The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Herdsmen rue cows loss to rainstorm

    Herdsmen rue cows loss to rainstorm

    They waited for so long for the rainy season. When it eventually came, it was a source of misery to residents of Yobe State.

    Penultimate week, the rain was so heavy it turned tragic for some clustered Fulani communities. They lost thousands of their animals, especially cows, to the storm that preceded the rain.

    The average Fulani man could be sentimental about his herd, so much so that the loss of one demoralises him. Most times, a Fulani herdsman feels pain when he decides to sell a cow out of his flock, irrespective of the monetary gain.

    Many of them prefer tendering the cows and allowing them to increase in number to selling them, unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

    This apparently explains why Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once said: “For the Fulani, cows are more than four-legged animals. For me, tending to cattle is a hobby and more.”

    Investigations revealed that many of the herdsmen are still brooding over the loss of their cows.

    Leaders of the Fulani under the aegis of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association told our correspondent that some of the herdsmen are unwell due to the huge loss they suffered as a result of the rain storm. The leaders were in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, to seek the state government’s assistance.

    It was gathered that the flock of many of them have depleted. For instance, it was revealed that one of them, Mallam Hassan Lamido Manu, lost 30 cows, 50 goats and 50 sheep to the storm.

    Another victim, Wakili Manu, lost 15 cows and 61 goats. The story of Dio Manu is another pathetic one as all his 33 cows were killed by the storm that night, while Haro Aridojo, a herdsman from Mungono Village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, said 29 out of his 30 cattle died.

    To prevent total loss, some of the herdsmen decided to slaughter their cattle and sell them at give-away prices. It was gathered that a cow was sold for N5,000 as against the market price of more than N60, 000, while a goat was sold for N200 as against N10, 000.

    “I slaughtered them and brought them to Damaturu. We sold some of them at give-away prices of N1, 000 and N800. But the government cautioned the butchers not to buy,” Aridojo said.

    He further explained that over 30 trucks of the slaughtered cows were evacuated from his village to parts of Jos, Bauchi and Jigawa states, adding: “We had no option than to slaughter and sell them. This is because the cattle were starving even before the heavy rain hit them. They could no longer walk, and in few days, they would all die.”

    He emphasised that they had been in contact with leaders of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association over the difficulty they were experiencing in feeding and watering the livestock, stressing that “they keep telling us that government is going to do something on it.”

    Lamido Manu, leader of the Fulani in GarinSaje Village said he lost over 50 farm animals in Jakusko/Nasri Grazing Reserve. He claimed that “butchers came and bought some of the slaughtered animals from Jakusko and Gashua. But, today if 40 butchers can come to my house, I will give them free cows because, they are decaying and nobody is coming to buy the beef.”

    He called on the state government to urgently intervene and save the poor herdsmen that rely solely on cows for their livelihood.

    Investigation revealed that most of the settlements around the area have relocated due to unpleasant odour from decomposing cows around the area.

    Yobe State Secretary of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Khalil Muhammad Bello confirmed that the heavy down pour and strong wind affected many herds in Tarmuwa, Dapchi, Gujba, Jakusko  local government areas.

    He said the Association had submitted a request through the Ministry of Animals and Fisheries on issues concerning water and fodder for the livestock. He called on government to expedite its effort in assisting the breeders with enough fodder so that losses recorded would be minimised.

    Investigations revealed that N200m was budgeted for nomad in this year’s budget. The money aimed at providing water and animal feeds is yet to be accessed by the Ministry for Animals and Fisheries.

    Some Fulani settlements that were worst affected include Gadiram, Abbari, Daragi, Mongonu and NasriinTarmowa, Jakusko and Damaturu local government areas.

    Water, according to Lamido Dodele, is one of their major challenges in Ngasarga another settlement affected.

    He further said: “Our children travel for two days to get water for the cows and another two days to return. By the time they return, the cows are already exhausted. This is what we go through all year round. There is no water in our community. Animals don’t have food to eat. We spent a lot of money buying food for them.

    “Each bag of animal feed costs about N3, 400. In a month, some people will buy like 150 bags depending on the number of cows that they have. We appeal to government to come to our aid. Every year, we hear that government is buying grains and selling at subsidised rates. I think they can do same for us to reduce our sufferings.”

  • CJN,others at London arbitration conference

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (CJN) and Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi (JSC) were among participants at the just-concluded International Commercial Arbitration Conference  for West Africa  at the Hilton Hotel, Canary Wharf, London.

    The forum focused  on international commercial and investment arbitration with particular emphasis on the West African users of  oil and gas, international trade, maritime,  shipping, and construction sectors respectively.

    It was a collaboration between two London-based leading arbitrators – Momoh Kadiri and Paul Bugden.

    The CJN  led some judges, among them were two justices of the Supreme Court; Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi (JSC) and Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad (JSC), to the event.

    Speakers include Nicholas Chambers QC, Olumide Sofowora (SAN); Chairman of the General Council of the Bar of South Africa and Co-Chair of the Forum for Barristers and Advocates of the IBA Jeremy Gauntlett, Stephen Ruttle QC, Arshad Ghaffar, Mahnaz Malik, and Paul Bugden.

    Topics discussed at the conference include: Award writing and judgment – key practical differences, enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and ethics in international arbitration, the mediation phenomenon, appeals from arbitration awards, and a Nigerian perspective on London commercial arbitration.

  • Minister reshuffles exco

    Minister reshuffles exco

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has carried out a major reshuffle that affected several directors in the services of the FCT Administration.

    In the exercise, Mohammed approved the immediate appointment of Mr. Salihu Hawat Mohammed as the new Director of Establishment and Training.

    He is a graduate of Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and holds Master’s degree in Political Economy from the University of Abuja.

    According to a statement issued by Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the minister,Muhammad Sule, Mr. Mohammed was in the employ of the Niger State Government in 1985 before transferring his services to the FCT Administration in 1993.

    Other Directors affected included Mallam Bashir Mohammed, former Director of Security who is currently the Director of the FCT Muslims’ Pilgrims’ Welfare Board. He replaces Hajiya Fatima S. Gumi. Jibrin Ibrahim, Director of Special Duties is now in charge of the Security Department.

    Former Director, Admin and Finance (DAF) in the Primary Healthcare Development Board (PHCDB), Mrs. Habeeba Babata Sulaiman has been moved to Legal Services Secretariat as Director of Administration and Finance; while Mr. Tony Edekobi of the Legal Services Secretariat was redeployed to PHCDB as Director of Administration and Finance.

    Mrs. A.I. Odey-Achu, Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Emergency Management Department has also been redeployed to Health and Human Services Secretariat as Director of Administration and Finance.

    The minister has also approved the appointment of Hajiya Safiya T. Umar as Acting Director, Administration and Finance, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

     

  • NGO, firm renovate school

    NGO, firm renovate school

    As part of its community development initiatives, Assisting Caring and Empowering (ACE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Transcorp Hilton Hotel, has embarked on the renovation and fencing of Durumi II Community Primary School.

    The founder of the group, Miss Kiki Harrison, told reporters that the aim of the exercise was to provide an environment conducive enough to teaching and learning.

    She said: “We want to improve the lives of the children and we also want to give them gift that nobody can take away from them which is education.

    “We want to improve the lives of the children and we also want to give them gift that nobody can take away from them which is education.”

    Explaining further, Kiki said: “We cannot ignore the state of their learning environment. They have broken chairs, the ceilings are falling off and they have environment that is not conducive to teaching and learning. We have provided all the resources needed.

    “We have come to the school today to set things right by renovating the school and fence the school as well.”

    Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer, Transcorp Hilton Mr. Sola Adeyemo said it’s a gesture and commitment to improving the lives of people living in Abuja communities.

    He said: “That is why we at Transcorp Hilton and, in line with our mission to be part of the community where we live and work, we decided to come out as a team to associate with this local school. This is because we believe that the environment we live in has a lot of impart on the learning ability of students.

    “When we got to this school, we found a lot of dilapidated infrastructure. The floors of the classrooms were not cemented, the ceilings were falling off, the walls were not painted and the chairs are broken. Therefore, we thought that there is no better way to do this than in partnership with this charity group and to really take our time to improve the school’s environment.

    “Consider the fact that we are re-cementing the floors, fixing the ceilings, painting the walls, we are planting trees and flowers around the school. For us, it is not about the money spent but the impact we are able to make on the school and the students.

    “We are not going to stop here. We are still going to other community schools.”

    Responding, the Head teacher of the school Mr. Bitrus Zakoyi expressed his appreciation to the group and Transcorp for coming to the aid of the school at the very time they needed such assistance.

    Zakoyi, who regretted that some of the classrooms that have capacity for about 60 students and 45 students have no chairs and ceilings, said it seemed that government had forgotten the school.

    “We have only nine teachers tutoring 320 pupils. In some of the classroom, we have 60 pupils, in some classes we have about 45 pupils and in the remaining classes we have 35 pupils,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to the group to extend such gesture to other community schools having the same challenges.

  • Traders seek tight security at Gosa Market

    Traders at Gosa Market have appealed to the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to provide more security at the market to prevent Boko Haram insurgents from destroying it.

    Some traders told our correspondent that as a result of threats of Boko Haram attacks, the market doesn’t witness huge crowd of customers as it used to.

    The market, located outside the city centre along the Airport Road attracts many sellers and buyers within and outside Abuja opens on Fridays. Due to the influx of people, security operatives especially, the police are always present in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    The insecurity situation in the country orchestrated by the Boko Haram Islamist sect is currently hindering activities at the market. People who visit the market on Fridays do so out of fear.

    A Garri seller Mrs. Abigail Simon told our correspondent that fear people carry out transactions in the market in fear, even as she urged security operatives not to rest on their oars. She said security in the market is gradually dwindling.

    Mrs. Simon, who has been selling Garri at the market for over three years said: “Since I have been selling garri here, the crowd that comes to this market every Friday is unprecedented. Before the bombings in Abuja, people move freely in and out of the market without fear. But now the situation is changing.

    “People are no longer coming to the market as before. Though security operatives are doing their best, people need to be re-assured that Boko Haram do not destroy the market. I do not know where to go to. This is the place I make money for the upkeep of my family.

    “I am a widow and a mother of three. I always pray every Friday when coming to Gosa Market. I know God will not allow Boko Haram’s wish to prevail.”

    Another seller, John Okwe, who sells secondhand clothes told our correspondent that business was on the upbeat before the current security situation, adding that many people, especially his customers, do not come to the market again due to bomb scare in Abuja.

    Okwe said: “I do not blame them. Who wants to die? But all I am begging is for government to further secure our markets within FCT, especially Gosa Market. We the sellers are begging for more security.”

    Ibrahim Umar, who always visits the market every Friday to buy things, expressed his fear that steps need to be taken to avoid crisis at Gosa Market.

    His words: “I cannot do without coming to the market every Friday. I always shop here because goods are cheaper and affordable here. I am used to coming to this market and I cannot afford to stop coming here. Government should intensify action towards securing this place. The market is where most less-privileged people come to buy goods because things are cheaper here.”

    The traditional head of Gosa community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Wakili Istifanus also urged watertight security measures for the market.

    He called on the chairman of the area council, Micah Jiba, to provide the management of Gosa Market with the necessary apparatus to enable traders to carry out their business activities without fear.

    One hopes that other markets in the FCT will receive genuine security attention to avert calamity.

    Many markets, malls and stores where people shop dot the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Among the major markets are Wuse, Garki; Utako and Garki markets. Others are the Dei Dei Building Material Market, Gudu Market and Maitama Fruit Market.

    Of these, Wuse Market is the most famous and is located in Zone 5 of Wuse District. It is a general market where one can buy almost everything; ranging from food stuffs, fresh vegetables, meat, clothes, electronics, furniture, phones, rugs and carpets, among others.

    Prices of goods in Wuse Market are relatively high compared to what obtained in other markets like Utako and Garki. The prices are cheaper when compared to prices in malls and stores. One good thing about the market is that it is organised and clean.

    One sore feature of the market is traffic jam that motorists experience while driving into or out of the market, especially in the evenings.

    Another market for general goods is the Garki Market located in Garki District of Abuja. It also has variety of items from food stuffs to clothes but it is not as famous as the Wuse Market. Food stuff is cheaper in Garki Market compared to what obtains in Wuse Market.

    Utako Market is another general market located in Utako District of Abuja.

    Garki International Market is a modern market located in Garki 2 District of Abuja.

    Dei Dei Building Material Market is another market where specialised wares are sold. The main feature of this market as the name implies, is building materials. It is located in Dei Dei District at the outskirts of Abuja.

     

  • Ebola drama at FEC meeting

    The deadly Ebola virus disease ravaging some West African countries ignited some drama at the beginning of last week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Ebola, which currently has no cure, according to World Health Organisation, has claimed the lives of over 930 victims mainly in the West African sub-region and have infected over 1,700 persons.

    While a Liberian, the late Patrick Sawyer imported the virus to Nigeria, one Nigerian nurse was confirmed dead last week and five other Nigerians have been confirmed carriers of the virus.

    Most members of the Council who normally shake hands and hug while greeting each other before the meeting begins, jokingly refrained from such acts last week for fear of contacting the disease.

    When the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku came into the Council Chamber, he did not shake hands with colleagues of his as he went round greeting them by holding his clinched fist towards his chest in the northerners’ way of greeting.

    At each point, he maintained a safe distance from his colleagues and was saying Rankadede, Rankadede, Rankadede.

    The joke took another dimension when the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu entered the Council Chamber.

    As soon as some of colleagues of his saw him coming in, they left his path and refused to shake hands with him.

    The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who was discussing with the Ministers of Labour, Emeka Wogu and Sports, Tamuno Danagogo by the entrance asked Chukwu when he approached them with his hand stretched out: “Make I shake you?”

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, who was approaching the four ministers as the joke continued with Chukwu, brought another angle to the drama.,

    He started shouting ‘Ebola’, ‘Ebola,’ ‘Ebola’ as he ran away from the Health Minister. He refused to shake hands with the minister.

    On his way to his seat after leaving the four ministers, Adoke saw the Minister of State for Health, Khaliru Al-hassan and asked him in Hausa language: ‘Ka je Lagos?’ (Meaning: ‘have you been to Lagos?).

    After the Minister of State for Health responded by saying ‘no’, Adoke then shook hands with him.

    It will not be surprising to see some ministers coming to FEC meeting tomorrow wearing hand gloves, nose masks, thick eye-goggles and other gadgets to prevent contracting the disease.

    Besides the jokes and drama, threat of the Ebola virus and how to contain it was the only matter that engaged the attention of the Council presided over by Vice-President, Namadi Sambo when the meeting started around 10.15 a.m. last week.,

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Chukwu said: “We have a national emergency, indeed the world is at risk. Nobody is immune. The experience in Nigeria has alerted the world that it takes just one individual to travel by air to a place to begin an outbreak.”

    “It is an emergency and secondly everyone is at risk. We have recorded seven confirmed cases, which were in contact with the first imported index case from Liberia. Yesterday, August 5, the first known Nigerian to die of the EVD was recorded and this was one of the nurses that attended to the Liberian. The other five cases are currently being treated at the isolation ward in Lagos.”

    On some steps being taken to stop the spread of the disease in Nigeria, he said: “This morning, I sent an e-mail to the Director of the US Centre for Disease Control. We have being in communication in the last 36 hours. We are getting reports that the experimental seems to be useful. It is also possible that we can have access for our own people who are currently being treated under isolation.

    “We are making efforts, we are relating with them and we are doing everything possible that will ensure that we contain this disease.”

    President Goodluck Jonathan could not attend the FEC meeting as he was in Washington DC, United States of America, attending the United States-African Leaders Summit along with other African leaders.

    Just about 25 per cent of the current number of ministers did not attend the FEC meeting.

    Out of the present 43 ministers holding various portfolios in the cabinet, 27 of them attended the Sambo-led FEC meeting last week.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, last week disclosed that four ministers will be in Washington DC with the President for the summit.

    That means that 12 ministers who did not travel with the President did not attend the FEC meeting last week.

    The ministers, who accompanied the President, according to the statement, were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Co-ordinating Minster of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, and the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.

    The 27 ministers who were in the Council Chamber when the FEC meeting began last week were Ministers of Agriculture (State), Asabe Ahmed, Aviation, Osita Chidoka, Defence, Aliyu Gusau, Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, Environment, Laurencia Mallam.

    Others at the meeting were the two ministers for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed and Mrs. Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide, Finance (State), Ambassador Bashir Yugudu, Foreign Affairs (State II), Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the two ministers for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Dr Khaliru Alhassan.

    Also at the meeting were Ministers of Information, Labaran Maku, Interior, Abba Moro, Justice/Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, Labour  and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, Mines and Steel Development, Mohammed Sada, National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman and Niger Delta Affairs, Steven Oru.

    The other ministers who were also at the meeting were Power (State), Mohammed Wakil, Science and Technology, Abu Bulama, Sports, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, Trade and Investment (State), Samuel Ortom, Transport, Idris Umar, Women Affairs, Mrs. Zainab Maina, the two Ministers of Works, Mike Onolememen and Adedayo Adeyeye and Special Duties, Taminu Turaki.

  • Ebola in the mind of residents

    Ebola in the mind of residents

    When news of the Ebola virus that was ravaging most parts of the continent broke out, Nigerians, especially residents of Abuja, regarded it as something happening in another planet which will not be experienced in the country.

    This was the thinking before Patrick Sawyer; a Liberian who was infected with the virus came to Nigeria. With his coming, the city of Lagos which residents of Abuja always considered the fun town became threatened. Residents began to realise how close to home the deadly virus is getting.

    Unlike some other cities in the country, Abuja is no stranger to threats, with the Boko Haram insurgents and their bombings that have continued to keep residents on the alert. Residents’ already jittery mood is now compounded by the fear of Ebola regarded by many as latest enemy.

    Just as expected, residents have taken up what they considered the most precautionary measures which mostly involves avoiding everyone as much as possible.

    For example, the popular designers’ market which always attracted so many ladies who go to shop for affordable clothes did not witness half of its usual crowd of customers. Most of the shoppers that came around the last time mostly did not wear their usual short skirts; neither did they try to make body contacts with other shoppers.

    When mistakenly some of the ladies realised that an unknown person had unknowingly had contact with them or came close to doing that, they will dodge and scream “Ebola”.

    Even though the FCT Administration, unlike the Lagos State Government, hasn’t done much in terms of educating residents on what the virus is all about, its symptoms and what to do to avoid contracting the disease, except the campaign being carried out by the Federal Ministry of Health, residents, on their own, have taken up measures that they believe would work for them.

    Before now, residents always shake hands with and hug their friends. But these days, they have refrained from such acts. They politely avoid this by saying “sorry we can’t shake hands anymore because of Ebola,” among other polite ways of avoiding contacts with people.

    Some employees of banks around the city now wear masks and gloves as precautionary measures, some private establishments in the city have begun applying sanitisers on the palms of customers and visitors to avoid the possible spread of the virus, especially on their door knobs or rails.

    Bitter kola which the present generation had considered meant for the old men and women is now very much in vogue. Those who deal in bitter kola are now into lucrative business as residents willingly stock-pile it.

    Jane, who sells bitter kola, kola nut, cashew nut and groundnut close to the Wuse Market, confirmed that more people are now buying bitter kola unlike before. “Because of this Ebola outbreak, people now eat bitter kola. I have finished selling my own bitter kola even before the cashew nut or groundnut. For me this is good for business because people need to eat bitter kola to protect themselves,” she said.

    Her customer, who refused identifying himself, spoke a bit harshly when reminded of the fact that bitter kola has not been scientifically proven to prevent the virus. He said: “I don’t care if the Minister of Health said that the bitter kola will not work because I believe that he doesn’t know anything about all the wonderful healing powers of this bitter kola. Prof. Maurice Iwu that said that it could work was not drunk when he made that statement.

    “What do you mean by scientifically proven? Did our forefathers wait for science when treating themselves with roots and herbs? They lived longer than us that are waiting for the Whiteman’s science and dying like chicken. I’m sure that it is the Whiteman that said bitter kola is not scientifically proven to be an antidote to the Ebola virus.

    “They can never believe that anything good could come from Africa, unless it comes from them. As long as I am concerned, I will continue to consume this bitter kola in large quantity until they say the Ebola virus has come under control. This is nothing but a conspiracy.”

    Even though no one has claimed to have proved its potency when it started spreading all over the country like wild fire, Nigerians, especially residents of Abuja, believed the rumour whole heartedly.

    Another angle to the healing and prevention theory was that of bathing with water mixed with salt to prevent the Ebola virus.

    By Friday morning, people all over the country started calling their loved ones to inform them of the salt and water bathe in order to prevent the virus.

    Most residents confirmed that they had actually bathed with the salt and water mixture, even though they knew that it was not possible to prevent the virus with such a remedy.

    Usman Kunle, a resident of Nyanya confirmed that he really woke up early to bath with salt water.

    His words: “My parents from the village called me very early this morning and insisted that I bath with salt water. I actually asked my neighbours and realised that everyone else was doing it, so I simply joined even though I do not believe in such superstition. Sometimes you just do some things to please people.”

    A scary rumour began to make the rounds the same day that a man had flown into Abuja from Lagos and they realised that he had Ebola and was taken to the Garki General Hospital. Some even claimed that he had already infected about 21 persons.

    People became scared but eventually the FCT Health Secretariat was able to confirm that the report was false and that so far, there was no case of the virus in the FCT.

    As long as the virus is not air-borne and can only be contracted through physical contact or exchange of bodily fluid from a carrier, we can prevent it by being careful and constant washing of our hands.

  • ‘I have passion for my people’s welfare’

    ‘I have passion for my people’s welfare’

    Though from the famous Gambari royal family of Ilorin Emirate, Princess Tinuola Bilikisu Gambari derives joy in identifying with people at the grassroots who she serves with passion. She also fights for the well-being of the downtrodden.

    What attracted her to the murky waters of Nigerian politics still remains a puzzle. Explaining why she ventured into politics, she said: “The dilemma of my people in Kwara State as regards the political structure that we’ve had since 1979 gave me the impression that democracy is all about the right of every citizen to participate in as against a particular group of people imposing themselves on the people against their will. I realised that it will pay me to be on the side of the masses that yearn for change.”

    Going down memory lane, Gambari said the political terrain is not a jolly ride but that which has a lot of challenges and disappointment.

    “Actually, it hasn’t been easy. The first time I ventured into politics was just to support my sister who contested for the House of Representatives in 1999. “Watching her and her campaign and every other thing, I saw a lot of things that I thought could be done differently. But unfortunately, after the elections, she got a job with the United Nations and she left the country. So, she wasn’t able to continue.

    “I knew what to expect. What happened were things I did not envisage would have happened. For me, it wasn’t about winning election but more about making a statement. That we would aspire, campaign and might not win didn’t matter. What mattered was that a statement has been made. That statement you have the right to aspire and contest any election and it is your right to drive round the city, telling them about what you want to do for them. But all the resistance I received actually made me stronger.”

    On her criticisms of the Saraki Dynasty she said: “As much as I criticise Saraki and his style of democracy and politics, there are still certain aspects that I notice are good. I have imbibed those good ones and also tried to put them to use. One thing that he did over the years is to gather caterers to cook for ordinary people who are hungry.

    “People would get together in his house to eat. Then, when they are going, they get transport money too. Anybody coming from outside would see it as political strength and not just that they are being fed.

    “That was a good one and so, I copied it. For me, it is not the feeding that matters but the joy I derive from it. By so doing, I started having more people around me and the Saraki’s Dynasty saw it as an affront and a reason to also attack.”

    Twice, Gambari had contested for the Kwara Central Senatorial District elections without any success. She still would want to take a shot at it whenever the opportunity comes, even as she alleged she was rigged out.

    “The problem is that we have not really had anybody to oppose the Saraki dominance in the past. Most of the people that had challenged him are people that passed through his ‘school’. In my own case, I have never been to Saraki for anything before. I came out on my own and joined the party that I wanted.

    “Regarding my chances, I contested in 2007 and did so well that even the Saraki family had to start campaigning. They never were used to campaigning; it was just a question of ‘Oloye has endorsed this person and everybody would just be going to congratulate him.’

    “I know that if they had allowed a situation of one man, one vote, they knew it was over. That was why they rigged the election.”

    She explained that if there is free and fair election in her senatorial district today she is sure of victory because she has what it takes to win.

    “If we have an election as free as those of Ekiti and Osun where military men were on ground to make sure everything is done correctly; INEC is ready to do it right, the police that they usually use are not participating, then, I know I have a very good chance.

    Still on her chances, Gambari pointed out that the game is still open for any contender.

    “You have to remember that today in Nigeria; all political parties preach the same thing: education for all, water for all, road, health. The difference that you get is the individuals that form the party; their drive, ideology and principles.

    “So, the 2015 is not going to be about the party but about the people in Kwara State,” she said.

  • Lagos fisherman freed of alleged robbery

    Lagos High court in Ikeja has discharged and acquitted a 25-year-old boat operator and fisherman, Emmanuel Egbayelo, of armed robbery.

    He had been arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and alleged armed robbery. He was discharged last Thursday after spending four years in custody.

    The court presided by Justice Lateefat Okunnu held that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations preferred against him.

    “The prosecution has not done enough to prove the armed robbery incident and enough has not been done to prove the defendant’s guilt.  It is the view of the court that the allegations against the defendant are mere suspicions and suspicion has no place in law,” the judge ruled.

    Justice Okunnu further held that  the evidence given by the first prosecution witness was in English language and was not interpreted to the defendant hence, she disregarded it.

    The judge also dismissed the testimonies of the second and third prosecution witnesses on the grounds that they were not relevant directly to the crime for which the suspect was charged.

    “The evidence before the court does not prove the charge; there is no evidence of committing the act. Conspiracy cannot be proved by mere inference and  as such the charge fails. It is hereby dismissed and the defendant is hereby acquitted and discharged,”she stated.

    According to the police, the suspect was arrested on March 22, 2010 around 4am while operating a boat on the Kikiriki waterside.

    One of the prosecution witnesses,  Sergeant Festus Okoebor from the Marine Police Command, told the court that Egbayelo was arrested  while on patrol with two of his colleagues.

    According to him, the suspect was arrested in a boat about 3.30am with items, such as a revolver, a locally made double barrel gun, four laptops, seven handsets, two hair clippers, one hack saw and one wrist watch.

    Though by the time the police team sighted the boat, there were between 10 and 12 men in the boat, only Egbayelo was caught while the others escaped.

    The court heard that  Egbayelo was taken to the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja where his case was assigned to an officer,  Felix Igbasan and others to investigate.

    Igbasan, who was the first prosecution witness, told the court that after cautioning the suspesct, he obtained his statement and told him to sign because he could not write.

    He said during his investigations, the defendant led him to No. 31, Virgil Dike Street, Okota, Lagos, the scene of the crime, adding that one Inspector Frankling  Adeleke and Inspector Babakunle were with him.

    He further told the court that the victims of the robbery, one Chiamara Emmanuel and one Oguabi Raymond, showed the police how the robbers had broken into their house. He said the recovered items were returned to the victims.

    But Egbayelo told the court during trial that  he was only a boat operator and that it was one Odudu, who he had only met a couple of weeks before, that called him on phone around midnight on that day to help him carry some bags of rice  at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) where he worked.

    He said on getting to the scene, he met Odudu and other persons not known to him and that he protested that he would not take them in his boat but Odudu persuaded him to take them with a promise  to give him N2,000 instead of the normal N1,500.

  • Tenancy at Will: Court of Appeal rules on adequacy of quit notice

    The Appellant as claimant in this case brought an action at the High Court of Lagos State against the respondent as defendant claiming a declaration that the claimant is a joint owner of and has a valid and subsisting interest in the property known as and situate at Block 141, Flat 1, LSDPC Medium Cost Housing Estate, Ogba, Lagos State; a declaration that the Defendant is not entitled to sell, lease, transfer, alienate or otherwise deal with the property without the consent of the claimant; a perpetual order of injunction restraining the defendant by himself, servants, agents or assigns from selling, leasing, transferring, alienating or dealing with the property situate at Block 141, Flat 1, LSDPC Medium Cost Housing Estate, Ogba, Lagos with the consent and approval of the claimant; and a perpetual order of injunction restraining the defendant by himself, servants, agents or assigns from removing or ejecting the claimant and her children from the property. The appellant and the respondent were married couples living in the property until the dissolution of their marriage. The appellant after the dissolution of their marriage continued to live in the house with their three children of the marriage whereby she claimed to have a right as part owner of the premises. At the High Court the Appellant had sought to retain the property in issue, claiming that she was a joint owner of the property. The respondent put in his defence and counterclaimed that he is the owner of the property. He tendered all the documents showing how he purchased the property in issue. At the end of the trial, the Lagos State High Court found as a fact that the claimant had no claims to the property. The High Court declared the Respondent owner of the property in issue who has an inextinguishable right to do whatsoever he desired with his property. The respondent thereafter gave the appellant notice to quit. The claimant was dissatisfied with the judgment, hence this appeal. The appellant filed her brief in which two (2) issues were formulated for the determination of the appeal as follows:

    i. Whether a tenant at will is legally entitled to be served a notice to quit the premises as well as a seven days notice of intention to recover possession before the tenant can be legally evicted.

    ii. Whether a clamant is required to include a document on its list of documents before such a document can be admissible at trial.

    The respondent adopted the issues as formulated by the appellant for the determination of the appeal.

    Arguing issue 1, learned counsel to the appellant submitted that in order to legally evict a tenant from the premises, the tenancy must first be determined by the service on the tenant of a notice to quit. By virtue of the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law of Lagos State Cap R6 Laws of Lagos State 2003, the required length of notice necessary to determine a tenancy at will is seven days. Counsel further submitted that to recover possession from a tenant at will a landlord is required to issue two statutory notices. The first is a notice to quit, which determines the tenancy. The second is a notice of intention to apply to court to recover possession. Counsel stated that this requirement is fundamental to any action to recover possession and non-compliance invalidates the said action. Counsel referred the court to Odutola vs. Papersack (Nig.) Ltd. (2006) NWLR (Pt. 1012) 470; (2006) LPELR-2259(SC). Counsel argued that a tenant at will is to be served with the notice to quit which as stipulated in the law, is a week’s notice, after which the tenant can be given the seven days notice of the landlord’s intention to apply to the court to recover possession of the premises.

    Counsel to the respondent submitted that the only notice required of a landlord in the case of a tenant at will is seven days notice of intention of the landlord to recover possession. That the law states that a tenancy is determined by only seven days notice and not two statutory notices as contended by defendant’s counsel. Counsel submitted that the respondent gave the appellant 14 days notice more than the seven days stipulated in Section 14 of the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law of Lagos State 2003. Learned counsel submitted that the appellant, the tenant, is not a rent paying one and as such was she entitled to be served any notice. Counsel aligned himself to the decision in Odutola vs. Papersack (Nig.) Ltd. (2006) Odutola vs. Papersack (Nig.) Ltd. (2006) NWLR (Pt. 1012) 470; (2006) LPELR-2259(SC) and stated that there was no where the Supreme Court specifically stated that two notices were required in respect of a Tenant at will. Counsel, therefore, urged the court to hold that the notice issued on the appellant is proper notice and resolve this issue in favour of the respondent.

    In determining this issue the court stated that both parties at the trial court agreed that the tenancy was one at will. Citing the case of Odutola vs. Papersack (Nig.) Ltd. (2006) NWLR (Pt. 1012) 470; (2006) LPELR-2259(SC) the court stated that in a tenancy at will, the lessee (the tenant) is the tenant at will because the lessor (the landlord) can send him packing at any time the lessor pleases, subject only to issuance of proper notice by the lessor. The court stated further that the trial court had already declared the Respondent the safe owner of the premises and the appellant invariably knew that at any moment that the respondent would give her seven days notice to quit. The court noted that the Respondent by a letter dated November 7, 2007, Exhibit P16, gave the appellant a notice that he would repossess the property on November 20, 2007 and the notice gave more than seven days. The court stated that the landlord, vide Exhibit P16, had given the statutory seven days notice to the appellant to quit and his intention to repossess his property. The court held that the respondent did comply with Section 14(1)(a) of the Rent Control Law in giving the appellant adequate notice to quit or intention to repossesses his property. This issue was resolved against the appellant.

    On issue 2, learned counsel to the Appellant submitted that the trial Judge erred in law when she struck out the Appellant’s claim in the lower Court and went ahead to still rely on Exhibit P16 filed by her. Counsel argued that the said Exhibit P16 was not listed by the respondent in this appeal. Counsel referred the Court to Order 3 Rule 2(1) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2004 which requires all originating processes to be accompanied by copies of all documents to be relied on at the trial.

    Counsel argued that the respondent did not file Exhibit P16 along with his pleadings and the trial Judge had not otherwise ordered or directed that Exhibit P16 was admissible for special reasons. Counsel, therefore, urged the court to discountenance Exhibit P16 and refuse to admit it in evidence and resolve issue 2 in favour of the appellant. In response, the learned counsel to the respondent submitted that Exhibit P16 was properly admitted in evidence without any objection by the Appellant’s counsel. That the trial court properly admitted Exhibit P16 and, therefore, need not make any further direction or order concerning it. Since the appellant’s counsel did not object to the tendering of Exhibit P16, the issue that the Exhibit was wrongly admitted can no longer be raised on appeal. Counsel argued further that Exhibit P16 is a relevant document to the Respondent’s case so it was properly admitted. See Oyediran v. Alebiosu (1992) 5 NWLR (Pt. 249) pg. 550; (1992) LPELR-2868(SC). Counsel, therefore, urged the Court to hold that Exhibit P16 was properly admitted by the lower court. The fact of not listing as part of the documents sought to be relied on is just a mere irregularity. Counsel urged the court to resolve this issue in favour of the respondent.

    The court held that what determines admissibility or otherwise of a particular piece of evidence or document at the court of law is the Evidence Act. See Klifco (Nig) Ltd. v. NSITFMB (2005) 6 NWLR (Pt. 922) pg. 4; (2004) LPELR-5788(CA). That the appellant had already listed the document and it formed part of the case of the appellant. When she did not lead evidence, the Respondent, therefore, tendered it and was received in evidence without objection. The court held that Exhibit P16 was rightly presented and received in evidence as P16. This issue was resolved against the appellant.

    The two issues articulated by the Appellant were resolved against her. This appeal was held to be unmeritorious and therefore, was dismissed. The judgment of the lower Court was affirmed.

     

    Edited by LawPavilion

    LawPavilion Citation: (2014)

    LPELR-23358(CA)