Home Blog Page 914

[Just In] Industrial Court Restrains NLC, TUC from Embarking on Planned September Strike

0

The Abuja Vacation Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon.  Justice Ibrahim Galadima has granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, their officers, affiliates, and privies from embarking on any strike or stoppage of work in whatsoever form described on 28th September 2020 or any other subsequent date pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The Court also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Unions, their officers, affiliates, privies or howsoever described from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or its affiliates or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on the 28th September 2020 or any other subsequent date pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

Justice Galadima made the order sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the Incorported Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa Esq.

The Court also granted an order compelling the Inspector General of Police and the Director General Department of State Services to provide protection for the claimants and other Nigerian worker engaged in their legitimate duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the Unions pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The Obaseki blowout in Edo poll

0

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

It was a real shellacking. Even those who predicted a Godwin Obaseki win in the Edo governorship poll on September 19 didn’t foresee a blowout.

And four days after the result was announced, some are still pondering how Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a man reputed as a grassroots politician, took such a drubbing.

He should blame his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and its two chieftains – Adams Oshiomhole and Bola Tinubu – for his loss.

I will explain.

Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo and sacked APC national chairman, is quite a character.

Crabby, grouchy and pugnacious, the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president loves picking fights, most times gratuitously. As the Smart Alec he thinks he is, he behaves as if he knows everything. And because he is Mr. Know-All, he is opinionated, intolerant and blinkered. Like every Smart Alec, he is irritating. Little wonder, to borrow a cliché, he is the best hated man in the APC today.

Oshiomhole’s APC-Obaseki-Iyamu odyssey echoes the allegory of the tortoise who embarked on an ill-advised trip.

Advice by friends who were apprehensive the trip would end badly was derisively rebuffed.

“Must you go on this journey?” they asked in a last ditch effort to save him from himself. The wily animal riposted affirmatively.

Exasperated, they made the final push. “If you have to go, when will you return?” Tortoise retorted: “Not until I am disgraced.”

That is exactly the story of Oshiomhole. Many who are celebrating the outcome of the poll are as happy for Obaseki’s triumph as they are over Oshiomhole’s humiliation.

Blinded by infantile hubris and quest for vendetta, Oshiomhole could not correctly interpret the handwriting on the wall even when he saw and read it. If he was perspicacious enough, he would have noticed that his antagonism and Obaseki’s forceful pushback burnished the governor’s political credentials.

Obaseki won the battle when he successfully framed it as a resistance against wannabe godfathers with itchy fingers. Most APC stalwarts in the state agreed with him.

John Odigie-Oyegun, former Edo governor and former APC national chairman, not only refused to endorse Ize-Iyamu, he also distanced himself from the hustings.

He put it succinctly in his congratulatory message to Obaseki: “You and your exemplary deputy have shown that with good work and principled leadership, the ills of overbearing and egocentric politicking in our nation can be overcome.”

As the election drew closer, Oshiomhole became more boastful and conceited, likening himself to a “political lion.”

Told that Obaseki had vowed to end his political career after the election, a visibly irritated Oshiomhole thundered, “A political lizard is saying that he is going to end the political relevance of a political lion … examination day is on Saturday and we will find out.”

Of course, the result was announced a day after the examination and the political lion’s voice is now muted.

Beyond Oshiomhole’s theatrics, composition of the 49-member Edo APC campaign council was a study in self-hate.

By appointing the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Hope Uzodinma, the Supreme Court Governor of Imo State, chairman and deputy chairman respectively, the Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee sent a very wrong signal to the Edo electorate that were already wary of APC.

What informed the choice of both men with purloined mandates, who most Nigerians believe typify all that is wrong with the country’s democracy, as arrowheads of APC’s quest to wrestle back Edo to its column?

What were they expected to bring to the table – ability to rig elections?

But the most egregious assault on the sensibilities of Edo people was Tinubu’s recorded broadcast which was released shortly before the election.

Perhaps, deceived by the self-appointed, albeit non-existent position of APC national leader, Tinubu overreached himself by directly calling on Edo people to reject one of their own at the polls.

His action was as dumb and needless as it was tactless.

If the video was intended to help Ize-Iyamu, it backfired spectacularly, energising the Obaseki camp. Even undecided voters easily made up their minds thereafter. It became the real game changer.

A vote for Obaseki became a vote not only against Ize-Iyamu and home-brewed godfathers but their ilk from outside the state seeking to extend the reach of their political empire.

By brusquely injecting themselves into the Edo political fray, Oshiomhole and Tinubu freely handed Obaseki the surface-to-air missile to shoot down Ize-Iyamu’s political copter. It was the axiomatic free chicken.

Instead of the election being a referendum on Obaseki’s first term, it became a referendum on the godfather scorecard of both. The result was predictable: An Obaseki blowout with 307,955 votes to Ize-Iyamu’s 223,619 votes.       

But the election, which many consider relatively free, fair and violence-free, has also thrown up a fundamental issue.

Many observes – local and foreign – have given kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a well-conducted poll. Ditto for security agencies, particularly the police, for creating the enabling environment.

But there is also a school of thought that believes that the bulk of the credit should go to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the INEC and the security agents the freehand to conduct the election. I agree.

Obaseki reflected this sentiment in his thank you message.

“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for defending our democracy and allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security services to perform their constitutional functions without interference,” he said.

Many others are falling over themselves to eulogise Buhari for allowing free and fair election in Edo and pleading with him to do same in subsequent elections.

While I agree that the president’s disposition made all the difference, I equally find the supplication distasteful and insulting.

The president is not the guarantor of our democratic rights and free and fair polls should not be at his pleasure. In any truly democratic country, the idea of pleading with a president to allow institutions of state the free rein to deliver on their constitutional mandates is ridiculous.

Not when Buhari himself acknowledges that “without free and fair elections, the foundation of our political and moral authority will be weak.”

In his congratulatory message to Obaseki, the president rightly noted that “Democracy will mean nothing if the votes of the people don’t count or if their mandate is fraudulently tampered with.”

There is no doubt that Buhari kept his distance from the Edo election. And there could be a million and one reason for that.

Having secured his second term, he may no longer be interested in do-or-die elections, thus abiding by his May 29, 2015, “I belong to everybody, and I belong to nobody” vow.

It could also be that he was truly embarrassed by Oshiomhole’s antics and did not want to be seen as supportive, or it may well be that he was simply scared aware from interfering by the threat of sanctions from the international community.

Truth be told, those praising the police and the INEC for the success of the Edo poll are only telling a single story.

The other side of the story and perhaps the most important is what Buhari decided to do, which is, remain neutral and allow the democratic will of the people to prevail.

The police remain the same and Mohammed Adamu who superintended the bloody Kogi governorship election in November 2019 is still the Inspector General of Police.

The only difference is that this time around, there was no indication from Aso Rock where the pendulum should swing. If not, we would have had another Kogi drama.

The same goes for the INEC. Nothing has changed. Mahmood Yakubu is still the helmsman. If the body language from Aso Rock indicated otherwise, at best the Edo vote would have been inconclusive as happened in Osun in 2018 and Kano in 2019.

Therefore, while the outcome of the Edo poll is a huge big step forward in our democratic peregrination, the fact that it was only made possible because the president decided to be presidential is an issue.

For those who think this is the dawn of a new era, I say, maybe. But something tells me it is not yet time to ululate. It is not yet uhuru. What happens if the president decides to interfere tomorrow if there is no Oshiomhole to irritate him?

There is simply a fundamental problem when a country depends on the benevolence and goodwill of one man, even if that man is the president, to get free, fair and transparent elections.

I have not spoken to her In 2 years – Ned Nwoko speaks on romantic relationship with Chika Ike

0

Nigerian Billionaire, Ned Nwoko has shaded more light on alleged relationship with Nollywood actress, Chika Ike.

Recall that he was recently dragged after rumours revealed that he was having a romantic relationship with Chika Ike.

In a video that went viral, a blogger named Ada Nanka was heard narrating how Regina Daniels’ mother, Rita Daniels threatened to go spiritual on Chika if she refuses to leave her daughter’s husband alone.

Nanka claimed that actress Chika has resumed a love relationship with the billionaire businessman, as she said Regina Daniel’s mother has warned Chika to leave her daughter’s husband alone.

However, Chika replying a question and answer on Instagram, address the issue as she said she has no intention of being anybody’s seventh wife.

After weeks of silence, the billionaire businessman has finally cleared the air.

Speaking in a statement released by his media directorate, he dismissed the reports as fake and wicked as he tells people to leave his family alone.

According to him, he hasn’t spoken to Chika in the last years.

Magu: ‘Malami Should Stop Appearing Before Justice Salami Panel’

0

A CIVIL society organization (CSO), the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), has urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to stop attending the sittings of the Justice Isa Ayo Salami-led presidential panel investigating allegations of corruption against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The group said Malami’s appearance before the panel as a witness could negatively affect the outcome of the panel’s efforts.

GICN’s Executive Director Edward Omaga said the AGF’s appearance before the panel would compromise his constitutional duty.

Omaga added: “There were reports that Mr. Malami is to appear as a witness before the panel. And, like we rightly stated earlier, we at GICN want the members of the panel to be allowed to use their own wisdom in discharging their mandate without being tele-guided by people who are supposed to be busy defending themselves by responding to allegations made against them.

“Already, the panel has gathered evidence which is enough to do substantial justice. In case those calling on the AGF to appear the before the panel do not know, the AGF has been playing a supervisory role on the EFCC and we make bold to say that the number one chief law officer of the country has played this role creditably well, so there is no need to have him as witness before the panel.

“We at GICN also need to remind them that after the completion of the sitting of the panel, the report of the panel would be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, who will in turn seek the legal view of the AGF, so, if he is invited to be a witness before the panel, he would be deprived from offering his constitutionally recognized legal view when sort, having appeared as a witness at the panel.”

We Need Stringent Laws To Punish Road Traffic Offenders — Justice Dongban-Mensem

0

…Calls for fresh initiative to change anomaly
…Says Bill before NASS to deal with errant drivers

The President, Court of Appeal Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, yesterday, disclosed that there were no stringent laws to punish road traffic offenders in the country.

Justice Dongban-Mensem, who made the remarks during the 9th annual road safety conference and FRSC/KRSD easy competition award 2020, held at ICT hall of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, headquarters in Abuja, regretted the absence of severe punishment accounted for reckless and dangerous driving often result in death or injury.

Justice Dongban-Mensem spoke at the event to mark the 10th memorial of the passing of her son, Prince Kwapda’as Rangna’an Samson Dongban, who was killed by an unknown motorist in Jos, plateau State and in whose memory the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand, KRSD Foundation was established.

She said, “We have set aside this day for annual conference to remember him and several others who have departed this world in similar circumstance and place at the front burner of public discourse the unabating road crash incidences in our country. “

According to her, “It’s my conviction that the penalties currently listed in our laws are no longer as stringent as they were when first enacted. On the contrary, the grievous acts of over speeding, reckless or dangerous driving often result in death or injury. It appears as though, drivers found guilty of road offences are given a proverbial slap on the wrist

“We shall continually embark on fresh initiatives so as to change this anomaly. Now, we are in the process of sponsoring a Bill in National Assembly. The Bill entitled ‘Proposal to the National Assembly for the amendment and addition of some Sections to the Federal Road Safety Commission Act 2007’.

“This amendment seeks to impose stringent penalties are meted to traffic offenders. This should ensure that errant drivers are effectively precluded from reckless behavior on our roads or otherwise adequately punished for it. The idea is to implore deterrence.”

The legal luminary stressed further that, “Also, we are reviewing the provisions on Third Party Motor Insurance Policy. In Nigeria, third party insurance is compulsory under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party) Insurance Act 1950.

“It is one of the six compulsory classes of insurance under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, this policy stops at coercing motorists to buy the stickers. Motorists pay the annual premium of N5, 000 and it stops there.

“Actually, the policy is designed to make insurance companies pay compensation to road crash victims in form of restitution. It is meant to help the injured recover medical bills or relatives of the dead get compensations.

“However, we hear stories like Fake Insurance Companies collecting premiums, insurers adopting very frustratingly complex indemnity processes etc.

“Almost every vehicle on the road is covered with either Comprehensive or Third Party Motor Insurance policy. Yet victims of motor crashes hardly get compensated in Nigeria, thereby making the policy very unpopular in Nigeria.

“We would like to enlighten motorists and the general public on the benefits of the Third Party Motor Insurance Policy to ensure that the process of identification is seamless and transparent.

“We want to see a straightforward and fraud proof way of acquiring the insurance sticker. This has worked in a country like Uganda. It should work here also.

“I wish to remind us in ending my speech that the commitment to safer roads is for all Nigerians. The FRSC, Special Marshals and the Regular Marshals cannot do it alone.

“I urge all Nigerians to join us in making a personal commitment to Keep the Roads Safe by not drinking and driving, not over speed, wearing your seatbelts and helmets, observing the traffic rules and encouraging fellow drivers to obey traffic rules.

“That way, the loss of the lives of my son and all those who have passed, will never be in vain. Above all, I urge everyone to make a commitment to stop and save a road crash victim and please do not look away.”

On the KRSD Foundation, Justice Dongban-Mensem noted that, “In our nine years of existence as a foundation, we have performed credibly on a number of initiatives aimed at bringing sanity to the roads through education and active campaigns on road safety.

“With the slogan, ‘keep the road safe demand’, KRSD, the foundation has extensively advocated for road safety.

“This has been done through extensive sensitization through seminars, rallies, road walk and essay/quiz competitions among secondary school children and the general public.”

At Least 380 Whales Dead In Australia’s Largest-Ever Mass Stranding

0

At least 380 pilot whales have died off the coast of Tasmania in what experts are calling Australia’s largest recorded mass-stranding event.

Nearly 500 whales have been stranded on a beach and two sandbars along the western coast of the island state.

Initial reports on Monday said that 270 whales, some of which had already died, were stranded at three sites. Then authorities surveying the area by helicopter on Wednesday discovered another 200 that were stranded about 6 miles to the south — but all of those animals were confirmed dead.

Rescue efforts are focused on the larger group of 270, which is stranded near the town of Strahan, The Guardian reports. About 50 whales in that group have now been freed and have found their way to the open ocean. An estimated 90 in that group were already dead when authorities found them.

“We will continue working to free as many of the live animals as we can,” Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka told news outlets, including The Sydney Morning Herald.

“While they are still alive and in water, there is certainly hope for them, but as time goes on, they become more fatigued and their chance of survival reduces,” he said. “But we will continue working for as long as there are live animals on the site.”

Long-finned pilot whales can be as long as 23 feet and weigh several tons. They have been known to form pods as large as 1,000 members.

Government marine conservationists and volunteers had quickly arrived at the sites to mount a rescue effort on Tuesday, but such “refloating” missions are difficult. Four or five people would work to free each animal, wading into freezing water and attaching slings to the whale so a boat could guide it out.

Ongoing rescue efforts will focus on those whales that are more likely to be alive and those most easily reached, marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta told Australian broadcaster ABC News.

“Unfortunately, they do have a very strong social system, and these animals are very closely bonded. And that’s why we have seen so many in this case unfortunately end up in this situation,” Pirotta said.

And even when a whale is freed, its fate remains in jeopardy.

“They are wanting to return back to the pod. They might hear the acoustics of the vocalizations of the sounds that the others are making, or they’re just disorientated and in this case extremely stressed and just probably so fatigued that they in some cases don’t know where they are,” she said.

Deka says that while rescue efforts continue, increasingly the question is what to do with the carcasses. He told The Guardian that two methods are under consideration: burying them in a landfill or towing them into open water.

“We do know we can’t leave them in the harbor because they will present a range of issues. We are committed to retrieving and disposing,” he said.

Mass strandings of whales and dolphins are common in Tasmania, as well as in neighboring New Zealand.

Unfortunately, Marine and Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said in a statement, “There is little we can do to prevent this occurring in the future.”

The world’s largest recorded mass stranding occurred in the New Zealand territory of the Chatham Islands in 1918, Reuters reports, when 1,000 whales were stuck.

Peter Harrison, a professor at the Southern Cross University Whale Research Group, told the news service that such events are of great concern when so many whales die.

“Quite often we only get to really see them when there are bad outcomes, such as this stranding event,” Harrison said. “We absolutely need some more investment in research to understand these whales in Australian waters.”

NPR

Sarkozy Loses Legal Challenge Over Claims He Accepted Libyan Cash

0

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has lost his bid to throw out an inquiry into claims he used Libyan cash for his 2007 presidential campaign, a ruling that could require him and several associates to stand trial.

Sarkozy, 65, denies accusations by former members of Muammar Gaddafi’s leadership that he took millions from the slain Libyan ruler, some of it delivered in cash-stuffed suitcases, in his successful presidential run.

The scandal came to light in 2012, when investigative website Mediapart published a document purporting to show that Gaddafi agreed to give Sarkozy up to 50 million euros ($58 million or $67.6 million at today’s rates).

Sarkozy’s lawyer declined to comment after the hearing on whether he would appeal the decision to France’s top criminal court.

But the failed legal challenge means the inquiry by two anti-corruption judges can continue, though it remains uncertain if they will eventually seek a trial.

It is not the only legal headache for Sarkozy, who has enjoyed renewed popularity since retiring, with his memoirs seeing strong sales.

He has also been charged in two other cases, one relating to fake invoices devised to mask overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign, and another for alleged influence peddling involving a top judge.

He is set to go on trial in the second case on October 5, when he will become France’s first ex-president in the dock for corruption.

In 2011, as NATO-backed forces were driving Gaddafi out of power, the long-time Libyan leader’s youngest son Saif al-Islam, told the Euronews network: “Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign.”

Sarkozy dismissed the allegations as rantings of vindictive Gaddafi loyalists who were furious over the French-led military intervention in Libya that helped end Gaddafi’s 41-year rule and ultimately led to his death.

Sarkozy, who retired from politics after a failed comeback attempt for the 2017 presidential vote, has accused the Paris judiciary of hounding him.

SOURCE : NEWS AGENCIES

What Must Happen To Judges That Are Careless With Bail?

0

Daily Law Tips (Tip 661) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LL.M, ACIArb(UK)

Introduction:
Bail is a fundamental human right of all persons in Nigeria. Every person in Nigeria is assumed to be innocent. Every suspect or defendant is entitled to police and court bail. Every offence is bailable in Nigeria, although the conditions for bail may vary depending on the nature of offence. So, there is a duty on courts, Judges and Magistrates to grant bail according to the conditions for bail. Well, it is not impossible to find courts that may grant bail carelessly, without observing the conditions for bail. Since for every action there is a reaction, the Supreme Court has in 2020 reiterated what must happen to such careless judges during service and even after retirement. This work reveals what according to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, are non-judicial/administrative consequences, that must befall Judges and Magistrates that are reckless with bail.

Bail and the Bench:
There are basically two types of bail; Administrative Bail (popularly known as Police Bail, being bail granted by arresting officer/agency) and then Judicial Bail (being bail granted by courts). By the way, bail is a temporal freedom granted to a suspect/defendant with a guaranty that the suspect/defendant will appear later at an agreed time and place. While judges (the bench) are encouraged to ensure fair hearing (including bail), bail must be granted within the lines of law. Bail must not be allowed to be used as a tool for injustice, hence, the bench must not be reckless in granting bail. Hence, a good Judge or Magistrate in exercising his discretion to grant or refuse bail must be judicial and judicious.

Where a Judge/Magistrate is reckless in granting bail, the Supreme Court has clearly stated what must happen to the Judge/Magistrate during his service and even while in retirement. To capture the full colour and height of recklessness on the part of a judge in granting bail, I am pushed to quote the long words of Justice OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in a recent judgment in the case of UGWU v. STATE (2020) LPELR-49375(SC). There is no better way to appreciate this issue. The quotation from the judgment of the apex court, clearly shows how a Judge sitting in Enugu State High Court was reckless in assessing and granting bail to a defendant suspected of murder. Below are the words of the erudite jurist.

1. “However, before I conclude this judgment, I feel compelled to comment on the incident at the commencement of the proceedings before the trial Court of Enugu State. It is on record that the appellant and one other – as the 1st accused had been arraigned for trial, charged with conspiracy and murder. After their pleas were taken and each pleaded not guilty, the matter was adjourned for hearing. The then 1st accused later took an application to a vacation Judge in Enugu for his bail pending trial. The vacation Judge granted him bail on N250,000.00. He was reported to have jumped the bail and the surety readily paid the sum of N250,000.00, the bail money in lieu and he was never available to stand the trial. He is reported to remain at large. There is no doubt that granting or refusal of bail application is at the discretion of the Judge who is considering the application. Yet, there are a number of factors or criteria that must be taken into consideration by the Judge in granting or refusing bail pending trial. These include: (1) The nature of the offence and the punishment attached to it, if proved (2) the evidence available against the accused; (3) availability of the accused to stand trial (4) the likelihood of the accused committing another offence while on bail; (5) the likelihood of the accused interfering with the cause of justice; (6) the criminal antecedents of the accused person; (7) the likelihood of further charge being brought against the accused; (8) the probability of guilt; (9) detention for the protection of the accused; (10) the necessity to procure medical or social report pending final disposal of the case. Certainly these are some of the factors that may be taken into consideration and by no means exhaustive. See; Bamaiyi Vs. The State & Ors (2001) LPELR – 731 (8). I have no doubt in my mind that the said vacation Judge disregarded all the above factors to be considered. In this case, the offence charged included murder punishable with death sentence. The proof of evidence showed incriminating materials, recovered from the accused person’s house upon execution of search warrant on the house. With the available evidence, it baffles one to hear that the vacation Judge, not the Judge whose Court was to try the case, considered the bail and readily granted same. I believe that when the accused later jumped bail and he refused to make himself available for his trial, the Judge should have realized that he has to cover his face in shame for his failure to exercise his discretion on the bail application, both judicially and judiciously. Ordinarily, Judges should be above board as far as integrity and competence are concerned. It is rather unfortunate, to say the least, that a man who was alleged to be involved in the gruesome murder of the Chief Security Officer of the University and serial raping of the two grown up daughters of the deceased can be carelessly allowed to escape from justice. I shall say nothing more on this and let the conscience of the said Judge continue to deal with him either in his retirement or still in service. He is however not on trial.” Per, OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA ,J.S.C ( Pp. 28-30, paras. B-E ) Judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (on bail) in the case of UGWU v. STATE (2020) LPELR-49375(SC)

Conclusion:
Judges and Magistrates are the keepers of the gate of justice. They are the few minds appointed for a price, to decide the affairs of men on the table of men. They cannot afford to be reckless and unprofessional in any thing, including bail and fair hearing.

My authorities are:

1. Sections 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 230, 237, 249, 255, 260, 265, 318 and 319 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
2. Sections 32, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 494 and 495 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and its equivalent in states across Nigeria.
3. The judgment of the Supreme Court (on what must befall judges that are reckless with bail) in the case of UGWU v. STATE (2020) LPELR-49375(SC)
4. Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (on the nature and effect of Bail) in the case of SULEMAN & ANOR v. COP PLATEAU STATE (2008) LPELR-3126(SC)

#SabiLaw
#DailyLawTips
#SabiBusinessLaw
#SabiElectionLaws
#SabiHumanRights
#SabiLawOnBeatFm
#SabiLawLectureSeries
#CriminalJusticeMonday
#SabiLawVideoChallenge

Speak with the writer, ask questions or make inquiries on this topic or any other via [email protected] or [email protected] or +2348037665878. To receive our free Daily Law Tips, follow our Facebook Page:@LearnNigerianLaws, Instagram: 
@LearnNigerianLaws and Twitter: @LearnNigeriaLaw

Please share this publication for free till it gets to those that need it most. Save a Nigerian today! NOTE: Sharing, modifying or publishing this publication without giving credit to Onyekachi Umah, Esq. and “LearnNigerianLaws.com” is a criminal breach of copyright and will be prosecuted.

This publication is the writer’s view not a legal advice and does not create any form of relationship. You may reach the writer for more information.

Powered by www.LearnNigerianLaws.com {A Free Law Awareness Program of Sabi Law Foundation, supported by the law firm of Bezaleel Chambers International (BCI).}

Ex-Nigerian Minister accused of arresting hotel staff and stripping them naked for allegedly stealing N5,000

0

A former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi has been accused of arresting four of his hotel staff and stripping them naked for allegedly stealing N5,000. 

According to Sahara Reporters, the four staff of Signatious Hotel, Warri, Delta State ( a male and three females) were striped naked and photographed inside the hotel before being taken to Ebrumede Police Station where they were remanded in custody.

Ex-Nigerian Minister accused of arresting hotel staff and stripping them naked for allegedly stealing N5,000

A source told the publication; 

“My boss, former Minister of State for Education and owner of Signatious Hotel, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, arrested four of my colleagues working for him over the stealing of N5,000 from the hotel when actually the N5,000 was given as a gift to them by a guest because of their good behaviour.

“Before they were arrested by the police on Friday last week at the hotel, the four staff were stripped naked while they were photographed in the presence of the police. 

“We learnt that the dehumanising treatment was instructed by our boss.”

The four staff of the hotel have been identified as Gloria Oguzie, Victor Ephraim, Rosslyn Okiemute and Achibong Precious. It was also alleged that the hotel management forcefully made some withdrawals from their bank accounts with their ATM cards before the police took them away in a waiting van.

They were subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Effurun on Monday September 21, after four days of detention.

Ex-Nigerian Minister accused of arresting hotel staff and stripping them naked for allegedly stealing N5,000

In a five-count charge, the police accused the suspects of conniving among themselves to steal monies ranging from N156,000, N110,000, N5,000 and N2,000 owned by Signatious Hotel and committed an offence punishable under section 516 and 390 (9), of the criminal code Law Cap21C Vol.1 Law of Delta State.

They were granted bail following the intervention of some anti-corruption and human rights activists who decided to take up the matter. Warri-based human rights lawyer, Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe confirmed the story and also disclosed that the four staff were granted bail by a magistrate court sitting in Effurun, Delta State.

NBA INTERACTS WITH ASSOCIATION OF LAWYERS WITH DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA (ALDIN)

0

On Wednesday, the 23rd of September 2020, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), met with a delegation from the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) led by its President, Daniel Onwe to discuss issues affecting members of ALDIN.

Some of the issues raised by ALDIN were the inaccessibility of courts in Nigeria by lawyers with disabilities; discrimination against lawyers with disabilities by most law firms as well as inhumane treatment faced by lawyers with disabilities in court. Also discussed were the absence of sign language interpreters in courts; non-representation of lawyers with disabilities in the NBA and failure of NBA branches to make attendance to branch meetings easy for lawyers living with disabilities.

In his reaction, the NBA President Mr. Olumide Akpata, tendered an unreserved apology on behalf of the Association to all lawyers with disabilities for the neglect historically suffered by them and promised that the NBA will henceforth take steps towards a paradigm shift in the mindset of members of the NBA and the Nigerian populace at large, in their relationship with persons living with disabilities. He also pledged that the NBA will be more sensitive to the needs of not just lawyers with disabilities but also every senior citizen in the NBA.

The President further pledged that the NBA will ensure that the Lawyers with Disabilities Forum (LWDF) gets more active, and promised to introduce an annual event dedicated to the LWDF where issues faced by lawyers with disabilities will be discussed and solutions proffered. Also, in line with his campaign promise to make the NBA more inclusive, the NBA President promised to pursue an amendment of the NBA constitution to ensure that the Chairman and Secretary of the LWDF are made statutory members of the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC).

The NBA President further harped on the need for capacity building and promised to create specifically tailored programmes that would help to shore up the capacity of lawyers living with disabilities in Nigeria.

Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association