The Nation Newspaper

Category: Law

  • Falana asks military authorities to vary sentences of convicted soldiers

    Falana asks military authorities to vary sentences of convicted soldiers

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Chief of Army Staff, as the confirming authority to vary or confirm the conviction and sentences passed on the soldiers by the court martial.

    He made the plea in a statement issued in Lagos Monday.

    Falana stated that owing to the delay in the confirmation or variation of the conviction and sentences, the soldiers involved have not been able to file their appeal at the Court of Appeal in line with section 183 of the Armed Forces Act (Cap 20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Section 183 of the Armed Forces Act stipulates that:”Subject to the provisions of this Part, an appeal shall lie from decisions of a court-martial to the Court of Appeal with the leave of the Court of Appeal: Provided that, an appeal as aforesaid shall lie as of right without the leave of the Court of Appeal from any decision of a court-martial involving sentence of death.”

    Falana also urged the military authorities to discontinue the ongoing trial of officers and soldiers and set free the 70 soldiers who were convicted and sentenced to death for mutiny by two courts-martial which sat in Abuja last year.

    He argued that since the alleged offence of mutiny arose from the legitimate demand of the convicted soldiers for adequate weapons to fight the army of the Boko Haram sect, the basis of their conviction and sentence can no longer be justified.

    He said that in the alternative, the army authorities should conclude the case of the convicted soldiers without any further delay.

    He argued that this has become necessary “in view of the disclosure by the Federal Government that it has just acquired adequate equipment for the armed forces and invited foreign instructors to train the soldiers on the use of the equipment,” adding” the officers and soldiers who had consistently demanded for weapons to fight the war  have been vindicated.”

    The erudite lawyer recalled that 12 of the soldiers were convicted in September while the 58 others were convicted in December last year.

    He said “since then, the army authorities have neither allowed the convicts any access to their family members and lawyers nor compiled and transmitted the record of proceedings of the courts-martial to the Chief of Army Staff for the purpose of confirming or varying the conviction and death sentences imposed on the soldiers.

    “This has delayed the promulgation of the findings and denied the convicts the opportunity to challenge the verdicts of the courts-martial at the Court of Appeal.

    “As if that is not enough, the army authorities have detained the convicts incommunicado in underground cells in a military guardroom in Apapa, in Lagos State instead of committing them to prison as required by the Armed Forces Act,” he stated.

    He noted that the Nigerian armed forces have carried out successful operations against the satanic Boko Haram sect in the last couple of weeks with the support of the multinational force drawn from neighboring countries.

    He noted that because of the attack, the terrorists have been dislodged from many of the towns and villages in the north east region illegally seized and occupied by them since last year.

    Although the war on terror has not been fully won, he pointed out that the armed forces and the federal government deserve commendation for the success recorded so far in the task of restoring the territorial integrity of the country.

    “With the recent acquisition of vital weapons for the armed forces by the Federal Government, it is undoubtedly clear that the troops have been mobilized and motivated to discharge the constitutional duty of defending Nigeria from the forces of internal insurrection and external aggression,” he stated.

  • Synagogue: T.B. Joshua appeals against court judgement

    Synagogue: T.B. Joshua appeals against court judgement

    Pastor Temitope Joshua and the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN),
    have appealed against the judgement of a Lagos high court which declined to stop the on-going coroner inquest into the September 12, 2014 collapsed building in the church.

    This was made known Thursday to the coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe at the resumed sitting of the coroner court in Ikeja through their counsel, Seun Abimbola.

    Abimbola had been asked by the coroner court to pick a date that the founder of the SCOAN, Pastor Joshua would appear before the court to give testimony in the matter.

    Rather than pick a date, Abimbola informed Chief Magistrate Komolafe that they have filed a Notice of Appeal at the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal, against the judgment of Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

    Justice Okunnu had declined an application filed by the trustee of SCOAN, alongside its founder.

    They had prayed the court to stop the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the collapsed guest house belonging to the church.

    Justice Okunnu had dismissed their application on the ground that it was premature and lacks merit.

    Justice Okunnu explained that Sections 26 and 27 of the Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State 2007, empowered the coroner to summon any witness to assist him in his fact-finding mission, adding that there was nothing unusual in the summons extended to Prophet Joshua.

    Justice Okunnu also declared that there was no evidence before the court to show that the coroner had been biased against the applicants.

    She had therefore declined to hold that the coroner was biased.

    Justice Okunnu also maintained that Chief Magistrate Komolafe as a coroner has the powers to take evidence from any witness he deemed fit and relevant to the matter on hand to enable him reach  his conclusions.

    “I find therefore the present application lacks merit and has failed in its entirety. It is accordingly dismissed.”

    Justice Okunnu had declared that although the coroner’s court cannot be sued, Chief Magistrate Komolafe himself could be sued in his capacity as a coroner.

    The trial judge stated further that the court needed to resolve the issue as to whether the coroner has acted contrary to the rules of natural justice by not granting the applicants a fair hearing, and whether he has exceeded his jurisdiction as a coroner court.

    SCOAN in its suit before Justice Okunnu, brought pursuant to Order 40 Rule 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure Rules) 2012 and signed by one O.M Abimbola had prayed the High Court for, “An order of prohibition, against the Coroner’s Court of Lagos State and the presiding Magistrate Komolafe from exceeding their jurisdiction in the conduct of coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building within the premises of SCOAN on September 12, 2014.

    “An order of Certiorari to quash the proceedings of the 1st and 2nd respondents in the conduct of the coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos on 12th September, 2014 in suit number CR/AL/01/2014 concerning matters, issues and circumstances other than what directly caused the death of the victims and the manner of their death for having been conducted without or in excess of the statutory jurisdiction of the 1st and 2nd respondents.

    “A declaration that the decision of the coroner to summon the applicants to give evidence at a time when no materials were placed before the coroner against the applicants is a breach of the applicants’ right to fair hearing.

    “A declaration that the coroner who relied on his personal knowledge of the facts of the case is not a proper person to preside at the inquest into the death of people at the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations.

    “A declaration that the coroner who relied on extraneous matters not borne out of the records to reach his conclusion that the 2nd applicant is a necessary witness when in fact is not, is in breach of the rules of natural justice and fair hearing guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “An order prohibiting the coroner from conducting further inquest/proceedings relating to the construction of the collapsed building which facts are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest.

    “An order quashing the proceedings of the coroner’s inquest in its entirety for being conducted in breach of the rule of natural justice, likelihood of bias, and for taking proceedings clearly outside the scope of the jurisdiction of the respondent.

    “An order prohibiting the respondent from insisting on the personal attendance of the 2nd applicant as such will be without or in excess of jurisdiction, unconstitutional and unlawful.

    “An order of injunction to restrain the respondents as presently constituted from further conducting any inquest into the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations, as the 2nd respondent has demonstrated personal interest in the subject matter and his neutrality clearly compromised.

    “An order of injunction restraining coroner from taking and continuing to take evidence/proceedings on the issue of approval and construction of the collapsed building, which issues are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest.”

    Meanwhile, at Thursday sitting, a Deputy Director in charge of planning and design from the Lagos State Ministry of Works, Engineer Tunde Lasoju confirmed that a physical assessment of the foundation of the collapsed guest house did not show any sign of stress.”The foundation of the collapsed guest house did not show any form of punching or sharing.”

    But a witness from the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Engineers Victor Oyenuga, maintained that the conclusion of the team that investigated the cause of the collapsed guest house shows that the building must have failed, as a result of undersizing of the foundation and weak columns.

  • Fayose to Ekiti lawmakers: You can’t sue me in Lagos

    Fayose to Ekiti lawmakers: You can’t sue me in Lagos

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Lagos to adjudicate over a suit filed against him and others by Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and 18 other members.

    The governor said he cannot be sued outside Ekiti State where the “cause of action” took place.

    According to him, the court lacks the “territorial jurisdiction” to decide the case.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to nullify Omirin’s purported “impeachment” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers for being unconstitutional.

    Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the new “Speaker” Dele Olugbemi are among the respondents.

    Olugbemi’s loyalists, namely Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Isreal Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni; and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti are the other respondents.

    Others are three commissioners cleared by the House under Olugbemi – Oweseni Ajayi (Attorney-General), Kayode Eso (Commissioner for Works) and Toyin Ojo (Commissioner for Finance).

    The plaintiffs, in their originating summons, are praying the court to declare that Omirin and his deputy are entitled to occupy their offices except removed by the Assembly’s two-third majority votes.

    They are also seeking a declaration that Fayose’s alleged attempt to force them to join the PDP and denounce the All Progressives Congress (APC) is against their constitution right to freedom of association.

    They are praying the court to hold that Olugbemi’s election as Speaker is illegal, and all deliberations and actions of the seven lawmakers are invalid.

    But Fayose, in a preliminary objection filed by the three “commissioners” (12th to 14th respondents), is praying for an order striking out or dismissing the suit in its entirety for lack of jurisdiction.

    “The suit as presently constituted is incurably defective and grossly incompetent. Consequently, this Honourable court cannot sit over an incompetent suit,” he said.

    Besides, ‎the governor said the action was not filed through due process as it was not signed by a judge as required by law.

    “This honourable court lacks both subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit,” the respondents said.

    Besides, they said the suit is an abuse of court process because the plaintiffs had allegedly instituted similar action on the same subject-matter for substantially the same reliefs in another suit pending at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    “The cause of action which gave rise to this matter as revealed by the Originating Summons and other processes filed by the applicants/respondents took place in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State,”‎ the respondents said.

    The plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN) said they would file a response to the preliminary objection.

    The lawmakers are also praying for an order of mandatory and perpetual injunctions restraining the “commissioners” from laying claim to offices they were not duly appointed to.

    Omirin, who was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2011, said a team of heavily-armed security operatives were deployed to the Assembly’s premises last November 17, and prevented the plaintiffs from conducting their legislative duties.

    While the APC lawmakers were locked outside the gate, PDP’s seven lawmakers were escorted into the Assembly, where they confirmed the commissioners’ appointment by Fayose and approved the appointment of Local Government caretaker committees chairmen and members.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till March 25 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

  • Police arraigns man for alleged assault

    Police arraigns man for alleged assault

    A 30-year old man, Adeoye Amore has been arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court for alleged assault.

    He is facing  a four-count charge of assault, willful damage of property and conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Nwadioke told the court that the defendant with others now at large came together  to commit felony to wit “serious assault and willful damage to property and thereby committed an offence against the law.

    He said the offence was committed on February 4, 2015 at Ojota, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

    Inspector Nwadioke alleged that the defendant and others unlawfully assaulted one Inspector Omoh Idehai attached to Lagos State Task Force, Alausa by using stick to inflict injury on his right hand and consequently caused him fracture on the wrist.

    The defendant was also alleged to have hit an iron rod on the crash helmet which Inspector Idehai was wearing and caused damage to the helmet said to be the property of the Nigeria Police Force.

    He was further alleged to have assaulted Sergeant Aboiralor Christopher also attached to the Task Force at Alausa by using stick on his right hand as a result of which his  victim sustained injury on the hand.

    The prosecutor said the offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 398, Vol. XXII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended and Section 258(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Chief Magistrate A. O. Akinde granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties must have evidence of tax payments within the last three years and be gainfully employed.

     

  • EFCC arraigns lawyer over alleged fraud

    EFCC arraigns lawyer over alleged fraud

    The Economic and Financial  Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a 36-year-old lawyer, Babatunde Ojo, over an alleged N117.3 million fraud.

    He was arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, alongside his company, Amberville Communications Limited last week.

    The EFCC arraigned him on a 48-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and issuance of dud cheque.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mrs. Vera Agboje, alleged that the defendant obtained the money from Mr. Matthew Awodiya and his firm, First Hebron Homes and Investment Limited, as part payment to purchase 50 Shops being constructed at Ajah area of Lagos.

    According to the prosecutor, the shops were being constructed by Verod Capital Investment Limited. She alleged that the defendant forged the signature of Mr. Eric Idiahi, to facilitate the fraud, saying that Ojo committed the offences between April 2010 and August 2012 in Lagos.

    The prosecutor also accused the defendant of issuing various Standard Chartered Bank cheques in favour of the complainant which were dishonoured when presented to the banks due to insufficient funds in his account.

    She said Ojo’s alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) and 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

    According to her, it also contravenes Sections 363 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 and 1(1)(a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when asked to take his plea. The judge ordered him to be remanded in prison custody. Justice Ipaye subsequently adjourned the matter till March 18, for trial.

     

     

  • Shippers Council vows  to strenghten regulation

    Shippers Council vows  to strenghten regulation

    The Nigerian Shippers Council   (NSC) has restated its determination to reduce the cost of doing business in Nigerian Ports.

    It said it was working to improve efficiency, revenue generation for the government  and attract Foreign Direct Investment.

    The Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Hassan Bello disclosed this in a media parley.

    Bello restated the Council’s readiness to fulfil its mandate.

    He identified its role as providing market rules, tariffs, quality service, access to facilities and incentives.

    According to Bello, its duties as a regulator include to assess options for competition, to decide on entry rules, to regulate on pricing freedom and to monitor outcomes.

    He said: “An efficient and effective regulator plays the roles of an analyst/strategist, advocate, detective, prosecutor, judge, negotiator, educator and manager.

    “The global competitiveness of Nigerian ports has a major role to play in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).  Port reform no doubt has brought in tremendous benefits to the national economy.

    “However, there is still the need to harness other potential areas of the Port sector with a view to bringing down the cost of doing business and enthrone efficiency

    “The Nigerian Shippers Council was appointed the Port Economic Regulator mid-way after the Ports and Terminals were concessioned.

    “The Nigerian Shippers’ Council recognised the fact that there existed gaps in the Port S ector and this led to increasing clamour for an economic regulator by stakeholders. In our capacity as the Port economic regulator, our role is to consult, coordinate, moderate and harmonize the various processes and procedures with a view of achieving operational efficiency at our Ports.

    “Where there is unreasonable resistance we shall not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions to ensure compliance.

    We shall remain open, independent, neutral and consultative and all decisions will be based on the buy in of Stakeholders.

    “Finally, we wish to note that NSC is not competing with any other government regulatory agency, but thrives to actualise the mandate of making our Ports the sub-regional hub and international logistics centres” Bello stated.

    He called for the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Police, and all other stakeholders stating that the Council shall  rely on the political will and support of Government to enable us succeed in this  assignment.

     

  • Police arraigns 27-year-old for alleged rape, robbery

    A 27- year -old man, Suleiman Balogun has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court for armed robbery and rape.

    The Police last Thursday arraigned Balogun before  Chief Magistrate Miss A.O. Akinde at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court.

    He is facing  a three -count charge of armed robbery and rape.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Nwadioke told the court that the defendant with others now at large conspired to commit felony to wit “armed robbery and thereby committed an offence.

    He said the offence was committed on November 30, 2014 at a female hostel, Ije Ododo, Alimosho Local Government, Lagos.

    Inspector Nwadioke alleged that the defendant and others at large, while armed with guns, axes and other dangerous weapons robbed one Janet (surname withheld) of one Nokia handset valued N6,000; N5,350 cash, totalling N11, 350.

    The prosector further alleged that the defendants also raped their victim, Janet on same day.

    He said the offences committed are contrary and punishable under Section 1(2)(a)and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 398, Vol. XXII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended and Section 258(1) Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The court did not take the plea of the defendant.

    Chief Magistrate Akinde adjourned the matter to March 31, 2015 and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.

     

     

  • INEC, others sued over ‘imposition’

    INEC, others sued over ‘imposition’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant  for Delta South Mr Temisan Omatseye has re-filed a suit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory against the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and others over the alleged imposition of a candidate.

    He is challenging the alleged imposition of Prince Yemi Emiko as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial zone.

    The plaintiff through his lawyers had filed a discontinuance notice to the initial suit at the Federal High Court.

    It followed a Court of Appeal ruling that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a matter in which the major reliefs sought are not against the Federal Government or any of its agencies.

    The plaintiff, through his lead counsel, A.C. Ozioko, said he contested and won the APC primary election held last December 8.

    But rather than his name, that of the third defendant who he said came second in the primary was sent to INEC purporting him to be the winner contrary to APC’s guidelines and constitution.

    Omatseye said having won the primaries, he is the lawful Senatorial candidate of the APC in the 2015 general election for Delta South Senatorial District.

    He is praying the court to hold that the APC is bound to submit his name to INEC as its candidate having won the primaries.

    The plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC’s acceptance, recognition and publication of Emiko’s name is illegal; as well as sought an order of injunction restraining Emiko from parading himself as the candidate.

    The new suit has been assigned to Justice A.S. Adepoju.

     

  • Stakeholders seek overhaul of justice sector

    Stakeholders seek overhaul of justice sector

    Lawyers and stakeholders in Plateau State have urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s justice sector if he is elected.

    They made this call last weekend  at the  conference hall of the Hill Station Hotel, Jos during an interactive session.

    The event was  to hold last week but  postponed by the Lalong campaign organisation in honour of the victims of the twin bomb blast  which claimed many lives in the state.

    One minute silence was observed for the victims before the commencement of the programme.

    Participants raised many issues affecting justice delivery in the state including non-payment of salary of judges and Magistrates, judicial workers, dilapidated court buildings, lack of court rooms, the non issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to members of the public in the last few years except the ones issued to members of the ruling family in the state.

    They decried the way the state  government  is run which a participant described as “the government of the father by the son for the benefit of the mum and other siblings”.

    They urged Lalong to give them a breath of fresh air in the state when he assumes  power as the state governor.

    Lalong said he was aware of the challenges of the Justice sector and is willing to tackle them once they  give him their mandate .He  said  that no Judge in Plateau State will trek or jump on  Okada and Keke  when he becomes the governor . Citing the State of Osun model, Lalong promised to build more courtrooms across the state. He promised to adopt the Osinbajo and Fashola approach to court development. He assured  of even and equal distribution of developmental projects across the state if elected its governor.

    In a chat with The Nation, a senior member of Jos Bar, Mr. Titus Mann said: “The interactive session was wonderful, it is the first of its kind  in terms of people canvassing for elective positions in Plateau State, it has never happened that an aspirant gathered people like we saw  today, to explain himself and seek their input into governance  as you saw today.  Lalong demonstrated a very deep understanding of the Justice sector and its challenges. The event of today has shown that we have somebody who has taken his time to acquaint himself with the problems of the state and he is ready to tackle them head on,  I mean that we have never had it this way in Jos.

    “I urge the people  out there to listen to him, see for themselves and vote him into the Government House in the over all interest of Plateau State.” Mann stated.

    Mr. Nankin Bagudu  said: “ The state has suffered so much in terms of  justice  delivery, the justice sector is in a mess. In the past 16 years, not a single  Court room has been built in Plateau State. We still operate the laws of Northern Nigeria, many courts in the rural areas of the state sit only once a week and in the rainy season they don’t sit at all.  There is also the problem of  corruption which compounds the whole thing, so, Lalong  has a lot to do. He has to build and restore confidence in  the people of the state, he also has to open up many neglected rural areas, address communal conflicts and insecurity. I expect him to use the security vote for social projects such as schools, roads, etc. he should also clear the back log of salary,  pensions and address the shocking levels of tribalism which the current administration has foisted on the psyche of the people.

    Bagudu said: “When he becomes the governor I expect him to run a clean and effective government that would produce results. he should be able to first and foremost,  define reality, assemble a good team that would help him in effective service delivery. The people of the state would judge  him firstly by the quality of the team he assembles. He should be able to reduce wasteful spending  in governance,  asses the projects so far undertaken and see what has been done and what needs to be done.

    “He should ascertain the exact debt profile of the state and how it was gotten and for what purpose. He must avoid the trap of trying to witch-hunt perceived enemies . He himself has spoken at the interactive session that he would not witch-hunt and he would not do as  the incumbent state governor has done,  just because he does not like the face of the Vice-Chancellor (VC)  of the Plateau state University,  he sacked the VC without recourse to  due process. There is no doubt Plateau is broke, there are so many unnecessary prestige projects done to promote the ego of the current governor, he must prioritise what he and his team believe is important, he must not promise more than  he can deliver.

    “I believe he is the man for the job because he was a former speaker in this  state, he knows everybody who is  anything in the state and their background. He also knows the challenges of the state, having been a speaker. I think he is a candidate who does not have the baggage many of the other aspirants have,  he is easy going and simple person. He flows easily with people and I believe he takes advice seriously. If he has the right team, he must avoid falling into the trap of seeking to avenge or retaliate for any previous hurt or wrong done to him, if he avoids that,  he will succeed. He has suffered  and so,  I believe he has learnt his lessons.

    “The judiciary in the state is in sorry state,  there are long delays of cases in court,  simple cases of recovery of premises can take up to eight years in a magistrate  Court, there are no court rooms,  there is also the problem of flagrant disobedience  of court orders by the Governor of the state,  there is also corruption in the system,  there is also the problem  of lack of payment of salary of magistrates and Area Court Judges. I feel sad that despite the importance of the place of the administration of justice in the society, little attention is paid to this arm.

    “My appeal to the voter out there is simple vote for change. Vote for Buhari/Osinbajo,  vote for Lalong/Yiden vote APC. Lawyers make good leaders,  Chief Awolowo my greatest Nigerian hero was a lawyer, Barrack  Obama, Tony Blair, Bil Clinton, JF Kenedy etc were all lawyers. Osinbajo is a lawyer,  a trusted and respected one for that matter. I  urge  all lawyers to  vote for the Buhari presidency, he is tested and a disciplined Nigerian.  More and more people are now realising that Nigeria needs change at the Federal level” .

    Former Secretary of NBA Jos Branch,  Jim Gotom said: “Rt. Hon Lalong is a colleague I have known for a very long time first as friends growing up in  Ali Kazaure street, Jos. Then as a classmate at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. We also practised together before the armed contested election in 1999. Being a lawyer, I know that Hon. Lalong will excel in governance like most legal minds before him including the late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Solomon D. Lar and recently, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State, this is because of the special skills and versatility of a lawyer.

    “Being a lawyer, he is familiar with the workings, the problems and the challenges of the Judiciary, he was a Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly  for many years. As the State Governor, he will know how to build and sustain a cordial relationship with the Legislators. He was the President of the Goemei  Youth  movement, so he has first hand experience of the dicey Youth challenges on the Plateau.”

    “Finally, as a consummate Bar man, and one time Assistant Secretary of NBA Jos branch, I know that he will always consult with the Bar which will always be frank and truthful to him when he is elected Governor of Plateau State. The issues I have highlighted here are all need to be addressed but  where he intends to prioritise them, the  closed  Courts should be renovated. A case in hand is the High Court in Shandam where the Judge cannot sit, there are other lower Courts in the State which are also closed down.

    “Introduction of modern Court recorders and appointment of researchers for Judges can also be immediate and will go a long wy in alleviating the suffering of our Judges,”  Gotom said.

     

  • ‘Vote for change’

    ‘Vote for change’

    The national Coordinator of   Lawyers for Change, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana has explained why lawyers have been going round the different states of the federation to rally for change.

    Ogunlana told  large crowd of lawyers and potential voters in Ikorodu last Saturday  that the group’s idea was to sensitize the people at the grassroots to vote for the candidate that will bring about positive change.

    The occasion was at  a rally and procession of lawyers  held in the ancient town of Ikorodu and organised by Lawyers4Change,

    He noted that the movement was not politically influenced but that their activities was based on the platform of some selected professionals who seek for change in the country.

    “This is not Nigeria Bar Association but ‘Lawyers 4 change’, which identifies the ills in the country and tries to fight to correct them before it’s too late,” Ogunlara said.

    He posited that the country would overcome the challenge facing it concerning the threats posed by the Boko Haram or any group planning to disrupt the coming elections.

    “Nigeria is a very resilient country, we will survive, we survived Ebola and the Civil war, so we will survive the Boko Haram,” he added.

    He further stated that the association had organised similar programme at Osogbo, Ibadan, Abuja and Ilorin, stressing that it will do the same in Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Ijebu Ode respectively.

    Chairman of the NBA, Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Dotun Adetunji, urged Nigerians to cast their votes for the desired candidate that would make the country attain a better economic status.

    Adetunji who also spoke at the rallyand procession, called on the general public to go to the various polls and cast their votes and coordinate themselves in a peaceful manner during the elections.

    He said: “The youth should be careful not to sell their rights and conscience for being thugs to politicians who call for violence for the election. We have to be hopeful and be wise in choosing a better candidate that will be good and effect positive change in our country.