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Tag: Akintola

  • Mamora, Ali, Akintola, Sani kick

    Mamora, Ali, Akintola, Sani kick

    The poll shift announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has drawn the ire of Nigerians who considered it a setback for democracy.

    Deputy Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora described the postponement as conspiracy from the highest level of government against the people of Nigeria.

    Mamora said what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “has done is not just to commit  fraud, they have also succeeded in raping the country and the generality of Nigerians.

    He said: “If you look at the chronology of that perfidy, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marsall Alex Badeh said they were ready to provide the security to hold elections but less than two weeks, the National Security Adviser Col, Sambo Dasuki (rtd) went to London to ask for postponement not because of security. Jega responded that there was 70 per cent distribution of voter’s cards in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Jega said he will be willing to extend collection up to February 14.

    “The decision to ask for postponement was not based on altruism. It was concocted to hoodwink Nigerians. It was based on compulsion and deceit to achieve their diabolical end”, Mamora stated.

    Legal luminary Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) said the election was postponed to satisfy the selfish interest of those who are bent in drawing us back. He said the reasons given for the postponement are quite amazing.

    Ali claimed that there is no logic postponing the election because of Boko Haram insurgence cited by the security agencies. If the security agencies have failed in the past four years to end terrorists’ activities, what is the guarantee that they will bring the insurgents under submission within six weeks, he asked.

    His words: “If they have not been able to get rid of Boko Haram insurgents in the last four years, what magic wand would they apply to achieve this within six weeks. I can’t see any justification for the postponement; moreover, there is no state of emergency anywhere in this country”.

    The position of the military that they cannot guarantee security for February elections, according to him, is an admission of failure. The primary responsibility of the security forces is to protect lives and property at all times, the legal luminary pointed out.

    “INEC is the principal actor in election matter. I don’t know why those playing supportive role should now be dictating when elections should hold”, he added.

    Another Senior Advocate Chief Niyi Akintola expressed disappointment over the shift  INEC. It was a very sad development that the military will now decide for us when elections should hold in a civilian era, he said.

    Akintola wondered why military chiefs who should be on top of security matters are saying they cannot guarantee security for the elections. I don’t know what kind of military commanders we have in this country.

    Civil rights activist, Malam Shehu Sani condemned the postponment. He said there is no justification or rational for the  shift.

    Sani said the excuses given by Prof  Jega were untenable. The postponement is aimed at given President Jonathan and PDP time to re-strategise for the elction adding the excuse of security challenges is untenable because elections hold in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan where there is war and high degree of insurgence.

    He said it was apparent that PDP would lose the election if it were to hold on February 14  and 28. No matter how long the elections are postponed, Jonathan and PDP will lose, he added.

    To Ajibola Bashiru, INEC was simply blackmailed by the security agencies acting the script of President Jonathan and the PDP.

    Bashir, a lawyer, said the postponement has shown  President Jonathan is ready to sacrifice democratic gains of Nigeria in the past 15 years on the altar of personal ambition. It also shows his slide towards civilian autocracy backed by a corrupt and inept military hierarchy. He called on Nigerians to brace up for the struggle for liberation from inept leadership.

  • ‘I will combat unemployment among lawyers,’ says Akintola

    ‘I will combat unemployment among lawyers,’ says Akintola

    Chief Niyi Akintola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and contender for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), spoke with journalists in Lagos. The pro-democracy activist unveiled his agenda, promising that his five-point agenda will solve unemployment among lawyers and reposition the legal profession, among other things. Assistant Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF was there. Excerpts:-

    The choice of next Nigeria Bar Association President has been zoned to the Southwest and we learnt that ‘Egbe Amofin Oodua’ (Association of Yoruba Lawyers) has embarked on the search for a candidate. Has the body endorsed any candidate?

    The Egbe Amofin Oodua has had two meetings on this issue of NBA President candidacy. The first meeting held in Abeokuta while the second held last Saturday in Ibadan. The body set up a screening committee, headed by former NBA President, Mrs. Priscilla Kuye and the committee is expected to submit its report on February 8, 2014. The decision of the committee is still subject to ratification of members. So, for now, there has not been anyone endorsed by the body.

    You once ventured into politics when you vied for membership of Oyo State House of Assembly and you later abandoned politics. Why are you eyeing the NBA President position now?

    After the military left in 1999, we discovered that the civil society groups that spearheaded the struggle abandoned the terrain for all sorts of charlatans and the implication of that is this state of quagmire which we found ourselves. Today, we are facing multi-various problems within the legal system; prominent among the challenges is the quality of lawyers that are joining the profession today. Of course, the standard of legal practice has to do with education. Our education system has collapsed because I have seen a Master Degree holder who claimed to be a lawyer but could not construct a simple sentence, a lawyer that cannot even prepare a motion. I believe such person could be found in journalism profession too and other sectors. The last call to the bar is over 5,000 lawyers and as at today, we still have about 110,000 lawyers to about 168 million people. It is not the question of having too many good lawyers; we are facing gross unemployment of lawyers. On my Blackberry for instance, I have over 100 applications by young lawyers looking for job. How these boys and girls got my number I don’t know, but they claimed they cannot get those of us who have established ourselves in the profession so easily. There are some among these young lawyers, after five years of being called to the bar, they don’t have work to do. It is as serious as that and I intend to tackle that if I become the NBA president. I’ve been to different international fora in Canada, Singapore, USA, South Africa and some other country and I discovered that something is missing about law profession in our country. Sometimes last April, I was in South Africa, and we learnt that a Law Chamber earned the sum of $5.8 million in a legal year. We discovered that the earnings of all law chambers in Nigeria put together is not up to that. In fact, in South Africa, we discovered that their former president, W. D. Clark still runs a law chamber in Cape Town. I was there; I saw things with my eyes. In South Africa, you can see a chamber having as many as 500 lawyers; some are having more than this number. But, we in Nigeria are yet to key-in into what is going on in developed environment. We have been acquiring experience year in year out. The rules guiding law practice in those developed countries ensure there is enough for everybody. We can solve the gross unemployment problem in this sector if proper rules are put in place. So, I intend to combat unemployment among lawyers if I become the NBA president.

    Apart from issue of unemployment among lawyers as you’ve stated, what other challenges confront practice of the profession?

    Like I said earlier, our educational system is in shambles. It is garbage in, garbage out. While we are in school in those days, we made it a point of duty to read newspapers everyday and we gained a lot from columnists like Sad Sam, Comrade Oyebola and others like that. In those days, the columnists set agenda for the country. Today, the reverse is the case even with journalism profession. The standard has fallen that we no longer recommend any newspaper to any group of students. What we are getting now is appalling and it is not limited to legal profession. We can change that for the better because there is no reason why experienced lawyers, particularly the SANs cannot teach at the Faculty of Law of our universities. That is the practice all over the world but here in Nigeria, we lay much emphasis on certificate and not on what you know. We need to tap the resources because we have them in abundance.

    What are your plans for NBA?

    I want to restrain myself from talking on what I wish to do if I become the NBA president. Mind you, I have to be careful and not let out my cat from the bag. What I can tell you for now is that my manifesto is ready. I have five-point agenda that I strongly believe that they are capable of solving virtually all the challenges confronting law practice in this country. I intend to fight corruption. I commend the current leadership of the judiciary because in the last one year, they have done a lot in that regard. They have done self-cleansing within the legal profession. If other arms of government can take a cue, issue of corruption will be drastically reduced in this country. The issue of corruption in the legal profession is being over-dramatised by the media. In fact, it appears some electronic media don’t have any other thing to report beyond corruption in the judiciary. They don’t even know that nine out of every ten allegations made cannot be verified. That is why those of us who are courtroom lawyers stay away from television stations to do any analysis on any issue. What kind of lawyer will have time to go to television studio in the morning between Monday and Friday to do analysis on issues? We referred to this type of lawyers as ‘Television Lawyer’ who cannot move any motion in their life but are fond of staying at television studio only to castigate a judge or lawyer on an issue they knew nothing about. We cannot find their name in any Law Report and these are lawyers that the media celebrate most. Each time NBA tries to sanction them, they will hide under freedom of speech. They are one of the greatest challenges the law profession is facing here in Nigeria.

    Why do you think you’re the best for the job from Southwest zone?

    Ninety-nine percent of my colleagues are courtroom lawyers, and I am a courtroom lawyer too.  I’ve taken part in NBA activities for years; I’ve been in the profession as a virile lawyer for decades. I know much about NBA and its politics and I run four chambers located in Lagos, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt and Abuja, the Federal Capital. I’ve been operating in Abuja since 2001 and I’ve assisted so many lawyers to move forward in the profession. I’ve travelled far and wide and got exposed to professionalism in law practice.  Let me tell you, the best of lawyers around are not Bar activists.  People don’t even know or hear about those lawyers that are making cool money from the profession and they have been living flamboyant life. Their philosophy is, see no evil, say no evil and hear no evil. They have a choice but I am not out for that. I’ve been an activist all my life and I have a choice too; to keep watching and allow things to go from bad to worse, but I’ve involved in struggle for long. I cannot fold my arms and watch things get worse beyond this level. Under my leadership, if I become NBA president, with the support of my colleagues, I will make change happen. NBA is going to experience positive change, mark my word. I can assure you on that. There is going to be revolution in Nigeria’s legal profession.

    Are you prepared for the financial expenses to go round the country and solicit lawyer’s support for your contest?

    Well, I won’t tell you it is not costly to run any election if I must be frank. It’s not going to be a tea party. Even touring the 104 branches across the country to contest for NBA president position is much more strenuous than contesting for position of a governor of a state because the entire 104 branches are your constituency. And each time one is going, he needs to go with some people. So the cost of accommodation and logistics are there to take care. To answer your question straight, it is expensive to contest but I’ll rely on goodwill of my colleagues.

    Some of your predecessors have lofty ideas like you before coming on board, but because of interference from within and outside, their hands are tied. What are you going to do differently to ensure your hands are not tied while in office?

    It is because they allow their hands to be tied. Let me say this; it all depends on individual concern. Look, at where I am now, look at where I am coming from, go and read about me. I’ve not been known to be one that will compromise. The NBA president position is not for profit making and our existence is not tied to any government subvention.  Some people might have taken or are ready to take government briefs; I am not against anybody doing that. Every lawyer has his or her own client. As a matter of fact, it’s unethical not to take brief if some conditions are met. Even, a lawyer should not deny an armed robber his service no matter how bad the situation may be. It’s justice according to the law not according to morality. That is why people don’t understand lawyers when they render service to certain group of people. To that extent, every lawyer is free to take brief from whosoever needs his or her service. A lawyer is like a taxi driver; whoever flags him down and can pay his fare would be taken to his destination.

    Still on interference, at NBA, there has not been a leader without lofty ideas but   the implementation of these ideas has always been their challenge. How would you go about seeing your ideas implemented without hindrances?

    I can assure you that there will be change this time around. I am not the type that runs away from challenge. I am a professional; I am not in a competition with anybody. I don’t want to be Aliko Dangote or Femi Otedola. All I aspire to be is Afe Babalolas of this world and his likes. That is my ambition. I am a professional and I like to work within that confine as a professional. I found myself comfortable being in the midst and work for the people being oppressed. That is why I am being called opposition lawyer by some people because I’ve defended people like Chief Rasheed Ladoja, Adams Oshiomole and so many people like that. These are people who are not moneybags. The struggle has always been part of my life. For years, I was a counsel to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). It has been like that.

    Do you have a specific progr-amme in terms of mentoring the younger ones in the profession?

    Of course yes! I have five-point agenda that I will pursue vigorously if I become NBA president. The mentoring of the up-coming lawyers occupies number three on my agenda. Mentoring of the younger lawyers is lacking by now. I got trained in Ibadan where I was carefully mentored by my seniors. I was trained to be humble in everything. For instance, before I bought my first car, a Beetle, I have to seek approval of my senior in the chamber. Even, after I purchased it, I have to take it back to him for prayers and graduated from that to Peugeot 504, to Peugeot 505, to Mercedes Benz. Our growth during our time is gradual. I trained purely on litigation, my foray into maritime, oil and gas takes almost nine years. In everything we do during our time, we’re modest. The younger ones in the profession do not want to do all what we did in the beginning.  If you investigate the number of lawyers being tried by the disciplinary committee of NBA, they fall in the category of the young lawyers. Some of them embezzled people’s money; some called themselves property consultants. These are not part of the profession because we didn’t meet it that way. When I started, I worked for three consecutive months without receiving salary. Today, the younger ones are not ready to do that. They only care to live big.

    What do you think can be done to resolve the thorny issue of prison congestion?

    If you look at prosecution system in Nigeria and our criminal justice system, you will see that the bane of our criminal system is at the level of poor prosecution, even in EFCC. That is the immediate and remote cause of prison congestion. Part of my own programme to solve the issue of prison congestion is to ensure that only lawyers prosecute people in all the courts across the country; not the police. When you look at the preparation and the proof of evidence by the prosecution, you will be wondering whether the people handling the prosecution are serious. With the collaboration of my colleagues, the IG and other stakeholders, I am going to sell that idea. Once we are able to amend the law in that regard with the collaboration of the National Assembly, it is like killing three birds with just one stone. We will have tackled the issue of prison congestion, human rights abuses and unemployment/underemployment among lawyers.

     

  • Adekoya, Akintola shun Egbe Amofin peace meeting

    Adekoya, Akintola shun Egbe Amofin peace meeting

    Two Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential hopefuls, Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) and Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) were absent from the Egbe Amofin reconciliatory committee meeting held at Protea Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend.

    All the presidential aspirants were invited by the committee set up at the last meeting of the Western Lawyers Forum, otherwise known as ‘Egbe Amofin,’ held at Chief Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to resolve their differences.

    The committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Adegboyega S. Awomolo (SAN) was given three weeks to do the job.

    The Lagos meeting first reconciled the elders of the forum, Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). It also reconciled the elders, Chief Aiku and Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN), a presidential aspirant, and all present at the meeting.

    In a chat with The Nation, Mrs Adekoya said she could not attend the meeting because she was out of town. She said she had made up her mind to contest the election, adding that there is no going back.

    Chief Akintola said the Lagos meeting only succeeded in cancelling the meeting of Egbe Amofin slated for February 8 in Ibadan and that of the Adesina group slated for Ife in Osun state last Saturday.

    He said: “ But the Adesina group issued a statement after the meeting saying, on Akure we stand, so we are back to the trenches.”

    On the way out of the crises, Akintola said: “Let us go to the field and let Nigerian lawyers decide who they want to be their President. I don’t believe in zoning, it promotes mediocrity, these days you see lawyers whose names have not appeared in any Law Reports becoming NBA Presidents simply because it is zoned to their Forum. I don’t believe in that, today you see people who have no practice simply because they are Bar activists, they become presidents and drag the name of the association in the mud, it shouldn’t be like that all. Let all us go into the field and campaign, let lawyers decide for us and elect who they want to be their President. Simple.”

    As a result of the successful resolution of the differences, the meetings of the association earlier scheduled by the two factions in Ibadan on February 8 and Ile-Ife on February 1 were all cancelled and the committee fixed a meeting of all members of the committee on February, 15 in Lagos at a venue that will be communicated to all stakeholders. The faction led by the 15 branch chairmen had in their meeting in Akure, adopted one of the candidates, Mr. Adesina as their Presidential candidate.

    The meeting was attended by prominent members of Egbe Amofin, including Chief N. O. Oke (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), Ranti Ajeleti, former General Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Yinka Fayokun and about 17 branch chairmen.

     

     

     

  • Nse Ikpe- Etim, Bimbo Akintola, Kalu Ikeagwu for ‘Heaven’s Hell’

    Nse Ikpe- Etim, Bimbo Akintola, Kalu Ikeagwu for ‘Heaven’s Hell’

    MONTHS after announcing plans to shoot a cross-border flick titled Heaven’s Hell, One-O-Eight Media recently unveiled the cast for the movie. Shot in Lagos and Wales, and based on actual events, CEO of the outfit, Katung Aduwak (Big Brother Nigeria winner), says that Heaven’s Hell is about two housewives and best friends whose lives are held together by rock-solid friendship and unwavering love, yet laced by betrayal and a lurking darkness.

    Artiste starring in the movie, he says, include Fabian Olojede of Mnet’s Jacob’s cross fame, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Bimbo Akintola, Chet Anekwe, Damilola Adegbite, Kalu Ikeagwu, OC Ukeje, Gideon Okeke, Linda Ejiofor and Waje.

    Concerned with more than just entertainment, Katung says, the flick sheds light on the social issues around us, things we come in contact with every day while asking the fundamental questions that plague us.

    “From the intense storyline and script, to the best cast, crew and equipment, the Heaven’s Hell movie project is an international co-production mission with a message to fight violence against women and children. Heaven’s Hell is staged to bring about real change in the African movie industry and will hit global cinemas soon. The movie will be premiered in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja, London and New York, South Africa,” says Katung.

    Powered by One-O-Eight Media, the film was shot in partnership with BGL Asset Management Limited, Hashtag Media House, Del-York International and Aberystwyth University.

  • Bamidele and the Akintola option

    Bamidele and the Akintola option

    Prior to the indication of his interest to contest a Senate seat in the 2011 general elections, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was considered an activist, one who would at any point put the society and general interest before the personal. He had graduated from the Ife School of Radical Politics and was considered well groomed for the task at hand. He had been an aide of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the nineties and later served under him in the Lagos State executive council. Bamidele had all needed to represent Ekiti Central in the Senate.

    However, different conditions have ways of testing men to separate opportunists from genuine servants of the people. Opeyemi had to run in a packed race. His opponents included the irrepressible Dele Alake and another seasoned journalist and activist, Babafemi Ojudu. It was a clash of titans. All the men were senior members of the same political tendency and some had thought that leaders of the group would have no problem wading in and deciding on what to do.

    Though controversially, the leaders acted as expected of them; they decided on Ojudu as the fit and proper candidate for the seat. But, Bamidele would hear nothing of it. He was offered a seat in the House of Representatives, but thought it infra dig. He was willing to risk all his ostensibly altruistic contributions to the resistance movement by storming out and starting afresh.

    Eventually, reason prevailed, or so it seemed at the time. Opeyemi agreed to take the House option, contested on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria and won. Many did not have the opportunity; they lost the ticket and crashed out. Opeyemi who had been a major beneficiary of the Tinubu tendency in the progressive circle, however continued to nurse a a grudge against the Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was accused of sabotaging MOB’s interest, the party in the state and the entire movement.

    MOB is today a privileged member of the party by virtue of his membership of the House, but he has indicated interest in treading the same path that the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola trod in the First Republic. Akintola was the stormy petrol of Action Group politics. He was well regarded in and by the party as a great mobiliser. He had a word or anecdote for every constituency and could do anything to remain relevant in national politics.

    Akintola had served as a member of the Federal Parliament, Minister of Labour and succeeded Chief Bode Thomas, a successful and brilliant advocate, as Deputy Leader of the group. He was well placed. However, the character of a man comes out only the sail turns rough. Until party leader Obafemi Awolowo decided to bid for the Prime Ministership, all was well in the party. And, following Awo’s decision, Akintola thought it his right to logically step into the big shoes as Western Region premier. On account of administrative acumen, Awo had reservations about his deputy’s ambition. But, other party leaders prevailed on the leader who acquiesced in the interest of peace.

    But, that was a grave mistake. Akintola had already crossed the Rubicon. He had seen an opening to move off tangent and do in his leader. He started fraternizing with enemies of the party and would gladly play Pontius Pilate. Inordinate ambition and love for power or material things could only blind a man to realities. Akintola entered into an elaborate plan to destroy Awo and his political enterprise. In the process, he prepared himself as an ally of the Northern People’s Congress in the South West. Between 1962 and 1966, Akintola played whatever role was assigned him by Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa. In the process, there was conflagration in the West. Awo was herded to jail, his followers restricted to furlong places in the region and the AG decimated.

    But, at last, truth prevailed; Awo was vindicated and the house built on sand crashed. Akintola, his cohorts and the new political tendency died in the giddy days of January 1966, while the God of restoration looked in Awo’s direction. He was released from jail and installed Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council.

    In Ekiti, Bamidele seems to have decided to leave the ACN or whatever new platform the tendency may decide to erect towards contesting the 2015 elections. It is his inalienable right to make plans and do whatever suits him. However, he appears not to have read the situation well. A number of men are being prepared to do the dirty job of forcing a political party on the South West. As was done with Akintola’s NNDP in the First Republic, the Labour Party (probably an ally of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party) has secured Ondo State. Would the PDP be willing to use Accord in Oyo, empower LP in Ekiti to weaken the ACN and move cash and logistics support heavily to subvert the Aregbesola bold moves in Osun?

    Other men like Fasehun and Falae are playing well choreographed roles in the coming tragedy. Now, the jigsaw puzzle is falling in place as Opeyemi prepares to join the orchestra. My advice, as a student of Nigeria’s political history, to both the old and young hands hired for the task is that they should commission a good study of their terrain. There is no room for a second chance for those considered betrayers of the Yoruba cause.