Author: The Nation

Our Reporter

 

THE remains of the late Justice Sylvanus Nsofor, immediate past Nigerian ambassador to the United States (U.S.), on Wednesday departed for home.

The casket, draped in the Nigerian flag, departed the Dulles International Airport, Washington, aboard a Delta Airlines plane.

At the airport to bid him farewell were officials of the U.S. Department of State and Nigerian embassy officials led by the Charge D’Affaires, Mrs Jane Adams-Abanulo.

A brief departure ceremony for the deceased included a guard of honour mounted by U.S. military service members at the cargo section of the airport, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Nsofor’s wife, Jean, and son, Cross, accompanied the body, which is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday.

Representatives of the U.S. Consulate in Lagos and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to receive the body.

Read Also: Covid-19: Former envoy tests positive

The 85-year-old retired justice of the Court of Appeal died in a U.S. hospital on December 10 after a brief illness.

Born on March 17, 1935, in Oguta, Imo State, Nsofor graduated from the defunct Holborn College of Law, London, in 1962.

He also bagged an LL.M from the London School of Economics in 1964.

Nsofor assumed office as Nigeria’s ambassador to the U.S. on November 13, 2017, succeeding Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, who died towards the end of his tenure.

At a service of songs held in his honour by the Nigerian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday evening, speakers took turns to praise his discipline, incorruptibility and passion for justice.

 Adeola Ogunlade, Yinka Adeniran, Alao Abiodun, Yinka Adeniran’ Osagie Otabor, Gbenga Omokhunu and Elo Edremoda.

 

HOW will Nigerians who are used to “praying their way” into the new year in churches get their hearts’ desire this time around in view of the coronavirus pandemic?

The Presidential Task Force of COVID-19 has advised against church services this night in respect of the protocol against mass gathering of people.

Many church denominations such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) , the Winners Chapel and Daystar have dropped the plan to gather  members in parishes and opted to hold online services.

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) National President Rev. Samson Ayokunle advised state chapters to adhere strictly to directives by the authorities on the crossover night service.

“There is no sacrifice that is too much to put an end to the Coronavirus pandemic in the interest of all and sundry,” he said

However, CAN leaders in some of the states have been lobbying governors to allow services to hold.

As a result, many states have bowed to pressure to reverse their decision stopping services from holding. Christians in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Oyo  and  Delta  states will now attend services to herald the New Year. But, it will be under strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols

The Ondo State government rejected the plea.

The Lagos State chapter of CAN  said it would hold a one-hour crossover live broadcast (11:30 pm today and 12:30 am tomorrow) to herald the New year.

State CAN Chairman Bishop Steven Adegbite said they came up with the idea to ensure the safety of worshipers and to protect Christians against molestation by overzealous security operatives.

The live broadcast, he explained, would be  on Lagos Television (LTV) and other TV channels in the state.

He added that the broadcast would be coordinated by   church leaders to promote unity and oneness of the church in line with CAN motto: “That they may be one.”

Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi, in a tweet said: “If you say “Happy New Year” at 2 pm on 31st December in Lagos, you won’t be wrong. You’ll only be joining people in Sydney, Australia to say it at that time. In fact, you’ll be 10 hours ahead of others in Nigeria. Don’t stress over time to crossover. Just crossover. #HappyNewYear Sam Adeyemi”.

FCTA approves crossover night service 

The FCT Administration (FCTA) approved the  crossover night service,  but  urged churches to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols.

Head, Media and Public Enlightenment of the  FCT COVID-19 Task Force, Ikaro Attah, said  a combined team of security personnel  would  go round to monitor compliance during the service.

Attah said: “As enforcement team that takes directive  from FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, we are working in collaboration with CAN  leaders at all levels and League of Imams.

“We had discussions with religious leaders on the need to obey the COVID-19 protocols.

“So, all those who will be engaging in crossover night worship service must adhere strictly to the guidelines. They should put on their face mask, provide washing hand basin as well as keep physical distancing”.

He advised that “all the worship centres should not be overcrowded.”.

Attah, who warned that worshippers that failed to observe the COVID-19 protocols would be arrested and prosecuted, said their  churches would   be shut.

Oyo lifts curfew, permits crossover service

The Oyo state government has permitted crossover service  as it lifted its   12 am to 4 am curfew.

It, therefore, ordered that  religious centres be allowed to hold  the  service only in strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

A  statement by Governor Seyi  Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa,, on the issue, “warned citizens and residents of the state  to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines, protocols and advisories as laid down by the   COVID-19 Task Force aimed at limiting the transmission of the disease in our communities.:.

The government also  directed that “enforcement of these guidelines and protocols in accordance with the law will be applied as appropriate.”

Crossover service to hold in  Delta  

The  crossover service will  hold across churches in Delta State, the chairman of  CAN  in the state, Apostle Sylvanus Okorote, has said.

He told The Nation in a telephone interview on Wednesday  that until CAN  receives new directives from the  government regarding COVID-19  preventive measures, churches will hold the service by complying with the  50 per cent worship capacity.

His words: “CAN is not an independent body. CAN functions within the ambience of the laws of the land. As it is now, the state government has neither said hold the service or do not hold the service.

“What the state government has done is issue directives for people to comply with the COVID-19 protocols, as in having only 50 per cent capacity of your church, maintaining   physical  distancing, having sanitisers and washing of hands and wearing of face masks.

“That is what the state government has said so far. We are waiting for more directives from the government. But, we’ve told the churches so far is comply with the directives of the state  “.

Ban stays in Ondo

The Ondo State Government has said that the ban on the cross overnight was aimed at  strengthening public safety and not to target any religious group.

Chairman of the  state Inter-ministerial Committee on Coronavirus (COVID-19), Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, recalled  during an interactive session  with  religious leaders and stakeholders, that the government had also “cancelled Muslims gathering too,”

He added:  “We are talking about a matter of life and death. People have talked about maintaining protocols in markets and other places, but focus on churches and mosques is because by their designs they spread COVID-19 more than open places. It is an enclosed place and people are more active therein.

“The likelihood of higher infection is very prominent. The decision to cancel cross over vigil is not about churches, you will recall that the government cancelled Muslims gathering too.  It is about subsisting order for prevention of outbreak of infection and reducing further spread of COVID-19”.

The state CAN Chairman,  Revd. Ayo Oladapo,  had earlier  appealed to the government to permit churches to hold the crossover service.

Boris urges Britons to stay home

Those marking New Year’s Eve today in the United Kingdom have been urged to celebrate with their immediate families at home as Covid -19 continues to spread

Speaking at the Downing Street press conference Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “All of these measures in the end are designed to save lives and protect the NHS. For that very reason I must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow (today) night and see in the new year safely at home.

“That means not meeting up with friends or family indoors unless in the same household or support bubble and avoiding large gatherings of any kind.

“We are still in the tunnel of this pandemic.”

Tajudeen Adebanjo

 

LAGOS State government on Wednesday vowed to enforce the 12 am to 4 am curfew.

It urged worshippers to comply with COVID-19 protocols while observing the crossover tonight.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said in a statement: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to an online news item that fines ranging between N20,000 and N500,000 will be imposed on violators of the Federal Government curfew on December 31, 2020. This is inaccurate and misleading.

Read Also: Lagos seals event centre for contravening protocols

“The government is advising residents to comply with COVID-19 protocols because the cases are rising. The role of religious organisations in fighting the pandemic is well noted.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a statement on how churches should conduct their watch-night services.

“The Sanwo-Olu administration has maintained a harmonious relationship with religious organisations and has confidence in the ability of their leaders to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols, amid the clamour for crossover services.”

 Robert Egbe

 

THE on-going process of appointment of Justices to the Court of Appeal has been hijacked by politicians, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.

Sources in legal and judicial circles privy to the process, described the list as being dominated by candidates nominated or sponsored by politicians, with scant regard for competence, excellence or hard-work.

The exercise, which has been shrouded in secrecy from the beginning, is believed to be marred by lack of transparency and merit.

It was gathered that the list of nominated candidates, now awaiting National Judicial Council (NJC) scrutiny, is sealed in government confidential secret files.

Information available to The Nation suggests that when the list of names of those nominated is eventually made public, it will be such that will stun the legal community.

A controversial judge of the Federal High Court, believed to be pro-government, is said to have made the list.

A female judge from the Northwest, believed to be highly connected but of doubtful competence and who was recently appointed to the high court, is also said to have made the list.

Others in the list include those whose appointments are believed to be reward for being pro-government.

It was gathered that the exercise, which started smoothly, but secretly, at the Court of Appeal in June this year, passed through two crucial stages at the court, with two different committees of senior Justices of the court scrutinising the records and documents of candidates.

The process experienced a hitch at the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) when the list of candidates short-listed from the Court of Appeal was rejected and replaced with those submitted by politicians.

Application of the principle of quota system, in the name of Federal Character, but at the expense of competence and merit, was used to substitute the appellate court list.

Justice sector stakeholders are concerned that the list may be challenged by persons or organisations clamouring for transparency and competition in the appointment of judicial officers.

Read Also: APC faction kicks as Appeal Court sacks Aguma

There has been an avalanche of appointments of Judges and Justices in recent times, with some of those appointments becoming so controversial that they ended in litigation.

One such exercise was the one initiated by the out-going Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello. The exercise led to the recommendation of 33 judges by the NJC to the President out of which a whooping number of twenty-two were alleged to be unqualified. The Justice Reform Project (JRP), a group comprising senior lawyers, challenged the appointments in court.

The manipulation of judicial appointments by politicians also played out recently, when a number of Justices appointed to the Supreme Court from the Southern part of the country had to wait for about one year, allegedly to secure the seniority of a particular favoured candidate from the North.

According to a judicial source, “The effectiveness of any judiciary depends upon its perceived legitimacy, especially, in the eyes of the public. This perception requires not only that the judges uphold the highest standards of integrity and judicial independence.

“A competent judiciary is one whose members are appointed following a rigorous and transparent process of assessment of both the candidates’ legal qualifications as well as integrity.”

The source adds: “It is crucial that in appointment of Justices at the levels of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, only the best candidates are appointed. Judicial positions should not be politicised. This means, politicians should not interfere with appointment of judges.  ”It is worrisome that the same politicians who go preaching merit in the appointment of Judges in the judiciary will do a full turn around and jeopardize a rigorous and meritorious process of appointment of Judges.”

Not too long ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law and senior advocate, called for the reform of the appointment process for judges, insisting that it ought to be merit-based.

According to him, “We must take a second look at the appointment of judges. The merit-based system is necessary. We need to have mandatory test for them. We need to look at how our judges are selected. It is not enough to rise through the ranks in the judiciary with judges going to the Supreme Court from the appeal court. We must be able to bring in practicing lawyers and from the academic to become judges.”

 

 

 

Our Reporter

 

LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday had a special moment with people living with disabilities (PWDs).

It was at an interactive session jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Information and Strategy and Office of Disabilities. The event, held at the State House in Marina, offered the PWDs a golden opportunity to intimate the governor with various challenges facing their clusters.

Rendition of songs of praise by the choir of Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children relaxed atmosphere for a productive discussion, which the clusters of PWDs had with the governor.

Representatives of each cluster spoke their minds on challenges limiting their members to cope with day-to-day activities, top among which are employment and inclusive education. The PWDs offered suggestions on how the government could make life better for them.

An Assistant Director of Programmes at the Lagos State-owned Traffic Radio, Victor Oteri, who represented cluster of visually impaired persons, hailed Sanwo-Olu for creating time for the PWDs amid challenges facing the state, noting that the governor had devoted time and resources to the weakest people in the society.

Oteri called for an increment in the employment ratio dedicated to PWDs in public and corporate organisations in the state from two to five per cent, while urging the government to equip Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) to fully enforce the Special People Law of 2011, which mandated all public and private business establishments in Lagos to absorb physically- challenged persons.

Read Also: Lagos House swears in new member

This, Oteri said, would help to reduce poverty burden on people living with disabilities and create economic opportunities that’ll help them cater for their immediate needs and families.

Israel Akiode, who represented dwarf cluster and also represented the PWDs in Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made a case for an appointment of a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on PWDs, which would serve as a link between the clusters and the governor.

Akiode also clamoured for increase in employment slots reserved for the physically- challenged in public service to five per cent.

The Chairman of Association for the Blind, Mr. Babatunde Mohammed, praised the government for creating education access for the cluster, but said the current integrated education model had segregated the visually impaired persons.

Mohammed urged the governor to allow enrolment of the blind for inclusive education to stop the segregation.

The women leader, Lagos State Association of the Deaf, Yemisi Alabi, drew the governor’s attention to the discrimination against PWDs in health care sector, noting that LASODA certificates issued by the government were not being honoured in General Hospitals.

The situation, she said, is limiting access to health care for residents living with disabilities.

Oyedele Wakil, who represented PWDs in Alimosho, said local governments had not respected the Special People Law of Lagos of 2011, urging the governor to prevail on the council chairmen in the state on the issue.

Olajumoke Otitoloju of Iyaniwura Foundation for Children Living with Disabilities drew attention to the dearth of teachers and caregivers for children living with mental disabilities.

She also clamoured for government intervention at centres for children with intellectual disabilities. This, she said, would help detect the disabilities early in children.

Responding to the issues raised, Sanwo-Olu approved some of the demands of the PWDs and promised to implement others in the course of time.

He reiterated his administration’s readiness to empower the PWDs and give them a sense of belonging in ’Greater Lagos’ project.

 

 

Our Reporter

 

BRITAIN became the first country to authorise AstraZeneca’s inexpensive, easy-to-handle COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday. The rollout of the drug will start on January 4.

The vaccine, developed by the drug maker and Oxford University, could hold great appeal in less developed parts of the world because of its low cost and the fact that it can be kept in refrigerators rather than at the ultra-cold or freezer temperatures some other vaccines require.

Read Also: Without economic diversification, COVID-19 hit us harder – Buhari

“This wonderful news brings renewed hope at a time of rising infections and unprecedented pressure on health services in the U.K. and beyond. It is now critical that this hope can be shared by all nations,” said Anna Marriot, health policy manager at the Oxfam aid agency.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the “fantastic achievement for British science, which will allow us to vaccinate more people and also vaccinate them more quickly.”

Because infections are spreading so rapidly in the U.K., officials are now recommending prioritising delivering the first dose to as many people as possible for both of the vaccines authorised for use in the country: the AstraZeneca shot and another from Pfizer-BioNTech.