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US Supreme Court rejects Trump’s last-minute attempt to evade sentencing

The United States Supreme Court has scuttled Donald Trump’s bid to block his criminal sentencing in New York. The apex court on Thursday denied President-elect Donald J. Trump’s emergency bid to halt it, ensuring it would proceed as planned on Friday.

New York Times reports that in a brief unsigned order, a five-justice majority noted that Mr. Trump was not facing jail time and that he could still challenge his conviction “in the ordinary course on appeal.”

According to the news outlet, although Trump had argued that being sentenced 10 days before his inauguration would distract from the presidential transition, the majority held, “The burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial.”

New York Times further reported that the majority included Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Sonia Sotomayor; Amy Coney Barrett; Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Four of the court’s conservative justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh — noted dissents without providing reasons.
The sentencing is now free to move forward on Friday morning in the same Lower Manhattan courtroom where Mr. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that had endangered his 2016 presidential campaign. The president-elect has indicated he plans to appear virtually.

After a series of unsuccessful legal maneuvers in New York State courts, the former and future president had hoped to prevail before a friendlier audience: a Supreme Court with a 6-to-3 conservative majority that includes three justices Mr. Trump appointed during his first term.

But the court opted to stay out of the case, despite having come to Mr. Trump’s rescue in a string of other recent matters. In July, the justices granted former presidents broad immunity for official acts, undermining a separate criminal case against Mr. Trump in Washington.

The show of independence from five of the justices in connection with the New York case — less than two weeks before the inauguration — capped the former and future president’s frenzied campaign to stave off the embarrassing spectacle of a sentencing. After months of delay, the sentencing will now formalize Mr. Trump’s conviction, cementing his status as the first felon to occupy the Oval Office.

A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Mr. Trump, declined to comment.

At a news conference on Thursday evening in his Mar-a-Lago estate, Mr. Trump attacked the case and vowed to mount a formal appeal of his conviction, even though he was expected to avoid jail or any other substantive punishment.

“We’re going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly it’s a disgrace,” he said.

But he found a silver lining, saying the Supreme Court ruling essentially spurred him forward.

“I read it and I thought it was a fair decision, actually, so I’ll do my little thing tomorrow,” he said.

The Supreme Court’s decision served as an early test of the influence Mr. Trump might wield over a panel of justices the majority of whom have previously appeared sympathetic to his legal troubles.

The revelation that Mr. Trump spoke this week by phone with Justice Alito fueled concerns that Mr. Trump has undue sway over the court.

Justice Alito said he was delivering a job reference for a former law clerk whom Mr. Trump was considering for a government position. But the disclosure alarmed ethics groups and raised questions about why a president-elect would personally handle such a routine reference check.

Justice Alito did not recuse himself from Thursday’s decision. He dissented, meaning he would have voted to block the sentencing.

Almost any other defendant would have already been sentenced by now. But after a jury convicted Mr. Trump in May on all the counts he faced, Mr. Trump’s lawyers lodged a flurry of filings seeking to unwind the conviction, or at least block the sentencing.

They intensified the effort even after the judge overseeing the case recently signaled that he would spare Mr. Trump jail time or any other substantive punishment, making any sentencing largely symbolic.

Seeking to persuade the Supreme Court to intervene, Mr. Trump’s lawyers had cited the court’s own ruling last year on presidential immunity. In that landmark decision, the justices granted former presidents broad immunity for official acts, dealing a serious blow to Mr. Trump’s criminal case in Washington, where he was accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

In the application this week, Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that he was entitled to full immunity from prosecution — as well as sentencing — now that he has been re-elected.
“Forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as president of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests,” they wrote.

But the district attorney’s office called his claim of immunity “baseless.”
“There is a compelling public interest in proceeding to sentencing,” they wrote, and added that “the sanctity of a jury verdict and the deference that must be accorded to it are bedrock principles in our nation’s jurisprudence.”

At an unrelated news conference on Thursday, the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, said his office’s “function right now primarily is to continue to give voice to that verdict.”

In their filing to the Supreme Court, Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors noted that Mr. Trump had yet to have a full appellate panel rule on the matter and had not mounted a formal appeal of his conviction. Consequently, they argued, the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction over a “non-final” state proceeding.

Earlier Thursday, a judge on the New York Court of Appeals in Albany, the state’s highest court, declined to grant a separate request from Mr. Trump to freeze the sentencing. Also this week, a judge on the First Department of New York’s Appellate Division in Manhattan rejected the same request.

That judge, Ellen Gesmer, had grilled Mr. Trump’s lawyer about whether he had found “any support for a notion that presidential immunity extends to president-elects?”

With no example to offer, Mr. Blanche conceded, “There has never been a case like this before.”

In their filing Thursday, prosecutors echoed Justice Gesmer’s concerns, noting that “This extraordinary immunity claim is unsupported by any decision from any court.”

They also argued that Mr. Trump’s claims of presidential immunity fell short because their case concerned a personal crisis that predated his first presidential term. The evidence, they said, centered on “unofficial conduct having no connection to any presidential function.”

The state’s case centered on a sex scandal involving the porn star Stormy Daniels, who threatened to go public about an encounter with Mr. Trump, a salacious story that could have derailed his 2016 campaign.

To bury the story, Mr. Trump’s fixer, Michael D. Cohen, negotiated a $130,000 hush-money deal with Ms. Daniels.

Mr. Trump eventually repaid him. But Mr. Cohen, who was the star witness during the trial, said that Mr. Trump orchestrated a scheme to falsify records and hide the true purpose of the reimbursement.

Although Mr. Trump initially faced sentencing in July, his lawyers buried Justice Juan Merchan in a flurry of filings that prompted one delay after another.

Mr. Trump’s application was filed by two of his picks for top jobs in the Justice Department: Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s choice for deputy attorney general, and D. John Sauer, his selection for solicitor general.

Last week, Justice Merchan put a stop to the delays and scheduled the sentencing for Friday.

Mr. Trump faced four years in prison, but his election victory ensured that time behind bars was not a viable option. Instead, Justice Merchan indicated that he would impose a so-called unconditional discharge, a rare and lenient alternative to jail or probation.

“The trial court has taken extraordinary steps to minimize any burdens on defendant,” the prosecutors wrote Thursday.

This report Supreme Court Denies Trump’s Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Sentencing was originally published by New York Times.

Lagos teacher who slapped three-year-old pupil arraigned, pleads not guilty

  • “Lack of parenting skills, knowledge of the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State, learning challenges of pupils and students, and protection of the health and general well-being of children are shamefully displayed here” —Ex-Lagos NBA Chair, Tam-George

Stella Nwadigo, the teacher who was captured on video dealing some deadly slaps to the cheeks of a three-year-old pupil in her class appeared before Magistrate M.O. Kusanu at the Ogba Magistrate Court on Thursday.

She was earlier arrested for physically assaulting a toddler at Christ-Mitots International School in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Nwadigo, who was apprehended after a video surfaced online showing her repeatedly slapping the young child, Abayomi Micheal, reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges read to her. 

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency disclosed this in an update on X.com on Thursday.

The statement read, “Following the ongoing viral case of child abuse, all concerned parties appeared today, 9th January 2024, at the Ogba Magistrate Court. (sic)

“The matter was assigned to Magistrate M.O. Kusanu. Two charges were read to the suspect, to which she pled not guilty.”

Nwadigo’s defence counsel was said to have applied for bail, which the court reportedly set at N200,000.

The statement added, “Her defense counsel applied for bail, which the court set at ₦200,000 and two verifiable sureties.

“The suspect has been remanded in a correctional facility, and the case is adjourned to the 18th January 2024 for trial.”

PUNCH reports that the viral video, which showed Nwadigo repeatedly slapping Abayomi while attempting to teach him how to write the number six, ignited public outrage, leading to widespread calls for justice.

Nwadigo was also suspended by the school’s management, while Abayomi was reportedly hospitalised following the incident.

In her contribution to the issue, a former Vice Chair of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abiye Tam-George noted that:

“In addressing learning challenges that children face in learning centres, it is essential to focus on step-by-step interventions to support and correct the child’s progress.

“There is no need for corporal punishment, as the issue often stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding. Any teacher who resorts to corporal punishment is committing a felony.

“The Child’s Rights Act or the Law of Lagos State can be accessed online for more information on the legal protections in place for children. Corporal punishment is strictly prohibited, and engaging in such practices is a criminal offence in Nigeria.

“Should an investigation reveal that a teacher has violated this law, she will be held accountable and face legal consequences.

“The law also requires that neighbours, doctors, or any individuals who witness or suspect child abuse report it. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, and there will be no defence for those who violate these protections.

“Lack of parenting skills, knowledge of the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State, learning challenges of pupils and students, and protection of the health and general well-being of children are shamefully displayed here.

“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.”

Bloodshed and Human Rights Violations in Eastern Nigeria: IPOB lawyer hails rights group

The lead counsel of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has commended a human rights organisation, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), for its detailed report documenting the atrocities and systematic human rights violations in Eastern Nigeria, including the bloody invasion of his ancestral home in Anambra State.

According to him, the publications serve as essential resources for the human rights community, offering a comprehensive guide for investigation and advocacy efforts.

Ejiofor in a statement said the call to action for international organisations, including the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), underscores the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring justice for victims.

He said, “It is with immense gratitude and profound appreciation that I acknowledge the detailed and well-researched report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), as supported by esteemed international experts, scholars, and human rights advocates.

“Your painstaking effort in documenting the atrocities and systematic human rights violations in Eastern Nigeria, particularly as it pertains to well detailed account of the bloody invasion of my ancestral home, is truly commendable.

“The reports respectively titled “Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing in Eastern Nigeria” and “Human Rights Made in Nigeria”, provide an in-depth analysis of the grave violations suffered by defenseless citizens. These meticulously compiled findings shine a spotlight on the egregious acts of extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and widespread destruction of property, which continue to threaten the sanctity of life and fundamental freedoms in the region.

“These publications serve as essential resources for the human rights community, offering a comprehensive guide for investigation and advocacy efforts.

“I particularly commend their dedication to exposing the systemic failures of governance and the complicity of state and non-state actors in perpetuating these atrocities. The call to action for international bodies, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, underscores the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring justice for victims.

“This is not only a significant contribution to human rights discourse but also a critical tool for policymakers, researchers, and advocates globally.

“As someone directly affected by these heinous violations, I am deeply encouraged by the courage and commitment displayed by all those involved in this project. Let this monumental work inspire collective efforts to restore justice, peace, and human dignity in Eastern Nigeria.

“Thank you once again for this invaluable contribution to the fight for human rights and accountability.”

Edo State Gov Okpebholo appoints Fmr. THISDAY Editor SA, International Development Partners

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has appointed Collins Edomaruse as his Special Adviser, International Development Partners.

Prior to his appointment, Edomaruse, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE), was also a founding member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers of Nigeria (GOCOP).

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of METROWATCH, Collins Edomaruse held several senior Editorial positions in THISDAY, including Group News Editor, Group Politics Editor, Deputy Editor (Daily, Saturday and Sunday titles), and Editor, Nation’s Capital/Abuja Bureau.

He is popularly known as ‘General’ because he mastered the Defence Beat in his days as a defence correspondent.

Nollywood homosexuality claims, Segun Arinze says adults have their rights

A veteran Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze, has responded to long-standing claims of homosexuality in the Nigerian movie industry, saying that adults have the right to make their own choices.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Arinze firmly dismissed any suggestions of his involvement in homosexual activities.

The actor stated, “I do not bend over, so I cannot react to it. Well if they do bend over, they should keep bending. That is their problem.

“They are adults and they have a right to do whatever they want to do. It is none of my business,” he said.

The 59-year-old actor emphasised his preference for living a straightforward and professional life, adding that he avoids unnecessary controversies.

“I am not going to concern myself with that. I do not like those lash backs, I like living my life straightforward, doing my business and being a professional that I am,” he said.

With a career spanning over three decades, Segun Arinze has transitioned from music to acting, becoming one of Nollywood’s most esteemed actors.

His contributions to the Nigerian film industry include over 250 movie roles, numerous awards, and serving as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Chilling new details of how Meta engineer murdered his wife and young twins before killing himself

By Ishita Srivastava and Alex Hammer

Autopsy reports have revealed how an ex-Meta engineer murdered his twins last year in their $2.1 million family home before turning the gun on himself. 

Anand Sujith Henry, 37, killed his sons Noah and Neithan, both four and his wife, Alice Benziger, 38, at their ritzy San Mateo house in February 2024

Responding officials found the couple with gunshot wounds beside a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine in the bathroom. 

The bodies of the boys was found on a couch inside one of the five bedrooms. 

In a newly released coroner’s report, San Mateo officials have discovered the children were killed in a homicide. 

Reports suggest that the boys were found in a supine position, with a pillow resting along each of their right sides which indicated that they were smothered to death. 

Officials also noted a large ‘foam cone’ emerging from Noah’s nose and mouth at the scene and small red or purple dots on the boys’ faces – signs of strangulation or choking. 

Anand Sujith Henry, 37, killed his sons Noah and Neithan, both four and his wife, Alice Benziger, 38, at their ritzy San Mateo house in February 2024

Examiners explained that that the dots and the pillows ‘suggests the possibility of smothering, however this diagnosis cannot be made based on the limited investigative information and nonspecific findings’, according to the Sacramento Bee

Henry, a former Software Engineering Manager at both Meta and Google, filed for divorce in December 2016, records show – years before Benziger, a data science manager at Zillow, gave birth. 

Apparently, the divorce never materialized, and after leaving his post at Meta this past June, Henry founded  his own AI company.

The firm, identified on the seasoned computer scientist’s social media as Logits, provides enterprises with the means to ‘privately train and serve Generative AI models’ to serve their own specific business needs. Its site, as of writing, is down.

Before that, he worked at Meta for a year and a half, after a nearly eight-year stint at Google’s office in Sunnyvale.

At one point, Henry lived in New York City, where he was a member of Toastmasters, a non-profit that teaches how overcome a fear of public speaking.  

During that time, the family lived in at least four apartments across San Francisco, records show before relocating to the home where the crime occurred.

This move happened around the time of the birth of his children – and local police revealed that in the time since, they have been called to the home several times.

They did not disclose the nature of those calls, and said there was no note left at the scene.

Benziger’s mother had reportedly been staying with the family, leaving on February 11 – the day before the murder suicide.

Neighbors said that they have never seen anything like this in their community.

Ashley Villalobos, 27, who worked as a nanny for the twins two years ago, shared her own shock at the news and how she’d never seen any red flags with the couple.

‘My heart aches that their lives were taken in such an unforeseeable incident,’ she wrote in a social media posting. 

‘I can’t wrap my head around how or why. All I have is the memories and silly beautiful moments I got to share with these boys.

‘Every morning they loved to play with bubbles in the front yard while we waited for the morning bus to pass by on Alameda so they could wave hi! It was always a highlight of their morning.

‘Anand would come into the room while Alice wrapped up her work stuff,’ Villalobos continued.

‘He would say to the boys with a big smile excited to see the boys ‘alright boys time to play with papa!’ They jumped with joy happy to play with dad.

‘Alice loved those boys sooo much,’ she wrote. ‘I can’t come to understand what went wrong…. You just never truly know.’

The couple, family said, were both alumni of TKM Engineering College, and also both attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

After that, Alice obtained a Master’s in data science at the University of San Francisco, her LinkedIn shows, after which she held positions at Dictionary.com, Idibon, and Change.org, before assuming her senior role at Zillow six years ago.

The couple emigrated to the US in 2018. Henry’s father, Dr G. Henry was the former principal of Fatima Mata National College in Kerala, India.

Culled from Mail Online

Thank you, next…. From rhetoric to action

By Olufunke Baruwa

On January 1, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Year message expressed optimism for Nigeria’s future, acknowledging the challenges of 2024 and outlining plans to improve the nation’s economy and citizens’ well-being.

The President highlighted positive indicators such as decreasing fuel prices, consecutive foreign trade surpluses, rising foreign reserves, and a strengthening Naira on the economic front. He also noted significant growth in the stock market and increased foreign investment, reflecting renewed confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

Addressing concerns over high inflation, particularly in food and essential drugs, the President committed to reducing inflation from 34.6% to 15% by boosting food production and promoting local manufacturing of essential goods. To enhance economic output, the government plans to establish the National Credit Guarantee Company by the second quarter of 2025 which aims to expand risk-sharing instruments for financial institutions, thereby increasing credit access for individuals and underserved groups like women and youth.

Emphasizing the importance of citizenship and shared values, President Tinubu announced the forthcoming National Values Charter, set to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2025. This charter aims to promote ethical principles, patriotism, and cooperation among Nigeria’s diverse population. The President further reiterated his commitment to youth inclusion by announcing the Youth Confab, scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025 – an initiative that seeks to involve young Nigerians in nation-building efforts.

President Tinubu concluded by urging citizens to maintain faith in Nigeria and collaborate with the government to achieve a one trillion-dollar economy, emphasizing unity and focus in building a prosperous nation. He encouraged and prayed for Nigerians to be patient and that they will soon be rich in joy, success and good health.

Thank you, Mr. President, for these New Year resolutions, but what next? How do we move from rhetoric to action? Three critical points below are necessary for the government to put its money where its mouth is for Nigerians to really believe that our sacrifices have not been in vain in the course of nation-building.

First, The Economy

The New Year message by the President says that Nigeria’s economic indicators show positive trends, with decreasing fuel prices, foreign trade surpluses, rising foreign reserves, a stronger Naira, and record stock market growth. However, this does not fully represent the actual situation on the ground. A simple check on the streets, markets and hospitals will show that food and drug costs are on the increase daily and remain out of the reach pf ordinary Nigerians.

Mr. President also promised that in 2025, his government will intensify efforts to lower these costs, reduce inflation, and increase access to credit. He promised to establish the National Credit Guarantee Company in May to expand risk-sharing and support underserved groups to stimulate economic activity and improve credit access. However, concrete actions need to follow these New Year resolutions, and a crystal ball is scarcely needed to read the nation’s outlook from the available indices.

Nigeria’s economic outlook for 2025 reflects a blend of cautious optimism and ongoing challenges, influenced by recent policy reforms and global economic conditions. The African Development Bank (AfDB) forecasts Nigeria’s GDP growth to rise only marginally from 3.2% in 2024 to 3.4% in 2025, driven by improved security, increased oil production, and stronger consumer demand. Inflation is expected to moderate from 31.6% in 2024 to 20.7% in 2025 as inflationary pressures ease.

The 2025 budget of 47 trillion naira (approximately $28.18 billion) is based on an oil price assumption of $75 per barrel and a target oil production of 2 million barrels per day. The budget anticipates a deficit of 13.8 trillion naira, about 3.87% of the estimated GDP. Efforts to combat oil theft and enhance production capacity are underway, with the government aiming to increase oil output to 3 million barrels per day by 2025. This initiative is crucial, given the oil sector’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s revenue and foreign exchange earnings. Otherwise, the budget will be scarcely financed.

Nigeria’s economic performance remains sensitive to global oil prices and demand, as well as domestic factors such as security and infrastructure development. The government’s commitment to policy reforms and economic diversification will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s economic trajectory in 2025. This message and promise to revitalise the economy must not be mere resolutions and promises as our very lives depend on it.

Next The Rule of Law

While Mr. President tasks Nigerians to become better citizens and uphold our devotion to Nigeria because moral rectitude and faith are fundamental to our success, one thing is needed more – the moral rectitude of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. This is because, to promote ethical principles and shared values under the National Identity Project, citizens cannot be the only ones held to high moral standards – elected and appointed officials must be held to even higher standards.

The Executive must be accountable, transparent and commit to judicious use of government resources at their disposal to better the lives of citizens. The Judiciary, as custodians of the law, must follow the principles of fairness, justice and equity, and ensure that everyone rich, poor, male or female have equal access to and are judged by the same principles. The Legislature must be the voice of the people and must recognise that their primary mandate is to make laws that protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of the constituencies they are elected to serve.

As the last hope of the common man and one of the enduring bastions of a true democracy, the rule of law must be upheld by all means necessary otherwise, the alternative is chaos and infamy.

Then, Infrastructure and Security

To implement these commitments, government must as a matter of urgency begin a strategic and structured fix of critical infrastructure across the country. No, this is not just a quick fix or window dressing of infrastructure across the already over bloated FCT Abuja, Lagos or other metropolitan cities but a call for urgent and critical infrastructure across the country that is inclusive. This is particularly crucial in rural and semi-urban areas where those at the margins of society either have never experienced or no longer have a recollection of what it means to have power, roads or hospitals and schools.

Those who have the means to advocate and bring the issue of insecurity to the front burner of public discourse or domain must continuously do so regardless of how repetitive and hoarse one must sound like a broken record. This a non-negotiable burden bestowed on many who do this in the hopes that somebody somewhere surely has a heart to listen and do what needs to be done to secure our lives. Enough of the carnage and destruction.

Otherwise, for many Nigerian children born in the late nineties and beyond, we risk a future where the reality of functional government hospitals, safety, clean water, good roads, standard schools and electricity will soon become a distant memory or folklore of a Nigeria that never was. For these ones, it is a double tragedy as they may never know what it means to enjoy some of life’s simple luxuries that development should bring to citizens in a democracy.

EFCC loses $350,000, jewellry after sacking 27 officials for fraud

In a disturbing turn of events, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is now grappling with a major scandal involving the disappearance of substantial amounts of cash and valuables from its Lagos Zonal Command.

Credible sources told PRNigeria that between $350,000 and $400,000 has reportedly gone missing, along with expensive jewelry and other high-value items.

This troubling revelation comes just days after the EFCC dismissed 27 of its officials due to misconduct and fraudulent activities, a move that has raised questions about accountability and oversight within the agency.

The dismissals, announced on Monday, followed recommendations made by the EFCC Staff Disciplinary Committee and were subsequently ratified by the commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

While the investigation into the missing funds is already underway, the EFCC finds itself in a precarious position as it seeks to restore public trust. The agency, which has long been regarded as the frontline warrior against financial crimes, is now facing scrutiny for alleged lapses in its internal controls.

As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, for comments on this latest debacle have been unsuccessful. The absence of an official response raises further concerns about transparency and the agency’s commitment to addressing allegations of misconduct.

As the investigation unfolds, many are left wondering what measures will be taken to prevent future incidents and restore faith in an agency tasked with combating corruption. This latest scandal serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the EFCC in its mission to uphold integrity and accountability in Nigeria’s financial system.

Credit: PRNigeria

The rallies in support of Yahaya Bello, standing trial for criminal diversion of 180 billion from Kogi State are illegal, offend national morality

By Femi Falana, SAN

The rallies of the man standing trial for the criminal diversion of N180 billion from poor Kogi state are negotiation strategies.

The rallies are meant to force the federal government to drop the criminal charges as the fellow is using part of the stolen funds to sponsor them to prove that he is in control of the politics of Kogi State.

The rallies are illegal as they offend national morality, but the Nigeria Police Force will not stop them like ##endsars and #endbadgovernance protests.

Watch a video of the rally below.

Engender public trust in legal education through revitilised mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE)

By Agabaidu C. Jideani

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) and the leadership of the NBA have been taking steps to restore the pride of place enjoyed by the legal profession in Nigeria. In support of these efforts, Sir Agabaidu C. Jideani – an elder of the Garki Branch of the NBA and a one-time Director General and CEO of the Ethics and Corporate Compliance Institute of Nigeria, has suggested the revitalization of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) as a necessary tool in this direction.
He stressed that Mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) is one of the most useful regulatory measures that ensure continuing lawyer competence and improved trust in the profession by society.

In this interview with Mrs Olayemi John, he fielded questions on this and other issues and spoke at length about the position of the lawyer in Nigerian society, increasing public confidence in the legal profession, client communication, enhancing professionalism in the legal profession, and assuring lawyer competence and integrity.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE)
Let me start by wishing the entire legal professional family a happy and prosperous new year 2025. I will particularly want to acknowledge the great work and tireless effort of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe and the NBA National leadership in revitalizing and repositioning the legal profession in Nigeria.

Now to your question – In ordinary and common language, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) refers to the Lawyers’ Professional Development Program that is ongoing and continuous, in the sense that it is not a one-off activity. Traditionally these programs or schemes, if you like, set out a number of hours of learning (as opposed to training) and development that an individual legal practitioner is expected to undertake within a stipulated time frame, usually a year. In other words, the Continuing Legal Education program is a vital component of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) ecosystem that enables the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to manage and improve the ongoing competence of legal practitioners in Nigeria.

As stated by the NBA the CLE Programme is intended to assure that those lawyers enrolled to practice in Nigeria remain current regarding the requisite knowledge, skills, and values necessary to fulfil the professional responsibilities and obligations of their respective practices and work and thereby improve the standards of the legal profession in general.

According to the NBA, all Nigerian Lawyers in legal practice or employment must comply with the Nigerian Bar Association’s Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Programme, failing which there may be penalties that may range from administrative fines to suspension.

PLEASE PROVIDE A BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND –
Continuing Legal Education has been around in different forms, within the global legal profession and this was manifested in such programs and initiatives as pupillage, mentorship, practice improvement meetings, etc. however, the use of clearly articulated and institutionalized Continuing Legal Education that is mandatory as a tool of assuring layer competence and professional integrity began in the USA and became more prominent in 1970s and 1980s. it spread worldwide and Australia and Canada established theirs in 1987/1988 and the UK (England and Wales) rolled out its own in 1998. For us in Nigeria the NBA NEC at the meeting in Owerri, Imo State, in 2007 approved the Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE CLE PROGRAM
The CLE system is aimed at keeping legal practitioners up-to-date, adequately informed, and knowledgeable to continue in practice and be able to provide services and guidance to the general public and this ensures that the public is protected from incompetent representation.

The structure of the Traditional CLE system is such that legal practitioners are required to attend and complete stated credit hours of CLE-certified training within a given period – say a year. The legal practitioner is subject to disciplinary penalties for failure to complete the mandated CLE credit hours in the stipulated time. One of the drawbacks is that the program as it is at present seems to be oriented towards attendance more than actual learning. Furthermore, practitioners can complete and fulfil the CLE requirements by attending diverse programs available irrespective of their relevance to the peculiar realities of a practitioner’s practice area.

The traditional CLE delivery format involves an expert providing an audience with a lecture or material (in person or online). Most of these lecture-based deliveries provide little opportunity for proper engagement in interactive case-based practical life lessons.

It is our view and contention that some basic adult learning principles should be reflected in the CLE programs including providing working professionals with the kind of environment that enhances learning – preparation, participation, evaluation, accountability, and opportunities to apply new information in a practice setting.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO REVITALIZE THE CLE SYSTEM
Generally, the CLE system is mostly based on lectures (whether online or in-person) given by an expert to an audience of legal practitioners and these have sometimes been found to be unengaging and monotonous. The need has been identified for the delivery protocol to be more technology based and modified to include such proven adult learning and working professional learning engagement activities as focal groups, practice team exercises, simulations, reading & practice modules, case reviews, and self-and peer-assessment exercises.
These, we think, will make the program more purpose-centric, interactive and impactful on the CLE efficacy.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THIS MODIFICATION
There is a need for a robust technology backbone that allows for the delivery of online-spaced courses that legal practitioners can undertake at their own time and agreed pace with the intermediation of physical presence and presenters. This allows for flexibility.

WOULD THE IMPROVED AND REVITALIZED CLE SYSTEM BE EFFECTIVE
We are pushing for an NBA that is proactive – the Proactive Bar. We have given some thoughts to some gaps in the administration of the CLE System and continuous assessment, monitoring and evaluation of intended outcomes is key component that needs to be introduced. For us effectiveness would be measured from the following indices – a) Legal practitioner’s satisfaction with the program; b) Increased knowledge retention by the participating Legal practitioner; c) Demonstrable improvement in the practice of the Legal practitioner; and Client’s satisfaction with improved legal service delivery.
With an eye on the perennial obligation of the NBA to “Promote the Rule of Law and a Just Society” the CLE is intended to benefit the not just the individual practitioner and the legal profession, but mainly the society which the legal practitioner serves.

WHO IS THE MAIN TARGET OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION?
One of the main purposes of the CLE Scheme is to provide ongoing assurance that legal practitioners are ‘continually competent’ and constantly updated and imbued with the necessary knowledge skills and proficiency required to provide services to the general public, consequently, It is not just the individual legal practitioners, their clients and the NBA who are impacted by the continuing competence of a legal practitioner, but the general public at large. There is the need to provide legal competence assurance that demonstrates the following, that a) The legal profession is satisfying societal expectations – in terms of service delivery in access to legal services and justice, independent legal advisories, support for an independent and impartial adjudicatory system, and standing up and promoting human rights – the beneficiary here is the Society – the Nigerian Community and this is in the public interest; b) The Legal profession is demonstrably seen to be imbued with appropriate standards of knowledge, ethical awareness and integrity in their dealings – the legal profession is the beneficiary of this competence assurance; c) Law Firms are properly managed and ethically run – this show of organizational competence benefit the consumers of legal services and the legal profession itself as well; d) that individual legal practitioners are equipped with relevant proficiencies, skills, knowledge, demeanour and temperament necessary for the seamless provision of their services to the society – the individual practitioner as a legal services provider and the consumers of legal services jointly benefit.
This would indicate that the CLE Scheme is aimed to benefit the more than one group of people.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT CERTAIN NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY
Yes, it is important to note that, whilst the individual practitioner may be allowed to take up CLE courses of her choice to make up the relevant CLE credits, the NBA may have to make some of the courses mandatory to ensure that the society is adequately served by a competent legal community.
For example, courses in litigation & judicial stakeholder management may be compulsory for practitioners in litigation, improved service delivery courses may be seen as apt for practitioners serving in the MDAs, Money Laundering and CFT as well as anti-corruption courses may be compulsory for all legal practitioners in Nigeria.
Attention should be paid to function-specific learning for lawyers in different practice areas – like Notaries, Legislative Aides, Local Government Legal Advisers, Lawyers working with Political Parties and election management authorities, lawyers in consumer protection and academia, etc., the proactive Bar speaks to ‘improved competence’ and integrity assurance in all these areas and roles.