The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bakare

  • Judiciary is tool for war against corruption, insecurity, say Bakare, others

    Judiciary is tool for war against corruption, insecurity, say Bakare, others

    The Judiciary remains the last hope of Nigeria, if the nation wishes to effectively wage and win the war against corruption and insecurity, some eminent Nigerians have said.

    The Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare; Justice of the Supreme, Justice Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh; Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye; as well as the Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Monday Ubani, among others, expressed the same confidence in the branch of government.

    They spoke at the weekend at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, during this year’s Bar dinner of the Ikeja branch of the NBA in honour of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). The event was part of the NBA branch’s Law Week programme.

    Bakare examined the high level of corruption and insecurity in the country. He, however, expressed confidence in the rule of law and the Judiciary to bail out the country.

    He added: “Every legislation and source of law, aimed at combating crime, terrorism and other manifestations of insecurity, must be applied judiciously and independently of Executive’s manipulation.”

    The pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ikeja, Lagos, described the dismissal of the 171 money laundering charges against former Delta State Governor James Ibori as a sham.

    He also referred to the alleged fraud case against former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola, for which the trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, was elevated to the Appeal Court when the verdict was about to be delivered in the matter.

    Bakare accused the Bar and the Bench of allegedly collaborating to thwart the course of justice and for what is happening today in the country.

    He said: “We seem to have forgotten that justice is the ligament which holds civilised beings and civilised nations together.”

    Ubani, who recalled the anti-corruption crusade of the late Alao Aka-Basorun, said he was happy he came from the legal profession.

    Justice Chukwuma-Eneh said the law is pivotal to making an orderly change and in preserving public order in the society.

    He said the National Judicial Council (NJC), under the chairmanship of Justice Aloma Mukhtar, has taken a frontal position to reclaim the great name of the Judiciary and put it on the proper track.

  • Iduhua, Bakare count blessings

    THE duo of Iduhua David and Bakare Emmanuel have commended Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), organisers of Copa-Cola for giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents at the just-concluded Copa-Cola tournament held in Pretoria, South Africa. The Nigerian contingent led by Coach Waidi Akanni comprised sixteen players who travelled to South Africa where the youngsters got the opportunity to improve their skills under the supervision of top coaches from Chelsea FC of England.

    In a chat with NationSport, Iduhua stated that he was excited to travel by air for the first time. He expressed gratefulness to God because the weather had been favorable. In particular, he was delighted to be able to catch up easily amongst the one hundred and forty players picked from fifteen African countries. Thus, he has set his sights on playing for the national team when the time comes.

    “When I got to South Africa, the first thing I did was to pray to God for giving me the opportunity. After all, I am not the best out of the whole lot thatthat took part in the Copa-Cola tournament held in Nigeria. I hope to play for the national team. If eventually don’t play football again, I will go into coaching,” Iduhua said.

    However, Bakare, who was named the Most Valuable Player, MVP of the competitive camp, believed that the beverage company had lifted him from an obscure football Academy and had given him prominence by sending him to the Copa-Cola camp held in Pretoria, South Africa.

    “I was so delighted when I was chosen alongside Iduhua to play in the All-stars team in South Africa. Most of them acknowledged the fact that I played like Lionel Messi. I was so proud of my achievements and I thank the organisers of Copa-Cola for giving me the opportunity,” Bakare said. Other countries whose players assembled for the Pretoria camp were Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Congo, DR Congo, Burundi, Cameroon and hosts South Africa.