The just re-elected US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned two police officers who had been convicted in the 2020 murder of 20-year-old Black man Karon Hylton-Brown.
The White House made the disclosure in Washington on Wednesday.
In September 2024, Terence Sutton Jr. was sentenced to 66 months in prison, while Andrew Zabavsky was given a 48-month sentence for their involvement in an unauthorized police pursuit that led to a fatal collision on October 23, 2020, in Northwest Washington, D.C. The Justice Department stated that the officers remained free while they appealed their convictions.
The Metropolitan Police Department revealed that Sutton, in his early 40s, and Zabavsky, in his mid-50s, were on “indefinite suspension without pay, pending our administration process.” Sutton was found guilty in late 2022 by a unanimous federal jury after a nine-week trial, charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice.
Zabavsky was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice.
The jury determined that Sutton’s reckless driving during the police pursuit had caused Hylton-Brown’s death, showing “conscious disregard” for the risk of harm. Additionally, Sutton and Zabavsky were found to have conspired to hide the details of the crash from officials.
The DC Police Union had petitioned for a pardon for both officers. Sutton’s attorney, Kellen Dwyer, expressed confidence that the conviction would have been overturned by the D.C. Circuit, but celebrated Trump’s decision to end the case. Zabavsky’s attorney, Christopher Zampogna, also thanked the president.
Hylton-Brown’s mother, Karen Hylton, shared her shock and sorrow upon hearing of the potential pardons.
The case occurred months after the killing of George Floyd, which sparked global protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Trump’s pardon of Sutton and Zabavsky follows a controversial move earlier this week, where he pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, some of whom had assaulted police officers.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the US and a Trump supporter in the 2024 election, along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, issued a joint statement expressing their “deeply discouraged” reaction to the pardons.
Dealing a major blow to the rights of women and girls, Iraq‘s parliament on Tuesday passed several laws that critics say will effectively legalise child marriage for girls as young as nine.
The amendments to Iraq’s personal status law will give Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance – a dramatic change to the unified family law and safeguards for women established in 1959.
Iraqi law currently sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage in most cases, but the changes passed Tuesday would let clerics rule according to their interpretation of Islamic law.
Some of these interpretations allow the marriage of girls in their early teens – or as young as nine – under the Ja’afari school of Islamic law followed by many Shiite religious authorities in Iraq.
Proponents of the changes, which were advocated by primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, defend them as a means to align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture.
But Intisar al-Mayali, a human rights activist and a member of the Iraqi Women’s League, said passage of the civil status law amendments ‘will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls through the marriage of girls at an early age’.
‘This violates their right to life as children, and will disrupt the protection mechanisms for divorce, custody and inheritance for women,’ the activist declared.
The parliamentary session which saw the passage of the amendments ended in chaos and accusations of procedural violations.
‘Half of the lawmakers present in the session did not vote, which broke the legal quorum,’ a parliamentary official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly.
He said that some members protested loudly and others climbed onto the parliamentary podium.
After the session, a number of legislators complained about the voting process, under which all three controversial laws – each of which was supported by different blocs – were voted on together.
‘Regarding the civil status law, we are strongly supporting it and there were no issues with that,’ said Raid al Maliki, an independent MP.
‘But it was combined with other laws to be voted on together… and this might lead to a legal appeal at the Federal Court.’
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani in a statement praised the laws’ passage as ‘an important step in the process of enhancing justice and organising the daily lives of citizens.’
The parliament also passed a general amnesty law that is seen as benefiting Sunni detainees and has been criticised as giving a pass to people involved in corruption and embezzlement.
The chamber passed a land restitution law aimed at addressing Kurdish territorial claims.
The proposed amendments to the law were first announced in August, sparking a wave of demonstrations in Baghdad.
With many Iraqi marriages conducted informally and left unregistered, the revisions will allow figures from Sunni and Shia religious sects to finalise unions between people in law.
The law previously stated that marriage requires ‘a sound mind and completing 18 years of age’, with provisions for women fleeing abuse in annulling a contract.
Proposed amendments to the law, including lowering the age of marriage for women, were first announced in August, sparking a wave of demonstrations in Baghdad
Fifteen-year-olds could submit a marriage request, which judges could choose to approve if they deem the individual well and obtain their legal guardian’s consent.
A judge could permit the marriage of a 15-year-old ‘if he finds this absolutely necessary’, the law stated, without providing further details.
Under the new laws, marrying Muslim couples would choose either a Sunni or Shia sect, who would be able to represent them in ‘all matters of personal status’ – rather than the civil judiciary.
‘When a dispute occurs between the spouses regarding the doctrine according to whose provisions the marriage contract was concluded, the contract is deemed to have been concluded in accordance with the husband’s doctrine unless evidence exists to the contrary,’ the draft says.
And figures from the offices of each ‘endowment’ would be able to finalise marriages, rather than the courts.
This may also see unregistered marriages – more than a fifth of which involve girls under 14 – legitimised by the state.
The current amendments circulating do not directly refer to the issue of child marriages – but previous drafts have, inspiring sharp and ongoing criticism from rights activists.
Yanar Mohammed, president of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), told Middle East Eye the Coordination Framework was using the changes to distract from their own ‘corruption’ and political failures.
She said the proposals served to ‘terrorise Iraqi women and civil society with a legislation that strips away all the rights that Iraqi women gained in modern times’.
Ms Mohammed added that the bill would ‘force archaic Islamic sharia on them that regards women as bodies for pleasure and breeding, and not as human being[s] with human rights.’
Prince Harry claimed a “monumental” victory Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life for years, and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.
News Group Newspapers acknowledged its private investigators and journalists targeted Harry with phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information. The company offered him a “full and unequivocal apology” for intrusion by the now-defunct News of the World and its sister tabloid The Sun.
The statement, read out at the High Court in London by Harry’s attorney David Sherborne, even went beyond the scope of the case to acknowledge intruding on the life of Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, and the impact it had on his family.
“We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
His phone was hacked and he was spied on
News Group has long acknowledged that phones were hacked by staff at the News of the World, the weekly newspaper that Murdoch shut down in 2011 amid a public outcry over tabloid snooping. But this is the first time the company accepted wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper that once sold millions of copies with its formula of sports, celebrities and sex — including topless women on Page 3.
Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, had vowed to take his case to trial to publicly expose The Sun’s misdeeds and win a court ruling upholding his claims. He and Tom Watson, a former Labour Party member of Parliament, were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1,300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers.
The trial was due to start Tuesday, but was postponed amid last-minute negotiations that led to the dramatic settlement announcement.
Although the settlement means Harry will not get his day in court, his lawyer said it delivered the accountability he sought for himself and hundreds of others who were snooped on with intercepted voicemails, tapped phones, bugged cars and various forms of deception.
News Group acknowledged “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry. NGN had strongly denied those allegations before trial.
“This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them,” Sherborne said outside court.
Source of a bitter feud
Harry’s feud with the press dates back to his youth, when the tabloids took glee in reporting on everything from his injuries to his girlfriends to dabbling with drugs.
But his fury with the tabloids goes much deeper.
He blames the media for the death of his mother, who was killed in a car crash in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi in Paris. He also blames them for the persistent attacks on his wife, actor Meghan Markle, that led them to leave royal life and flee to the U.S. in 2020.
The litigation has been a source of friction in his family, Harry said in the documentary “Tabloids On Trial.”
He revealed in court papers that his father opposed his lawsuit. He also said his older brother William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, had settled a private complaint against News Group that his lawyer has said was worth over 1 million pounds ($1.23 million).
“I’m doing this for my reasons,” Harry told the documentary makers, though he said he wished his family had joined him.
Harry and the other holdout
Watson, who was targeted by NGN when he was part of an investigation into allegations of tabloid wrongdoing, also said the intrusion had taken a heavy toll on himself and his family.
“I once said that the big beasts of the tabloid jungle have no predators,” Watson said. “I was wrong, they have Prince Harry. … We are grateful to him for his unwavering support and his determination under extraordinary pressure.”
Watson, who also received an apology and substantial settlement, called on Murdoch to issue a personal apology to Harry, the king and “countless others” affected by tabloid intrusion.
An end to the story?
News Group Newspapers said the settlement “draws a line under the past” and ends more than a decade of litigation.
The company has now settled more than 1,300 claims without going to trial. In doing so, it has spent more than 1 billion pounds ($1.24 billion) in payouts and legal costs.
Harry’s attorney said the company still had questions to answer. Sherborne said the company engaged in “perjury and cover-ups” to obscure the truth for years, deleting 30 million emails and other records.
“There was an extensive conspiracy,” the statement said, in which “senior executives deliberately obstructed justice.”
News Group said in a statement that it would have disputed at trial that evidence was destroyed and it continues to deny those allegations.
Sherborne took aim at former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks, now the CEO overseeing News Group, who was acquitted of phone hacking a decade ago.
“At her trial in 2014, Rebekah Brooks said, ‘When I was editor of The Sun, we ran a clean ship,’” he said. ”Ten years later when she is CEO of the company, they now admit, when she was editor of The Sun, they ran a criminal enterprise.”
NGN apologized for wrongdoing by private eyes hired by The Sun, but not for anything done by its journalists, adding: “There was no voicemail interception on The Sun.”
Two cases down, one to go
Harry’s case against NGN was one of three he brought accusing British tabloids of violating his privacy by eavesdropping on phone messages or using private investigators to unlawfully help them score scoops.
His case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror ended in victory when the judge ruled that phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at the newspaper and its sister publications.
During that trial in 2023, Harry became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in court since the late 19th century, putting him at odds with the monarchy’s desire to keep its problems out of view.
The outcome in the News Group case raises questions about how his third case — against the publisher of the Daily Mail — will proceed. That trial is scheduled for next year.
Watch the video below.
Except for the video, this article was originally published by the Associated Press, AP
A Nigerian woman, Mewolaka Omololami Fashakin, has queried men who don’t share the responsibility for family planning only to tell their wives to have abortions when they get pregnant.
“Some men refuse to use CD, tell their wives not to do family planning, and ask them to ab*rt when they get pregnant? Aaah, why?” she wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
DECLARE: 2025: THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH HAS PREVAILED! Every power that has vowed that I will not enter my rest year, you are a liar! By fire, by thunder, scatter! I see rest on every side! Hallelujah! (Revelations 5:5)
2025: Once has the Lord spoken and twice have I heard that 2025 is my year of EL-ROI! By the zeal of El-Roi, I walk in daily victory! My enemies scatter before they gather! FIRE! (Romans 8:31)
It has turned to my salvation through prayers and the supply of the Spirit! Whatever the devil meant for evil, let it turn! Let every mountain become a plain, let Goliath fall, let Jericho walls crumble—Fire! 2025: I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR; I WIN AGAIN! (Philippians 1:19, Romans 8:37, Zechariah 4:7, 1 Samuel 17:49)
Jezebel, your end has come! I belong to the Jehu generation—called, chosen, and anointed to destroy wickedness in high places. Wherever you have exalted yourself, I throw you down! Go down by Fire! (2 Kings 9:30-33)
Adonijahs that arise in seasons of enthronement, organized attacks that hijack congratulations, plantings of hell meant to sabotage and exchange the fulfillment of my prophecies—Not in 2025! Go down by Fire! (1 Kings 1:5-53, Isaiah 54:17)
Ataliahs against my destiny, there is a boundary! Fire! There is a boundary: I come in the name of Jesus! There is a boundary: His Blood speaks for me! There is a boundary: I belong to the altar of Fire! In my health, my family, and the works of my hands, by the mercies of God, I am divinely exempted! (2 Kings 11:1-16, Hebrews 12:24)
2025, I declare again: “It is right and just for God to trouble my troublers!” Any man or woman that has arisen as a troubler—in any area they are incubating new demonic attacks or nurturing old battles—give them, Oh Lord, a miscarrying womb and dry breasts! (2 Thessalonians 1:6 TPT, Hosea 9:14)
Abba, arise in your jealousy! Every set date for evil emergencies, reset it to my day of favor, my day of a mighty deliverance, my day of testimonies that sound like lies! My testimony shall be: AND THE LORD BLOCKED IT! (Psalm 68:1, Nahum 1:9, Esther 6:1-10)
I WRITE A LAW! 2025: NO MOURNING, LAMENTATIONS, OR BITTER TEARS SHALL BE HEARD IN MY DWELLING PLACE! People will not gather to tell me sorry. Instead, they will gather to celebrate what the Lord has done in my life. (Isaiah 60:20, Revelation 21:4)
2025: Trans generational battles, demonic patterns, and cycles: Surely, there is an end, and your end is now! Fire! (Proverbs 23:18, Ezekiel 18:20)
In the order of Isaac, as I entreat the Lord, I carry my evidence earlier than expected, and more than I asked for! I am the pattern breaker! My case is different! (Genesis 25:21, Isaiah 43:19, Exodus 10:23)
I belong to God’s end-time army! Any part of my armor that was stolen, I take it back! I have my helmet of salvation, my breastplate of righteousness, my belt of truth, my sword of the Spirit, my shield of faith, and my feet shod with the gospel of peace. FIRE! Wherever I step in: Let enemies of God be destroyed. Let kingdoms of hell be discomfited. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
By the mercies of God, no negative past will be repeated in my present! I move only from glory to glory! As I journey from day to day, My testimony shall continually be: El-Roi increased my greatness and comforted me on every side! (Psalm 71:21)
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” Judge of the whole earth, God of vengeance, Consuming Fire, arise in your anger. Reply them with your Fire! (Psalm 2:1-5, Psalm 94:1-2)
This 2025, I do not negotiate with demons, I see what is mine, I step in, I take it! Oh Lord arise in your jealousy, tear down every power that shall arise to contend with your promises and prophecies over my life! (Exodus 20:4-6)
Who Can Stop My Congratulations, When the Lord has Commanded it ? Who can say no when my God says Yes? Which hand can close a door that Jehovah has opened for me? If they try, let Fire answer! (Lamentations 3:37)
On the day of my celebrations, nothing will go wrong! My congratulations will not be interrupted by evil emergency! My sounds of Joy will not be mixed with lamentations! As my congratulations arrive, surely they shall gather but In the order of Isaiah 54:15, I declare go down by Fire! (Eph 5:16, Psalm 16:5)
Whatever/Whoever has stood as mountain before me, my family, career, business and Ministry, according to the order of Zerubabel, become a plain! I step on you! Enemies of my destiny advancement: UNDER MY FEET!!!(Zechariah 4:7)
By the 31st of December this year, my testimony shall be 2025 did not end the way the enemy planned it! It ended in praise for What God Cannot Do, Does not exist!(Psalm 44:3)
In 37 days, the Early bird registration for the 65th NBA AGC which began on January 1, 2025, will end.
On February 28, 2025, when it closes, regular registration will commence on March 1, 2025, and run through May 31, 2025.
This year’s conference will take place in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The NBA AGC is an annual event dedicated to exploring the latest developments in law and providing participants with the highest-level insights from leading experts in the field.
How to Register: To register for the conference, please follow the simple step-by-step guide below:
An email verification link will be sent to your registered email address (please check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox).
Proceed to login using the verified details.
Click on “Make Payment” to complete your registration.
Once payment is made, you will receive a receipt and a confirmation email.
Important Notes: • Your Supreme Court Number (SCN) will serve as your unique identifier throughout the registration and conference process. • QR codes will also be utilized for verification purposes during the event. • We urge all registrants to ensure their email details are correctly entered to avoid delays in receiving verification and confirmation emails.
The NBA looks forward to welcoming you to this prestigious event, where critical legal issues and innovations will be discussed, and networking opportunities will abound. Act promptly to secure your participation at early bird rates, which will only be available until February 28, 2025.
For registration inquiries or further assistance, please contact Sadeeq at: [email protected] or 09129209903(Strictly on Whatsapp). Register today and join us for an unforgettable 2025 Annual General Conference! Signed; Chief Emeka Obegolu SAN, Chairman, AGCPC
Sunday Omisakin, one of the men who received Osun State Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke’s prerogative of mercy is back in prison.
Not up to eight days after he was granted the pardon the former inmate, went back to Ilesa Correctional Facility for allegedly breaking into a house to steal a television.
Omisakin, who was listed as number 8 on the governor’s prerogative of mercy list signed on December 26, 2024, had been pardoned for what was described as a minor offence.
However, on January 3, 2025, he was arrested for allegedly burgling a residence in Osogbo and stealing a plasma television valued at N600,000.
The suspect was arraigned before the Osun State Magistrate Court in Osogbo, presided over by Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba, on two counts of burglary and theft.
According to police prosecutor Inspector Kayode Adeoye, “On January 3, 2025, at about 12:00 p.m. at Al-Medinat Area, Iludun, Osogbo, Omisakin broke into the house of one Shittu Damilare and stole a plasma TV worth N600,000.”
Omisakin has been remanded pending further court proceedings.
“The offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 411 (1) (2) 363, 390(9) of criminal code cap 34 vol.II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the offence as his counsel, Najite Okobe urged the court to admit him to bail in most liberal terms.
The prosecutor opposed to the bail stating that “Governor just pardoned him few days ago. He was sentenced to prison by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara and he was not done serving his jail term.”
Magistrate Adeyeba ordered that he should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Facility and adjourned to January 10th 2025 when he was denied bail. He subsequently adjourned the matter to February 2025 for hearing.
Established by the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA)i which provides that “There shall be a body to be known as the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Bar Council”) which shall be charged with the functions conferred on the Council by this Act or the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (the “Association”).iii The LPA also prescribes its functions/powers, membership composition,iv tenure of elected members,v quorumvi of the meeting of the Bar Council. As already pointed out above, the Bar Council has three classes of powers namely — (1) powers reserved for it under the LPA,vii (2) Powers reserved for it by the RPC, 2007;viii and (3) those reserved for it in the NBA Constitution.ix Specific functions and powers of the GCB include:
(𝟭). General Management of the Affairs of the NBA: Although the LPAx had given to the GCB the power of general management of the affairs of the NBA in emergency situations to avoid vacuum and irresoluble crises in NBA leadership, subject to any limitations for the time being provided by the Constitution of the Association, this power has now been transferredxi to the Body of Benchers. In reality though, attempts by the Body of Benchers to manage NBA affairs has always been met with resistance.xii
(𝟮). Duty to Make and Amend the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Lawyers in Nigeria: The GCB possesses exclusive power to make, revise, amend or otherwise alter the RPC. The LPAxiii provides that “It shall be the duty of the Bar Council to make rules from time to time on professional conduct in the legal profession and cause such rules to be published in the Gazette and distributed to all branches of the Association”. The first RPC which was made by the Council at its general meeting in Lagos on 25 December 1967, was later amended on 15 January 1979, and later replaced by the RPC, 2007. The RPC 2007 was however, single-handedly purportedly amended by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, in September 2020.xiv This purported amendment was later set aside (nullified) by Court in 2022xv at the instance of a suit filed by the NBA.xvi
(𝟯). Fixing Bar Practicing Fee (BPF): Although the powers of the General Council to fix bar practicing fee was transferred to the Body of Benchers under Decree 21 of 1994, xvii the current practice is that the Federal Attorney General now fixes the practising fees in consultation with the NBA.xviii
(𝟰). Other Roles of the GCB: Making rules of accounts to be kept by legal practitioners in Nigeriaxix as well as performing other functions as may be assigned to it by the NBA Constitution, xx or the RPC.xxi
In some way, the NBA as an organization regulates the GCB in that the NBA prescribes certain functions for the GCB. Section 1 of the LPA provides that “There shall be a body to be known as the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Bar Council”) which shall be charged with the functions conferred on the Council by this Act or the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (the “Association”).xxii A close look at the foregoing provisions indicates that the Bar Council (GCB) has two categories of powers reserved for it under the LPA. But there appears to be a third category, powers reserved for the GCB under the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), 2023. Hence, the GCB has three groups of powers:
(𝗮). Powers Reserved For It Under The LPA: These have been discussed above.
(𝗯). Powers Reserved For It In The NBA Constitution: xxiii Section 7 of the extant Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), dealing with “Limitations to the powers of the General Council of the Bar,” provides as follows:
Pursuant to the powers conferred on the Association by Section 1 (1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, CAP L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (“Legal Practitioners Act”), to limit the powers of the General Council of the Bar, the General Council of the Bar shall not have: a. Any control over the budget or finance of the Nigerian Bar Association; b. The power to appoint representatives of the Association to any Statutory, Executive/Judicial, or other bodies; 6 c. The power to issue any statements purporting to express the view of the Association upon any matter of public interest or any matter affecting the interest of the Legal Profession generally; d. The power to make any arrangements whatsoever (including the drawing up of an Agenda or choice of venue) for the Annual General Meeting or any other General Meeting of the Association. (2) If at any time, due to unavoidable circumstances or any emergency, an election cannot be held at the appropriate time or the National Executive Council is incapable of functioning, the General Council of the Bar shall be convened with powers to constitute a 10-member caretaker committee of members of the Association to run the affairs of the Association for not more than the unexpired tenure of the National Officers or until when new National Officers shall be elected. (3) Provided however that the General Council of the Bar acting under Section 7 (2) hereto shall not be subject to any limitation of its powers under Section 1(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, until the expiration of the unavoidable circumstances or emergency.
(𝗰). Powers Reserved for the GCB by the RPC: Rule 7 of the RPC provides as follows:
7(1) Unless permitted by the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter referred to as the “Bar Council”), a lawyer shall not practice as a legal practitioner at the same time as he practices any other profession. (2) engaged in – A lawyer shall not practice as a legal practitioner while personally (a) the business of buying and selling commodities; (b) (c) time lawyer or as profession. (3) the business of a commission agent; such other trade or business which the Bar Council may from to time declare to be incompatible with practice as a tending to undermine the high standing of the For the purpose of the rule, “trade or business” include all forms or participation in any trade or business, but does not include- (a) functions; (b) (c) membership of the Board of Directors of a company which does not involve either executive, administrative or clerical being Secretary of a company; or being a shareholder in a company.
Rule 45(2) of the RPC provides that “A lawyer shall not wear the Barrister’s or Senior Advocate’s robe – (a) on any occasion other than in Court except as may be directed or permitted by the Bar Council; or (b) when conducting his own case as party to a legal proceeding in Court; or (c) giving evidence in a legal proceeding in Court”.
➖➖ EndNotes *Culled from the book, Strengthening Legal Profession Regulation In Nigeria (unpublished) by Sylvester Udemezue: 08109024556, [email protected])
(𝘅). The previous section 1(1) (befoere the 1994 Amendment proviced: “There shall be a body to be known as the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Bar Council”) which shall be charged with the general management of the affairs of the Nigerian Bar Association (subject to any limitations for the time being provided by the constitution of the association) and with any functions conferred on the council by this Act or that constitution”. The current provision is “There shall be a body to be known as the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Bar Council”) which shall be charged with the functions conferred on the Council by this Act or the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (the “Association”).
(𝘅𝗶). By section 2 of Decree 21 of 1994; See the Legal Practitioner (Amendment) Decree 21 of 1994. See section 10 of the LPA (Revised Edition).
(𝘅𝗶𝗶). Professional Ethics and Skills Handbook, Nigerian Law School
(𝘅𝗶𝗶𝗶). Section 12(4)
(𝘅𝗶𝘃).TheNigeriaLawyer, ‘AGF Malami (SAN) Amends RPC, Deletes Provision For NBA Stamp and Seal’ (TheNigeriaLawyer.com 12 September 2020) < https://thenigerialawyer.com/agf-malami-san-amends-rpc-deletes-provision-for-nba-stamp-and-seal/> accessed 23 December 2022
(𝘅𝘃). Blueprint, ‘Court nullifies Malami’s amendment of lawyers’ professional conduct rules’ (Blueprint.ng 11 August 2022)
(𝘅𝘃𝗶). Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/77/2022: Incorporated Trustees of the NBA v Attorney-General of the 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
(𝘅𝘃𝗶𝗶). See section 10(1)(d)
(𝘅𝘃𝗶𝗶𝗶). This is perhaps by virtue of the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Decree 31 of 1999
Following President Donald Trump’s administration’s reversal of policies that previously classified certain locations as off-limits for enforcement, the United States immigration authorities have been granted the ability to arrest individuals at schools, churches, and hospitals
The policy change ends more than a decade of restrictions that protected these “sensitive areas.”
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, announced the change in a statement, emphasizing the importance of eliminating spaces where individuals could evade arrest.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” the statement said, as reported by foreign media platform, the Guardian on Tuesday.
The new directive, issued by Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman, also reinstates the use of expedited removal nationwide.
Under this policy, ICE is empowered to quickly deport undocumented individuals who cannot prove they have resided in the United States continuously for more than two years.
The changes align with a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
This week, the president signed several executive actions, including measures to suspend the refugee system, block access to an app used for facilitating entry into the US, and strengthen cooperation between ICE and local governments.
As part of this initiative, ICE agents are set to conduct nationwide operations to arrest and deport undocumented individuals.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, confirmed in an interview that these efforts would begin immediately, stating that ICE officers across the country would be actively enforcing immigration laws.
Advocacy groups have voiced strong opposition to the new policies. The Center for Law and Social Policy warned of severe repercussions for immigrant families, particularly those with US-citizen children.
The organisation expressed concern that the changes could deter families from seeking medical care, disaster relief, and education and may increase the likelihood of children witnessing traumatic encounters with immigration officials.
Religious leaders have also spoken out against the policy. During a sermon at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington urged the administration to show compassion toward immigrants and vulnerable populations.
Having served her jail term in the United Kingdom (UK), Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is back in Nigeria.
A reliable source disclosed this to DAILY POST on Wednesday.
According to the source, Mrs Ekweremadu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday.
DAILY POST recalls that Senator Ekweremadu, the wife and one Dr Obinna Obeta were sentenced to prison by a UK court for their involvement in organ harvesting.
The former deputy senate president was sentenced to 10 years, while his wife was sentenced to six years.
DAILY POST reports that the return of Mrs Ekweremadu is being celebrated across Enugu State, with many praying to have the Deputy Senate President back in the shortest possible time.
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
