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Tales my patients told me: “Accident” prone Archie!

By Emmanuel Fashakin

Archie loves to come to the Brooklyn office. The girls working in the office don’t like him. He often uses the bathroom, displaying his thing, with the bathroom door wide open. He sometimes grabbed half-reamful pieces of printing papers and takes them to his house for his own use, until I sternly confronted him. Archie is a little bit mentally challenged. Although he is middle-aged, he shakes like a leaf when the girls report his malfeasance to me and I confront him. He acts like a dog with tails between its legs, muttering “yes, Doc; yes, Doc.” It appears that Archie just enjoys coming to the office whenever he is bored, or maybe to see the girls. He would come in and ask for referrals to see Urologist, Dermatologist, Orthopedics, Podiatrists, all at once, and he would not show up in any of their offices. He would then come three to four weeks later, asking for the same referrals all over again. I sort of like Archie, and would give him his referrals all over again. He would leave the office, smiling, “Thanks brother; thanks Doc.” I have no problems with him as long as he listens to me.

About two years ago, on learning that I am also an Attorney, Archie requested my help in suing his old lawyer to recover his money. Archie broke his right arm in an accident and was given substantial monetary award. He informed me that his attorney swindled him and that he was not given his full share. I informed Archie to find another lawyer because, in order to avoid conflict of interests, I do not accept legal cases where I had also acted as a physician, and besides, I was very busy at the time and not accepting new legal cases. My explanation had not stopped Archie from asking me periodically to take his case.

Archie came in four weeks asking for something totally different. This time Archie told me that he had been involved in an accident, hit by a car while trying to cross the street. He wanted referrals for X-Rays, MRIs, Orthopedics, Physical Therapists, etc. I asked him for the particulars of the accident, the insurance of the driver, police report, etc. I told him I needed all that because State Law would not allow me to use his regular medical insurance for his accident case. Archie informed me that all the papers were in his house, and since he lived only half a block away, he was back to the office in about ten minutes.

On examination of the police report, I stared at Archie incredulously, because, the officer responding to the call wrote that the car driver asserted that Archie threw himself on his car while he was moving slowly in traffic, and a witness on the scene corroborated it! I looked at Archie in disgust: “You threw yourself on the car!”, I exploded accusatorily. “No Doc, I didn’t”, Archie protested, then added, “Doc, how much am I going to get now?” Any doubts in my mind vanished. I was tempted to reply Archie: “Six months in the Penitentiary, that’s what you’ll receive”, but I controlled myself. Since Archie had no visible injuries, I drove him away. I refused to bill neither his medical insurance nor the No-Fault accident insurance — I don’t what to partake in anybody’s sins.

However, after about two weeks, Archie, undaunted, was back in the office, still asking for MRIs, X-Rays, etc. I jokingly told him that the police were looking for him to repair the poor fellow’s car on which he had thrown himself on the street. He just shrugged his shoulders and said that nobody was looking for him but he left the office without bothering me. But last week, Archie was back, newly emboldened to pursue a claim. As a compromise, I sent him for X-Rays, which are much cheaper than an MRI. I told him that based on the police report, he was unlikely to get any money, but his greed is getting the better of him. I am beginning to feel that Archie’s original accident, resulting in his broken arm, may not have been an accident at all.

Archie’s case reminded me of another patient many years ago. He came in and confided in me that he was busted acting as a donkey in staged motor accidents. Five young men would pack themselves in a car and insert themselves in fast-moving traffic, and then their driver would slam on the brakes suddenly, hoping the driver coming behind would hit them. They would all claim significant injuries to their necks, backs, limbs, etc. He collected a lot of money as a donkey until the insurance companies got wise regarding these unfortunate five who were always together and were unlucky to be rear-ended by other drivers. And they always had the same injuries a few weeks apart. He landed in criminal court and he came clean, pleading guilty. The judge was gracious and allowed him to serve weekends only in jail so that he would not lose his job, and he was a first offender (really?). He would be incarcerated at Rikers Island Prison after work on Fridays, and he would be released on Sunday night so he could go back to work on Monday.

When next you see a car packed with people speeding crazily, please keep a safe distance because they might be donkeys trying to bait you into an accident.

Emmanuel O. Fashakin, M.D., FMCS(Nig), FWACS, FRCS(Ed), FAAFP, Esq.
Attorney at Law & Medical Director,
Abbydek Family Medical Practice, P.C.
Web address: http://www.abbydek.com
Cell phone: +1-347-217-6175
“Primum non nocere”

Google Reviews has serious limitations: Don’t choose a doctor based on Google reviews

Dr. Emmanuel Fashakin

By Emmanuel Fashakin

I have been a Doctor for 43 years. 99% of my patients adore and love me. I am accessible to them 24/7. I provide good care. I practice medicine the way it should be practiced. People tell me I have poor Google reviews. I decided to find out why.

My investigations show that the 99% of patients who received excellent service, and who are satisfied with our services, seldom remember to, or ever bother, to leave Google reviews. Most of the patients who go on Google, I found out sadly, are those who had a grudge or were upset, or malcontent, very often for reasons for which the Doctor and his staff were blameless.

One patient had a Medicaid HMO. She came to the office to see the Doctor one evening. An eligibility check showed that I am no longer her listed PCP (Primary Care Provider) by her insurance carrier. My front office staff explained to her that her PCP has been changed, we are no longer her PCP, and if we provide services to her, we would not be paid. She was advised to call her insurance carrier the next day to change back to us, and then return to the office. She rather went to Google and left us a nasty review.

Another patient signed up for Obamacare. He chose a Bronze plan with a very high deductible. A deductible is the amount the patient must pay before the doctor gets paid a dime by the insurance carrier. He made several visits to the office. The insurance carrier applied deductibles to all of them. His deductible bill came up to $457. He did not pay a dime despite being sent statements. He came to the office and wanted to be seen again. My staff said no, you have to at least pay some of your outstanding bills before you incur more debts. He left the office angrily and promptly left us a bad Google review that we are uncaring and that my staff are rude.

A 57-year-old came for a follow-up for Diabetes, Blood pressure, and High Cholesterol. A few days after the visit, she was called back to see the doctor because her diabetes was uncontrolled, and she has a Urinary tract infection. At the office, she refused to pay her usual copay, only $20, because she said that she saw the doctor only the week before. My staff tried to explain to her that this is a new visit. Your insurance carrier requires you to pay copay at EVERY VISIT. After arguing unsuccessfully with my staff for almost 20 minutes, she left the office and promptly left us a 1-star Google review, claiming that my office is very dirty, and my staff are rude.

Another patient came to the office with an obvious viral cold. He also has a history of allergies. He insisted on being prescribed antibiotics.  I explained to him that there is no evidence of bacterial infection, and that antibiotic use would not be appropriate. He left me a 1-star on Google. He said I am a bad, incompetent and uncaring Doctor.

I leave the worst for last. This 31-year-old new patient called my office for a same-day appointment because he had an urgent matter. I personally saw him in my Richmond Hill office. This fella was being employed by New York MTA as a driver. His employment physical showed abnormality in his EKG (Electrocardiogram). He brought a form from the MTA Doctor. The doctor explained that due to the abnormality in the EKG, he must see his own doctor to get Medical Clearance. The MTA Doctor insisted that the Medical Clearance report MUST INCLUDE a report of an Echocardiogram and Cardiac Stress Test, or a Stress Echocardiogram, which incorporates both tests.

The physical examination of the young man was normal. Heart sounds, everything, normal. No murmurs. We repeated the EKG. It has a few changes which in my opinion were not significant. I explained the situation to him. Left to me I would have cleared you right now, but your job insisted that you must have these two tests done. I ordered the tests on our EMR and send him to the front office to pick up the referrals.

A week later, he was back in the office. I saw the report of the Echocardiogram, but no report for Stress Test. He confessed that he never did the stress test. He gave no reasons. The echocardiogram was normal. I was at a dilemma. The job doctor had insisted that they needed the Echo AND Stress test. But to be honest, the probability that this 31-year-old non-smoker with no other medical conditions, and normal Echo, having coronary heart disease is negligible. I explained to him that he should have done the stress test as demanded by his employer, but that I am comfortable to clear him without it. However, if the job insisted, he would have to come back.

About five minutes after the young man left my office, I had a “ding” on my phone. I got an alert that I have just received a Google review. I very seldom check those reviews, because I have come to know that they were rarely sensible or objective. But this one caught my eye. The reviewer left his actual name, and the name was the young man who left my office five minutes earlier.

I noticed that he was typing on his phone as I was typing out his Medical Clearance report. I was curious to see what he wrote. We provided excellent service for the young man. We saw him promptly on the same day he called, he was never our patient, and I gave him clearance to work, despite his not complying with the tests required by his employment doctor. I was expecting a glowing report expressing his appreciation, but what I saw was the shock of my life!

The man wrote that I am a dishonest doctor. That I examined him, found that he was okay, but still insisted that he had to do more medical tests. He averred that I ordered the tests on him to make money. That all my actions were dictated by greed. Even though I had learned to ignore Google reviews, this one was especially bad. This man is impugning my integrity when it was his employer who insisted on the tests, and I got no financial benefit whatsoever from his doing the tests. I had no hand in choosing which company did his test. My staff did that. I have never collected incentives from any radiology place. That is against the law. I was very hurt and upset. The story had a final twist.

A few days after this incident, the young man was back. His employer rejected my clearance for him to work. They insisted that he had to do the cardiac stress test. The first thing I asked him was: why did you impugn my character and reputation on Google when I had provided excellent service to you? He denied leaving any Google reviews. I told him that I saw him typing, that the alert came within minutes of his departure, and Google had used his real name. He became speechless. I had done my best for horrible patients all my professional life, but this one was too much for me. I gently asked him to collect his medical records at the desk and find another doctor to do his clearance.

There you have it, folks. Be very careful how you use Google reviews pertaining to providers of medical services. My investigations showed that patients asking for unwarranted extended absence from work, and others asking for strong painkillers, or other medically unnecessary services, who were denied, were frequent Google reviewers.

One patient exclaimed to me a few weeks ago: “you are such an excellent doctor, why is your Google review so bad?” I smiled at her. I told her I don’t care too much about it, that our patients know the worth of our services, but the Google reviews are so bad, because, people like you never take the time out to write Google reviews.

The comment from this kind patient prompted me to write this Google Review Rejoinder.

Emmanuel O. Fashakin, M.D., FMCS(Nig), FWACS, FRCS(Ed), FAAFP, Esq.
Attorney at Law & Medical Director,
Abbydek Family Medical Practice, P.C.
Web address: http://www.abbydek.com
Cell phone: +1-347-217-6175
“Primum non nocere”

Court grants 89-year-old disabled woman right to die after sexual attack in Belgian home

On Sunday 4 December, 23-year-old man Saed Mohamed, of The Oval in Firth Park, was arrested after reports that a woman in her 80s had been assaulted in Firth Park in Sheffield.

Mohamed has been charged with attempted rape, sexual assault, and assault, along with common assault relating to an earlier incident in Sheffield city centre. The victim was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged.

Fiji based FBC news reported the tale of a 20-year-old man that was last month charged with the rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault of a 79-year-old woman. They also told the story of a 52-year-old man who was charged with the rape of his three-year-old grand-niece.

What could have 36-year-old Kris Moedts to a wheelchair-bound 89-year-old woman?

Well, he has been sentenced to eight years over the attack and she has been granted right to take her life following the intolerable attack in Belgian care home.

The wheelchair-bound lady, whose name was not given postponed her euthanasia so she could first see her attacker jailed. She was attacked in a care facility in Lint, near the city of Antwerp, in July by a man named Kris Moedts.

Moedts was sentenced to eight years over the attack, which lawyers said ‘defies all imagination’, this week after which the woman’s euthanasia request was approved.

Lawyers told a court in Belgium that she had delayed the request so that she could see Moedts sentenced first.

Moedts, had drunk six beers and had taken cocaine before entering the care home, according to local reports.

The court was told that he had helped another wheelchair-bound care home resident inside the building before making his way to the victim’s room.

‘Once inside, he barricaded the door of the room with a chair and a cupboard door,’ the prosecutor to the court.

‘According to the victim, he crawled into bed with her and groped her extensively.

‘She cried and screamed fiercely and luckily managed to push the alarm button.’

One of the caretakers managed to push the door open despite it being blocked.

Lawyers added: ‘When he came in, he saw the man standing next to the bed barefoot and heard the lady crying.

‘The sheet and underpants of the lady had been pulled down, which she could not have done herself in her state of health.

‘He was so shocked by what he saw there that he later asked for the help of the victim support services himself.

‘Moedts meanwhile fled outside through the back door of the room and was able to escape. The police caught him shortly afterwards.’

Solicitor Walter Damen said the victim had already submitted two requests for euthanasia before the attack because her health has ‘seriously failed’ in recent years. Both were refused.

‘What Kris has done to her now defies all imagination and has hurt her deeply,’ he said. ‘So deep that her third request for euthanasia has been approved.

The euthanasia is scheduled for December 12. All she wants now is to say goodbye with dignity.

And the family especially wants an answer to the ‘why’ question. Why did this have to happen now?’

Attorney Xavier Potvin, acting for Moedts, said he has been unable to give an answer.

‘According to him, it would never have happened if he hadn’t taken that cocaine,’ the lawyer said.

‘That caused him to black out. In fact, there is no evidence that he is sexually attracted to the elderly.’

Nigeria is not exempt as President, Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria, Sen. Eze Ajoku, revealed that older persons were also being violated and raped.

Ajoku while calling for urgent action to curb such nefarious acts told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that such crime was being perpetrated in silence and without anyone talking about it.

He called on the government at all levels and stakeholders to rise to the occasion by including the protection of older persons in the campaign against Gender-Based Violence.

“Older persons are being abused every day. Older women are being raped by young persons, even older men. A woman of over 80 years in a Nigerian village said she was raped.

“After she made the revelation, about 26 older women came out to say that they were raped too and this thing thrives in silence,” Ajoku said.

The COSROPIN President who condemned all forms of Gender-Based Violence, challenged Nigerians to break the silence which according to him is unacceptable.

He said that it was time to collectively put an end to sexual violence against women especially older persons for a prosperous and disciplined country.

Ajoku wondered how some people had delighted in rape and forceful violations of others, saying that it was time to address the menace.

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to eliminate all forms of elder abuse either in the form of gender violence or abuse by care providers and family members.

He said old age is a blessing and old people should end their journey on earth on a joyous note.

Credits: Dailymail.co.uk with additional reports from NAN.

Why black women may never give up hair relaxers; cancer or no cancer

Jenny Mitchell, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division on November 2 alleging that a hair relaxer product gave her uterine cancer and endometriosis.

The 32-year-old Black Missouri woman contends that “phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals” in the hair relaxer products caused her to develop the condition.

Reports have shown that although chemicals in relaxers are doing more damage than could be imagined, and though more and more women of colour are awakening to the dangers of relaxers, they may never stop using hair relaxers.

Read more…https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/12/black-women-hair-relaxers-chemicals-cancer-risk

UK to sanction 30 corrupt political actors, rights violators, conflict-related sexual violence offenders around the world

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly has revealed that sanctions which target corrupt political leaders, those violating and abusing human rights, as well as perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict are underway.

Cleverly in a statement posted on Gov.uk said the package includes individuals and entities involved in a wide range of grievous activities – including the torture of prisoners, the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians, and systematic atrocities.

These sanctions according to him demonstrate the UK’s commitment to defend free societies and the human rights of everyone, everywhere.

According to James Cleverly:

It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world.

Today our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to account.

We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear.

Since gaining new powers following our exit from the EU, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has used targeted sanctions across multiple regimes to hold those committing these egregious acts, whether in Russia, Iran, Myanmar, or elsewhere, to account.

Today’s sanctions include targets from 11 countries across 7 sanctions regimes – the most that the UK has ever brought together in 1 package.

Sanctions targeting human rights violators and abusers

As part of today’s package, the UK has designated 8 individuals under our Global Human Rights regime, which allows the UK to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. These sanctions include:

  • Mian Abdul Haq, a Muslim Cleric from Pakistan, responsible for forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from religious minorities
  • General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police in Uganda from 2005 to 2018. While Kayihura was in charge, he oversaw multiple units responsible for human rights violations including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment
  • Sadrach Zelodon Rocha and Yohaira Hernandez Chirino, the mayor and deputy mayor of Matagalpa in Nicaragua. Both have been involved in promoting and supporting grievous violations of human rights
  • Andrey Tishenin, member of the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in the Autonomous republic of Crimea. The pair tortured Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015
  • Valentin Oparin, Major of Justice for the Russian Federation, and Oleg Tkachenko, Head of Public Prosecutions for the Rostov region. Both individuals have obstructed complaints of torture, with Tkachenko also using torture to extract testimony

Sanctions in Iran and Russia

The UK is also using geographical sanctions regimes to ensure that violators of human rights are held to account.

10 Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, have been sanctioned.

This includes 6 individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.

In addition, Ali Cheharmahali, and Ghloamreza Ziyayi, former directors of the Evin Prison, in Tehran, a facility notorious for the mistreatment of both Iranian and foreign detainees, have been sanctioned. Allah Karam Azizi, warden of Razee Shahr Prison, has also been sanctioned.

The UK has also sanctioned the Russian Colonel Ibatullin for his role as the commander of the 90th Tank Division, which has been on the front line since Russia began its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Sexual violence in conflict, which is currently happening in at least 18 active conflicts around the world, is an abhorrent act and and prohibited by international law.

In many cases it is used as a deliberate method of warfare. Six individuals and entities are being sanctioned today – utilising one of the tools at the UK’s disposal to hold perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to account.

Amongst those sanctioned today are Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, the County Commissioners for Koch and Mayendit in South Sudan. Both individuals were involved in the conflicts in the Unity State between February and May 2022, and mobilised troops to rape civilians.

The Katiba Macina group, also known as the Macina Liberation Front, in Mali, has been sanctioned. The group is known for perpetrating sexual violence, including the organisation of forced marriages

Today’s sanctions also target those involved in the Myanmar military junta. The security forces are known for committing systematic atrocities against the people of Myanmar, including massacre, torture, and rape. Designations include:

  • the Office of the Chief of Military and Security Affairs. It is reported that this office has been the central perpetrator of torture for interrogation since the coup, including rape and sexual violence
  • the 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Division of the Myanmar Armed Forces who were responsible for attacks including sexual violence during ‘the clearance operations” of the Rakhine state in 2017 and continue to commit atrocities across the country.

Sanctions targeting corrupt actors

The UK is also today using its Global Anti-Corruption regime to sanction an additional 5 individuals.

Lining their pockets through corruption and theft, corrupt actors have a corrosive effect on the communities around them – undermining democracy and depriving countries of vital resources for their own gain.

As a result, over 2% of global GDP is lost to corruption every single year.

The UK is using sanctions to tackle serious corruption. Today’s designations include:

  • Slobodan Tesic, a significant arms dealer based in Serbia, accused of bribing the Chief State Prosecutor of another country
  • Ilan Shor, the Chairman of the Şor Party in Moldova, and reportedly involved in the 2014 Moldovan Bank Fraud Scandal. Shor was accused of bribery to secure his position as chair of the Banca de Economii in 2014
  • Vladimir Plahotniuc, a businessman and a former politician, fugitive from Moldovan justice, involved in capturing and corrupting Moldova’s state institutions
  • Milan Radoicic, a construction industry businessman and Vice president of Srpska Lista/Serbian List (SL). Radoicic has profited from the misappropriation of state contracts and used his influence to award his own construction companies lucrative contracts
  • Zvonko Veselinovic, a construction industry businessman in Kosovo using public contracts to misappropriate state funds

The UK will continue to use all levers at our disposal to tackle corrupt actors and morally reprehensible violations and abuses, including sexual violence, of human rights around the world.

Background

Today’s designations further develops the UK’s use of sanctions this year to tackle serious human rights violations and abuses and corrupt actors.

In Russia the UK has sanctioned over 1,200 individuals, including members of the Russian military responsible for atrocities. In Iran our sanctions have targeted the officials responsible for heinous human rights violations.

The UK supports those seeking to uphold these values of freedom and democracy, including through:

  • Hosting the 2022 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Conference, where the Foreign Secretary committed up to £12.5 million of new funding to support survivors of conflict related sexual violence and strengthen prosecutions
  • Using the Modern Slavery Fund to support a National Anti-Trafficking Plan in Albania, and a human trafficking prevention module for police recruits in Vietnam
  • Working with the Media Freedom Coalition and Global Media Defence Fund to support more than 3,000 journalists, 490 lawyers and over 120 civil society organisations in the last 3 years
  • Supporting the NGO Open Ownership to help 12 countries develop beneficial ownership registers, to ensure transparency of company ownership, preventing corruption and illicit finance

Profiles of designations, organised by geography

All individuals are subject to an asset freeze and travel ban. All entities are subject to an asset freeze.

Crimea and Russia:

  • Valentin Aleksandrovich Oparin, Major of Justice and an investigator of the 534th Military Investigation Department of the Armed Forces of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation
  • Andrey Vyacheslavovich Tishenin, senior detective in the Ukrainian Security Service
  • Artur Rinatovich Shambazov, former senior detective in the main department for the protection of national statehood of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
  • Oleg Vladmirovich Tkachenko, Head of the Department for Public Prosecutors for the Rostov region
  • Colonel Ramil Rakhmatulovich Ibatullin, member of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and has held the position of Commander of the 90th Tank Division

Iran:

  • Allah Karam Azizi, Warden of Razaee Shahr Prison, Alborz
  • Iman Afshari, Presiding judge of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran
  • Seyed Ali Mazloum, Presiding judge of Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran
  • Mohammed-Reza Amouzad, Presiding judge of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran
  • Ali Alghasimehr, Prosecutor General of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran
  • Ali Cheharmahali, Former Director of Evin Prison (July 2016 to July 2019)
  • Gholamreza Ziyayi, Former Director of Evin Prison (July 2019 to June 2020)
  • Hassan Babaei, Former Judge in the Revolutionary Court of Tehran
  • Mostafa Mohebi, Former Director of State Prison Organisation in Tehran Province (June 2016 to June 2019)
  • Mousa Ghazanfarabadi, Former Head of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran (May 2016 to November 2020)

Kosovo:

  • Milan Rajko Radoicic, a construction industry businessman and Vice-President of Srpska Lista/Serbian List (SL)
  • Zvonko Veselinovic, a businessman in the construction industry

Mali:

  • Katiba Macina, a jihadist and armed group in Mali run by Amadou Kouffa. The group are aligned with Al-Qaeda

Moldova:

  • Ilan Shor, the Chairman of the Şor Party since 2016. He has also been a Member of the Moldovan Parliament since March 2019. Shor held the position of chair of Banca de Economii  (BEM) between May 2014 and November 2014
  • Vladimir Plahotniuc. The Democratic Party of Moldova chairman between December 2016 and June 2019

Myanmar:

  • the Office of the Chief of Military and Security Affairs
  • the 33rd Light Infantry Division (33 LID) of the Myanmar Army
  • the 99 Light Infantry Division (99 LID) of the Myanmar Army

Nicaragua:

  • Sadrach Zeledón Rocha, Mayor of the municipality of Matagalpa
  • Yohaira Hernández Chirino, Deputy Mayor of Matagalpa

Pakistan:

  • Mian Abdul Haq, a Muslim cleric of the Bharchundi Sharif shrine in Ghotki, Sindh, who is responsible for forced marriages and forced religious conversions of non-Muslims and minors

Serbia:

  • Slobodan Tesic, a significant arms and munitions dealer in the Balkans

South Sudan:

  • Gordon Koang Beil, County Commissioner for Koch, Unity State, South Sudan
  • Gatluak Nyang Hoth, County Commissioner for Mayendit (also referred to as Mayiandit), Unity State, South Sudan

Uganda:

  • General Kale Kayihura, Inspector General of Police in Uganda from 2005 to 2018

The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime

The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in serious violations or abuses of 3 human rights:

  • right to life
  • right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or
  • right to be free from slavery, not to be held in servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour

The Global Anti Corruption Sanctions Regime

​The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:

  • serious Corruption
  • bribery
  • misappropriation of property

Geographic sanctions regimes

The Iran (Human Rights) Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:

  • the commission of a serious human rights violation or abuse in Iran

The Mali Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in a number of activities, including:

  • attacks against, or obstruction of Diplomatic personnel, government institutions and international missions, or; humanitarian assistance activity in Mali
  • serious human rights violations or abuses, or violations of international humanitarian law
  • the production in Mali of narcotic drugs, smuggling or trafficking
  • all action, policy or activity which threatens the peace, stability and security of Mali or undermines efforts to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali
  • failing to comply with or implement, including through prolonged delay, the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali

The Myanmar Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:

  • undermining democracy, the rule of law or good governance in Myanmar
  • the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar
  • the commission of, or the obstruction of an independent investigation into, a serious human rights violation or abuse in Myanmar
  • the commission of a violation of international humanitarian law in Myanmar
  • the obstruction of a humanitarian assistance activity in Myanmar
  • any other action, policy or activity which threatens the peace, stability or security of Myanmar

The Russia Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:

  • destabilising Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine, or
  • obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia

The South Sudan Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in a number of activities, including:

  • the commission of a serious human rights violation or abuse or the commission of a violation of international humanitarian law in South Sudan
  • action, policy or activity which threatens the peace, stability and security of South Sudan or undermines efforts to resolve the political crisis and armed conflicts in South Sudan
  • an attack against, or obstruction of the activities of, diplomatic personnel, regional or international monitoring and peace-support missions
  • obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance in South Sudan
  • the misappropriation of state funds, the illicit exploitation of natural resources in South Sudan

Definitions of types of sanctions

Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.

Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

Taiwo Oyedele speaks about new CBN cash withdrawal limits on individuals, MSMEs and Tax implications

  •  Says the conditions for excess cash withdrawals could include a Tax Identification Number

A recent editorial by ThisDay newspaper posited that “the interest of bank depositors is paramount.”  

The incisive editorial further observed thus: “While we concede that the new rules are consistent with the CBN cashless policy to promote a credible and efficient payment system, the interest of bank depositors must be paramount. There are several issues that the CBN management must factor in during implementation. The informal sector in Nigeria is mostly unbanked and cash-dependent, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the Naira, necessitating larger cash requirements and the new rules contain no incentives for encouraging more people to open bank accounts. With 133 million Nigerians already in the poverty bracket, we cannot afford a further complication of their challenges. In trying to solve a problem, the CBN should be careful not to create a bigger one.”

As the debate continues, fiscal policy partner and African tax leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Taiwo Oyedele, has explained the tax implications of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s new policy on over-the-counter cash withdrawal limits as well as withdrawal limits for ATM and POS.

The tax leader revealed that the new cash withdrawal limit will have tax implications, especially for individuals and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Oyedele disclosed that the policy will force many people to carry out transactions using electronic payments, with these small businesses that currently operate mostly on cash becoming visible to the tax authorities.

This was made known by the policy partner in a number of tweet posts on his official Twitter account, where he said that the policy will trigger tax obligations including income tax.

Likely tax implications: Oyedele stated, ‘’The new cash withdrawals limit will have tax implications, especially for individuals and MSMEs. As many people will be forced to carry out transactions using electronic payments, small businesses that currently operate mostly on cash will become visible to the tax authorities.

  • ‘’This will trigger various tax obligations including Income tax.
  •  ‘’If your business is registered as a company you may be liable to Company Income Tax (CIT) depending on your annual turnover (i.e. no CIT if your turnover is below N25 million, 20% if your turnover is between N25 to N100 million, 30% if your turnover is more than N100 million) in addition to Education Tax at 2.5%.
  • If your business is not registered as a company then you will be liable to personal income tax based on graduated taxable income bands between 7% and 24%.’’

Going further, the tax expert said that all businesses are required to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) and charge 7.5% on their goods and services except those with annual turnover below N25 million.

  • As for Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Oyedele noted that all employees earning more than N30,000 per month are liable to PAYE which must be deducted and paid to the tax authority by the employer on a monthly basis. He said that these employees may also be liable to other statutory contributions such as pension depending on your staff strength.
  • He added that the more transactions that are made by these individuals, the more the tax authorities will get the intelligence to track their income and net worth making it easier to fish out those that are evading tax.

What to do: Oyedele listed some of the actions to be carried out by the government and regulatory authorities as well as taxpayers, to ensure the smooth operation of the policy. The steps to be taken include;

  • Register with the relevant tax authorities (FIRS and the State Internal Revenue Service where you operate).
  • Open a separate bank account for the business (or dedicate one for that purpose if you already have a business account) and don’t mix business with personal transactions.
  • The government on its part needs to sensitize the general public, especially small business owners, and the CBN should ensure a proper handshake with the fiscal authorities. For instance, the conditions for excess cash withdrawals could include a Tax Identification Number.

Catch up quick: Recall that on December 6, 2022, the CBN in a new circular placed limits on over-the-counter cash withdrawals, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals, and point of sale (PoS) withdrawals.

  • The apex bank in the new policy stated that deposit money banks and other financial institutions should ensure that over-the-counter cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities do not exceed N100, 000 and N500, 000, respectively, per week.
  • After the policy takes effect, all cash withdrawals above the stated limits will attract processing fees of 5% and 10%, respectively.

Forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but crime against humanity – WOMANIFESTO

Feminist Womanifesto Group, a coalition of over 200 women groups has described the alleged secret abortion programme that terminated thousands of pregnancies among women and girls who were rescued from Boko Haram militants by the Nigerian military as a crime against humanity.

Outraged by the alleged act, the group in a statement signed by its Convener, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, stated that “forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but also a crime against humanity and breaches laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law.”

During a recent meeting with officials of the United Nations, the Nigerian government and development partners at its headquarters in Abuja, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC said it will probe the report. The meeting which focused on Nigeria’s human rights record comes in the wake of allegations against the Nigerian military revealed by a Reuters news agency investigation.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres had earlier urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations of systemic and coerced abortions reportedly perpetrated by its army.

But Nigeria’s military insist that the Reuters report is false. Military Defence Chief, Gen. Lucky Irabor, described the report as ‘spurious allegations’ noting that the military does not intend to investigate the claims.

The women group’s statement titled—WOMANIFESTO CONDEMNS THE ALLEGED FORCED ABORTION OF AT LEAST 10,000 PREGNANCIES AMONG RESCUED WOMEN AND GIRLS WHOM HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND RAPED BY ISLAMIST MILITANTS, BOKO HARAM BY THE NIGERIAN MILITARY, reads:

We received with shock, ‘The Abortion Assault” report published by Reuters where it is alleged that the Nigerian military ran a secret mass abortion program in the war against Boko Haram. We condemn this reproductive violence allegedly carried out by the Nigerian Military since at least 2013. These illegal, secret abortions were carried out without the women’s knowledge or consent with many held at gunpoint, drugged or beaten into compliance. We were shocked also that several of the victims were young girls. This is unethical and condemnable.

We are concerned that such barbarity can take place in this country without the government’s knowledge. We call on the Nigerian Government to take responsibility for this dastardly act and take immediate steps to save other young women from being victims of illegal and illegitimate abortion.

Abortion is a restricted reproductive right in Nigeria, carried out to save the life of a woman. Many rescued women and girls had already experienced multiple forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who are rescued deserve quality medical and psychological health care. To be given abortions forcefully after being rescued allegedly by the Nigerian Military is a human right violation.

Forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but also a crime against humanity and breaches laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. Although Maj-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters called this report blackmail mercenary journalism and denies these allegations of infanticide and crimes against humanity.

Respect for women’s reproductive rights implies that women’s bodily integrity must be protected, and her ability to consent to whatever happens or whatever choices she has to make on her body is critical. Withdrawing such authority from these women is a violation of their fundamental rights.

The report shows that this dignity was trampled upon by the military. 

We urge the Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Government by extension to investigate these allegations. 

We demand that the government steps into the matter urgently to investigate this matter and punish the culprits. 

The affected women and girls have the rights to be protected, but failure to do so shows the government is an accomplice, the theory of command responsibility in international law is clear.

Signed on behalf of Feminist Womanifesto Group

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi 

Convener

Tel: (234) 805 595 1858 | Email:  [email protected]

List of WOMANIFESTO Member Organizations

1. 100 Women Lobby Group 

2. 9jafeminista 

3. Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls 

4. Above Whispers Media Foundation 

5. Action Aid Nigeria 3 

6. ACTS Generation GBV 

7. Ade Grange Child Foundation 

8. ADEM Community & Human Development Foundation 

9. Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) 

10. Advocate for Health and Development Initiative 

11. African Women’s Initiative (AWI) 

12. Ajegunle Community Project 

13. Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation 

14. Alliances for Africa (AfA) 

15. Aminchi Women Cooperative Society 

16. ARDA Development Communication Inc. 

17. Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation 

18. ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF) 

19. Ayisha Osori 

20. Ayodeji Fadugba

21. Baobab for Women’s Human Rights 

22. BLECCA Foundation 

23. Bring Back Our Girls 

24. Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF) 

25. Cece Yara Foundation 

26. Cedar Seed Foundation 

27. CEE-HOPE Nigeria 

28. Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA) 

29. Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG) 

30. Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) 

31. Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN) 

32. Centre for Peace Education and Community Development 

33. Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) 

34. Change Managers International Network 

35. Charity Women Spring of Salvation 

36. Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society 

37. Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI) 

38. Choung-Dung Women Association 

39. Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS) 

40. Christian Women in Nigerian Politics 

41. Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) 

42. Community and Youth Development 

43. Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI) 

44. Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society 4 

45. Community Life Project (CLP) 

46. Community Rescue Initiative (CRI) 

47. Community Women Initiatives

48. Country Associates Network 

49. Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL) 

50. Crestville Development Foundation 

51. Daria Media Foundation 

52. Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI) 

53. Dinidari Foundation 

54. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation 

55. Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation) 

56. Ebere Ifendu

57. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives 

58. Edo Women’s Development Initiative 

59. Education as a Vaccine (EVA) 

60. EiE Nigeria 

61. Emerge Women Development Initiative 

62. Empowerment and Action Research Centre 

63. Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF) 

64. Equity Advocates 65. FACICP Disability Plus 

66. FAME Foundation 

67. Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) 

68. Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) 

69. Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN) 

70. Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) 

71. Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI) 

72. First Future Leadership 

73. First Future Leadership Company/GTE 

74. Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM) 

75. Funke Baruwa

76. Gender Action Awareness Trust 

77. Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN) 

78. Gender and Development Action (GADA) 

79. Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI) 

80. Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) 

81. Gender Development Initiative 

82. Gender Equality Center 83. Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre 5 

84. Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives 

85. Girl Child Africa 86. Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation 

87. Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC) 

88. Girls Power Initiative (GPI)

89. Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)

90. Global Liberation for Women 91. Green Spring Development Initiative 

92. Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation 

93. Heal Disability Initiative

94. Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative 

95. Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) 

96. HEIR Women Development 

97. Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development 

98. Hope for New Life 

99. Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) 

100. Inter-Gender Peace Foundation 

101. International Action Network on Small Arms – Women Network 

102. International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN) 

103. International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) 

104. International Women Communication Centre 

105. Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation 

106. Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing 

107. Jana Health Foundation 

108. Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) 

109. Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM) 

110. K/Mashi Gamji Women 

111. Kadaria Ahmed 

112. Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre 

113. Kimpact Initiatives 

114. Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) 

115. Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative 

116. League of Queens International Empowerment 

117. League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) 

118. Learning Skills Through Skills Acquisition Initiative (LETSAI) 

119. Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) 

120. Lift Initiative 

121. MBULA Women Association 

122. Media & Teens Network

123. Media Concern Initiative 

124. Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome

125. More Women in Politics 

126. My Future My Voice 

127. Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT) 

128. National Centre for Women Development 

129. National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) 

130. NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women 

131. Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation 

132. Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN) 

133. Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA) 

134. NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society 

135. Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) 

136. Nigeria For Women Project 

137. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Women Committee 

138. Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT) 

139. Nigerian Express 

140. Nigerian Women Politics Forum 

141. Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF) 

142. Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI) 

143. Ogun Women Alive 

144. Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

145. Olive Community Development Initiatives 

146. Onomese Foundation 

147. Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative 

148. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Initiative (OLPHI) 

149. Ovie Brume Foundation 

150. Partners West Africa (PWAN) 

151. Peasant Dragnet 

152. Princess Hamman-Obels

153. Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI) 

154. Project Alert on Violence Against Women 

155. Ray of Hope Community Foundation 

156. Relief Development Initiative Kaduna 

157. Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative 

158. She Forum Africa 

159. She4She Africa Initiative 

160. Shout Global Health 

161. Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) 7 

162. South-South Professional Women Association 

163. Stand to End Rape (STER) 

164. Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation 

165. Support for Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI) 

166. TechHerNG

167. The Access Foundation 

168. The Inclusion Project (TIP) 

169. The Priceless Jewels Foundation 

170. The Woman Today Newspaper (TWT) 

171. THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE 

172. Tonia Bruised But Not Broken Foundation 

173. Transformation and Development Center (TDC) 

174. Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) 

175. Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF) 

176. UTO Foundation 

177. Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) 

178. Voice of Ogun Women (VOW) 

179. West African Network for Peace 

180. Widows Development Organization (WIDO) 

181. Woman-Being Concern Nigeria 

182. Women & Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) 

183. Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD) 

184. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) 

185. Women Aid Collective (WACOL) 

186. Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative 

187. Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) 

188. Women Education Advocacy and Development Initiatives (WEADI) 

189. Women Empowerment and Initiative Development 

190. Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC) 

191. Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) 

192. Women Environmental Programme

193. Women Farmers Alliance 

194. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE) 

195. Women for Women International 

196. Women Foundation Initiative 

197. Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN) 

198. Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC) 

199. Women Action Organization (WAO) 8 

200. Women in Africa Initiative 

201. Women in Agriculture 

202. Women in Mining 

203. Women in Politics Forum 

204. Women Information Network (WINET) 

205. Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE) 

206. Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI) 

207. Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN) 

208. Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) 

209. Women of Vision Development Initiative 

210. Women Protection Organization (WOPO) 

211. Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) 

212. Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI) 

213. Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program 

214. Women Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF) 

215. Women Right to Education Programme (WREP) 

216. Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri 

217. Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) 

218. Working Moms Africa 

219. Wumi Asubiaro-Dada 

220. Yeye Adenike Agnes Shobajo

221. Yiaga Africa 

222. Youth Future Savers Initiative 

223. Zonta International Club of Lagos

The President we all need (1)

By Sonnie Ekwowusi

We can no longer leave the fate of our country and our lives in the hands of political misfits who don’t have the foggiest idea that political leadership basically entails improving the welfare of the people. Almost everyone you meet these days in Nigeria says it, and, I dare join today in saying it: now is our chance to recover our stolen common wealth from the thieving imbeciles. To this effect, many Nigerian voters across the different divides (the Nigerian young inclusive) have, unlike in the past, irrevocably resolved to vote for a presidential candidate of their choice who will build a new Nigeria, all things being equal, on February 25 2023.

The current Buhari government is a waterless a cloud, carried along by the winds; a fruitless tree in late autumn, depraved, dead and uprooted; a wild wave of the sea casting up the form of its suffocating smell; a wandering and wicked crescent for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved for ever. For nearly 8 years the Buhari government has brought an unspeakable monumental ruin to Nigeria and Nigerian families. For instance, the incapacity of President Buhari to defend and maintain Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty as well as secure the borders of Nigeria from internal and external violation in consonant with sections 1 (2) and 2(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Mohammadu Buhari, no doubt, has gone down the anal of Nigerian political history, if not the Guinness Book of Records) as the worst political leader in Nigeria. His inability, pursuant to section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, to protect lives and property of the citizenry and to suppress internal insurrection, banditry, secession threats, murder, anarchy, tension, fear, suspicion and disorderliness has enthroned the reign of anarchy. Nobody seems to be in charge of Nigeria at the moment. The Hobbesian bellum omnium contra omnes (war of all against all) characterized by barbaric bloodletting, communal bloody feuds, kidnaps, banditries, gun-running and so forth now reigns supreme in different parts of Nigeria. Uncertainty, confusion, fear and apprehension rule the lives of many in Nigeria.  We now live in a free-for-all country where nobody seems to be in charge of anything or anybody. We go to bed and wake up itching to hear the sad news of another bloodletting abduction or kidnapping. In 2017, Nigeria was ranked as the third most-terrorized country in the world. In the same 2017 Nigeria Police was ranked as the worst Police in the world. In the same 2017 Nigeria was ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country with the 3rd highest infant mortality rate in the world. In the same 2017 Northern Nigeria was ranked as the worst region in the world with the highest number of illiterates. 

On July 25 2018 the BBC reported that “Nigeria has the largest number of out-of-school children, totaling 13 million, in the world.” In the 2018 Global Rankings of “Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index” of the OXFAM and Development Finance International (DFI), Nigeria was ranked 157 out of 157 countries. In the same 2018, Nigeria overtook India as the country with the highest number of under-5 deaths in the world.  In the same 2018 Nigeria was ranked as one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth to and the 4th country in the world with the worst maternal mortality death rate. In the same 2018 Nigeria was ranked among the worst malaria hit countries in the world. In the same year, 2018, Nigeria was ranked by the World Bank among the seven worst countries on the World Bank Human Capital Index. In the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Nigeria was ranked as the 103rd hungriest country in the world out of 119 qualifying countries. In the same 2018, Nigeria was ranked among the worst malaria hit countries in the world. In the same 2018 Nigerian was ranked by the World Bank among the seven worst countries on the World Bank Human Capital Index.

In 2018, the African Development Bank (AfDB) revealed that the World Poverty Clock named Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world.  According to Mr. Constant Tchona, a representative of OXFAM in Nigeria: “The number of people that live below extreme poverty as at April 2018 was 91,501,377 thus reaffirming that Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world. As if that was not bad enough, six months later, the number jumped to 94, 470, 533 people meaning that 2,969, 158 Nigerians have been added into Nigeria’s extreme poverty rate. The latest is that the National Bureau Statistics (NBS) has revealed that no fewer than 133 Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the Nigerian population, are currently living in multi-dimensional abject poverty. At the moment the Naira currency is having its worst free fall. For the first time in our political history we have now become a suicidal country. In 2018 Nigeria was ranked as a suicide-prone country. Today Nigeria is ranked the fifth in the world among countries whose citizens are most prone to commit suicide. A bag of rice now sells for N36,000, the salary of many Nigerians.

What is most nauseating is that, amid these calamities, President Buhari keeps gallivanting from pillar to post beating his chest in the euphoria of triumph and telling those who care to listen to him: “I am not a failure. I am a good man. I will not leave office a failure”. Is this not laughable?. A President who had already failed is giving himself a pass mark and saying that he is not a failure. Anyway, two things, in my view, are deductible from Buhari’s gloating. First: Buhari forgets the time-test aphorism credited to Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio that conscience is an open wound and only truth can heal it. Pricked by the pangs of his conscience, Buhari has been placating his conscience and telling all who care to listen that he is not a failure. He forgets that only truth and justice can heal his wound: Second: Mr. President is not in touch with reality otherwise he cannot be giving himself a pass mark when in actual fact he is a failure. Enslaved by his gratified lusts and sheer fatuity President Buhari has refused to read the mene, mene, tekel, upharsin emblazoned on the walls of Aso Villa Presidential Building, Abuja. He can’t understand that his 8-year stewardship has come to a pathetic and ruinous end. He seems not to understand that about 99% of Nigerians had already judged him a failure and that there is nothing he can do to reverse their judgment against him.

Consequently, the February 25 presidential election is a golden opportunity to break away from our iniquitous past. To those regretting and sorrowing for committing a mortal sin in 2015 or 2019 by voting for Buhari, I say, February 25 2023 is the day of salvation. It is the acceptable time. Therefore, they should make amends and atone for the sin which they committed in 2015 or 2019 by voting for candour, content, charism, competence and character in 2023.  From the outset I knew that Buhari would make a disaster President. So, I did not vote for him in 2015. Neither did I vote for him in 2019. Anyway, old things have passed away.  Let us make amendments today that grace may abound.  We are the children of the light, not of darkness. Light has nothing in common with darkness. There is no doubt that Buhari has endorsed  a stooge to succeed him in 2023 so that the stooge would protect the Fulani oligarchical structures which he (Buhari) had laboured to build in the last seven and half years.  Therefore let us resolve to make a complete break with Buharism. Good riddance to Buharism. So, do not vote for a Buhari stooge on February 25 2023. We should be aiming to breathe fresh air in 2023. Don’t tell me it is impossible to break away from our iniquitous past. All things are possible to those who believe. We can break away from the ruinous status quo. The Kenyans did it this year by electing William Ruto, 55, who ran for President for the first time. In fact Ruto fell out with political godfather Uhuru Kenyatta. As a result, Kenyatta backed Mr. Raila Amolo Odinga to succeed him in office. But Ruto came from behind and won the election.

The President we all need (2)

By Sonnie Ekwowusi

We need a new President who will foster the beliefs and aspirations of the Nigerian people. We need a brand new President who believes in the pre-eminence of the individual citizen and his rights-with the government his servant, not his master or oppressor. As I have constantly argued, if the Nigerian democracy must yield the so-called democratic dividends, it must have a national character, a national character that defines democracy and establishes the parameters and moral high ground in which democracy should operate in order to promote the well-being of the people. Devoid of character, politics and political activities in Nigeria, in the words of Frederic Bastiat, French political economist and philosopher, are legalized plunder. My brother, my sister, the choice is before us. Either we choose the path of liberating principles and vote for character in 2023 in order to advance the truths and ideals which will strengthen our democracy or choose the path of perfidy and infamy and vote for a “419” person or a customs thief or a drug baron or a scallywag or a never-do-well who would hijack the political leadership once more to the ruin of our country.

We need a President with a minimum human character and integrity. We need a President who believes in rigorous and impartial enforcement of the laws of the land. We need a brand new President who will halt the on-going radical Islamization of Nigeria. Till date, conscience of the nation and daughter of Zion, Leah Sharibu, is still languishing under the iron grips of Islamic terrorists (or, maybe they have killed her) for refusing to convert from Christianity to Islam. Lai Mohammed had lied that the Buhari government would do everything possible to ensure that Leah Sharibu regains her freedom. Lai lied. We need a President who can discharge his constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry.  We need a President who will pay University teachers their salaries as and when due. We need a healthy President who will not squander our hard-earned British pounds in medical tourism in London.

It is in the foregoing context that the Tinubu/Shettima-Muslim-Muslim ticket is completely unacceptable. Voting Tinubu/Shettima-Muslim-Muslim ticket is tantamount to bringing Buhari back to power because both Tinubu and Shettima have vowed to continue from where Buhari stopped. Where did Buhari stop? He stopped at fanning the embers of nepotism in Nigeria. He stopped at Fulanization and Islamization   of Nigeria. He stopped at wrecking the Nigerian economy. He stopped at incestuous narcissism. He stopped at wooden-headedness. He stopped at allowing the thieves in his government  to loot the national treasury.  Therefore the Tinubu/Shettima-Muslim-Muslim ticket is completely flawed. It is hereby rejected.

Come to think of it, Mr. Ahmed Tinubu is ontologically a good man. He is not a bad human being. For example, he is generous with his money to a fault. He is a kind man. He is shrewd and astute. He has political friends across Nigeria. He is courageous and daring. He is a “king” maker. He is an optimist. He doesn’t accept No for an answer. His net worth is said to be in the neighborhood of US 8.4 billion dollars, which greatly exceeds the net worth of Atiku or Obi. Besides, Tinubu is the commander-in-chief of bullion vehicles. He can command a bullion vehicle stacked with wads of Naira notes to come to his house, a feat which Atiku and Obi cannot achieve in their lifetime.

But unfortunately, given the avalanche of evidence constantly being reeled out almost on daily basis about Tinubu’s failing health; his progressive and incurable goofs and gaffes; his cognitive thinking decline, unsoundness of mind and general character flaws, it is crystal clear that the man would bring disgrace to Nigeria if he is elected President. He exhibits symptoms of unsoundness of mind. When he wants to say one thing another thing spontaneously comes out from his mouth. For example, in trying to rationalize his absence from the Town Hall debate organized by media organization in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the following spurted out of Tinubu’s mouth: ,“a town hall, different from “balabloo-bloo-blu-bulaba”, to the embarrassment of his listeners and Nigerians as a whole. In a video still making its round, Tinubu was shown committing another goof at the APC Presidential Rally at Teslim Balogun Stadium. Lagos. Instead of asking his followers to get their PVCs ready for the election, he slurred and said that they should go and get their APV ready. Two days earlier, the same Tinubu looked at Senator Omo-Agege and told him that he was a fit and proper person to be the next governor of Niger Delta State, a non-existing State in Nigeria. The deduction from Tinubu’s progressive memory failure, unsoundness of mind, and cognitive thinking decline is that if he is elected President he would be unable to address an audience let alone answer questions put to him. May I invite you to reflect again on Tinubu’s shameful conduct at Chatham House, London, recently. His audience asked him some questions. Instead of responding to the questions put to him he shamelessly delegated the questions to Dele Aleke, Governor El-Rufai, Speaker Gbajagbiamila, Betta Edu and co to answer for him. Does it mean that if Tinubu becomes President the aforesaid persons would be following him everywhere and answering questions put to him? You see, what this shameful conduct indicates is that Tinubu would make a disaster President otherwise how can a candidate aspiring to be elected President of Nigeria lack the soundness of mind to answer simple questions put to him?.  Section 137 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President, if he is, among other things, declared to be of unsound mind. Therefore Tinubu is not qualified to be  President of Nigeria. 

Aside from Tinubu’s cognitive thinking decline, unsoundness of mind and physical incapacity disqualifying him from the job of President, overwhelming evidence abounds that he is carrying a huge character-flaw baggage. The thing is that everything about the man smacks off forgery, impersonation and fraud. To begin with, Tinubu has no past (and if he has no past, it means that he has no present or future). They can’t find the primary school which Tinubu claims he attended.They can’t find his age. They can’t find the secondary school he claims he attended. They can’t find the University he claims he attended. They can’t find his primary, secondary or University classmates. They can’t find his primary school certificate. They can’t find his secondary school certificate. They can’t find his University certificate. They can’t find his State of origin. They can’t find his identity. They can’t find photographs  of his childhood. To solve this problem, Tinubu impersonates former governor of Cross Rivers State Donald Duke. He presents Donald Duke’s childhood picture as his. On seeing his childhood picture in a Tinubu documentary, poor Donald Tinubu cries out loudly: “I have seen the documentary,  I have no issue with it. My issue is that my 12-year old self was used as a young Tinubu because they can’t find any picture of him when he was young”. Shamelessly, Tinubu issues a press statement apologizing to Donald Duke for impersonating him. As we speak, Donald Duke is still hoping to get justice from the impersonation. I don’t know whether his lawyers have brought  an impersonation lawsuit against Tinubu.  The same Tinubu impersonates Christian clerics without qualms. He recruits street urchins and motor-park touts, dresses them up in somewhat Christian clerical vestments and presents them in his political gatherings as if they were Christian clerics endorsing his candidacy.

Kill all the lawyers

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers”

William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2

Tamuno Igbikiberebima is an unlikely star in an action movie. He is a lawyer employed with Nigeria’s national hydro-carbons monopoly. On 17 December 2020, Tamuno was home in Rumuigbo, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA)  of Rivers State, in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, contemplating Christmas in the season of COVID-19 and on his phone in front of the gate into his premises, when a Toyota Camry car pulled up beside him.

From the bowels of the car, a young man emerged armed with what the police later confirmed to be an AK-47 rifle and ordered him into the car. Tamuno had the presence of mind to ask why, to which the young man reportedly responded that his mission was to waste him. Tamuno takes the story from here:

“When I noticed how he was handling the gun, it appeared to me that he is not proficient in gun handling. I told myself that ‘ordinarily one-to-one this man cannot beat me.’ ….When he faced the nozzle of the rifle down trying to cock the gun, I started struggling with him. In the process both of us shot one bullet on the ground. When he saw a crowd coming, he left the rifle and ran into the car.”

Tamuno and his neighbours mobilized and chased after the wannabe assassin, capturing him before handing him over to the Nigeria Police. This is how he explained what drove him: “most likely their intention was to kidnap or assassinate me. I think it is important for me to do it in front of my gate. It would be more honourable instead of following them to wherever they wanted to take me to.”

Tamuno was lucky not to have had his life ended in front of his gate. Ken Asuete was not so lucky. Like Tamuno, Asuete was a lawyer in Rivers State, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State while the party was in opposition at the federal level before the 2015 presidential election.

Despite being a relatively young lawyer, Asuete had built a significant portfolio of party political clients and had begun to make a name for himself. On the night of 28 August, 2016, some unknown men cornered Asuete along Onuchiolu Road in Aluu, Ikwere LGA on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, the State capital, killing him.

Ken Asuete’s fate was by no means limited to lawyers associated with the APC. On 12 March 2020, unidentified gunmen abducted Soalabor West, a lawyer who aspired to contest for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from his farm also in Aluu. Six days later, while Soala’s family was still in negotiation with the supposed abductors, his decomposing remains bearing machete cuts and bullet wounds were discovered in a bush near the Elekahia Pipeline in Port Harcourt.

Unlike Ken Asuete and Soalabor, Sampson Worlu did not get the opportunity to put his lawyering skills to use before he was killed. In November 2015, Sampson was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in Abuja. The week thereafter he headed to Owerri, Imo State, to commence his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. He never made it to Owerri. Despite collecting the sum of N1.5 million from Sampson’s heart-broken family, his abductors killed him. He was 32.

Lawyers like to claim that theirs is a vocation without females. Like their male counterparts in Rivers State, female lawyers have not been spared. Isaac Obe was the president of Eleme Youth Council in Rivers State when he was killed at home with a friend of his in what was suspected to be gang hit at the end of April 2017. Isaac’s younger sister, Mary, swore at her brother’s funeral that she will “fight his killers to the end.” Seven months after the killing of her brother, in the early hours of 29 November, 2017, gunmen entered Alode, and, in the same community and manner in which they killed Isaac, assassinated Mary.

Paulette Ajayi, another female lawyer, was luckier than Mary Obe. In early October 2020, unknown gunmen abducted Ms. Ajayi from her residence in Rumuokwurushi in Port Harcourt, from where they ferried her into hiding in the appropriately named Okomoko Forest in Etche LGA. On 8 October, the police rescued Ms. Ajayi in an encounter in which one of the suspected abductors, Chinedu Chigbu, sustained fatal gun-shot injuries.

Promise Frank Igwe was a lawyer in Port Harcourt. In early April 2019, he reportedly received a telephone call inviting him to meet with someone at a rendez-vous, in a bar in Ozuoba community in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State. While he waited on a Friday morning, unidentified young men dressed in black alighted from a vehicle, reportedly shot him four times in the chest and then escaped. The only thing they took from Promise was his telephone handset. He died on the spot.

This pattern of killing of lawyers in and around Port Harcourt is not history. Around 20 November 2022, unidentified gunmen killed Lazarus Jerome in Ahoada, Rivers State. The following day, his lawyer, Nathan Akatakpo, met the same fate in the same neighbourhood.

Five years after the crime, in July 2020, the High Court of Rivers State convicted Chinwendu Alozie, Wilfred Jumbo, and Gift Amadi for the murder of Sampson Worlu, sentencing them to death. Three months after he was killed, the police in Port Harcourt organized a news conference at which they paraded five men as suspects in the killing of Ken Asuete. There has been no conviction but these two are exceptions to a pattern of impunity.

Former First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, John Aikpokpo Martins, says of these attacks on lawyers in Rivers State that “it is so normal to kill a lawyer for defending others.” Increasingly, many Nigerian lawyers now live on the horns of a choice between silver and lead.

Rivers State only illustrates a trend that appears to have become normalized in the country. In neighbouring Imo State, former chair of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Owerri, Ndionyenma Nwankwo, was matcheted to death in February 2021 in an attack in which the principal suspect was his chauffer, who remains at large. The following month, in March 2021, Frank Onwuachi, Chair of the NBA in Otuocha, near Onitsha, was similarly liquidated.

They are by no means the only NBA leaders to have been killed. In September 2018, Emeka Agundu, Chair of the Association in Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA of Enugu State, was shot dead.

In December, 2018, Adeola Adebayo, Secretary of the Association in Ikole-Ekiti in south-west Nigeria was abducted and murdered. 

In August 2002, then Chairman of the NBA in Onitsha, Anambra State, Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Abigail, also a lawyer, were both brutally murdered by unknown persons.

The year before that, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, was killed in his house in Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State on 23 December 2001.

According to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, “where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their
functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” Sadly, a government – such as we have in Nigeria – that is unable to guarantee basic safety and security for its citizens, however, cannot do much to help lawyers.

In the past, the response of the NBA was to launch an appeal fund to assist lawyers in emergency in parts of the country, which was poorly subscribed. Today, the emergency affects lawyers all over the country and requires the Bar Association to re-imagine itself and its capabilities.

A Lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at [email protected]

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