The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • NHRC: We must protect old people’s rights

    By John Austin Unachukwu

    The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, has stated that  all stakeholders should consider the social security, social protection and human rights of older persons in the society.

    Speaking in Abuja at the African regional high-level conference on Human Rights Situation of Older Persons in Africa, Ojukwu said older people in the society should not be discriminated against.

    Read Also: Human Rights Commission proposes law for elderly

     

    “The promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons should be a major concern for public authorities as older persons are full members of the society and their contribution remains important for national development.

    “These discussions and agitations for the human rights of older persons should be considered amid calls for inclusion and ensuring that no one is left behind in the scheme of things in achieving the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, he said.

  • Body urges new SANs on professional intergrity

    By Robert Egbe

    The Body of Senior Advocates  of Nigeria (BOSAN) has tasked the 38 newly elevated Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to live up to the ideals of the Silk rank.

    It urged the new Silks to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics, conducts, etiquette and discipline, and maintain the dignity of the rank.

    The body gave the challenge during the annual BOSAN dinner which held recently in Lagos.

    Besides welcoming the new SANs, the event also featured the presentation of BOSAN scholarship to five outstanding law undergraduates in the country.

    A former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Christopher Kolade, who was the keynote speaker, said Nigeria needed to build a philosophy that boosts corporate morale rather than one that destroys self-confidence.

    Kolade was quoted recalling that in 2002 “at the height of the noise identifying Nigeria mainly with advance fee fraud,” the Nigerian High Commission in the UK chose to promote a change in the narrative by seeking out and celebrating Nigerians who were performing impressively.

    He said efforts must be made to make Nigeria a haven for the rule of law.

    Attendees at the dinner included the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN); Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN); Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN); Court of Appeal Justices Garba Lawal and Justice Abdul Aboki; Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court; Lagos State Solicitor-General, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey and the first female SAN, Chief ‘Folake Solanke, among others.

    Solanke, who chaired the occasion, urged BOSAN to “pursue nationalism as a higher calling, for the cause of the well-being of humanity.”

    Chairman of Continuing Legal Education for the BOSAN, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, highlighted the aims and core values of BOSAN as: “Promoting professional responsibility amongst members and maintaining and defending the professional integrity of the members of the Body; Promoting the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law, the highest professional standards of legal practice, legal education and the advancement of advocacy and jurisprudence.”

    Read Also: SAN advocates ‘success fees’ for lawyers

     

    Ajogwu highlighted the importance of maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, conducts, etiquette and discipline; and ensuring and maintaining the dignity of the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

    The formal presentation of the 38 newly elevated SANs was conducted by Ajogwu, assisted by Mr. Lanre Onadekan, SAN.

    Ajogwu noted that of the 120,000 lawyers in Nigeria, only 548 (approximately 0.46 percent) have been elevated to the position of SAN.

    He implored all present to be aware that “the burden of leadership lies heavy on the Senior Advocates of Nigeria,” adding that to whom much is given, much more is truly expected.

    Chairman of the BOSAN’s Scholarship Committee Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, presented the Scholarship Awards, a scholarship recognising exceptional academic excellence through cumulative grade tests, to the BOSAN Scholars for the year 2019.

    The BOSAN Academics are Buloka Fatima Alada of the University of Ibadan, Comfort Nguher of the University of Jos, Chioma E. Echebiri of Babcock University, Unyime Anieti Akpan of Afe Babalola University, and Olajumoke Janet Sorungbe of the University of Lagos.

    BOSAN Secretary, Chief Seyi Sowemimo, SAN, and Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, commended the efforts of the members and committee heads of BOSAN.

  • NOUN Law graduates reject Bar Part One offer

    By John Austin Unachukwu

    Law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have  petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over an offer by the Council of Legal Education which they described as unfair resolutions with discrimination, inequality and above all, unknown to any law in the country.

    This was contained in the communiqué to Buhari on Friday by the Law Graduates Forum (LGF) of NOUN, which was signed by Carl Umegboro and Ado Usman Garba, the group’s chairman and secretary.

    The CLE chairman, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), during the National Executive Committee meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Ciroma (SAN), suggested that NOUN Law graduates would be admitted into Bar Part-1 instead of Bar Part-2 which they qualified for as home students. He added that even the Bar Part-1 would be different from the three-month curriculum foreign students go through for as theirs would be for one year before they qualify for Bar Part 2.

    The group rejected the offer, stating that it was not made in good faith. the offer, according to them, would do more harm than good to them, noting that apart from making them inferior to their counterparts, it would discriminate against them and easily pave way for malice, intimidations and frustration while in the law school since they will be an isolated group.

    Umegboro said they would not shy away from reviewed curriculum so long it would be for all students, if the Council is of the view that reviews are necessary. He added that NOUN Law graduates once defeated their counterparts in a contest with a good margin, but to run a curriculum different from what others undergo is injustice and unacceptable.

    The statement reads: “We received a pleasant news on the resolution of NOUN/Law School crisis on Thursday only to read through and discovered an obnoxious clause in the statement issued by the Council of Legal Education after its meeting. The clause echoed double standard, and therefore not in good faith – ‘They will have to run the BAR PART 1 for one (1) full academic calendar year as in place of 3 months which foreign students use for the BAR PART 1’.

    “Your Excellency, Sir, the above is not only strange and prejudicial but discriminatory which Your Excellency’s assent remedied through the NOUN (Amendment) Act on 7 December, 2018. The ugly implications of the clause is that there would be three category of law students vis-à-vis admission in the Nigerian Law School, to wit: (1) Law students from ‘qualified’ universities in Nigeria; Bar Part 2 (For all categories); (2) Law students from foreign universities:  Bar Part 1 (3 months) + Bar Part 2; and strangely, (3) Law students from NOUN: Bar Part 1 (1 Full year) + Bar Part 2.”

    Read Also: PMB and NOUN law graduates

    “Your Excellency, Sir, it is indeed heartbreaking the manner of discriminations despite presidential assent which reconciled the alleged controversy in the NOUN Act coupled with unbearable provocations we have been subjected to by authorities since 2013 but calmed down for amicable resolution”.

    “Sir, Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides for Right to Freedom of Discrimination. Please, are we not also protected by the right? We make bold to state that we cannot run a separate strange curriculum outside the existing two; either as home or foreign students”.

    “Clearly, the clause amounts to discrimination, inequality and intimidations and we reject it in entirety. We studied in NOUN as NUC accredited home institution like others and therefore there’s no basis to be treated differently from other universities in the country. We believe the clause was to ignite disagreements to further prolong the crisis”.

    “However, if for any reason, Bar Part-1 must become an option, it cannot be different from the existing Bar Part-1 for foreign students which runs for three months. The strange 1-year duration exclusively for NOUN law graduates which will separate us from other students is unacceptable as malice and other plots may play out”.

    “Sir, we wish to categorically reiterate our position that we will not sit and allow fresh graduates admitted into the Nigerian Law School for vocational training again while we continue to roam the streets as we have been subjected to unbearable hardships and adversities for no just cause for years”.

    It was also added that when admitted into the strange Bar Part-1, those who fail cannot be allowed to rewrite unlike other students from other universities.

    The LGF appealed to President Buhari to use his good office to resolve the crisis without further delay adding that it is shocking that till date, the stakeholders meeting as directed by the Presidency has not been held which it said, is to say the least, strange in administration. The petition was copied to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

     

  • No hiding place for rapists in Lagos, says OPD

    By Kamiye Taiwo

    The Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) has warned rapists, perpetrators of violence against women and other abusers of human rights that there is no hiding place for them in Lagos.

    OPD Director Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi said they would be hunted and flushed out to face the law for their crimes.

    Adeyemi spoke during the OPD organised sensitisation and enlightenment walk to celebrate the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.

    The event was part of activities to re-awaken the conscience of members of the public to the plight of women, girls, children and other vulnerable members in the society.

    She said: “Our focus is on rape. The issue of rape is coming up all the time now that we cannot be silent about it, so we are trying to sensitize the people that they should come out and speak against this, not only that, the public also through their own attitude, they should stand against rape.

    “All these things that go viral to objectify women, that show that women and girls are objects of sexual pleasure and all that should stop. So, that’s what we are trying to present to the public particularly for the victim, they should come out and speak and tell the public that once they have that courage to speak, they should be stigmatised, they should not be abused”.

    According to her, Lagos State government is seriously concerned by the increase in the incident of rape and the culture of silence which has made it difficult for the rape victims/ survivors get justice.

    The director encouraged rape survivors to speak out in order to “remove veils from the faces of perpetrators” and be further assured that OPD would stand with them until Justice prevails.

    She urged on members of the society to support victims / survivors to report rape cases and elite not to use position and wealth to shield violators of human dignity from justice.

    Read Also: Senate seeks death penalty for rapists, paedophiles

     

    Adeyemi said: “We can say that in a week, we can have about three cases of rape, child defilement and all that, for children and adults, but mostly from children.

    “So, the little advocacy that we have been doing in the past has been gaining so much momentum amongst people so that they come and access our services.”

    “It’s the public and the women themselves, the public put so much pressure on this women that they’re not sure of themselves, they don’t want to come out, they even go back to the abusive relationship or they don’t even want to talk about it at all, so that’s what we want to do, just tell the public that it is time to say No, stand against it and support the people that are victims”.

    She observed that “it is only when women are protected and allowed to unleash their potential and be given equal treatment like others in an atmosphere devoid of abuses that our nation would be on the right path of growth and development.”

    She further advised mothers to keep watchful eyes on their female children and desist from entrusting their care to people that their character cannot be vouched for.

    The director urged rape survivors, victims of violence and the less privileged in the state to take advantage of free legal services being rendered by the Office of the Public Defender to protect their rights.

    The 2019 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, with focus on the issue of rape as a specific form of harm committed against women and girls in times of peace or wars.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is #Generation Equality Stands against Rape.

     

  • AIG to Police: Be friendly, show love to people

    After two months of intensive training, Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON), has completed the training of another batch of 171 officers in human rights and rule of law. The programme is part of ongoing efforts by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Abubakar Adamu, to give the force a ‘human face’ and bring it closer to the people, ADEBISI ONANUGA reports

     

    For effective community policing, men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) must be friendly with  members of the society for them to develop trust and confidence in the force, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Ahmed Iliyasu, has said.”

    “Except we are friendly with them, they will run away from us and the essence of community policing will be defeated”, AIG Iliyasu further stated.

    He spoke at the 37th Graduation Ceremony of Human Rights Police Officers held at the Police Officers Mess, GRA, Ikeja. A total of 171 officers graduated at the ceremony.

    Iliyasu, who was represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in-charge of Community Policing, Mrs. Bose Akinyemi, said the AIG, Abubakar Adamu, has been emphasising community policing and that it is the key point of his agenda.

    “The essence of this is that we need to be proactive. We need to know the people we are policing especially in rural areas. Be polite to them and establish good relationship with them.

    “We should go there, get ourselves familiarize with them, know them and the job they are doing”, he said.

    Iliyasu listed key people the police should familiarise themselves with to include traditional rulers, community leaders, local chiefs market men and women leaders among others, stressing that they would assist them tackle crime and criminalities among the people.

    He said the local leaders know the bad ones in their community and would expose them and their movements.

    “To catch a monkey, you must behave like a monkey. They will provide information on crimes in their area. When you secure their community, they will trust you and assist you to be successful in your job”, he advised.

    .Executive Director,  CRIVIFON, Mrs Gloria Egbuji, in her address, reiterated that the objective of the programme was to change the narrative and bequeathed friendly police officers who respect people. Egbuji who was represented by a training facilitator of the foundation, Evaristus Aloko, said human rights improve the image of the police and enables the people to be closer to them, share intelligence and assist them to make their work easier.

    “The most sophisticated police in the world needs information to make the best of policing and provide safer cities and higher quality of life where fear of crime is nonexistent”, she said.

    She added: “It was also to make police who are law enforcers not to be law breakers and help them carry out diligent investigation and interrogation without torture, make work of community policing much easier and attract more support from the people”.

    Read Also: The Nigeria Police Force

    Lagos State Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yhaqub Oshoala, who was represented by an Assistant Director of Prosecution, Akin George, said that the directorate appreciates the efforts of the police at solving crimes and the activities of CRIVIFON as regards training of men of the force, adding that he looks forward to an improved police force.

    George said that the narrative has also change in the manner the DPP advice is now been issued in respect of criminal cases saying that it now takes a maximum of two weeks from the time a case file is assigned to a counsel.

    Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, Okey Ilofulunwa, in a remark said there would be more intervention from the bar in order to change the image of the police for the better.

    He drew the attention of men of the force to Order 20 of 2018 signed by former IGP, Ibrahim Idris and encouraged Police to work more with lawyers on justice delivery.

    Ilofulunwa referred to section 36(C0 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which deals with ‘presumption of innocence until proven guilty’. “If we harp on this, it would improve the  quality of the work of the Police.

    The NBA Lagos Vice Chairman who doubled as Human Rights Committee chairman of the association advised the Police to carry out proper investigation of crimes and other cases in order to secure convictions.

    He said if they fail to get investigation right, their cases will collapse in court like ‘pack of cards’.

    He also admonished them to give human face to the task of community policing in other to reduce crimes and criminality in the society.

    Chairman, Chemstar Company Nigeria Limited, Mr Emmanuel Awode, who was the chairman of the graduation ceremony, expressed confidence that the training programme will ensure production of fine officers within the Police force.

    Awode, who was represented by the Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Fola Aguda, urged the newly-trained human rights officers to use their training to give the force a human face.

    The Director, Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Omotola Rotimi who was represented by Mrs Yetunde Babalola, advised members of the Police Force to always refer tenants-landlords, intestates, loans, inheritance and other similar matters to the Centre for fast and amicable resolution instead of litigation.

  • Adams Oshiomhole absent at convocation of Igbinedion University

    Our Reporter

    Currently, there seems to be no love lost between two powerful figures in Edo politics – national chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    At the 17th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University held recently in Edo, Obaseki was spotted while Oshiomhole was missing.

    The chairman of the university, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, is highly respected in Benin, and he has always enjoyed support from Oshiomhole and other top personalities in Nigeria. Hence, the absence of the former Nigeria Labour Congress leader was pretty glaring.

    Social Circuit learnt that an invitation was extended to Oshiomhole.

    Although why he didn’t make it to the ceremony remains unclear, it has been suggested that it might not be far from his feud with Obaseki. Only last month, Obaseki and Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, were attacked at Oshiomhole’s country home.

     

  • Another Buhari’s daughter

    Our Reporter

    For certain reasons, little is known about President Muhammadu Buhari’s children. This may not be a deliberate act by Buhari but it is what it is.

    Nigerians are familiar with Zahra and that is simply because she speaks out once in a while. Her massive marriage to Ahmed Indimi, billionaire Mohammed Indimi’s son, in 2016, also sold her out to the public.

    There is also Yusuf, who became popular in Nigeria in December 2017 after he was involved in a ghastly power bike accident in the Gwanripa area of Abuja. He broke a limb and sustained an injury on his head as a result.

    During the week, however, another Buhari’s daughter, Aisha, surfaced from ‘nowhere.’ She became the talk of social media after her mother took to social media to celebrate her graduation with a first-class degree in the United Kingdom. There were also plenty of photos to show for it.

    The development came as good news to Nigerians. Suddenly, there was something exciting to talk about on social media.

  • Lagos Anglican Diocese recognises Orelope-Adefulire

    Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire’s work in Lagos might have ended with her tenure as the deputy governor of Lagos State but she seems to still be enjoying attention in the state.

    As part of the centenary anniversary celebration of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos recently, a cultural day and awards ceremony was held at the Cricket Pitch, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. And the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals was praised to the skies.

    The female politician was on the ground to receive her award and was thankful to the Anglican community for celebrating her.

    Orelope-Adefulire’s profile has continued to rise since she joined governance. Apart from serving as a deputy-governor of Lagos State from 2011 to May 2015, she has also served as a Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State.

    In 2007, she was awarded the International Public Servant of the Year award by the Scottish Widows, a UK-based NGO and bagged the Lagos State Man of the Year award in 2009.

    She is also a recipient of the Guinness World Records for the highest children reading aloud with an adult at a single location. She attained this height by reading with 4,222 school children in 2011.

  • Prophetess Olubori expands church

    Most pastors are keen about the growth of their churches and the opening of new branches. For them, it is evident that their followers are multiplying.

    Founder of Ibadan-based church, Rock of Salvation Apostolic Church (ROSAC), Prophetess Mary Olubori, has also opened a branch in Lagos.

    ROSAC, managed by the prophetess and her husband, Israel Olubori, is widely known in Ibadan, Oyo, and they have desired to come to Lagos a while ago. Finally, the plans have become a reality as the church now has an auditorium at Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Olubori’s journey as a servant of God was rocky. It was gathered that she was born into a Muslim family and her father was a popular herbalist before he died.

  • K1 chills out with Bodunrin and friends

    For Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, weekends are always filled with activities. Yet, he still found time to honour top shoemaker and blogger, Florence Bodunrin, who kicked-off a laudable initiative last Saturday at the swimming pool side of Radisson Blu in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Tagged Bodex Social Media Hangout, Bodunrin conceived the event as a way to reach out to operators on social media to acknowledge the influence of internet-enabled innovations on the society and consciously manage how they are utilised to protect the country’s national security and social harmony.  She stated: “We can no longer dismiss the influence of the internet and its creations. We need to recognise them as the greatest agenda-setting tools in the modern world, but we now need to exercise great caution in the way and manner we deploy them as engagement resources.”

    While K1 didn’t serenade Bodunrin and his friends with exciting live performances that he is known for, his presence alone did the magic. Other faces spotted were female drummer, Ara; retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunji Alapinni; Nollywood actor, Emeka Ossai; Executive Assistant to Lagos State Governor on New Media and Public Relations, Olusegun Fafore, President of Digital Marketing Practitioners of Nigeria, Ladi Ogunseye, and a host of others.