The Nation Newspaper

Category: Law

  • Alleged N313m fraud: Court adjourns ruling on bail

    Justice Hadiza Shagari of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on October 24 rule on a bail application filed by four persons accused of N313 million fraud.

    Akala Anthony (49), Umar Ali (61), Saidi Oke (43) and Bashir Mohammed (44), through their lawyer, Akeem Balogun, filed the application on September 26, claiming to have been incarcerated for four months.

    They were charged along with Dr Chukwuemeka Anyanwu (50), Agboola Gbade (67), Nkechi Nwafor (43) and Larry Balogun (51), who were said to be at large.

    The judge had earlier issued a bench warrant for those at large and directed that they be separated from the charge so that those available could be arraigned.

    Two companies, Granytland Investment Limited and Abroad Development Foundation were also named in the charge.

    Balogun prayed that the court grant his clients bail on liberal terms, adding that they would not jump bail.

    Prosecuting counsel M. A Animas- haun argued that the accused do not deserve to be granted bail due to the seriousness of the offence.

    The first to fourth respondents, in an amended charge, were accused of conspiring to defraud one Austin Albert of N313,200 million while pretending to assist him buy $1 million.

    They allegedly committed the offence on June 15 in Lekki, Lagos.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee fraud and other Related Offenses Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3).

     

  • Lalong deplores inciting calls for disunity

    Plateau State  Governor  Simon Bako Lalong has deplored the growing and inciting calls by those he termed elements of disunity for secession and disintegration.

    He expressed his displeasure during a reception for Miss Nalong Promise Gulong over her emergence as one of the four winners of the “Labour Room” National Reality TV show organised by National Rebirth Foundation.

    The governor urged the organisers of the show to sustain the national ethical values in building peaceful co-existence and national cohesion amongst the youth in the wake of growing and inciting calls by elements of disunity, secession and disintegration.

    A statement signed the Director, Press and Public Affairs,  Mr. Samuel, Emmanuel Nanle  reads in part: ”Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has received the cheering news of the emergence of Miss Nalong Promise Gulong as one of the four Winners of the “Labour Room” National Reality TV show with excitement and great commendation.

    “The victory of Miss Gulong from among 36 other carefully chosen contestants, in a 200 million African Viewer participatory voting Reality Show, is a reflection of the Plateau Brand which she represents.

    “Recounting the victory of Mr Efe Michael Ejegba, who won the Big Brother Nigeria Reality show in April 2017, Lalong stated that the vital connection in their separate victories, is their common orientation with the typical Plateau virtues of determination, selflessness, sound morals and indomitable commitment to excellence in private and public life

    “These virtues, the governor acknowledged, as the enviable character traits that Miss Gulong deployed to win the 60 days Youth Reality Show, aimed at promoting the ideals of National integration and the development of pragmatic solutions to the myriad of socio-economic problems bedeviling Nigerians

    “The governor commended the National Rebirth Foundation for organising the Reality Show and enjoined the Labour Room Governors to ensure that beyond the economic benefit of the shared N200,000,000 (Two hundred million Naira) Star Prize, the National ethical values of the show are sustained in building peaceful coexistence and national cohesion amongst the youth, in the wake of growing and inciting calls by elements of disunity for secession and disintegration.

    “The governor assures Miss Nalong Gulong that having achieved this feat through the sacrifice she has made to positively project Plateau State beyond Africa, the state is waiting to receive and celebrate her as the true brand of the Plateau youth. He also enjoined all youth to be consciously determined to take the lead in all spheres of their endeavours, while affirming that the state will continue to do the needful by ensuring all laudable initiatives that would enhance youth development in the state are supported”.

     

     

  • Condemned prisoners know fate soon

    Inmates sentenced to amputation of limbs or stoning to death under the sharia legal system in Bauchi State will soon know their fate.

    This is because  a team of lawyers is presently  studying their cases with a view to recommending  appropriate sanctions that will bring their prolonged incarceration to an end.

    A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer ( PRO) , Bauchi State Prisons Command, ASP Adam Abubakar Jibrin at the weekend quoted the Bauchi State Chief Judge,  Justice Rabi T. Umar as saying this while receiving the Controller of Prisons Bauchi State Command, CP Sulaiman T Sulaiman who paid her a courtesy call in her office

    “The Bauchi State Chief Judge Said she is aware of the increasing number of such cases in the Prisons of the State, noting that some of them have already spent over 13 years without having their sentences executed. Justice  Umar said she will soon meet the State Governor on the matter.

    “She expressed her satisfaction for the good working relationship between the Nigerian Prisons Service and the State judiciary and disclosed that  that before the end of 2017, she will visit the Prisons in the state as her 3rd quarter jail delivery exercise.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Controller of Prisons Bauchi State Command, CP Sulaiman T Sulaiman stated that the purpose for his visit was  to introduce himself to the Chief Judge having assumed duty in the state  recently

    The Controller of Prisons said there are 10 inmates with cases of amputation and six  others on death row by stoning languishing in the Prisons .

    He said that he had written to the Bauchi State Governor on he plight of the affected inmates hoping that their cases will soon be determined.

    The Controller  applauded the State Chief Judge for her frequent visits to Prisons in the state through the administration of Criminal Justice committee. He noted that the committee is helping the prisons towards inmates decongestion.

     

  • ‘Govt should give more attention to prisons’

    Mr. Benson Iwuagwu is a lawyer with 15 years experience. A former member of staff of Falana and Falana Chambers, he is the Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). In this interview with Joseph Eshanokpe, Iwuagwu speaks on the conditions of the prisons, the role of the NGOs and others.

    Describe the prison system?

    The Nigeria prison is typically underfunded, and lacks basic infrastructure that ordinarily one should have expected in a correctional institution, such as workshops – vocational – psychological and drug treatment programmes. Though we have some in place, they are being run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

    We need to have all these too for the prisoners to have psychological change.  The things that make  people behave in anti-social ways are complex and until you change them, there will be no effect.

    Why should prisoners be taken care of? Are they not serving punishment for the crimes they committed?

    Punishment must serve a purpose. If  is not tied to correction, it is wicked and unprofitable and against the norms of civilisation. It is a deceit. It is an unfair base emotion that the person has gone to prison and you are happy. That is not justice. It is when the bone of contention is restored and a rehabilitation done to ensure that the person does not do so again that is justice. For example, we have our little children that we correct when they go wrong and they change.

    Similarly, going to prison does not give any one any benefit, if the one who goes to the prison is not rehabilitated.

    What about those who go there and are not rehabilitated or come back hardened?

    They go there and come back hardened because of lack of infrastructure. For example, people go to the hospital when they are sick and when there is no proper prescription, he will remain sick and may die. It is the same way with the prison. When you don’t address their problems, the inmates will remain the same and get angry or bitter.

    Any person can go to jail. The only thing is that it is the poor man or woman, who goes there that suffers. The government should show interest in the welfare of prisoners, after all they are Nigerians.

    How do you address the stigma/attitude of people to ex-prisoners? For example, in employment forms, one is expected to state if one was an ex-convict or not. And if it turns out to be so, you don’t get the job or one is treated with suspicion.

    We have been canvassing that the government should remove that from our statue books. Anyone, who has served a prison term, has paid the price. The government is promoting hate and discrimination, for the prisoners have been punished. So, it is double punishment. That is why they return to crime.

    How do we address the problem of those awaiting trials?

    That case is a sad one. One, it is the nature of criminal system that one, who is alleged to commit a crime, is admitted to bail or remanded until one perfects the bail terms. It is a problem of our justice system. It will be helpful if the court can take their circumstance into consideration in setting their bail conditions.

    What can the government do to assist the prisons?

    It should fund the prisons properly and ensure that those who go there are well reformed. It should address the poverty in the land, especially the underprivileged, who are the main occupants of our prisons. A lot of them are those trying to eke out a living with yearly income of N10,000. Now you fine such a person N30,000 for wandering or displaying his goods on the road, for example, how does he pay?

    What is the role of the NGOs in the prison system?

    If you remove the NGOs from the prisons, there will be total darkness or collapse. And you’ll see the dangerous effect of overcrowding. It is the NGOs that give the inmates hope and help to change the prisoners, which is necessary for a change of their lifestyles. The government in some ways should celebrate the NGOs. They are filling a critical gap left by the government. It should look for ways to support them and not to discourage them by, for example, granting them land for agriculture or allocating them buildings for their use, rather than muscle them through the anti-NGO bill. There are enough regulations through registration and all that. The bill is totally a busy body. It is like pursuing the rat when the house is one fire. The lawmakers should talk of other things like the power bill or how to make the people on the street happy. Therefore, the bill is ill-advised in view of the many socio-economic problems in the country.

     

     

  • 61 Abuja lawyers named notaries public

    The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, has confirmed the appointment of 61 lawyers as notaries public in Abuja.

    He administered oath on the lawyers who were appointed notaries public by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The rite was held at the ceremonial court hall of the FCT High Court.

    Amongst the appointees are Prof. Maxwell Gidado (SAN) and Mr Ocholi Okutepa.

    Gidado, who spoke on behalf of the newly sworn-in notaries public, pledged that they would discharge their duties with utmost responsibility.

    On what the appointment means to him, Ocholi said: “I am delighted to take progressive steps in the legal profession. I set a target for myself that as soon as I have the minimum qualification to apply for the appointment I would so do.

    “This I did sometime last year having paid my practicing fees consistently for seven years and maintained an active practice in courts.

    “Graciously the Hon. CJN found me worthy of the appointment. It is more responsibility and more expectation on me as a person and I take that as a mark of progress”

    A notary public of the common law is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business.

    A notary’s main functions are to administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate the execution of certain classes of documents, take acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances, protest notes and bills of exchange, provide notice of foreign drafts, prepare marine or ship’s protests in cases of damage, provide exemplifications and notarial copies, and perform certain other official acts depending on the jurisdiction.

    Any such act is known as a notarisation, according to Wikipedia.

     

  • Lawyers, others mourn activist Ikechukwu Ikeji

    Tributes have begun pouring in for the late activist lawyer, Ikechukwu Ikeji, who died nine days ago. Ikeji, died in Lagos after attending a church function.

    In his tribute, Richard Nwankwo of Crusade for Justice said: “A brother,  friend,  author,  human rights activist, advocate of good governance,  firm believer in the Eminence of Jehovah,  Pastor, cerebral and exciting orator,  willing infantry man against injustice, wickedness in high places,  and a firm believer in the rule of law, who took part in so many road protests in defence of the rights of the common man,  the weak,  the poor and vulnerable in our society, May God grant his soul eternal peace and blessedness,  and his young family,  the divine strength, wisdom and fortitude to withstand this most heinous and painful tragedy. Our usual jokes at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, and particularly, our encounter on Saturday,  11th November, 2017, has now turned out to be our very last. A polished and fearless voice. What a tragic loss!!!  We shall surely meet again.  Adieu.

    Lagos lawyer Emeka Nwadioke said: “Ikeji lived a short but eventful life. He never sat on the fence on issues. He was loquacious but a fighter for justice. An advocate to the core. He was brutal to his enemies but very amiable to his friends. He was a goal-getter, highly ambitious, an achiever. He gave his best to his society. Friends and foes alike agrees that he paid his dues. Adieu Ikechukwu! Good night!

    Ngozichukwu Agboje who became a friend of the deceased on face-bookwrote: “Rest in Peace Big Brother and my Online Mentor.

    When you pick my calls I scream “BIG BROTHER” and I hear “Engee Nwanyioma”.

    Like a normal rumour the news broke.. Oh he returned from church and went for a dinner and was vomiting and died at the hospital…

    I met you here on this platform. You took me in like a blood Sister. You shared same birthday with my hubby and kid brother. I celebrate you three every 20/10.

    I came to trust your wisdom and Integrity so much that almost every group I belong to,  you made the choices and simply added me. When my parents celebrated their Golden Jubilee this year,  you visited my village home for the first time.During dad’s funeral, you monitored me to make sure I didn’t miss anything during the preparations. You credited my account to support me.

    Last week we were on WhatsApp chat for a long time discussing the decay in IMO state and a way out. We reached a plan which was yet to be hatched.

    Today,  you are gone just like a wind…

    My calls are stalled, chats stopped, texts not replied… I have cried myself out… My Dad’s wound is yet to heal and this again???

    Like I did my Dad,  I will live to relish your legacies. You were the most HONEST man I met on facebook.

    Without exaggerations you were a man of Integrity, Equity and Justice.

    You were such a bold and brilliant Lawyer, always featuring on Sunrise Daily of Channels TV where you exposed the rottenness in Nigeria system.

    90% of when we spoke,  you were teaching me the gains in Honesty and Humanity. You hammered a million times about how to achieve good governance.

    You were a very hardworking man whom despite his loads as a popular Lawyer was again a Pastor. Teaching the word of God. Thank you Big Brother for impacting to me during the short period I met you.

    I am so sorry my Big Brother if I didn’t thank you enough while you were here.

    May God reward you for your good deeds on earth.

    My husband bids you goodbye. We are missing you already… Tears flowing

    RIP Ezigbo Nwannem.

    Ikeji, a social critic was until his death, the Lead Advocate of Constitutional Rights and Peoples Development Advocacy Initiative (CRAI) and founder of Ikechukwu Ikeji and Co law firm based at 16, Fadeyi Aladura Steet, Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

    The deceased was also a Pastor at The City of Light Church (TCOLC), Ijesha, Lagos.

    Barrister Ikeji was said to have attended the Sunday service at TCOLC, Ijesha, and did not complain of any ailment during and after the church service.

    The attorney was said to have had dinner at home and gone upstairs shortly after which he started coughing and vomiting.

    He was reportedly rushed to an undisclosed hospital and was later pronounced dead by doctors on Sunday night, November 12.

    Late Ikeji was known for his pragmatic activism especially at the NBA Ikeja branch. He was also known for his deep analysis as a social commentator

    Barrister Ikeji’s last agitation was the  Federal  Government’s treatment of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

     The Imo State born attorney left behind his wife and three  children, all boys.

     

  • Lagos AG Kazeem is Attorney-General of the Year

    Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Adeniji  Kazeem has been awarded the Attorney-General of the Year by the Esq Legal Magazine.

    The investiture was held last  Sunday at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island.

    Speaking at the event, Kazeem dedicated the award to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi  Ambode.

    He said: “The modest achievements so far recorded in administration of  Justice in Lagos State is a pointer to the fact that our pragmatic Governor is a firm believer in the rule of law and passionate about providing easy access to Justice for all especially the in indigent in our dear State.

    “This can be seen in the rapid reform going on in the Justice system and resources being expended by this administration towards strengthening the gains already made.

    “It is noteworthy to mention that in the past ten months, the State Government has commis-sioned Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Sikiru Adagun Courthouse, Ajegunle and Olusola Thomas Courthouse, Badagry.

    “In addition, a stakeholders  law summit, with the largest number of participants in Nigeria was sponsored by the state, with far reaching recommendations that would  further enhance administration of Justice in Lagos State,” he stated.

    Thanking Esq Legal Magazine for the recognition, Kazeem pledged  not to disappoint  the expectations for which he has been so honoured.

     

  • NBA partners foundation  on ACJA

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has partnered  MacArthur Foundation to enhance the  domestication and  enforcement  of the Administration  of Criminal Justice  Act ( ACJA) 2015, by  the 36 States of the Federation including  the federal capital, Abuja.

    NBA President, Abubakar Balarebe Mahmoud (SAN) disclosed this at a conference on administration of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA)  organized by the association and supported by MacArthur Foundation at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme: “ Promoting the domestication and implementation of the administration of  criminal Justice legislation across Nigeria”

    Mahmoud, in an opening address argued that the domestication of the Act by the states of the federation will serve as  a major attempt to revamp criminal trials because  It introduced several innovative measures to achieve speedy trials as well as shift focus from punitive justice to restorative justice.

    He said the Act also sought to achieve greater balance between the interest of the victims of crime, the society and the defendant and promote more effective collaboration between the various institutions of the criminal justice system.

    “The dysfunctionality of the Nigerian Justice System and in particular, the criminal justice administration is well known to all of us operating in the Justice Sector. Perhaps it is even better known by ordinary citizens who remain at the receiving end of this system. It has long been recognized that unless something was done urgently, the crises in the justice sector could undermine rule of law in the country with grave consequences.

    “To some extent this is already happening, luckily the problem has been receiving concerted attention even if not in sufficiently coherent manner, but clearly, we are making some progress. l

    He said several initiatives have been rolled out to ensure the effective implementation of the policy including the recent constitution by  the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen ( CJN) of a committee to monitor trials of corruption and financial crime cases across the country under the chairmanship of Justice Suleiman Galadima JSC (rtd).

    “With respect to Criminal Justice Sector, he said  one of the most important initiatives was the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act on May 13, 2015 by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. This legislation represents a major attempt to revamp criminal trials. It introduced several innovative measures to achieve speedy trials as well as shift focus from punitive justice to restorative justice. The Act also sought to achieve greater balance between the interest of the victims of crime, the society and the defendant and promote more effective collaboration between the various institutions of the criminal justice system.

    In her good will massage, Amina Salihu of MacArthur Foundation thanked the NBA for the partnership with the foundation.

    She stated that they at the MacArthur foundation  progress is possible on some of the world’s  most pressing social challenges including over- incarceration, global climate change nuclear risk, and increasingly financial capital for the social sector.

    In his good will massage, chairman of the NBA Criminal Justice Reform Committee, chief Arthur Obi -Okafor (SAN) congratulated the NBA president, for  the successful commencement of the project.

    He said the support the NBA received from MacArthur Foundation for the  conference is  part of a three year project for the domestication and implementation of the ACJA in 28 States of Nigeria.

    Obi-Okafor said: “Over the years, the NBA has always been in the vanguard of the advocacy for the reform of the criminal justice system in Nigeria. When the first Administration of Criminal Justice Bill was put together in 2005, the NBA was involved in the process. When the Panel on the Implementation of the Justice Reform was established by the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the NBA was represented on the Sub-Group of the Panel on Criminal Justice Reform. To articulate the reform measures needed for an effective and efficient criminal justice system, the NBA has held series of Criminal Justice Reform Conferences.

    “The recommendations from these Conferences formed part of the draft of the ACJA Bill that was presented to the National Assembly.

     

  • ‘How we managed 40,000 disputes in 10 months’

    Director, Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), Lagos State Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya, says the agency has mediated in over 40,000 disputes since the beginning of the year.

    Odusanya said the figure, which averages at over 4,000 complaints resolved monthly, is 25 per cent more than what was recorded last year.

    She explained that to cope with the huge number and diversity of the disputes, the MOJ reinforced a policy of posting only mediators with local and international certification to the CMC.

    Odusanya spoke in Badagry, Lagos at a two-day programme to mark the United Nations (UN) International Day of Tolerance.

    The event featured sensitisation rallies in Badagry and Ojo on the need for peaceful coexistence and the benefits of mediation for dispute resolve rather than a resort to self-help or the judicial system.

    The team, comprising lawyers and tens of other members of the CMC, took the ‘gospel of tolerance’ to markets and other public centres in Ojo and Badagry, including a visit to the Akran of Badagry, De Aholu Menu-Toyi I.

    Odusanya said: “The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kazeem Adeniji, is very enthusiastic about the CMC especially because the governor has indicated his intention to locate mediation centres in all Local Governments Areas (LGAs) and all Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.

    “So, the government ensures that people that are posted to the mediation centres are seasoned mediators that are trained both locally and internationally, people with integrity.

    “This is because the ethics of mediation requires people with integrity. It’s a voluntary process and essentially all the information that is obtained during mediation is expected to be confidential. So, we have people of high integrity within the centre who are well trained.

    “Last year on a monthly basis, we treated about 3,000 complaints but this year, we are getting over 4,000 complaints. Patronage keeps increasing and that shows that the public’s confidence in the services of the mediation centre is rising.”

    According to her, the rising number of disputes resolved by the agency is not due to a commensurate rise in conflicts in Lagos.

    “It is the awareness we are creating that resulted in the increasing number of people coming to the centre and their increasing confidence in mediation, because they’ve seen people that have come to the mediation centres and have had their matters resolved.

    “So, Instead of going to court, many people now prefer to resolve their disputes through the mediation centre because they know that the services are free and it’s also faster for them.”

    On the choice of Badagry and Ojo for the campaigns, Odusanya said: “Ojo mainly because it’s quite cosmopolitan in nature, Badagry because we have a unit here that we need to create aware for, to sensitise the people that they have access to justice on their doorstep, so that they won’t have to come all the way to Ikeja to access justice.

    “We also want people in Badagry to know that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has them in mind, that they have not been left behind.”

  • Igbogbo monarch, others to partner Lagos, DSVRT on child abuse

    The Adegboruwa of Igbgbo Kingdom, Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, has said that himself and the Council of Chiefs and Baales will work with the Lagos State government and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) to stop child abuse, rape and other forms of gender based violence in the community.

    Also, the Chairman of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Comrade Sesan Daini,  pledged alongside his executive council that they will partner with government and the team to wage war against the vice in the community.

    The occasion was at an advocacy ‘Walk to end sexual and gender base violence’ and to sensitise the community, students  on the negative effect of the vice, the plight of victims, the role expected of the community in such situations and preventive tips.

    The walk which coincided with the first year reign of  Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali,  took off from Igbe junction, through the major roads and crannies of the community and ended at the palace of the monarch.  It was led by the king and his chiefs.

    Oba Kasali  in his address, promised that the loft programme of the government on child abuse and other gender based violence will be fully enforced in Igbogbo community adding, “nobody living within this community will be abused and neither will any child be abused. We will work with government and ensure that this community is a live-able place to all”.

    He told members of the community that the Lagos State government has zero tolerance for child abuse, defilement and gender based violence.

    He remarked that children are the leaders of today and that their future should be preserved and admonished the people of the community against toying with their welfare.

    He cautioned parents, guardians against child abuse and domestic violence, particularly on women.

    “I have the mandate of God and by virtue of being the king of this community. I will never toy with your welfare. No responsible government will allow the welfare of the children to be trampled upon. In the same way, the vulnerable, handicaps will have a place in this community.

    “No citizen should trample on the right of fellow citizen. We are all equal, not just before government but also as provided for in the constitution”.

    The monarch advised students, particularly young girls to report any form of molestation and abuse against them, promising a quick response from the palace to such reports and complaints.

    A member of the DSVRT and retired director of the state’s Ministry of Health, Mrs Ladapo Alakija while sensitising the community on the negative aspects of child abuse counselled the youth not to allow anyone access to the five holes of their body which she said are their private parts.

    She advised them not take any bath, not to change their pant and cloth or brush their teeth if defiled by any person but to shout and report to the nearest police station, non -governmental organisations, NGOs or the palace of the monarch where she assured them they will get assistance.

    According to her, it is an abuse of the right of the child if they are denied food  and access to hospital by their parents when they are hungry or not in good health.

    The Odofin of Igbogbo Kingdom, Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, also admonished mothers to desist from forcing their children to hawk for them at a time they should be in school.

    Chief Onasanya remarked that children are exposed to all forms of danger including defilement when they are out hawking along the streets.

    He said it was to stop this negative trends that the Oba  Semiudeen Kasali took it upon himself  to lead the advocacy walk to underscore the need to stop child abuse and gender based violence.

    The LCDA chairman, Comrade Sesan  Daini, reminded the people of the community that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administ-ration has zero tolerance for child abuse and domestic violence.

    Comrade Daini who described  the advocacy as a starting point in the fight against child abuse and gender based violence, promised that the council will build on the  efforts of government through creation of more awareness and re-orientation of the community.

    “We would ensure that we protect our community from anyone who made child abuse and other gender-  based violence his hallmark. Not only will we get the person arrested but also ensure he goes on trial”, he added.