*Threaten court action

Elders in Kano under the aegis of Kano Unity Forum, a group of over 15 Kano based local and specialized groups, on Thursday expressed grave reservations about the resolve of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to obtain loan from China Development Bank to construct phase 1 component of Light Mono Rail to service Kano Metropolis.

This was contained in a petition signed by former presidential candidate under defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, on behalf of Kano Unity Forum and made available to THISDAY in Kano on Thursday.

The petition was sent to President Muhammad Buhari, National Assembly, Embassy of China in Nigeria, Ministry of Finace, Central Bank of Nigeria, China Development Bank, DMO, OAU secretariat and selected media organisations in Nigeria.

The statement explained that “save for few in official circles, nobody else knows the terms and conditions of the loan agreement”, adding that “the exact amount being borrowed is shrouded in secrecy”.

“A 1st Phase of the project costing Over N300 Billion or may be even the N828 Billion mentioned by others, coming mostly from a foreign loan is mind-boggling, to say the least. A rethink is not only needed, but necessary.”

Tofa stressed that “based on the analysis of the present indebtedness of Kano State as provided for by the Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible for Kano State to sustain any indebtedness beyond the current liability portfolio of the state.”

He also said “It needs to be noted that a rail project is never a project to be put in haste as we observed that it is neither in the medium nor long term plans of the State Government.

“If indeed the Chinese want to genuinely help with cheap loans, they should be requested to support critical sectors such as education, health, agriculture, power, science and technology, infrastructure , industry and water supply”.

Tofa, addrd, “after all, the Chinese have become world leaders in these aspects of transformative development.”

The former presidential candidate declared that “Kano Unity Forum would not give any self-serving politician the latitude to increase poverty and deprivation within the general public through ill-conceived public works.”

He further said “we shall not be deluded by the attractive idea of good return from the investment. Rail projects world over are known as highly capital intensive with a very negligible rate of return on investment. It’s more of a social welfare project, especially in Less Developed Economies. “

He therefore warned that “In the event, however, KNSG chooses to remain impervious to this well intentioned intervention, we will diligently pursue court processes and other lawful means to stop the Light Rail project.

The statement further assured the Chinese of its readiness to ensure the next administration in the State repudiates the agreement altogether and disregard any responsibility for whatever money the Chinese expended on this project.

The Nigerian Law School has released a proposed staggered resumption  calendar for the Bar Part II  2020/2021 Academy session.

The proposed calendar which was signed by the DG of Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, had the registered student divided into Batch ‘A’ and ‘B’. The students are to resume based on the Batch in which their names appear. 
Some student claimed that the staggered resumption calendar was not  from Law School.

Speaking to Nigerian Law School Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukekwe, he told TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL) that the proposed academic calendar is a mere proposal and as such, not to be completely relied on.

Meanwhile, it was further noted that it is subject to the approval of Federal Government because nothing can be done unless same is approved. But then, “just preparing” the ground for onward approval for the reopening of schools

Meanwhile the Students Representatives Council of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), of the six campuses have expressed their concerns over the released “staggered “ resumption date of the institution. 

They have equally made recommendations to the Council of Legal Education on what they think should be acted upon.

These recommendations were made pursuant to a virtual meeting held on the 26th day of August, 2020 which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), on an agenda titled “STAGGARED RESUMPTION DATE FOR NIGERIA LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS 2020/2021: SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS”.

However, the Students Representatives from the Nigeria Law School, Lagos Campus suggested and recommended as follows:

“Based on the Corona virus pandemic and the challenge it has posed to our academic activities, We are suggesting that:

“Students should return to school to complete their lectures which is very important especially with respect to exams.

“The online classes don’t hold water because some people didn’t partake in it and even those that did might not understand what was taught via the slides.

“If the school insist on 50% of us for the sake of Corona, they can simply ask the first batch to attend lectures for three months while the second batch will do their externship within that period. 

“After the 3 months,  the batch A will proceed for their own externship while Batch B attend their own 3 months lectures.

“Upon the expiration of the Batch B lectures,  everyone will converge for two weeks.One week for revision, one week for exams.”

Meanwhile, the further added that what is the possibility of students who do not reside in Lagos, whether they would be permitted to stay in the campus hostels.

“Please, in the interest of those students who do not live in Lagos, what would the living conditions be like? Would students be allowed to lodge back into the hostels, or would there be some re-organization based on government protocol?”

In another development, the representatives  from Kano Campus expressed their concerns over the proposed schedules and recommended as follows:

“1. The management should send us to do the full externship so that we will get the time to read our books and have an experience like our seniors.

“2. The management should give us 3 or 4 weeks of revision classes on campus after externship.

“3. After the externship and 3 or 4 weeks of revision then the Bar final.”

Meanwhile, the representatives from Abuja campus noted that the proposed schedules are too short and also, the initiative to set exams based on batches might be unjust amongst others.

“Representatives from Abuja campus proposed below:

“The proposed timeframe set for lectures and revisions seem too short to be able to condense the entire curriculum.

“Setting different questions for different batches may cause inconsistencies and unjustness in the results due to the fact that some questions set maybe harder than others.

“The stipulation for three dining terms in order to be called to the bar, would it be waived?

“Whether 9am to 5pm is a convenient enough time for everybody, and would people be able to cope, especially with masks on?

“Are two batches alone enough to carry out necessary COVID19 protocols?

“What would the living and reading conditions be like?

“For those who were unable to keep up with the online classes due to financial or personal reasons, what would be the alternative?

“Is it worth risking our health in order to keep up with the calendar?

“Concerning the new CAMA, students expressed worries whether or not the provisions that would remain would that of the old one or the new one.

However, the Abuja campus representatives noted as follows:

“There should be an option to defer the program without having to forfeit the tuition in its entirety. Rather, some percentage of the tuition should be refundable or put into an account in the name of the student for the purpose of re-enrollment afterwards.

“Classes should be divided into batches, more than two if possible, and they could be held at different times of the day. In order to avoid rushing students and failing to follow the right procedures, they should carry on until at least the end of the year, that is December.

“Simulated externships could be carried out after classes have concluded for the term, in batches as well, in order to solidify that which we have been taught in school by putting them into practice.

“After this, mock trials and moot courts could commence still in an effort to put what we learned into practice.

“Exams should be the final step and if possible, should be the same paper for every student. Several venues could be reserved for the exams, not necessarily on campus, in the same way JAMB is carried out.

“Our last recommendation would be to simply wait until a vaccine is readily available before the commencement of the program.

The representatives from Abuja campus further added :

“The management should send us to do the full externship so that we will get the time to read our books and have an experience like our seniors.

“The management should give us 3 or 4 weeks of revision classes on campus after externship.

“After the externship and 3 or 4 weeks of revision then the Bar final.”

In a similar development, the representatives from Enugu campus urged the management to reconsider the dates, this is because, there may be mass failure if it remains unchanged.

“The students request that the school management reconsider their proposal on the exam date. This is due to impending mass failure it will cause if it is actually approved.

“This is so because students have not had enough time to study as the online classes didn’t achieve much of its aims.

“It is suggested that December/January is fair enough time for the exam.”

However, they noted that they should be allowed to carry out full externship.

“More so, it is suggested that we carry out our full externship programme and every other activity.”

In another development, the representatives of Yenagoa campus made their own recommendations. Noting that the virtual classes did not serve much purpose. Thus, urged that exam should commence in 2021.

“We propose that lectures should resume from the point that we stopped, as many students could not follow the online classes also taking into cognisance the people that were admitted on the week we vacated.

“That academic activities should resume in October and exams should be moved to next year.

“In the case that externship is going to hold it should be this year and lectures can start in January down until exams.

“Much more importantly, the classes should be divided according to the covid-19 safety guidelines.

“Minimum of 3 months.

“Mock trial: During the course of the lectures*

“Date for Bar finals: February 2020.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arrested 25 Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, over alleged drivers’ licence and vehicle particulars’ racketeering.

A spokesperson for the commission, Azuka Ogugua, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, in Lagos, said that personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Motor Vehicle Licencing Authority, MVLA, were also arrested.

She said the officers of the Department of State Services, DSS, and FRSC, jointly effected the arrest.

Mrs. Ogugua said that the Commission received information that the officials connived with touts to extort extra fees from applicants before their drivers’ licences and vehicles particulars were processed.

“The operation was conducted in Ikeja, Somolu, Eti-Osa, and Anthony Drivers’ License Centres. Other places were Ojo, Oshodi, University of Lagos, Surulere, Agege and Coker centres in Lagos State.

“Various sums of money and several incriminating documents and equipment were retrieved from the suspects during the operation.

She stated that the officials were granted administrative bail by the Commission and would be arraigned in court on conclusion of investigation.

According to her, the exercise will be a continuous one and similar operations will be carried out in other centres to rid motor licensing administration of fraud and extortion. NAN

Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, his aides and top Ministry officials have relocated to Enugu State ahead of the planned reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Sunday, August 30.

Spokesman of the Ministry, Dr James Odaudu, who made the disclosure in a statement explained that the Minister’s relocation was to monitor the finishing touches being done by the contractors handling the runway reconstruction and installation of facilities at the airport.

“It is also to ensure that nothing stands in the way of the planned reopening.

“There have been apprehensions about the possibility of the resumption of flights at the airport as planned, as a result of the recent unwarranted and ill-advised pulling down of about two kilometres stretch of the perimeter fence of the airport by an individual claiming ownership of the land on which the fence was raised”, Odaudu noted.

He added that the Minister has assured the public that everything possible was being done to ensure that the South-East region, the major beneficiaries of the project, begins to enjoy flight operations at the airport from Sunday.

Odaudu also noted that Sirika commended the Governors of the South-East States especially Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for teaming up with the Ministry to ensure a successful return of activities at the airport.

Sirika at the earlier rehabilitation of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, had similarly relocated to Kaduna for a number of days to ensure a seamless operation of flights at the Kaduna airport which then served as an alternate to the shut Abuja airport.

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was shutdown in August 2019 to enable the Federal Government reconstruct the runway which had become so dilapidated that aviation experts described it as a huge threat to safety.

Thenigerialawyer

One of the suspected killers, Collins Uligbe confessed that her landlady, Mrs Mary Ade, gave them N1 million to kill the student.

Collins who said that he was asked by the landlady to wipe Uwaila’s private part with a handkerchief so that she could use it for ritual purposes and prosper in her business.

However, the landlady denied the allegation.

According to the police commissioner, the postmortem results confirmed that Miss Omozua was indeed raped before she was murdered.

The police chief assured the people of Edo state that the police will leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind the killing.

Recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state had earlier ordered the investigation and immediate arrest of the culprits involved in Miss Omozua’s death.

On his Twitter page, Governor Obaseki assured residents that the police command in the state is on the matter and that in no time, Vera’s killers will be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted.

Also, the federal government expressed sadness over the death of the UNIBEN student and called on all and sundry to rise against coordinated violence channelled against women in society.

In a tweet by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Monday, June 1, the government at the central called for justice for both Uwaila and Tina Ezekiel who were both killed in a blood-soaked circumstance.

How trigger-happy police officer shattered Tina’s dreams of becoming a doctor | Legit TV

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, yesterday paraded six suspects who allegedly raped 100-level Microbiology student of University of Benin, Uwaila Vera Omozuwa in a church in Ihovbe quarters in Benin City which led to her death.

The suspects arrested are Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Mrs. Tina Samuel, Mrs. Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien and Collins Ulegbe.

Late Miss Omozuwa was said to have gone to the church to read when the suspects went into the church, raped and inflicted a very serious injury on her that eventually led to her death days later in the hospital.

Kokumo said the police decided to intensify efforts in unraveling those behind the death of the student following the wide outcry it generated and also the interest put in by the Inspector General of Police.

He said, “The matter was of great concern to the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu who sent to us here in Benin, Homicide experts to work with our policemen at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

“What we are seeing today, is a result of the united efforts of the police to get at the root of the crime and today. I announce to you and making public through this medium that the perpetrators have been arrested”, he said.

Kokumo said the postmortem results confirmed that the said Uwaila Omozuwa was raped.

“The postmortem results had actually confirmed that she was raped”, he said.

He said he had earlier told the people of the state and Nigeria at large that the police would do all in their powers to unmask those behind her death adding that the parade of the killer suspects has made good their promise.

“I assured the good people of Edo state that we will leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind this”, he said.

A former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on Wednesday, listed three pre-requisites for a nation to attain greatness.

They are rules-based economy, human capital development and strong institutions.

Blair however pointed out that for the conditions to thrive there must be rule of Law, which he described as “absolutely vital.”

The former prime minister spoke at the Nigeria Bar Association 60th annual conference on Wednesday.

He advised that for Nigeria to move from a third world status to a developed nation, it must meet the three development parameters and develop its “infrastructure and good power generation system”.

His words: “If you ask, what does a nation have to do to be successful today? I think there are three prerequisites:

“First of all you have to have rules based economy which involves a predictable environment for investment, a climate for enterprise and business that rewards hard-work that enables companies to grow and where the infrastructure that is built in the country goes to support electricity, roads, rail, etc.”

Thenigerialawyer