Category: Law

The allegation that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola disguised to London for a purported meeting with President-elect Bola Tinubu has raised the issue of weaponisation of fake news for political ends through the justice system. Many lawyers have warned that the incident is an attempt to intimidate and desecrate the Supreme Court ahead of the hearing of petitions challenging the results of the February 25 presidential election at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), ROBERT EGBE reports.

The social media space went into overdrive on March 23, following an unproven claim that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, disguised in a wheelchair to London for a clandestine meeting with President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The claim was generated by an online news platform which, relying on unnamed sources, alleged that the CJN had snuck into the United Kingdom for a meeting with Tinubu, ahead of a legal challenge to his presidential election victory by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

That claim was not the only source of pressure on the Judiciary relating to the election.

A day earlier, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Datti Baba-Ahmed put the CJN and President Muhammadu Buhari in the spotlight by his angry claim during a live TV programme that it was unconstitution for the Judiciary to swear in President-elect Tinubu on May 29.

“Mr. President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN, your Lordship, do not partake in unconstitutionality,” Baba-Ahmed said on Channels TV.

He claimed further that the inauguration would bring an end to democracy.

“I am telling you that on the 29th of May, swear in Tinubu as this result is, you have ended democracy wherever you are,” Baba-Ahmed added.

The National Broadcasting Code (NBC) considered Baba-Ahmed’s comments so extreme that on March 27, it fined Channels TV N5 million for allegedly violating the NBC code.

NBC said Baba-Ahmed’s comments were capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

Presidential election

Tinubu defeated 17 other candidates who took part in the February 25 election. The APC flagbearer scored 8,794,726 votes, the highest of all the candidates, thus meeting the first constitutional requirement to be declared the winner.

He also scored over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 30 states, more than the 24 states constitutionally required.

Atiku came second in the election with 6,984,520 votes, while Obi came third polling 6,101,533 votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) was fourth with 1,496,687 votes.

Each of Messrs Tinubu, Atiku and Obi won in 12 states while Kwankwaso won only in Kano.

But Atiku and Obi protested the results and vowed to recover what they believe is their mandate in court. The two main opposition leaders filed their petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) asking it to invalidate Tinubu’s victory, in what could be a legal battle lasting several months.

There have been numerous legal challenges to the outcome of previous Nigerian presidential elections but none has succeeded.

Atiku and Obi’s refusal to concede defeat has boosted their supporters’ enthusiasm. Supporters of Obi or “Obidients”, in particular, have been mounting a vociferous social media campaign in support of their party’s chances at the Tribunal.

Tribunal

Election petition tribunals are specialised courts that handle election cases instead of regular courts.

Section 285 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of election tribunals, while Part 8 of the Electoral Act 2022 (in sections 130 to 140) provides for the procedure for the determination of election petitions arising from elections.

It is a statutory responsibility of the Court of Appeal to set up the tribunals 30 days before the elections, as stated in Section 130(3)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022 and under section 285(2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, set up the Tribunals last November. The appellate court coordinates and serves as the secretariat for election petitions tribunals across the country,

Last November 7, CJN Ariwoola swore in 307 judicial officers to preside over the election tribunals set up by the PCA.

The Court of Appeal is empowered by Section 133 (2)(a) of the Electoral Act to decide presidential election issues. In contrast, Tribunals handle National, State Assembly and gubernatorial elections.

Petitioners that are dissatisfied with the Appeal Court’s decision can approach the Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort.

Five Justices will determine the petition at the Appeal Court. At the Supreme Court, however, the number rises to seven Justices.

One of the seven apex court justices is, as is the norm, expected to be the CJN.

The claim

The online medium claimed that Justice Ariwoola was “sighted in London pretending to be a physically-challenged old man”

According to the story, the London meeting was to provide an avenue for Tinubu to curry the favour of the Judiciary as his opponents battled to nullify his mandate, with his victory expected to be challenged all the way to a Supreme Court headed by Justice Ariwoola.

It claimed that the “CJN deliberately left the country more than a week ahead of Tinubu to avoid any suspicion about why both of them disappeared at once. That is why he travelled secretly and Tinubu also travelled secretly.”

A picture of the CJN sitting in a wheelchair at an airport was soon released to buttress the claim.

Rebuttal

But as many observers soon pointed out, there was no evidence of a disguise. The CJN was in a regular traditional outfit and his trademark cap. His face was neither concealed nor his facial appearance altered. Wheelchairs are also routinely provided to the elderly, injured or expecting mothers at many airports around the world.

One of the high-profile persons that shared the image on Twitter was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi. But he soon deleted the image with an apology.

Amadi said: “I posted a picture of an elderly man in a wheelchair who happens to be the CJN. I have deleted the tweet because, in retrospect, it is not necessary. The tweet was in reference to the PG story and was not intended to embarrass. I apologise to all offended by the tweet.”

It also emerged that the President-elect was in France, not London.

Tinubu also issued a rebuttal through the Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga described the story as “grossly fake, misleading and malicious.”

He added: “To show that the story was a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor, it claimed the Chief Justice left Nigeria for London on March 11, on a wheelchair to board a plane.

“The President-elect left Nigeria on March 21, ten clear days thereafter.

“What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with so wide disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?”

Onanuga said Tinubu had not been in London but was rather in France “to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022.”

He added that the President-elect would visit London thereafter, “before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.”

Justice Kayode Ariwoola was also on Friday, March 24, seen observing his prayers at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in Abuja, at a time the publication reported that he was in London for a dubious meeting.

The Supreme Court also confirmed that the CJN was nowhere near London at the time.

Its spokesperson, Festus Akande, said the CJN had been in Nigeria and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on March 16 and 17

He noted that the CJN returned to his office in Abuja on March 23 following a medical trip to London and there was a possibility that the photo of him in a wheelchair was taken during his last medical sojourn to London.

Akande said the only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on January 25, when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on 29 January 2023.”

Many Nigerians, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), condemned the publication, describing it as false and mischievous.

Raji: Publication aimed at targeting CJN’s image

Ahmed Raji, SAN said the top jurist was in London solely for medical reasons, adding that the alleged meeting between Tinubu and Ariwoola was false and aimed at tarnishing the image of the apex court.

He stated that Justice Ariwoola travelled to London for his routine medical check-up.

He said the report was another malicious attempt by some individuals to tarnish the image of the Supreme Court and the CJN after they had made attempts at attaching his name to some political parties to pre-empt the outcomes of the legal tussles before the apex court.

“Our politicians need to allow due process to take control. Election matters are in the law courts, but that does not mean that the law lords will not live their normal lives as human beings. Tinubu is (was) in France and the CJN was in London. Where is the contact?” Raji wondered.

Okutepa: Story was sacrilegious, promoters sick

Similarly, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who is on Obi’s team of counsel, distanced himself and the LP from the publication, saying it was fake news and a sacrilege.

He came down hard on the promoters of the story, describing them as “sick.”

He reasoned that the story was meant to denigrate the CJN, adding that the publishers were “enemies of Nigeria”.

Okutepa said: “That I am in the legal team of HE (His Excellency) Peter Obi does not stop me from speaking the truth. HE Peter Obi does not represent and does not promote fake news.

“Those who are attributing the news of CJN disguising to meet a named politician to HE Peter Obi are mischievous and satanic.

“Mr Peter Obi has respect and confidence in the judiciary. That is why he has approached the court for justice. Justice we prayed for and justice we hope to get. Those who are attributing the news which was intended to denigrate the CJN to Mr Obi’s camp are evils and enemies of Nigeria.

“As a people, we cannot destroy our institutions no matter how bad we feel. The judiciary is one of the institutions of democracy.”

The Silk urged Nigerians to respect justices.

Okutepa urged them to “respect those men and women who are on the bench. Those who feel bad about bad eggs in the judiciary must be civil in their criticisms.

“The legal profession is sick and on oxygen in Nigeria. The ethics and etiquette of the profession are gone. No sanctions. Otherwise, how do we explain the news making the rounds even amongst lawyers that a whole Chief Justice of Nigeria disguises himself to meet a named politician?

“And some Nigerian lawyers are posting it. What a shame. So, because CJN was seen in a wheelchair means his lordship is disguising himself to meet a politician? What a sacrilege. Why did the legal profession deteriorate to this level?

“Nobody is feeling bad that the CJN may not be well and had to be in a wheelchair. No empathy. But we can speculate on an unfounded and unverified story. No reasonable person should promote falsehood. I think those promoting this news are sick. We must not destroy our judiciary?”

Have faith in Judiciary, Ukweni urges Nigerians

Mba Ukweni, SAN, urged Nigerians to have faith in the judiciary, saying a video clip of the CJN in a mosque should clear peoples’ doubt.

Ukweni said: “There is a video clip showing the CJN attending the Juma’at prayers in a mosque. That should satisfy people.

“We should learn to have a level of confidence in the people that we’ve given responsibilities to, to do their work.”

The silk also referenced another video of the CJN where he pledged to do justice without fear or favour.

“The CJN himself has come and stated expressly that he was going to act in accordance with the constitution and his oath of office as a judicial officer. So, I think our people should be content with that,” Ukweni said.

Ogunye: Those believing the story not thinking straight

Activist-lawyer Jitti Ogunye reasoned that those who believed the story may be mentally handicapped.

“Right now, it is the thinking of many of our people that is wheelchair bound, nay crippled, for taking the picture of “a man on a wheelchair at an airport arrival hall ” as evidence of an illicit meeting of the Nigerian head bencher with a politician!” Ogunye said.

More lawyers condemn “fake news”

Other lawyers also condemned the story as false.

Mr. Yinka Salahudeen slammed politicians promoting the story and urged the NBA to intervene.

Salahudeen said: “That politicians could go that length to smear the judiciary and desecrate the office of the CJN just to score a cheap political point is not only very unfortunate but also pathetic.

“The NBA should investigate the source of the defamatory publication and pursue the matter to a reasonable conclusion.”

Mr. Obiajulu Onyeka urged Nigerians not to be bothered about the post, saying it was just “sensational journalism.”

Onyeka said: “There is nothing to be worried about in this picture. The CJN limps while walking maybe from ageing, he is travelling overseas (at least the picture was taken at the airport). He doesn’t have a mask on, or anything to show he is disguising, he wasn’t seen in anybody’s house or with any politician in any hotel. A wheelchair is always found at the airport to assist those who can’t walk long distances.

Binzak Azeez, of Newworth LLP in Lagos, reasoned that the rumour of a clandestine rendezvous between the CJN and the President-elect could have “some mischievous intents or political undertones.

He noted that the integrity of the country’s judiciary had been under the spotlight prior to the accusation against the CJN, adding that this allegation was used to test that integrity once again. 

Azeez added: “In this particular phase of the integrity test, it is visible to every progressive mind that Justice Ariwoola overcame the public trial through photo speak evidence released by some journalists and the lucid and well-detailed account of the CJN foreign trips given by the Supreme Court’s spokesperson.

“Justice Ariwoola was tried and came out victorious in the court of public opinion.”

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda (SAN) have called for improved efforts by stakeholders to promote gender parity.

Oduwole and Fapohunda said  there was the urgent need for the country to break from its past and embrace new ways of doing things that encourage more women participation.

They spoke in Abuja last Thursday at the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) 3rd Annual General Conference and International Women’s Day event, with the theme: “Tech her in: Innovation for gender equity.”

Oduwole noted that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Systemic Interventions, has  since 2016 delivered over 280 verifiable reforms targeted at enabling the business environment for micro, small and medium size enterprises, many of which are female owned businesses.

She stressed the increasing role technology now plays in nearly all aspects of  human life, arguing that with the adoption of technology, women could break into new terrains, achieve more and compete favourable with their male counterpart.

Fapohunda, who featured in one of the discussion sessions, expressed concern about the low participation in governance.

He argued that women were major losers in the last electoral process, noting that: “They don’t have a President, Vice-President; in the National Assembly, their number dropped from eight senators to three, although at the House of Representatives there is one addition, and for now no governor.

He expressed displeasure at the entrenched discriminatory practices against women in the legal profession, noting that the number of women appointed as judges and conferred to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was not encouraging.

He argued that the law profession and by extension, the country, cannot hope to grow without removing obstacles on women’s path.

The conference which held between March 30 and 31, featured different sessions where speakers, including non-lawyer entrepreneurs, shared their experiences and stressed the benefits of technology adoption.

NBAWF Chairperson, Chinyere Okorocha, said the conference’s theme was fashioned after the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) and the United Nations, which is centered around the use of innovation and technology for gender equality.

“The thinking is that through the innovative use of technology, female lawyers and indeed female professionals in general will become better positioned and empowered to overcome the limitations and stereotypical biases that traditionally hold them back in their careers and in life in general”, Okorocha said.

She urged all to participate fully as they reflect on the gains made as a society in the area of gender parity, as well as identifying areas where more work needed to be done.

The Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee, 2023 Dr. Foluke Dada, who is also the Acting Dean, College of Law, Caleb University, Lagos, said by embracing technology, female lawyers could enhance their growth in the profession.

“To meet the challenges of changing the world, female lawyers must position themselves to take up the opportunity that digital technology and innovation present,” she said.

A lawyer, Bukola Seun-Oloruntuga, has said that every professional needs to find and keep three “musketeers” to thrive in the new world of work.

These musketeers, she said, are a mentor, a coach, and a sponsor.

“You need a mentor to provide guidance, a coach to open your eyes to all your potential and hold you accountable and a sponsor to mention your name in the right place to the right people at the right time.”

Popularly known as Coach BSO, Seun-Oloruntuga spoke on the sidelines of the “Accelerate Your Career Growth” webinar series, which she just organised.

It is a platform for experts, coaches and thought leaders to share insights and strategies on how professionals can fast-track their career growth in the new world of work.

The first edition, which was held on March 17, 2023, featured a dynamic panel of coaches and experts from the United Kingdom, including Kemi Oye, Emeka Ebeniro and Mohammed Kasujee.

Seun-Oloruntuga said as much as she enjoys practising law, her true passion lies in helping people achieve their full potential.

“Coaching allows me to combine that passion, my personal experiences, and skills in communication, problem-solving, and leadership development to help professionals navigate their career paths, develop leadership skills, and achieve their goals.

“Additionally, coaching allows me to have a more flexible schedule and the opportunity to work with clients from various industries and backgrounds,” she said.

The lawyer explained that career coaching involves helping individuals identify and achieve their career goals through various strategies, such as self-discovery, personal branding, and personal growth.

Executive coaching, she said, focuses on helping leaders improve their performance and effectiveness through feedback, leadership development, and goal setting.

Seun-Oloruntuga still deploys her legal skills to help her clients, especially in estate planning.

She said: “As a lawyer, I help my clients to leave their loved ones with more than fond memories through effective estate planning.”

“As a career coach, I help my clients to accelerate their career growth and become the best versions of themselves through my podcast, one on one or group coaching programs, and webinars.

“As an executive coach, I help leaders and executives achieve work-life balance, develop leadership skills, improve communication skills, and drive organisational change through one-on-one coaching and bespoke training for members of their team.”

In an era lawyers are leaving the profession for other vocations, Seun-Oloruntuga shared tips on how they can succeed.

She said: “My top career tips for every lawyer would be: one, be a lifelong learner. The world has become volatile, unstable, complex, ambiguous, and disruptive (VUCAD). Only a commitment to continuous learning will make it easy for you to adapt and stay above the curve.

“Two, build a strong network. Your network determines your net worth.

“Three, embrace technology. As technology continues to evolve, it is only lawyers who are proficient in digital tools and platforms that will have a competitive advantage in the job market.

“So, to remain relevant and advance in your career, it is critical for you to continuously learn and embrace new technologies that are relevant to your industry or practice area.

“This will help you stay ahead of the curve and position you for accelerated growth and success in the new world of work.”

With unemployment a major national problem, Seun-Oloruntuga urged the government to invest in policies that promote entrepreneurship and attract foreign investment, which she believes are critical to creating job opportunities and lowering unemployment.

“While it is difficult to predict what the incoming government will do, I remain optimistic that with a commitment to serve the Nigerian people, any government will be positioned to bring about the change that our dear country desperately needs,” she said.

On why she organised the webinar, she said it was to provide practical solutions to problems that professionals face at every level of their career journey.

“The Accelerate Your Career Growth webinar series is supposed to bridge that gap by being a platform where credible coaches, experts and thought leaders can share valuable insights and practical strategies that can help professionals fast-track their career growth,” Seun-Oloruntuga said.

Experts at the webinar shared valuable insights on how to stay relevant and valuable as a professional, build a personal brand that sets one apart, and identify and capitalise on opportunities in the new world of work.

According to Kemi Oye, an Executive and Career Coach, staying up-to-date with industry trends and having relevant skills is key to positioning oneself for growth in the new world of work.

A business consultant and personal branding/transformation specialist, Emeka Ebeniro, emphasised the importance of building a personal brand that communicates a professional’s value to prospective clients and employers.

Mohammed Kasujee, a career coach, business mentor and professional speaker, highlighted the need to identify and learn new skills that will set one on a new career trajectory.

One of the mandates of law enforcement agencies is to assist aggrieved citizens in seeking redress. The Nation Correspondent, GBADE OGUNWALE sought to avail himself of the services of the Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in this regard but finds himself in a dilemma. He narrates his experience.

A filed a petition with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command seeking redress for an injustice I suffered. The petition, dated March 23, 2021, detailed a case of unlawful confiscation of my properties and a criminal breach of trust.

The suspect had deceptively confiscated my Honda Accord car, a brand new Dell laptop and a colour HP Printer. But weeks after the petition was submitted, there was no word from the Police.

Worried by the deafening silence, I contacted the Commissioner of Police at the time to inquire why the petition was not acted on. But the CP said the issues raised in my petition were not within the purview of the Police.

According to him, they were within the mandate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Consequently, he advised that I file the petition with the EFCC. Following his advice, I filed a fresh petition dated April 19, 2021, and addressed it to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa. It was officially received and acknowledged.

It is pertinent to state that in my separate petitions to the Police and EFCC, I supplied the suspect’s mobile telephone contacts alongside mine, to ease the investigation. But several months after, there was no word from the EFCC either.

A few days after I filed the petition, I got hints that the suspect had been arrested by EFCC operatives. I waited in vain for the anti-graft agency to contact me to enable me to state my case against the suspect. I then filed a reminder, dated July 7, 2021, to the EFCC, stating among others, that I was aware of the suspect’s arrest and wondered why I was not invited to state my case against him.

I got no reply. I was forced to call the attention of the EFCC Chair Bawa to the matter. I forwarded the cover pages of my original petition and the subsequent reminder to Mr Bawa through WhatsApp. Almost immediately, the EFCC chair responded through a WhatsApp call, saying that neither the original petition nor the reminder was brought to his attention.

Mr Bawa said he was in Europe for some official engagements at the time but he promised to make his findings right away and get across to me through his men on the ground.

Less than two hours later, I received a telephone call from a Special Assistant to the Chairman, Ngunan Kakwagh. The aide told me that the EFCC had indeed prepared a written reply to my petition and the subsequent reminder but that the agency could not locate the address for onward delivery to me. I had to be physically present at the agency’s head office the very next day where I was handed the letter.

The letter, dated September 3, 2021, reads: “We refer to your letter dated 19th April 2021 and reminder dated 7th July 2021 addressed to the Executive Chairman of the Commission on the above subject matter. We have reviewed your petition and found that it does not fall within the Commission’s mandate.

“Consequently, your petition was referred to the Inspector General of Police vide letter ref. no. EFCC/EC/IGP/09/534 dated 11th May 2021 for investigation. Please accept the assurances of the Executive Chairman’s highest regards and respect.” Kakwagh signed the letter on behalf of the EFCC Chairman.

The letter was silent on the issue of the arrest of the suspect, which I raised in the reminder petition. I demanded to know why the suspect was arrested without me being contacted. The aide admitted that the suspect was indeed arrested then. But the aide said he was arrested based on a separate petition filed against him by a different complainant. A coincidence? But does that not say enough about the suspect acting true to character?

In that letter, the EFCC claimed to have referred my petition to the IGP vide a letter dated May 11, 2021. But it took the personal intervention of the EFCC chair for me to get it on September 3, 2021, which is four months after. The wording of the letter gave the impression that it was written after a review of my original petition of April 19 and the subsequent reminder of July 7. If this was the case, then EFCC’s referral letter of May 11 is deemed to have preceded the review of the reminder of July 7 by 51 days.

I filed the petition with the office address of the Abuja Bureau of The Nation Newspapers for easy accessibility. But the EFCC claimed they could not trace the address, so the letter was kept in their files for four months. However, at the intervention of the Chairman, they found the telephone number with which they contacted me.

I proceeded to the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to trace the said referral letter from EFCC. There was no trace of the letter there. A concerned police officer at the Force Headquarters advised I file a fresh petition with the FCT Police Command.

I was emotionally drained at this point so I had to take a break to reflect and to allow me to gain some inner strength.

I  resumed the pursuit about a year later with a fresh petition dated September 13, 2022, addressed to the FCT Commissioner of Police. There, I met a new CP who, without much ado, received the petition by himself. After reading through it, directed that it be sent to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation.

After days of surveillance, the suspect was brought in for interrogation. He admitted being in possession of my car, laptop and printer but he said he was not prepared to return them to me.

After days of running back and forth, the police ordered him to return the three items in his possession to me. On his own terms, he asked to be given three weeks to replace the laptop and the printer. He set a four-month timeline to either return the car or pay a mutually agreeable value for it.

But that was just one leg of the two-pronged petition. The other leg, which is much more high-ended, bordered on criminal breach of trust. Investigation into that aspect, which is considered to be within the mandate of the EFCC, is now being kept in abeyance at the CID.

After much dithering, the suspect replaced the brand-new laptop with an unserviceable one that looked like something he picked from a junkyard.

Also, he procured a badly refurbished printer as a replacement for the new one he collected from me. I promptly indicated my rejection of the unserviceable laptop. The two items have been gathering dust at the CID office since then.

The four-month timeline he set himself to replace or pay for the car expired on January 31, 2023. But he asked for a further extension of time till February 28, 2023. It was granted but he still defaulted. Apparently, as a decoy, he obtained my bank account details through the Police to enable him to transfer the agreed sum to me. He never did.

I  called the investigating CID officer on March 14 to report that the suspect had yet to pay up. The officer replied that the suspect had been ignoring his telephone calls and text messages. And as you are reading this piece, the suspect is still being evasive while police investigators appear helpless. That’s where we are now.

I must state here that the investigation process at the CID has not only been frustrating but also distressing. As the complainant, I had to, on two occasions, wait with the investigators for the suspect to arrive for scheduled appointments.

On one occasion, I had to leave after waiting for an hour without the suspect showing up. At every turn, they made it look like I was begging for some underserved favour. That has been the attitude and body language of the suspect, and even the investigating police officers.

In the course of arresting and investigating the suspect, I was made to part with N50,000 for “logistics”. I was also made to pay an additional N100,000 for the “processing of documents”. That’s besides other incidental expenses I incurred along the line. A case of double jeopardy?

Worried by the frustrating turn of events, I approached a certain EFCC officer who I fortuitously ran into at a recent public event. I narrated my experiences to him following which he requested to see a copy of my petition. I gave him a copy a few days later and I waited for his opinion.

After going through the contents, he opined that I ought to have filed the petition with the EFCC instead of the Police. He was categorical that it’s purely a matter for the EFCC – that is the aspect bordering on criminal breach of trust.

According to him, it shouldn’t take the EFCC much time to crack the case and resolve it decisively. He was momentarily flustered when I handed him a copy of the EFCC letter that referred the petition to the Police. Reading through the letter, he paused for a moment, reflected briefly, and with measured subtlety, said: “Something must have gone wrong somewhere.”

There and then, he advised I withdraw the petition from the Police and file a fresh one with the EFCC. It’s quite distressing that a petition that originated in 2021 is being tossed back and forth, first from the Police to EFCC, then back to the Police. Now, I am being advised to withdraw the petition from the Police and file it afresh with the EFCC. Again?

The question is: will the EFCC take a second look at the petition if it is withdrawn from the Police? What if the agency decides to, once again, send it back to the Police as it did in the first place? Will it not be back to ground zero? It has been an unending circle of motion without movement from 2021 to date. The law, truly, is a dumb ass that even the crooked can ride. So where do I go from here?

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, has warned that justice and progress may continue to elude the country until its political leaders get governance priorities right.

“In my humble opinion, until the politicians who rule over us get our priorities right, nothing, absolutely nothing will be right including our justice system and so many existential life issues in Nigeria, such as the economy and security”, he said.

Adesina, a life member of the Body of Benchers (BoB), spoke at the Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State on March 23, 2023.

The lecture was titled: “Law, Politics, and Challenges of Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria”.

Annually, the faculty organises a lecture where prominent Nigerians stimulate public discussion on contemporary and topical legal issues and promote academic legal training to expand the frontiers of knowledge, stimulate academic excellence for law students and endear the legal profession to the general public.

Prominent Nigerians including a former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan and a former Director- General of the Nigerian Law School, Chief Babatunde Ibironke SAN delivered the lecture in the past.

In his 56-page lecture, Adesina argued that for democracy to endure, “It must guarantee justice to all manner of people according to law”, adding that Nigerian system as presently constituted will continue to deny justice to litigants of both civil and criminal cases, and even the society as long as the country fails to deal with the problems facing the judiciary.

“Investment in the judiciary is an investment in justice. Investment in justice is an investment in democracy, and I submit that investment in democracy is an investment in the development of the people”, Adesina said.

The senior lawyer lamented the arrogance of politicians who he claimed had run the country aground, increasing the level of poverty while amassing communal wealth that belongs to the people.

“One thing that baffles me is the way we address our problems. We all know our problems as a nation and I dare say that we know the solutions to these problems. However, we always technically avoid the problems believing that they will solve themselves”, he said.

One such problem, according to the lawyer, is the penchant of politicians, particularly at the state level, for embarking on white elephant projects. These projects, to him, had made many governors richer than the states they govern.

“With the exception of a very negligible few, this country has had the misfortune of producing, particularly at the state level, leaders who have consistently and continually placed the nation at their service rather than placing themselves at the service of the nation”, he said.

He quoted a statement of the Federal Government blaming governors for the country’s rising rate of poverty because of their “preference for construction of airports and other heavy pieces of infrastructure rather than realistically and practically improving the lives of their people”.

Adesina said poverty, coupled with unsavory political climate, makes “every new day to be a minus from the previous rather than being a plus “a situation that sees young and energetic Nigerians, ordinarily leaders of tomorrow, and vibrant professionals, jetting out of the country in their multitudes because of despair, discouragement, anguish and hopelessness.

“Until the nation produces leaders that will place themselves at the service of the nation at all levels of governance, the solution to our multifarious problems will remain a mirage and a  hope that cannot be fulfilled”, he concluded.

Among dignitaries that attended the lecture were the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adeyemi, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, the University Registrar, Mr Femi Ogunwomoju, Dean Faculty of Law, Dr. Gbade Akinrimade and a former Vice President, NBA, Mr Adekunle Ojo SAN.

Others were Mr Gbenga Ogunba, former Chairman, Ijebu-Ode NBA, Chairman, Ikeja NBA, Mr Seyi Olawumi, former Chairmen, Ikeja NBA, Mr Dave Ajetomobi, and Adebamigbe Omole, Chief Adebayo Ayodele, former Chairman, Abeokuta NBA, Publisher, Gavel International, Mustapha Ogunsakin, and Otunba Olumide Olaiya.

Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba has approved Friday,  April 7 to Friday, April 14, 2023 as Easter vacation for judges of the state Judiciary.

Work is expected to resume in all courts of the state on Monday, April 17, 2023.

The Easter Vacation was pursuant to  Order 49 Rule 4 (B) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

This was contained in a public notice issued during the weekend and signed by the acting Chief Registrar, Tajudeen Elias.

The statement stated further that arrangements have been made for dealing with urgent causes during the easter vacation.

It said: “Each judge will deal with all urgent applications related to any substantive cause already assigned to him or her.

“Any urgent application, the substantive cause of which has not already been assigned, will be dealt with by the judge to whom the application is specifically assigned.

 “Notwithstanding the provision of Order 49, Rule 4 ( Supra) any cause or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of the Easter Vacation where such a cause or matter is urgent, provided that the condition prescribed by Of rder 49 Rule 5 of the High Court of Lagos (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 shall be observed and complied with.

Kaduna State-born Mission Daniel’s mind was made up: he was going to become a sports analyst. He scaled the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exams, scoring an impressive 266 points to gain admission to study Mass Communication. But fate had another mission for him. Daniel, the Best Graduating Student of his 2020/2021 Law Class set, tells ROBERT EGBE how he found his true calling and became the first lawyer in his village.

MY name is Mission Peter Daniel (M.P Daniel). I am a legal practitioner undergoing my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme at Olaniwun Ajayi LP. I am from Jaba Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

Cleric’s son

I come from a family of four: my father, Daniel Gandu Oho; mother, Beatrice Daniel Oho; I and my younger sister. My parents are alive and bouncing joyfully in the Lord. Same can be said of my younger sister. My father is a seasoned Pastor and General Overseer of Fruits of God Ministry, Keffi, Nasarawa State. Further to this, my father is a professional teacher with ECWA High School, Keffi; he holds a master’s degree in religious studies from Freedom University and Theological Seminary, Pottstown, USA-Africa. My mother is a staff of the Nasarawa State judiciary.

Memorable school experiences

I  attended both secondary and primary schools at Keffi. For my primary education, I attended City Nursery and Primary School and for my secondary education I attended ECWA High School. I cannot move quickly from this without sharing my thoughtful and life-inspiring experience that became the turning point in my life. After my Junior Secondary School III (JSS III), I was ready to begin another phase of my Senior Secondary education. I was required to – after Senior Secondary School (SSS I) – decide my preference and career path in one of Sciences, Arts or Social Sciences. This was not as easy as sounds because I had distinctions in all subjects associated with these classes. In SSS I, we were obligated to take all subjects combined before we were allowed to cherry pick our preference. I was convinced to go to the Arts class because I saw it as my career path. But my teachers objected saying I was the best match for the Sciences class as they saw me having a future in it. Against all odds, I declined and followed my mind. I am glad I made this choice. I have never regretted and will never regret that decision. It is my destiny, and I am living it to the brim. 

First lawyer in the village

As shocking as this sounds, the honest truth is that none of my parents is a lawyer. Further to this, as it stands except it changes in the near future, I am the only indigenous lawyer from my village.  However, it will interest you to know that my mom worked in a law firm in Keffi as Secretary/Human Resource from 1998-2010 before she left for the Nasarawa State Judiciary as a Clerical Staff. It will necessarily follow to state that I had the opportunity to learn basic things about law at the time on her account. 

Love for sports analysis

Many may find this uncomfortable, but it is the reality: I cannot point to a thing or person which or who I can boldly mention to say that he or it inspired me to study Law. I never had the passion to study Law; it was never cultured in my mind. I took my first Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board/Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB/UTME) in 2014 and I applied for Mass Communication as it was my dream course because of the love I had for it. Perhaps I loved it at the time because of my love for sports analysis as I would stay glued to my television and radio sets to listen to veteran football analysts and experts analyse football effortlessly. It was a joy to watch and listen to them perform the art. The passion grew copiously, not parsimoniously. Sadly, I could not secure admission the first year, so I took JAMB/UTME the second time (this was in 2015) and I applied Mass Communication again. The result was finally released and I scored a whopping 266 points. Everyone who got to know of my score congratulated and rejoiced with me. But whenever they asked what I applied for and I said Mass Communication, the response I got afterwards would be discouraging. The question that would follow would be, ‘why not Law? Why Mass Communication? ‘Think again.’ This question was always the same and I was getting uncomfortable with it. I was belaboured with this question to the extent I had to withdraw from the public to give it a thought. Thankfully, I considered the option of studying Law and I secured admission with the provided JAMB/UTME points. The rest is now history as I am now a lawyer. I was called to the largest Bar in Africa in December 2022.

Overcoming challenges studying Law

I attended Nasarawa State University, Keffi between 2015-2021. I must reiterate that studying Law came with a lot of challenges, especially in my first year at the university. To begin with, the course appeared so strange to me as I would struggle to understand some complex topics, for example in Logic and Legal Reasoning (a course taught in first year), as well as Legal Methods. My pain was doubled when I would hear my colleagues debate complex legal issues in class or even engage lecturers in interesting debates, but I would have nothing to contribute as I was usually lost in it. However, I never got whittled down by this, as God helped me to rise to the occasion; I proved a point by leaving a landmark in the Faculty of Law, Nasarawa State University that, today, speaks volume. To mention but a few, I was the best graduating student of my class (Class of 2020/2021). I missed making First Class by only a few marginal points. Further to this, I held several remarkable tutorial sessions for my junior colleagues as well as my colleagues which many students till date remember me for, as they tremendously changed their academic life and circle. To seal this, in 2020 I was awarded the Best Law Tutoring Student. Indeed, ‘better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.’

Formula for Law School success

Law School is not a difficult programme, but I must be quick to state that it is complex in a number of things, perhaps because of the way the programme is designed. I have always imagined even before getting into Law School that it would be complex and demanding, so I prepared mentally and physically for it. I think I like the manner in which this question was framed, this is because Law School does not have a formula of general application. One has to develop a formula that works fine for him or her in order to avoid disappointments. My formula at the Law School, as simple as it sounds, was this: reading/studying with the desire to know the subject matter as if I was going to teach the topic (I did teach my colleagues several times just to test and gauge my understanding of the subject matter); having at least two hours of sleep every day after class; praying and dedicating my time and service to God in the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, Nigerian Law School branch and eating well.

I had time for recreational activities too. Most times I had the opportunity to watch live football matches because I was an ardent supporter and follower of Manchester United. At some point I had to take a walk alone or with a friend.

Awards galore

I won awards at the university. I got an award in 2021 as best graduating student. I got an award also in 2020 as best tutoring student. I got an award of academic excellence in 2019 from the National Association of Muslim Law Students, Nasarawa State University chapter. I came 2nd in the Nasarawa State Students’ Association (National Body) Essay Competition done in honour of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, among others which are in the bag.

Memorable call to bar

Call to bar? Wow, it was a memorable moment. My parents were so happy and proud to have a son who just crossed the hurdle. My grandma, uncles and aunties were present to grace the occasion as they joined to celebrate me. It was such a joy to feel loved. Sadly, I did not have an after party because I was in a hurry to beat traffic so I could get enrolled at the Supreme Court the same day I was called. Notwithstanding, I cannot ask any less of what I got from my family and friends.

Problem with Law School grading system

I do not think the grading system works for the programme as it is merely a vocational training of barely nine months. I advocate that what is obtainable in Medical Sciences should be imbibed; it is either a Pass or a Fail. This is how it should be. The Law School grading system as it stands makes people who are not part of the legal profession or those who have not gone through the system to have the perception that a lawyer who makes a pass from the Law School is not as smart or intelligent as the lawyer who makes a First Class, but this is not true. Imagine someone having to make a Pass from Law School because he made 4 As and a C in the Bar Final Examination. This is not fair. 

I would change the grading system if I could. I would honestly do so if I could.

Why wig, gown should be scrapped

The wig and gown should be scrapped. For God’s sake, the same people who invented or from whom we copied it have long scrapped it as it does not meet the current trend. More so that most of our courts in Nigeria are left in a laughable condition. Imagine lawyers having to be in the regalia under terrible weather conditions just for some tradition that we are refusing to let go. To refuse to match the current trend on this in the legal profession in Nigeria is unthinkable. The wig and gown should only be employed for ceremonial purposes and functions.

Marrying a lawyer?

I do not have a problem getting married to a lawyer and I would not mind either if I do not get to marry one. I am only interested in marrying God’s will for me.

SAN, Professor or Judge

I strongly desire to be a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. A double will not be bad.

Second chance at a career

I would study Law over and over again. No regrets and no disrespect to other disciplines.

The future

I am working on building my career in legal practice as well as in the academia. I admire both.

Women lawyers can leverage technology to accelerate their professional development and career growth, the Nigerian Bar Association NBA Women Forum (NBAWF), has said.

NBAWF Chairperson Chinyere Okorocha, and Chair of the group’s forthcoming Conference Planning Committee Dr. Foluke Dada, stated this in Lagos at a press conference ahead of the NBAWF’s 3rd Annual General Conference & International Women’s Day Event.

The NBAWF conference, themed “Tech Her In: Innovating for Gender Equity” is scheduled for March 30 and 31 in Abuja.

Explaining the choice of the theme, they said through the innovative use of technology, female lawyers can be better positioned and empowered to overcome the limitations and stereotypical biases that traditionally hold them back in their careers and life in general.

Okorocha, Partner in the top-tier Law Firm of Jackson, Etti & Edu, said: “In line with the theme of International Women’s Day (IWD) this year, which is technology innovating for gender equity, we decided to centre the theme of our conference around the general theme of the IWD which involves technology and equity.

“We came up with this fancy topic which is “Tech Her In: Innovating for Gender Equity” and, indeed, the world is centred around the use of technology in everything, even in legal practice, so I think it’s time to have a topic around tech.”

She noted that one of the issues professional women face is the push and pull that comes with trying to achieve a work-life balance, adding that the conference would provide practical guidelines for surmounting these challenges using different apps and software that can enhance their productivity and protect they and their clients’ data.

Okorocha said: “What technology does for you is that you can be in your home and practise your profession whilst looking after your children or cooking in the kitchen.

“You can use technology to advance your career so that the usual career elevations that may not come your way because you’re unavailable or you have to go on a four-month maternity leave, you don’t miss out on them.

“So, technology is so important for the female professional of the 21st century because it helps you to go up the career ladder without having to sacrifice your family.”

She explained that the conference will feature erudite speakers, panellists, and captains of industry who will provide insight into the conference topics and anchor the conference sessions.

Dr. Dada, who is also the Dean, College of Law, Caleb University, corroborated Okorocha, adding that participants will have opportunities to learn from tech experts.

“It’s not just technology but also the kind of technology that you can use to enhance your professional career and that of course includes the sensitive issues around the virtual court hearings that we have these days.

“Particularly we are hoping that the conversations we will be having will drive policy changes, so that is really where we’re going,” Dada said, adding that participants should expect to have a grand conference where they can network with career leaders.

The NBAWF encouraged women lawyers to attend, saying excellent logistics were in place including discounted flight, hotel and transportation arrangements for participants coming from all over the country, among others.