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Tag: Akin Oyebode

  • Oyebode, Falana, others advocate SARS reform

    The Coalition for Good Governance and Justice has held a workshop for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), reports ADEBISI ONANUGA.

    At inception, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) set up for crime prevention and control recorded many successes.

    But today, they have become notorious for violation of rights and extra-judicial killings, with calls intensifying for its disbandment.

    Members of the Coalition for Good Governance and Justice were in Uyo for a three-day training of SARS men and officers of the Akwa-Ibom State Command.

    The theme was: Continuous Relevance of SARS under the current democratic dispensation.

    No fewer than 200 officers and men of SARS, anti-cultism, anti-kidnapping and other units of the command participated.

    ‘In the news for wrong reasons’

    Professor of International Law at the University of Lagos, Akin Oyebode, in his paper titled: The rule of law between SARS and armed robbers: Case for adherence to rule of law and constitutionally guaranteed rights by officers and men of SARS department,  noted that since its creation, SARS had been in the news more for bad reason than good.

    Oyebode recalled that SARS came into being in an effort to eliminate all armed threats to peaceful co-existence in the society.

    He believes that SARS is Nigeria’s answer to SWAT and such like paramilitary forces across the world charged with combating  urban crime and virulent elements of the underworld who deprive the people of their peace.

    Oyebode, however, stressed men of SARS must hold the right to life and the presumption of innocence as well as the principle of commen-suration  sacrosanct in their law enforcement efforts.

    “A situation in which trigger-happy operatives shoot first before asking questions or loss of life is occasioned by ‘accidental discharge’ is not only untenable but deserving of good and effective sanction.

    It would seem, therefore, that special forces such as SARS are a necessary evil in today’s world but nothing is to be spared in ensuring that they operate within the ambit of law lest they become a remedy worse than the disease they were set up to cure in the first place.

    “Accordingly, since SARS is a law enforcement agency, it goes without saying that it is duty bound to abide by the dictates of law.

    “Any agency of government which acts with impunity has no place in an environment which upholds the rule of law,” he argued.

    Falana: Challenge infringements

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who spoke main theme,  agreed with Prof. Oyebode that rather than disband SARS, operatives of the squad should be continuously trained, equipped and motivated to deal with dangerous crimes in the society.

    Convinced that police brutality cannot end in an atmosphere of impunity, Falana urged the National Assembly to repeal Section 84 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act.

    The section provides that a judgment creditor cannot garnishee the accounts of a public institution without seeking and obtaining the fiat of Attorneys-General.

    He argued that the colonial legacy cannot be justified under section 287 of the Constitution which stipulates that the decisions of the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court shall be enforced by all authorities and persons in Nigeria.

    He also argued that since the human rights community and individual civil rights advocates alone cannot successfully protect the people from the increasing wave of human rights abuse by security forces in the country, it is time that the victims of human rights abuse were mobilized to defend themselves.

    “Therefore, the human rights community should immediately embark on massive enlightenment programmes to empower the people to challenge the infringement of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act.

    “Indigent members of the public whose human rights are violated by the police and other law enforcement agencies are enjoined to contact any of the committees of the 125 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association spread across the country,” he said.

    Falana said as part of the reform strategy, SARS operatives who subject criminal suspects to torture should henceforth be identified and prosecuted while any of them convicted should be made to pay part of the damages to any victim.

    The learned silk  referred to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which if implemented, can put an end to the atrocities of the SARS and other law enforcement agencies.

    He stated for instance that the law has banned the police from subjecting criminal suspects to torture or degrading or inhuman treatment.

    Falana pointed out that victims of human rights abuse have the right to file an application in a high court in the state where the violation has occurred or may occur.

    “Even the dependants or representatives of any suspect killed in police custody or in any other detention centre may file a civil claim in a high court for damages payable by the Nigeria Police Force or any other authority or person,” he said.

    He advised  indigent citizens who cannot afford the services of legal practitioners to secure the enforcement of their abused fundamental rights have the right to request the Legal Aid Council to provide legal representation for them.

    In the alternative, victims of human rights abuse have the right to lodge a complaint or submit a petition to the National Human Rights Commission or the Office of the Public Defender or Non-Governmental human rights bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association.

    ‘Police must operate by law’

    Mrs. Gloria Egbuji who presented a paper titled: Promoting democracy through law abiding law enforcement officials, noted that police could only promote democracy when they respect the laws and know the limit of their power.

    She noted that the Police as an arm of law enforcement officials, must protect lives and enforce the law in accordance with the legal documents.

    Egbuji said where police work in accordance with the law, they become major support and critical in democracy for smooth running of government.

    Dwelling on the code of conduct for law enforcement officials, she urged  them to at all times fulfill the duty imposed on them  by the law by serving the community and protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession.

    Speaking on The roles and functions of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Executive Director of Centre for the Rule of Law, Olasupo Ojo traced the historical emergence of SARS as a tactical unit of the Police Force, its activities over the years vis-à-vis the rights of the citizenry.

    He submitted that the key to  understanding and successful application of the training in human rights to their career in the police is to always approach it from the interconnected human rights perspective in order to be human rights compliant.

    ‘Tackle corruption’

    A consultant educationist and human rights activist, Debo Adeniran, who delivered paper on the sub-theme: Understanding Corruption and the Role of the Police in curbing it, said if the country aspires to build a civil police force, it must first locate correctly why corruption is prevalent in the force and carry out the necessary institutional reforms as well as systemic overhaul to make the society a better place to live for this generation and those to come.

    He said: “The Police force is vital to guaranteeing peace, protection of lives and properties which are essential ingredients  for growth and development.

    “Thus, any society that is serious about stability and socio-economic advancement must pay premium attention to its civil force.”

    He, however, noted that “the under-funding, ill-equipment, lack of proper training and motivation of the Force led to the proliferation of several anti-corruption agencies to tackle different corruption related cases.

    IGP speaks                                                                                                                                                                                  In his goodwill message, the Acting  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Adamu reiterated what he had said in his maiden address on assumption of office.

    He said his appointment represents a call to duty and a charge to restore the dwindling primacy of the Police within the internal security architecture of Nigeria.

    He urged participants and other police personnel to always be at alert to judge their behaviours within and outside the public space as they carry out their duties as law enforcement agents.

    Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom Police,  Mr. Zaki Ahmed, said the training came at the right time.

    Communique

    A communiqué issued after the training noted the increase in police brutality and abuse of human rights as well the consequential degradation of police-citizen relationship.

    It observed that the protection of human rights should be seen as a priority in the discharge of the duties of the police; that Police officers have inadequate knowledge of their code of conduct, and that there is need to encourage and inculcate reading habits in officers and men.

    Among the recommendations are:

    • Police should be motivated to perform effectively.
    • There should be demilitarisation and re-orientation of SARS.
    • Police officers indicted for human rights abuse should be made to pay part of the damages awarded by courts in favour of the claimants.
    • Illegal parade of suspects and media trial of armed robbery suspects by the Police should be abolished.
    • By virtue of section 2 (xi) of the Anti Torture Act, 2017, the parade of criminal suspects has been criminalised.
    • Killing of every armed robbery suspect should be investigated by a coroner.
    • Properties and monies belonging to armed robbery suspects should be forfeited to the government and not cornered and distributed by police officials.
    • SARS should be completely demilitarised while the police operatives should be well trained, equipped and motivated.
    • Governments should provide incentives and insurance package for SARS operatives.
    • Apart from operatives in the intelligence section, others SARS personnel who are on duty should wear police uniforms.
    • Operatives must undergo compulsory training in human rights while police personnel in SARS should not serve for more than four years SARS.
    • National Assembly and Houses of Assembly should amend Section 84 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act and similar laws.
    • There is a need to re-configure SARS.
    • SARS functionaries should inculcate new values emphasizing respect for rule of law and fundamental human rights.
    • Efforts should be made to adhere to international best practices in relation to the operation of SARS.
  • Professor Akin Oyebode’s prescience

    Professor Akin Oyebode’s prescience

    The distinguished legal scholar, diligent researcher, outstanding teacher, principled academic of unimpeachable integrity and prodigious author, Professor Akin Oyebode, recently retired from the University of Lagos having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. Of course, his illustrious career continues to be widely celebrated by his students, colleagues, relatives and numerous admirers. Unfortunately, I am one of those who only admired him over the years from a distance. I was not privileged either to be his student or to be even casually acquainted with him. Yet, his strong and impeccable character, diligent and meticulous scholarship and courage, even in times of grave national crisis, to speak truth to power, never ceased to make an impression on me. Even though I never knew him personally or had the opportunity to take refreshing gulps from his deep, ever fresh spring of knowledge and wisdom, Professor Oyebode’s collection of selected essays titled ‘Law and Nation-building in Nigeria’ has been one of my constant companions over the last few years. Quite apart from the pungency of his views, the acuteness of his intellect, I am often drawn to this book by the clarity of his thought and the lucidity with which he expresses them.

    Published by the Centre for Political and Administrative Research (CEPAR), Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, in 2005, the book, which runs into 274 pages, is subdivided into four sections and has 24 chapters. Section one deals with Jurisprudential issues, Section two with Constitutionalism, Law and Development, Section three with The Legal System and the Judicial Process and Section four with Law and the Economy. What comes across in all the essays in the book is Professor Oyebode’s passion for justice, his aversion to all forms of oppression and his commitment to the greatest good of the greatest number of the people. One of the essays which I found most interesting in the book is the distinguished scholar’s perception of ‘The Role of Lawyers in the Society’, which was the focus of a lecture he delivered to the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice Retreat, Ikogosi, on September 14, 2002.

    For Professor Oyebode, as adumbrated in that lecture, the most important challenge confronting lawyers in the country today is to utilize their specialized professional skills to assist in working towards the adoption of a new constitution reflecting the various interests, needs and aspirations of the diverse components of the polity. The second challenge, he argues, is to save the legal profession from atrophy. He contends that the problem with the country’s legal system is not the absence of laws but rather the lack of a collective will to abide by the dictates of the law. Man’s movement away from the Hobbesian State of nature to a civilized existence, the author reasons, implies the existence of laws to guide and regulate human behavior and interactions. Since a government predicated on laws is superior to one dependent on the whims and caprices of men, it follows that “those who make the law their vocation always find relevance if not, in fact, preeminence in the scheme of things”.

    But then this very fact confers grave and onerous responsibilities on the lawyer as regards his role in society. In Professor Oyebode’s words, “It must be emphasized, though, that the enviable status being prescribed for lawyers in society needs to be jealously guarded. Those among us who run foul of the rules of professional ethics should be prepared to be burnt at the stake! For a profession that is unable to sanitize its ranks would soon forfeit self-respect or indeed recognition and admiration from the rest of society”. For a lecture delivered over a decade and a half ago, is the distinguished professor not remarkably prescient given the state of the legal profession in the country today?

    Professor Oyebode is of the view that since law is a means to an end, we must apprehend the ends of the law in order to better appreciate and correctly locate the role of lawyers in the society. He agrees with the position of the great jurist, Dr. T.O. Elias expressed in the 1970s that “the tasks confronting law in Nigeria were those of facilitating economic development, elevating our moral nature, welding our heterogeneous communities into a united polity and evolving a common law for the country”.

    Professor Oyebode was equally prescient when in a paper he presented to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Lagos in 1994, he made a case “that it was time we did away with the shibboleth of rule of law and embrace the seemingly novel notion of the rule of just law or, more plainly, the rule of justice in order to re-establish the link between law and social reality”. This discourse presaged by over two decades, current arguments in this dispensation as regards whether or not the ongoing anti-corruption war should be waged within the context of the rule of law. According to him, a deformed liberal state like Nigeria can ill afford a position which extols the rule of law especially given usurpation of political power by miscreants for most of our post-colonial history and the attempts by these to enforce their will through the so-called rule of law.

    In his words, “Accordingly, the law must provide a framework for the realization of the yearnings of the preponderant majority of the population if it is to have any relevance to their existence. Thus, it is not sufficient for the constitution to proclaim equality before the law when legal services are priced beyond the reach of the ordinary person. Nor can we talk of the right to life when the constitution fails to guarantee the right to work. As Obarogie Ohonbamu had asked some years ago, “what, indeed, is freedom of thought and expression to someone who is a crass illiterate? What is ‘one man, one vote’ to a hungry unemployed citizen?”

  • Professor Akin Oyebode’s prescience

    Professor Akin Oyebode’s prescience

    The distinguished legal scholar, diligent researcher, outstanding teacher, principled academic of unimpeachable integrity and prodigious author, Professor Akin Oyebode, recently retired from the University of Lagos having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. Of course, his illustrious career continues to be widely celebrated by his students, colleagues, relatives and numerous admirers.

    Unfortunately, I am one of those who only admired him over the years from a distance. I was not privileged either to be his student or to be even casually acquainted with him. Yet, his strong and impeccable character, diligent and meticulous scholarship and courage, even in times of grave national crisis, to speak truth to power, never ceased to make an impression on me.

    Even though I never knew him personally or had the opportunity to take refreshing gulps from his deep, ever fresh spring of knowledge and wisdom, Professor Oyebode’s collection of selected essays titled ‘Law and Nation-building in Nigeria’ has been one of my constant companions over the last few years. Quite apart from the pungency of his views, the acuteness of his intellect, I am often drawn to this book by the clarity of his thought and the lucidity with which he expresses them.

    Published by the Centre for Political and Administrative Research (CEPAR), Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, in 2005, the book, which runs into 274 pages, is subdivided into four sections and has 24 chapters. Section one deals with Jurisprudential issues, Section two with Constitutionalism, Law and Development, Section three with The Legal System and the Judicial Process and Section four with Law and the Economy. What comes across in all the essays in the book is Professor Oyebode’s passion for justice, his aversion to all forms of oppression and his commitment to the greatest good of the greatest number of the people. One of the essays which I found most interesting in the book is the distinguished scholar’s perception of ‘The Role of Lawyers in the Society’, which was the focus of a lecture he delivered to the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice Retreat, Ikogosi, on September 14, 2002.

    For Professor Oyebode, as adumbrated in that lecture, the most important challenge confronting lawyers in the country today is to utilize their specialized professional skills to assist in working towards the adoption of a new constitution reflecting the various interests, needs and aspirations of the diverse components of the polity. The second challenge, he argues, is to save the legal profession from atrophy. He contends that the problem with the country’s legal system is not the absence of laws but rather the lack of a collective will to abide by the dictates of the law. Man’s movement away from the Hobbesian State of nature to a civilized existence, the author reasons, implies the existence of laws to guide and regulate human behavior and interactions. Since a government predicated on laws is superior to one dependent on the whims and caprices of men, it follows that “those who make the law their vocation always find relevance if not, in fact, preeminence in the scheme of things”.

    But then this very fact confers grave and onerous responsibilities on the lawyer as regards his role in society. In Professor Oyebode’s words, “It must be emphasized, though, that the enviable status being prescribed for lawyers in society needs to be jealously guarded. Those among us who run foul of the rules of professional ethics should be prepared to be burnt at the stake! For a profession that is unable to sanitize its ranks would soon forfeit self-respect or indeed recognition and admiration from the rest of society”. For a lecture delivered over a decade and a half ago, is the distinguished professor not remarkably prescient given the state of the legal profession in the country today?

    Professor Oyebode is of the view that since law is a means to an end, we must apprehend the ends of the law in order to better appreciate and correctly locate the role of lawyers in the society. He agrees with the position of the great jurist, Dr. T.O. Elias expressed in the 1970s that “the tasks confronting law in Nigeria were those of facilitating economic development, elevating our moral nature, welding our heterogeneous communities into a united polity and evolving a common law for the country”.

    Professor Oyebode was equally prescient when in a paper he presented to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Lagos in 1994, he made a case “that it was time we did away with the shibboleth of rule of law and embrace the seemingly novel notion of the rule of just law or, more plainly, the rule of justice in order to re-establish the link between law and social reality”. This discourse presaged by over two decades, current arguments in this dispensation as regards whether or not the ongoing anti-corruption war should be waged within the context of the rule of law. According to him, a deformed liberal state like Nigeria can ill afford a position which extols the rule of law especially given usurpation of political power by miscreants for most of our post-colonial history and the attempts by these to enforce their will through the so-called rule of law.

    In his words, “Accordingly, the law must provide a framework for the realization of the yearnings of the preponderant majority of the population if it is to have any relevance to their existence. Thus, it is not sufficient for the constitution to proclaim equality before the law when legal services are priced beyond the reach of the ordinary person. Nor can we talk of the right to life when the constitution fails to guarantee the right to work. As Obarogie Ohonbamu had asked some years ago, “what, indeed, is freedom of thought and expression to someone who is a crass illiterate? What is ‘one man, one vote’ to a hungry unemployed citizen?”

  • Corruption may ‘kill’ Nigeria soon – Oyebode

    Corruption may ‘kill’ Nigeria soon – Oyebode

    Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, University of Lagos, Akin Oyebode, has warned that “If drastic measures are not put in place urgently to contain it, corruption might ultimately result in the mortality of Nigeria as a nation-state”.

    Oyebode spoke on Thursday at a roundtable organized by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and held at the CITIHEIGHT Hotel, Sheraton Opebi Link Road, Ikeja Lagos.

    Delivering a paper pn Strategies for Mobilizing Mass Action to Demand Anti-Corruption Reforms and an End to Impunity for Grand Corruption in Nigeria insisted that “mass action by the citizens is urgently needed to put pressure on authorities to end impunity for grand corruption in the country.”

    According to him, the people must be enlisted in the war against corruption. Nigerians should start anti-corruption clubs in schools, radio jingles should be put in place to fight corruption, carry placards, go outside, organize sit-ins like SERAP is doing presently, Nigerians should be mobilized against corruption and now take their destiny in their hands. The fight should not be left alone to organizations like SERAP and when the State wants to attack organizations like SERAP, the masses should fight for them.”

    Related:  Stealing is not Corruption

    Oyebode also said: “The recent attempt by the National Assembly with the NGO bill to control, monitor and eventually sequester CSOs all because of the excuse that some CSOs are corrupt should not be allowed. Cutting off the head is not the cure for a headache, the bill is an overkill. If they cage organizations like SERAP, who will fight for the masses. The government does not want anybody to act as an impediment to their thievery activities.”

    “Corruption is now thriving more than ever before, despite the ongoing fight against it. However, international law has really helped with a plethora of laws against corruption, it now behoves on citizens to take advantage of these laws to fight against corruption,” Oyebode also said.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN who was represented by his Senior Assistant Abiodun Aikomo said, “The disconnect between our prosperity and where we are is corruption. We have to be patriotic, only Nigerians can do something about corruption. To file paper in court, you have to shake body. Corruption as unfortunately attained legitimacy in Nigeria, we are all encouraging corruption that is killing us. Imagine a million citizens fighting against corruption, we have a government committed to the fight. Let us all fight it and shun greed”

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN in his contribution said that: “We must stop our lawyers from terrorizing our courts and judges. We must get our judges to take charge of their courts.”

    According to Falana, religious leaders should stop confusing our people. Our churches and traditional rulers should stop praying for thieves. This is how low we have sunk. What are we as individuals doing to stop these politicians, let’s start with Lagos, let’s start asking our legislators how much they are being paid for doing what? Let our church stop conferring honours on criminals. Also, our universities should be encouraged to join in the fight.”

    Participants at the event included: Chief Barr. O.M Bakara- representing HRM, Elegushi of Ikate Land Mr Osita Nwajah, representing Ibrahim Magu the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Rabiat Umar ICPC; Chief Abayomi Sunday and Chief Moshood Onikoyi, representing Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi & Imoba Land; Padma Igbabe Ford Foundation; Dr Dayo Ayoade, Faculty of Law UNILAG; Marijke Petri Wife of the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria; and Depo Adeniran, Coalition against Corrupt Leaders.

    All participants committed themselves to promoting an end to impunity for grand corruption in the country by among others, ensuring the effective prosecution and jailing of high-ranking corrupt officials and securing recovering of stolen public assets.

    Oyebode’s paper reads in part: “It is not enough to have fanciful anti-corruption laws. More important is the need to get the generality of the popular masses wedded to the crusade in order to make it a success. The reticence and lethargy of our people generally would need to be confronted. Without the cooperation and collaboration of generality of the people, the anti-corruption bodies might end up little more than paper tigers.

    “The legality or validity of the anti-corruption war is not in doubt. However, the practical implementation of the relevant laws is fraught with considerable difficulty, not least, the extent to which the generality of the populace is at one with the government. Jurisprudentially speaking, validity is a question of imputation while efficacy is more a matter of fact or causation. Accordingly, it is imperative to consider the role of the people in relation to the struggle to contain corrupt practices.

    “It is on record that Nigeria has a set of anti-corruption laws reflecting the will and intention of the government to battle the virus to the hilt. However, the efficacy of anti-corruption legislation, coupled with judicial pronouncements and conviction and sentencing of corrupt elements would require the complement of mass action and commitment arising from general awareness and resolve to collaborate with on-going efforts. Inevitably, government action in this regard must be undertaken for the anti-corruption struggle to bear fruit.

    “It is hardly an exaggeration that corruption has levelled, perhaps, the most virulent attack on Nigeria’s bodypolitik. Despite all the hue and cry over the debilitating consequences of corruption on the country’s socio-political fabric, it is sad but true that the virus has continued to fester in leaps and bounds. The sad situation today is that despite its pernicious nature, corruption seems to have found a comfortable nest in the lives and consciousness of many of our people, thereby giving the false and erroneous impression that Nigerians have generally accepted it as a fact of life.

    “To the extent that Nigerians take the saying that there is no free lunch literally, the culture of the customary gift or dash, jara, egunje, etc, have been internalized among the population so much so that there is little surprise if and when a Nigerian evinces corrupt practice in the form of bribe-taking, over-invoicing and kindred under-the-table dealings. There are even popular sayings approving of all manner of unjust enrichment at the point of duty.

    “In a country where a President could once declare that stealing was not corruption, the most important Commandment would seem to be the Eleventh: Thou shall not be caught or found out!

    “In Nigeria, there is a plethora of laws against corruption and related manifestations of the “ugly and unacceptable face of capitalism.” Aside from the Criminal and Penal Codes, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 laid the ground rule for combating the odious crime.

    “The establishment of the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Tribunal as well as promulgation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and designation of special courts to handle cases of corruption in addition to the establishment of a scheme for whistle-blowers and witnesses protection are clearly pointers to the resolve of the Nigerian government to aggressively confront the ogre of corruption.

    “Perception is an important factor in the efficacy of law generally. Therefore, a lot of work still needs to be done concerning the extent of popular understanding of requisite anti-corruption legislation and appreciation of the commitment of the government to its anti-corruption programme and policy. This necessitates broad mass enlightenment on the various laws with a view to eliciting the understanding, support and collaboration of the masses of the people.

    “The people must be made aware of the nexus between corruption by the political leadership and their niggardly circumstances. Once they realize that misappropriation of the nation’s resources by leaders at various levels leads to their impoverishment, their approval and support for all measures adopted to contain graft and unjust enrichment within the polity become pretty well assured.

    “The people must be enlisted in the war against corruption by encouraging them to engage in mass action through their participation in mass rallies, street demonstrations, public debates and write-up in the mass media against corrupt practices. More anti-corruption clubs need to be organized in the schools and higher educational institutions to collaborate in waging the anti-corruption struggle.

    “However, it would seem that no better encouragement and sensitization against corruption exist more than the palpable resolve of the government to take decisive action against those who have been proven to violate the laws and social ethos against the odious and unwholesome practice of corruption. By effecting prompt and adequate sanction against acts of malfeasance, the anti-corruption crusade would win new and more committed converts among the population.

    “Religious bodies, churches and mosques should not be left out of the anti-corruption crusade. The leaders of religious organizations should be encouraged to be at the vanguard of the campaign against corrupt practices, more so as they exercise tremendous influence and impact among their various congregations.

    “It is my considered opinion that the effort to contain corrupt practices should no longer be seen as just that of the government. Of equal if not, in fact, a more important role is that of society which needs to be on the same page if the anti-corruption war is to succeed. Admittedly, no country has been able to wipe out corruption in its entirety but there examples of countries where the vermin has been curtailed to its barest minimum.”

  • Prof Oyebode, others seek mass action against corruption

    Prof Oyebode, others seek mass action against corruption

    Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode has said that corruption has become a crime against humanity in the country.

    He said that the vice has become so alarming that it might result in the mortality of Nigeria as a nation-state if drastic measures are not put in place urgently to contain it.

    Oyebode spoke Thursday at a roundtable organized by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and held at the Citigeight Hotel, Sheraton Opebi Link Road, Ikeja Lagos.

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos law lecturer who delivered paper on “Mobilizing the citizens to demand anti-corruption reforms and an end to impunity for grand corruption in Nigeria” however emphasized that “mass action by the citizens is urgently needed to put pressure on authorities to end impunity for grand corruption in the country.”

    Though he admitted that the county has a set of anti-corruption laws reflecting the will and intention of the government to battle the virus to the hilt.

    He pointed out that the efficacy of anti-corruption legislation coupled with judicial pronouncements, conviction and sentencing of corrupt elements would require the complement of mass action and commitment arising from general awareness and resolve to collaborate with on-going efforts.  “Inevitably, government action in this regard must be undertaken for the anti-corruption struggle to bear fruit”, he stressed.

    According to him, the people must be made aware of the nexus between corruption by the political leadership and their niggardly circumstances.

    He contended that once the masses  realized that misappropriation of the nation’s resources by leaders at various levels leads to their impoverishment, their approval and support for all measures adopted to contain graft and unjust enrichment within the polity become pretty well assured.

    “The people must be enlisted in the war against corruption. Nigerians should start anti-corruption clubs in schools, radio jingles should be put in place to fight corruption, carry placards, go outside, organize sit ins like SERAP is doing presently, Nigerians should be mobilized against corruption and now take their destiny in their hands.
    “The fight should not be left alone to organizations like SERAP and when the State want to attack organizations like SERAP, the masses should fight for them”, he said.

    Oyebode decried the recent attempt by the National Assembly with the NGO bill intended to control, monitor and eventually muzzle Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the excuse that some CSOs are corrupt should not be allowed.

    “Cutting off the head is not the cure for headache, the bill is an overkill. If they cage organizations like SERAP, who will fight for the masses. The government do not want anybody to act as impediment to their thievery activities”, he stated.

    The erudite professor of law lamented that corruption is now thriving more than ever before, despite the ongoing fight against it.

    He remarked that there are a number of international laws that have  helped in the fight against corruption adding that it now behoves on citizens to take advantage of this laws to fight against the vice.

    He also stated that Nigerians can now have hope in the anti-corruption war with the setting up of Justice Issa Ayo Salami led ” Monitoring Committee on Corruption Cases” set up by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

    Activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) in his intervention at the event agreed with Prof. Oyebode on the need for churches, mosques and traditional rulers to stop honouring politicians without first ascertaining their source of wealth.

    According to Falana, “Religious leaders should stop confusing our people. Our churches and traditional rulers should stop praying for thieves. This is how low we have sunk.

    “What are we as individuals doing to stop these politicians, let’s start with Lagos, let’s start asking our legislators how much they are being paid for doing what?

    “Let our church stop conferring honours on criminals. Also our universities should be encouraged to join in the fight”, he said.

    Falana berated lawyers who prolonged corruption cases by examining witnesses for several months and long adjournments despite that ‘stay of proceeding’ has been outed by the law.
    “We must stop our lawyers from terrorizing our courts and judges. We must make our judges to take charge of their courts”, he emphasized.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) who was represented by his Senior Assistant, Abiodun Aikomo lamented that Nigeria has been a country of potentials right from independence but regretted that the country has failed to realize these potentials owing to corruption.

    “Corruption as unfortunately attained legitimacy in Nigeria, we are all encouraging corruption that is killing us. Imagine a million citizens fighting against corruption; we have a government committed to the fight. Let us all fight it and shun greed”, he advised.

  • SERAP’s roundtable focuses on ending impunity for grand corruption

    SERAP’s roundtable focuses on ending impunity for grand corruption

    Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, University of Lagos will deliver a paper at the Strategic Dialogue on Mobilizing the Citizens to Demand Anti-Corruption Reforms and an End to Impunity for Grand Corruption in Nigeria being organized by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

    The roundtable is scheduled for Thursday September 28, 2017 at the CITIHEIGHT Hotel, Sheraton Opebi Link Road, Ikeja by 10:00 a.m.

    Oyebode would speak on the theme of the roundtable:  Strategies for Mobilizing Mass Action to Demand Anti-Corruption Reforms and an End to Impunity for Grand Corruption in Nigeria.

    Among those expected at the roundtable are: Professor Itse Sagay SAN Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN; Femi Falana SAN; and representatives of the Royal Netherlands Embassy; and the Ford Foundation.

    Others are: Chief Okoi Obono-obla, Special Assistant on Prosecution to President Muhammadu Buhari (who will give some introductory remarks); Babatunde Ogala former Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Committee on Judiciary; Mr Tayo Oyetibo SAN; Mr. Levi Adikwaone Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch; Nurudeen Ogbara NBA Ikorodu Chairman Legal Education; and representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); the media, and civil society.

    The roundtable will assess the on-going fight against corruption and is expected to come up with key programme agenda for among others mobilising Nigerians to get involved in the fight against corruption, and agenda for increasing the tempo of the anti-corruption fight including by revisiting outstanding cases of high-level official corruption and prosecuting high-ranking public officials.

  • Who made 2017 Youth Powerlist for Policy?

    Who made 2017 Youth Powerlist for Policy?

    For every country,state,or organised structure, there is the need for policy makers. These are people who understand the intrigues involved in the running of the structure,research and analyse the structure and make appropiate decisions based on it. From dynamic state commissioners manning important ministries to leaders in NGOs and public policy, these 10 voices are truly influential.

    The good thing is that, most organised structures have young people in charge of this sensitive and important area,to this end, YNaija gives its annual ranking of the most powerful young persons under the age of 40 who are getting things done in policy and research.

    Muhammad Sani Abdullahi
    Muhammad Sani Abdullahi

    When Mallam Nasir El-Rufai took over the reins of Kaduna state, he brought along with him, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, a development economist and public policy specialist. With his over 12 year experience in development policy, finance and project implementation, including a stint at the United Nations Secretary General’s office, Abdullahi comes fully qualified to take on the state ministry of Budget and Planning which he oversees as commissioner.

    Ife AdebayoIfe Adebayo

     

    It is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s responsibility to kickstart the economy and he has developed a special interest in entrepreneurship and improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. Ife Adebayo, as Special Assistant on Innovation & Entrepreneurship to Osinbajo has the challenge of advising on strategies to make these reforms happen. He has worked on programs like the Mark Zuckerberg co-signed Aso Villa Demo Day which had young persons pitching startup ideas to the presidency.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Betta Edu

    Betta Edu became the youngest serving special adviser when she was appointed to advise Cross River state Governor Ben Ayade on Community and Primary Health Care. A 2010 graduate of the University of Calabar where she bagged her MBBS degree, Edu was later appointed director general of the state primary health care development agency. She has a Master’s degree in Public Health in developing countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

     

    Asuquo EkpenyongAsuquo Ekpenyong

     

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state surprised not a few when he named Asuquo Ekpenyong  Commissioner for Finance. He didn’t just stop there, though. Ekpenyong was soon announced MD Tinapa Business & Leisure and giving the mandate to turn Nigeria’s biggest tourism export business around. He holds a Msc. Distinction in International Banking and Financial Services from the University of Reading and has worked successfully in the private sector.

     

     

    Akin Oyebode

     

    Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s grand plan to tackle the state’s rising unemployment rests on the shoulders of Akintunde Oyebode, pioneer Executive Secretary of the newly created Employment Trust Fund. Oyebode is in charge of an annual 6.25 billion naira war chest in this battle for wealth creation and is tasked with the responsibility of distributing the funds evenly to qualified entrepreneurs and artisans who have passed through a credible, transparent process.

     

    Nneka Eze

    Nneka Eze

    Nneka Eze leads Dalberg’s work in Nigeria as a partner and Lagos office director. An alumnus of Harvard University, Eze has worked with private corporations, state governments, and foundations on strategic planning, market analysis, investment planning, and performance transformation. She has focused on a range of sectors including agriculture, education and youth employment, financial services, and inclusive growth, she co-manages Dalberg’s Global Agriculture and Food Security practice area.

     

    Bell IhuaBell Ihua

     

    Armed with a doctorate degree from Kent Business School, Bell Ihua is the chief executive officer at NOIPolls, Nigeria’s premiere opinion polling and research company, created by former Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Ihua’s NOIPolls has been at the forefront of many national conversations, using scientific based research techniques to feel the pulse of the people and submit empirical evidence for government and citizen interventions.

     

     

     

     

     

    Ifeoma Malo

    Malo has an Eisenhower fellow, a Desmond Tutu fellow, an African Leadership fellow and a Crans Montana New Leaders fellow. She has served as senior technical adviser and special assistant to former ministers, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chinedu Nebo. She is presently the country director of Power For All, an international organisation that builds platforms and collaborations for distributed power. Malo also founded Clean Technology Hub, a distributed renewable energy services firm.

    Shola MolemodileShola Molemodile

     

    This University of Jos trained medical doctor is the Managing Director of Direct Consulting and Logistics, a health management consulting firm providing research and implementation support for primary health care in Nigeria. Major clients of DCL include the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Centre and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Molemodile has a combined Master’s degree in Health Policy Finance and Planning from the London Schools of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Economics.

     

    Mark Okoye

    Mark Okoye may be called a ‘’30-year-old boy’’ by Governor Willie Obiano who appointed him Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners in Anambra but it is clear that Okoye has earned the appointment, having worked in different capacities like Senior Special Assistant on Investments and member of the state Economic Think-Tank. Before Okoye was named commissioner, he was a Special Adviser to the Governor in the ministry he now heads.

  • Fayemi to Fed Govt: straigthen defective federation at confab

    Fayemi to Fed Govt: straigthen defective federation at confab

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has urged the Federal Government to address defects in the Nigerian federation at the National Conference.

    The governor spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while inaugurating the state’s delegation to the conference.

    The delegates are Chief Oladeji Fasuan, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Dr. Kunle

    Olajide, Prof. Olabisi Aina, Oba Adamo Babalola and Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye.

    Fayemi urged the Federal Government to provide legal support for the confab to enable it have desirable results.

    He urged the delegates to be focused and justify the confidence reposed in them.

    Fayemi said the state government plans to organise “a mini conference” to enable the delegates interact with people at the grassroots and get their input for the national conference.

    He said: “This confab is an opportunity to restructure Nigeria in a way that will bring equity and justice to all Nigerians. It is critical to the existence of a country like Nigeria that is bedeviled by multifarious challenges.”

    On the selection of the delegates, Fayemi said: “It was not easy to come up with the eventual selection. You can imagine what I went through to arrive at these eminent indigenes among thousands of qualified people.

    “The delegates were chosen based on their comportment, attainments in life and their integrity. They are people who have contributed to the state’s development.

    “Chief Fasuan, who will be leading the delegates, played a major role in the creation of Ekiti. I have no doubt that they will do us proud.”

    Fasuan, who responded on behalf of the delegates, described their choice as a “call by history and a challenge by history”.

    The delegates pledged to represent the state well.

  • ‘What politicians should learn from Akande’

    ‘What politicians should learn from Akande’

    At 75, the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, is a rare example of leadership. With a rich antecedent in the corporate world and politics, he remains a mentor and role model to those who strive for value. In his old age, his life preaches modesty and disdain for avarice. Akande has earned respect, not because he is wealthy, but because he has a good name.

    Eminent Nigerians, who showered encomiums on him during his birthday ceremony in Lagos, highlighted those virtues of statesmanship peculiar to the former Osun State governor. At the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, the venue of the event, statesmen, government officials, traditional rulers and politicians were unanimous that Akande is a man of honour and integrity.

    The major highlight of the ceremony was the lecture titled: ‘Developing a new leadership: An imperative for national development in Nigeria.’ The two speakers were Prof. Olu Obafemi of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, and Prof Akin Oyebode of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka. The two scholars urged the political class to emulate the celebrator’s style of leadership.

    A former Member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mrs Tejuoso, described him as an incorruptible politician. “I was closed to him. Because of that, my colleagues asked me to go to him to request for money for legislators. He said that he had heard what I said, but, he asked me to ask from them under which sub-heading will the money come. That was the end”, he recalled.

    As the governor of Osun State, the Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun and Igbonna politely put his house in order. He politely told his wife, Omowumi, who clocked 70 recently, that she will not be permitted to parade herself as the First Lady. Akande’s explanation was that that nomenclature does not exist in the constitution. Throughout that four years, the governor’s wife was in the background. Her duty an an unofficial first lady was restricted to entertaining her husband’s guests with foods and drinks in the State House or private residence at Ila.

    Akande shunned corruption while in office. He was obedient to the advice of his mentor, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that a public officer should not lead a life of opulence he cannot sustain outside power. Thus, when the Oyinlola Administration, which displaced his government instituted a probe against him, it paled into a wasted effort. Nothing incriminating was found against his administration.

    His legacies as the governor are evergreen. In four years, Akande, like former Governor Lateef Jakande of Lagos, completed the State House and secretariat projects. The State House is named after his former boss, the late Chief Bola Ige. The former governor did not succumb to the temptation to inflate contracts. He adopted ‘value engineering’ approach, which is a creativity model geared towards cost reduction. He insisted on standard. Since the contractor knew that the governor could not be bribed, they resolved to do a neat job.

    The same method he applied to the construction of classroom blocks. “He was able to execute over 500 projects”, said Aderemi Idowu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who added: “While the Federal Government under Gen. Obasanjo was awarding a one-room classroom project for an average of N1.5 million, Akande was doing the same standard of classroom for half-a-million naira”.

    Akande also took some cardinal decisions which were perceived as unpopular steps by the people, especially the teachers. In later years, the university don, Prof. Akin Oyebode, confronted him over that policy of sacking a huge number of teachers. He defended his actions, saying that the teachers were not adding value to the teaching service at that time. This, in Oyebode’s view, was a mark of seriousness and determination to govern well.

    Ige, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was murdered in 2001. His killers are still at large. In 2003, former President Obasanjo was said to have requested Akande to serve in the regime as a minister. He declined because he was not covetous, despite his political misfortune of missing a second term. To wade off the presidential pressure, he travelled abroad. He did not return until the composition of a new Federal Executive Council. He returned to rebuild the progressive platform, a mission Ige could not fulfill, following his gruesome murder.

    Obafemi, who lamented what he described as the “leadership deficit” in the country, said that hope is not lost. He paid tribute to Akande, saying that, if many politicians had behaved like him while in power, the polity would have been saved from decadence.

    The don gave reasons for the leadership decay. “A structure for good leadership does not exist in Nigeria”, he said, urging the people to ponder on its effects. “A leader must know the way, toe the way and take the people through the way. Great leaders are far ahead of their time. Such leaders are in short supply. A leader must have a vision and mental picture of his destination. We need new leaders for a new vision for Nigeria; courageous, patriotic leaders to build democratic institutions,” Obafemi added.

    His colleague, Oyebode, shared the same thoughts. He observed that Nigerian is in misery and making progress in reverse direction. The legal scholar also pointed out that many Asian countries who were on the same pedestal with Nigeria at independence have left it behind. Oyebode lamented that political and economic transformation have not been accomplished because it is business as usual in the corridor of power. He chided the leadership for poverty of ideas, stressing that when a country is saddled with clueless leaders, there will be retrogression.

    Oyebode urged Nigerians to reject hypocritical leaders and replace them with trusted, tested and incorruptible leaders. “Where leadership is in the hands of venal, opportunistic, corrupt and self-serving elements, all the people would get is a lot of motion without movement, just like the potter’s wheel,” he added.