio.

Although the Lagos State Police Command has announced the dismissal of the accused officer identified as Inspector Samuel Ukpabio, the baby boy’s location at the moment remains a mystery.

A 35-year-old Fortune Obhafuoso had accused Ukpabio, a police officer attached to the Child Trafficking Department, C.I.D. Panti, Yaba, Lagos, of conniving with others to forcefully take away her six-hour-old baby on December 23, 2022. He then transferred N170,000 to her with a warning to never return or risk being arrested for child trafficking.

Announcing the dismissal on his verified Twitter handle thus: “The recommendation for the dismissal of Inspector Samuel Ukpabio has been approved,” the command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said it would pave the way for his prosecution.

There had been a series of petitions to the Office of the Inspector General of Police by legal advocate/rights activist, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre, WARDC.

But reacting to this development, Akiyode-Afolabi said the baby’s whereabouts still needed to be known.

“We are happy that a commendable step has been taken so that this case did not follow the story of impunity that we normally see when a police officer behaves in such a way that is unbecoming of a member of the Nigerian Police Force. However, we are still very worried about the fact that we are yet to be given the right information about where the baby is”, she told Sunday Vanguard.

“The police need to come out publicly to tell us where Baby Joseph is; whether they are closing the case or there is still hope for the mother about seeing her baby.

“The mother needs to know what happened, the public that is also aware that a six-hour-old baby was abducted, also needs to know. Even as a not-for-profit advocating and supporting Obhafuoso, we are also curious to know what really happened. As a mother, I know this is not going to be easy for any woman who had a baby and the baby just disappeared into thin air without any connection,” she lamented.

Disclosing that the mother, Obhafuoso, had suffered a lot of trauma and has had to see a lot of psychiatrists, Akiyode-Afolabi said it had, in fact, been very difficult handling her situation.

“She had been in the custody of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters, NAPTIP, but has now been relocated to another place because we also know that her life is at stake since things like this usually involve a dangerous ring from whom victims require protection”, the activist said.

“I particularly think the knowledge of what has happened to the baby will give her more succor and help her to understand whether she needs to do a closure or not. There should at least be evidence of what happened so that the mother can also be given the appropriate therapeutic need. Joseph might be a baby, but he is a human being. Is he dead or alive? If alive, where is he? If dead, where is the evidence?”

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi had initially raised the alarm when Baby Joseph was allegedly forcefully taken away from his mother on December 23, 2022, by Ukpabio.

Indicting the police high command over the issue, given that her organization had since sent a petition, she said: “We are alarmed by the month-long silence of the Inspector General of Police.

“On February 6, 2023, a petition, addressed to the Inspector General of Police to transfer the case against Ukpabio for abduction and human trafficking of Baby Joseph to the National Agency For The Prohibition of Trafficking In Person, NAPTIP, was made by 141 human and women’s rights organisations led by WARDC but there has been no response since then.

“We were reliably informed by the victim that she solicited assistance on social media sometime in October 2022 due to her condition, being a single mother of two kids who were at that time about seven months pregnant. She was offered assistance by one Mrs. Tosin Jeremiah who claimed to be a Matron.

“The said Mrs. Jeremiah invited the victim along with her kids over on December 16, 2022, and directed her to her friend’s place at Agbara, Lagos. The victim stayed with Jeremiah’s friend (Mama Rachel) for one week. On December 22, 2022, the said Tosin’s friend ordered an Uber taxi that took our client from Agbara to MR BIGG’S at Abule-Egba, where a doctor and a lady came to pick the victim to one hospital annex located at Ajegunle Bus Stop, Alakuko, by Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos, where the victim delivered a baby boy on December 23, 2022.

“Few hours after the victim’s delivery, the same doctor took her back to MR BIGG’S at Abule-Egba for the same Uber driver to take her back to Agbara. There, the victim met with two ladies and Mr. Ukpabio, who introduced himself as a police officer from Nigeria Police Force, Panti C.I.D, Yaba Lagos.

“The officer arrested our client on the spot, alleging/accusing her of child trafficking. She was thereafter taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, same day, through a back entrance, where Mr. Ukpabio threatened her to write a statement which she wrote under duress, following which her one-day-old baby was forcefully taken away from her and handed over to the woman who accompanied Mr. Ukpabio to carry out the arrest at Abule-Egba.

“The victim reported that the officer released her after her baby was taken away and she was offered N15,000 to order a ride home with her other children; he thereafter threatened her never to show up or demand the whereabouts of her baby, claiming that government will take responsibility for the baby.

“The victim has further informed us that on 24/12/2022, she called Mr Ukpabio to demand her baby and the said officer threatened her again on the phone to report her to NAPTIP on allegation of child trafficking.

“The victim reported calling him again on 25/12/2022, challenging him to produce her newborn baby. At this point, Mr. Ukpabio requested for the victim’s account number and forwarded the sum of N170,000 (one hundred and seventy thousand naira) for her to take care of herself.

“This action of the unsolicited money transfer points to a suspicion that the baby has been sold. The victim is distraught as a result of the trauma of the near loss of her baby. An officer of the law, Mr. Ukpabio, and his syndicate have taken advantage of her situation and circumstantial vulnerability.

“She, therefore, pleaded for immediate intervention, demanding that Ukpabio and his alleged syndicate be apprehended and made to disclose the whereabouts of the victim’s newborn baby boy.”

Meet Funmilayo Ekundayo ICSAN’s first female President

Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo has been elected President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN). She is the first woman to hold the position which has been attributed to excellence and hard work on her part.

A Lawyer by training and a native of Obbo-Aiyegunle town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Funmi Ekundayo’s areas of specialization include Corporate Trusteeship, Wealth Management, Business Strategy, and Corporate Governance.

An Alumna of the Harvard Business School, Boston Massachusetts, and member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, United Kingdom, and Nigeria, she currently serves as the President of Association of Corporate Trustees of Nigeria and she is also a member of the Rules & Compliance Sub-Committee of the Capital Market Committee of the Securities & Exchange Commission.

She holds a Bachelor of Law degree and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Lagos. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) where she serves as a member of the Governing Council and current Chairman of the Law Reform Committee of the Institute.

Funmi began her working career with the reputable Law Firm of Bentley Edu & Co (in association with IRVING & BONNAR), where she spent close to a decade in legal practice. Thereafter she left legal practice for the financial sector when she joined Sterling Asset Management & Trustees Limited (formerly NAL Asset Management & Trustees Limited).

ICSAN’s first female boss also worked in UBA Trustees Limited as Head, Business Development & Marketing prior to joining Skye Trustees Limited as AGM, Business Development, from where she rose to become the MD/CEO of the Company.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of Law Union & Rock Plc in a Non-Executive capacity where she acts as an Independent Director. Funmi is also a Member of the Institute of Directors and an Alumna of the Chief Executive Programme of the Lagos Business School and the IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain.

In his congratulatory message, the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq described her track record of excellence as unbeatable.

“We are excited by the election of Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo as the first-ever female president of the prestigious professional body. But her emergence did not come as a surprise; it is a reward for her unbeatable track record of excellence, consistency, and character with which she has blazed the trails over the years,” according to a Government House statement on Sunday.

“On behalf of the people and government of Kwara State, His Excellency the Governor congratulates Mrs Ekundayo on her strides, and for being a pride of Kwara and of the illustrious family of the late Prof. Funsho Adaramola, an authority in international law. This feat again shows clearly that Mrs Ekundayo, herself a consummate lawyer, is indeed a chip off the old block and we are glad to associate with her. We beseech God to continue to guide her, and make her new leadership role a huge success.”

Police open talks with BBC over presenter suspended after paying minor £35,000 for explicit images

After a notable male television presenter was suspended by the BBC over allegations that he paid a teenager for sexually explicit images, officers of the Metropolitan Police have commenced conversations with the renowned organization.

Speaking about her shock at seeing the lewd image of the star, the traumatised mother of the youth paid £35k for sex photographs by the famous host said: “Stripped half naked, the BBC man was on his sofa waiting for my child to perform for him” after he allegedly began sending requests for sexually explicit images when her child was just 17.

While the crime has been revealed to carry a maximum 14-year prison sentence, top lawyers say he could now face a lengthy police investigation over potential criminal behaviour.

However, the BBC is struggling to contain the mounting scandal over claims that its presenter who happens to be a household name paid £35,000 over three years to a young person who used the money to fund their crack cocaine habit.

The Metropolitan police confirmed it was in discussions with the BBC about the incident but had not received a formal allegation: “We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.”

Media outlets have not named the presenter, with sources at the Sun citing the UK’s increasingly strong privacy laws as a reason for not identifying them. Last year the supreme court ruled that, in most cases, individuals under investigation by official organisations should not be named before charges are brought because it could unfairly damage their reputation.

The young person, who was allegedly 17 years old when they began talking to the presenter, is said to have sent the BBC employee explicit images and performed on video calls.

Although the age of consent in England and Wales is 16 years old, the minimum age at which people are allowed to send explicit photographs is 18.

The young person’s mother complained to the BBC in mid-May about the presenter’s alleged actions but he remained on air until she took her story to the Sun last week. She told the newspaper she had seen the presenter “stripped to his underpants for a video call” with her child, who is now 20 years old. “I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life,” she said. “Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”

She added: “We never wanted an investigation. We just wanted the BBC to tell him to stop. Initially the security boss gave us a number that didn’t exist.”

The presenter remained on air until last week, when journalists at the Sun approached the BBC for comment. A specialist unit at the Metropolitan police that deals with high-profile individuals was informed of the allegations on Friday, with further conversations with the police due to take place this week.

Questions are already being asked over whether the BBC acted fast enough to suspend the presenter. One BBC source suggested the initial complaint from the mother had been “concerning”, but the claims she made to the Sun were more substantial and triggered a full-blown investigation. It is not known if the young person is cooperating with any inquires.

One key legal issue is whether the young person sent the BBC presenter any pictures when they were 17, which could amount to possession of child sexual abuse images, a serious criminal charge that incurs a minimum of six months’ prison. If explicit photos were exchanged only after they turned 18, it is possible that no law was broken.

The corporation said on Sunday: “The BBC takes any allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations. This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps.

“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care. We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.”

The mother told the Sun that she had gone to the press because she felt the BBC was not acting fast enough on her allegations: “My child said they had run out of money and then suddenly had this cash. It’s obvious to me the BBC hadn’t spoken to this man between our complaint on 19 May and in June, as they thought he was too important.”

The BBC director general, Tim Davie, also emailed staff about the allegations, confirming that the corporation had first received a complaint almost two months ago. He said new allegations of a different nature were put to the corporation on Thursday, prompting the suspension of the presenter: “By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex.”

He also condemned false accusations against various other prominent male BBC presenters that have spread on social media, which have forced the likes of Nicky Campbell, Jeremy Vine and Gary Lineker to distance themselves from the claim.

Davie said: “I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent. We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports.”

The suspension of one of the BBC’s presenters has shocked staff. Senior executives have been locked in regular meetings since the story broke as they work out how to handle the crisis, while the culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, has already held talks with Davie.

“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is now given the space to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action. I will be kept updated,” she said on Sunday.

Credits: The Guardian UK

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