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Tag: Bayelsa

  • FG tasked on lasting solution to flood onslaught

    The federal government has been tasked to pursue ways that will bring lasting solutions to the onslaught of flooding across communities in Nigeria.

    The director of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

    According to him, not only are properties worth millions of naira lost to the ravaging flood, several lives have been yearly, cut short.

    It will be noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA) had warned of the impending disaster in 11 states including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara. However, not much was done by relevant government agencies to avert the situation.

    Mulade, in his statement, therefore appealed to the federal and state governments, international civil society organizations, private sectors as well as well-meaning individuals to join CEPEJ to provide assistance, especially in resettling flood victims in the country.

    He said “As a non-governmental organization with a special focus on environmental justice, we are sensitizing the people living within the affected areas and call for adequate relief materials to the victims and to properly resettle them.

    “CEPEJ is also by this means advocating that the federal government provides continued assistance in the resettlement efforts towards finding a permanent solution to the problem of flooding in Nigeria. We are deeply saddened that several lives have been lost to the annual flooding in the affected areas, homes and farmlands have been destroyed, means of livelihood brought to an abrupt halt and farm produce worth millions of naira have also been destroyed.

    Read Also: Flood kills 20-year-old in Anambra

     

    “CEPEJ hopes that as part of the Federal Government’s long term measures, the construction of buffer dams on the long stretch of the Niger be considered, to intermittently break wild water tides and avoid future re-occurrence”, he said.

    Noting that many affected persons are yet to be reached with aids, he added that suffering is on the increase for cases where it was practically impossible to send relief materials or evacuate the victims.

    In September, a national disaster was declared in the worst four affected states; Anambra, Delta, Kogi and Niger, with NEMA releasing a report that about 327,052 people are affected in the flooded states with over 70 casualties.

    Also, an outbreak of malaria and water borne diseases has been reported, just as displaced persons are currently being hosted in emergency shelters such as local government offices, schools, stadiums, churches and internally displaced persons (IDP) hostels built by Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

  • Osinbajo visits Bayelsa flood victims, says disaster is monumental

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday described the flood that ravaged some communities in Bayelsa as a “monumental disaster.”

    Osinbajo who spoke at the Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp, Igbogene, on the outskirt of Yenagoa, said his visit was to assess the extent of damage caused by the flood.

    He said that he undertook an over-fly on a helicopter from the Port Harcourt International Airport through the flooded communities in Rivers and those within Yenagoa metropolis.

    The vice president observed that the exercise had made him realise the degree of suffering the flood had thrown many of the victims into.

    Osinbajo commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its state counterpart, (SEMA) for their efforts in assisting the flood victims.

    He pledged the assistance of the Federal Government to resettle the victims and provide them means of livelihood to start life anew as soon as the flood was over.

    Read Also: Minimum Wage: FG urges organised labour to accept offer

    He said his visit along with with the Director-General of NEMA and the Minister of Environment was to demonstrate the seriousness the federal government attached to the welfare of flood victims.

    The vice president also assured the people that as soon as he returned to Abuja the federal government would “restrategise” and get back to the state.

    Osinbajo further said that government was working on how to ensure that such emergency did not occur in future, by embarking on dredging of water channels and constructing canals.

    He urged the people to avoid dumping solid wastes into water channels to aviod flooding.

    The vice president pledged government would ensure that the babies delivered in the IDP camps were “perfectly and well cared for.”

    Also speaking, Gov. Seriake Dickson, described Bayelsa as the most impacted state across the federation, saying the state is situated below sea level.

    “You saw personally the extent of the devastation. This is the state mostly affected whenever there is flooding. This state is below sea level,” he said.

    The governor said the state government was doing all it could to care for the displaced people.

    According to him, apart from the 13 IDP camps already set up, additional three would be established to contain the increasing number of people displaced by flood.

    He expressed readiness of the state government to collaborate with the federal government for long term solution to the problem of flooding in the state.

    The governor lamented the insufficient quantity of relief materials supplied by NEMA.

  • Fed Govt, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers to raise panel within 90 days

    ALL revenue lost to oil exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit sharing formula under the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) since August 2003, the Supreme Court ordered yesterday.

    It directed the Federal Government to initiate moves to recover the funds from the oil giants.

    The court’s seven-man panel, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, gave the order in a consent judgment given yesterday in a suit filed by Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states against the Federal Government in 2016.

    The states, who sued through their Attorneys-General, agreed to an amicable settlement, which was reduced to terms of settlement.

    They filed the terms of settlement on April 6, 2018 and the apex court adopted it as its judgment.

    The terms of settlement were signed by the Attorneys-General of the three states – the late Emmanuel Aguma (Rivers), Kemasuode Wogu (Bayelsa) and Uwemedimo Nwoko (Akwa Ibom) as well as the lead counsel for the AGF, Mr. Lucius Nwosu.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, signed as the witness.

    By the agreement, the AGF is expected to work with the three states to “immediately set up a body and the necessary mechanism for recovery” of all the lost revenue since August 2003.”

    The court directed that the AGF to, within 90 days, put in place the mechanism for the recovery of the lost revenue.

    The three states which had jointly filed the suit marked SC.964/2016, in the names of their respective Attorneys-General, contended that the Federal Government had been short-changed of its supposed shares of an estimated earnings of $1,149,750,000,000, under the Production Sharing Contracts for the period between 2003 and 2015.

    According to them, the huge loss suffered by the Federal Government is due to the failure of the minister of Petroleum Resources for over 15 years to activate the re-adjustment of the sharing formula (the PSC) of 60 per cent share of oil profits to the Federal Government and 40 per cent to the oil companies.

    They argued that the Federal Government had suffered huge losses under the PSC because of non-compliance with Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act which was said to have come to effect since January 1, 1993.

    The plaintiffs faulted Section 8(1)(f) of the Production Sharing Contracts between the Federal Government and the oil companies, which makes provision for the 60 to 40 per cent sharing agreement.

    They stated that, under the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) Act, there ought to be an upward re-adjustment of Federal Government’s share of oil profit “in a manner as to become economically beneficial to the Federal Government” whenever the price of crude oil exceeded $20 per barrel.

    The states argued that the PSC which provides for the current sharing formula between the Federal Government and the oil companies could no longer be valid because the oil prices had since overshot the $20 per barrel.

    When the case came up on November 14, 2017 Abubakar Malami (SAN), listed as the sole defendant, indicated his preparedness to explore an amicable settlement of the suit.

    Following AGF’s request, the apex court adjourned to give room for the parties to negotiate.

    Other parties in the suit were said to have met with the AGF in his office on March 20, 2018, and agreed to settle, and later came up with the agreement filed as terms of settlement on April 6, 2018.

    With the agreement adopted by the court on Wednesday, the Federal Government has agreed to implement prayers (a) – (c) in the suit.

    Prayer (a) is “a declaration that there is a statutory obligation imposed on the defendant (the AGF/FG) pursuant to Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, Cap D3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to adjust the share of the Government of the Federation in the additional revenue accruing under the Production Sharing Contracts if the price of crude oil at any time exceeds twenty dollars ($20) per barrel in real terms to such extent that the Production Sharing Contracts shall be economically beneficial to the government of the Federation; and a fortiori the component Federating States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria especially the 1st, 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs.”

    With regard to prayer (b), the court declared “that the failure of the defendant to accordingly adjust the share of the Government of the Federation in the additional revenue in the Production Sharing Contracts…” constitutes “a breach of the said Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act” and has affected the total revenues of the Federal Government and the states.

    Prayer (c) is therefore, a consequential order of the apex court, “compelling the defendant to adjust the share of the Government of the Federation in the additional revenue under all the PSC in Nigeria’s oil industry within the Inland Basin and Deep Offshore areas as approved by the defendant from the respective times the price of crude oil exceeded twenty dollars ($20) per barrel in real terms and to calculate in arrears with effect from August 2003 and recover and pay immediately all outstanding statutory allocations due and payable to the plaintiffs arising from the said adjustments.”

    By the agreement, parties agreed as follow:

    “That reliefs (a) (b) and (c) in the Amended Originating Summons relating to the larger interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the entire citizenry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and which therefore shall be diligently implemented.

    “That the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation on behalf of the Defendant working jointly with the Plaintiffs hereby undertake to immediately set up a body and the necessary mechanism for recovery of all lost revenue accruing to the Federation Account arising from, associated with or pertaining to relief (C) above in the past and up till the date of full recovery and accruing in future or an acceptable instalmental payments thereof within ninety (90) days next from the date of execution of these presents or its being made judgment of this Honourable Court.

    “That the solicitors of the plaintiff and or their nominee professional advisers shall be members of that body and necessary recovery mechanism set up by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation in (b) above.

    “That the cost of the recovery in clause b. iii (b) above shall be netted off and payable from the Gross recovered sums from time to time prior to placement of the net recoveries in the Federation Account.

    “That the 13 per cent (per cent) derivation due to the plaintiffs shall be paid to them upon recovery in accordance with Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson described the verdict as victory for the littoral states, according to a statement by his Adviser on Media Relations Fidelis Soriwei.

    According to him, even before the first offshore swamp oil well was discovered under the particular Act by the Nigeria AGIP Energy, the price of crude oil had exceeded $20 per barrel being used as a benchmark to share oil revenues in the state.

    He stressed that in spite of the express agreement that shares from the oil revenue accruable to the Federal Government should be adjusted, the benchmark being used by the multinational oil firms has been static at 20 Dollars per Barrel to date.

    The governor, who spoke on behalf of his Rivers and Akwa Ibom states’ colleagues, said that the judgment demonstrated “the primacy of the law in the socio-economic emancipation of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the instrumentality of the government and people of Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.”

    Dickson stated further that the implication of the judgment was increase in revenues accruable to the federating states under the extant revenue sharing formula.

    He said: “We commend the Supreme Court of Nigeria for upholding the Rule of law. The courageous intervention of the Supreme Court in this case and other cases is what is needed to bring confidence to the long-suffering people and communities of the Niger Delta and the country at large.

    “This judgment shows clearly that the judiciary is ready and has the courage in deciding cases to uphold the rights of oppressed people.

    “We call on other courts in the judicial system to rise to the occasion in order to give the assurance that oil majors and oil block owners operating in our communities will respect the laws of the land.”

  • Bayelsa records N1b IGR in August 

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah yesterday said the state recorded N1 billion Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) in September.

    He said N4.4 billion was available to the state at the end of September.

    Jonah spoke while presenting the income and expenditure for August and September in the Government House, Yenagoa.

    He explained that the N4.4 billion consisted of N3 billion balance brought forward from August and N1 billion balance at the end of September.

    He said gross inflow from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), for last month stood at N14 billion, comprising 13 per cent derivation of N10.7 billion, statutory allocation N3 billion and Value Added Tax of N1 billion.

    Jonah said FAAC deductions took N1.6 billion, including restructured commercial bank loans, N741 million; bond obligation N421 million, restructured refund of overpayment N128 million and excess crude account facility of N126 million.

    He,  however, noted that total receipts for September stood at N14 billion, comprising net FAAC inflow of N12.8 billion, IGR for August N1 billion, funds from other sources N400 million.

    The deputy governor also explained that the total amount for outflows came up to N6.6 billion, consisting of contractual guarantees of N2.8 billion, salaries for civil servants, N2.8 billion while that of political appointees stood at N472 million.

    Other components of outflows include salary grants to tertiary institutions, amounting to N630 million while 10% contribution to payment of primary school teachers was N47 million.

    Rear Admiral John Jonah also pointed out that recurrent expenditure stood at N3 billion while N3 billion was used for capital payment

    For the month of August, he said Gross inflow was N13.6bn, total FAAC deductions N1.6bn, bringing the net inflow to N12bn while total expenditure for the month came up to N6bn.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the transparency and accountability policy of Bayelsa had earned the state so much respect and honour both within and outside the state.

    Iworiso Markson also commended Governor Seriake Dickson for providing responsive and purposeful leadership, adding that, the achievements of the present administration would remain an enduring legacy for posterity.

     

  • 2019: Bayelsa trains corps members on violent-free elections 

    The Bayelsa State Ministry of Information and Orientation has commenced a two-day specialized training for new members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) on violent-free elections in 2019.

    The training was designed to cover strategic public engagement, civic enlightenment and new media campaign on the need for voters in the state to elect the right leaders during the election.

    The training also involved modalities of  conveying messages on the effect of violence during elections and the importance of a peaceful electoral process.

    Inaugurating the training in Yenagoa, the Commissioner in the Ministry, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said it became important to raise the level of awareness on the need to elect credible people that would help sustain the legacies of the present administration.

    He explained that Bayelsa could not afford to go through another path of retrogression adding that the people must be wise in their choice of representatives in the state and National Assembly.

    The commissioner further explained that part of the problem that bedevilled the state in the past was the inability of persons elected to work together to bring development because of parochial interest and unnecessary political mudslinging.

    He said: “The conversation on the performance of the Restoration Government and the huge investment it has made in key sectors should be brought to the fore, to remind Bayelsans that all of it will be wasted without having people who share the same vision of the new Bayelsa.

    “Everything needs to be done to avoid a repeat of what characterized the last general elections that claimed several  innocent lives and loss of properties”.

    Iworiso-Markson disclosed that at the end of the training, the corp members would be exposed to basic tools in political communication.

    He said they would be integrated into the ministry’s new media team to enable them unleash what they have been taught via the social media.

    While urging the corp members who are mainly from Batch B Stream 1, to see the training exercise as a great opportunity to enhance their capacity, Iworiso-Markson added that they would find it useful even after their service year.

     

  • Bayelsa sues Fed Govt over sharing of oil revenue

    The Bayelsa State government has filed a suit at the Supreme Court  against the Federal Government over sharing of oil revenue.

    The suit with reference number SC 386/2018, was filed under Civil Summons Order 3 Rule 5 of the Supreme Court by its Attorney-General.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is the defendant in the matter.

    The state, through its counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), is praying the apex court to declare that by the provision of Section 44(3) and Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, all revenue collected from the sale of crude oil by or for the Federal Government should be paid into the Federation Account.

    “A declaration that by virtue of section 162(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, all revenue collected shall be paid into the Federation Account except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Department charged with foreign affairs and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “An order that the Federal Government to pay plaintiff  N136,266,385,850.96 and N154,719,603,662.84 being money payable to the plaintiff by the defendant from Federation Account between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017 pursuant to the provision of section 1 of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc) Act and under the Domestic Crude Oil sales Revenue regime of the defendant but which were withheld by the defendant and represented to have been used to settle Petroleum subsidy without the plaintiff consent.’’

    The Bayelsa government  therefore prayed the Supreme Court to restrain the federal government,  whether by itself, it’s agencies, servants, privies, officers representative or otherwise howsoever called from utilising any part of the revenues collected from the sale of crude oil which otherwise payable into federation Account to pay for or cover petroleum subsidy.

    In the plaintiff witness statement on oath deposed to by the Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, it was averred that various activities of federal government under its petroleum subsidy have resulted in continuous dwindling of Federation Account revenue to the detriment of its state because of the unlawful deduction from source.

    It also said unlawful deduction has adversely affected the money paid to states and Bayelsa as well as 13 percent derivation fund being paid to the its state from the Federation Account.

    In its 28-paragraph statement of claim, the plaintiff claimed that N6,430,890,322,306.37 was not spent on petroleum subsidy as claimed by the Federal Government but withheld as “Withheld Fund”.

    The plaintiff averred that between January 2011 and December 2017, the revenue collected from crude oil sales lifted by the Federal Government under its Domestic Crude Oil Sales Revenue regime amounted to N15,259,070,879,388.50, out of which only N8,828,180,557,087.12 was remitted to the federation accounts.

    The plaintiff further stated:  N6,430,890,322,306.37 was deducted by the Federal Government from the source and presented to the other states of the federation and the plaintiff to have been used to settle petroleum subsidy and associated costs.

    “Despite repeated demands by the plaintiff, and indeed other states of the federation, the Federal Government has not been able to show evidence of  N6,430,890,322,306.37 as claimed.”

    The plaintiff further stated that the Federal Government has deprived of oil-producing states of N836,015,741,899.83 out of ‘withheld fund’ based on 13 per cent derivation formular, including the plaintiff’s share amounting to N136,266,385,850.96 which remain unpaid to the plaintiff by the federal government.

    The plaintiff further averred that continuous use by the federal government, part of the monies payable to the federation account to settle petroleum subsidy without plaintiff consent, has subjected the plaintiff to double jeopardy because it has been deprived of its share of 24 percent of the revenue which is divisible amongst the 36 states of the federation pursuant to Section 1 of the Allocation of Revenue Act.

    The Supreme Court is yet to fix a date for suit’s hearing.

  • Youths on tramadol, other drugs fueling security challenges, says Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State Government on Monday said Nigeria’s security challenges had become more complex because of the rampant and indiscriminate use of illicit drugs by the youths in the country.

    The state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) spoke when members of Course 27 of the National Defence College (NDA), Jaji, Kaduna state, led by Deputy Commandant of the institution, Major-General Peter Dauke visited him in Government House, Yenagoa.

    He described this year’s course theme, “Youth Management and National Security” as apt, noting that youths under the influence of drugs like tramadol, codeine, marijuana among others were being used as tools to foment trouble and chaos in the society.

    He tasked relevant authorities including the military, police and other security agencies to adequately educate the citizenry on security challenges facing the nation”

    He said : “The theme is apt. Security challenges in the country are getting more complicated and the ready tool for people to use are the youths and if you are not able to understand and study what is happening to the youths, in most cases your estimate may never be correct.

    “At the moment, the challenges are becoming more complex because of the ready use of drugs. There is rampant use of drugs by youths all over the country, not only in Bayelsa state.

    “Those under the influence of drugs are the ones that you can easily mislead to behave in ways that they become nuisance to the community and then crime rates will increase, they become less useful to

    themselves as well as the society.

    “If you do not educate the people, security challenges will come up. The person who understands the implication of the action he is taking is less likely to be led astray than somebody, who has been given opportunity. So I am very happy that this particular year’s study has to do with the issue of security. A serious issue in our country today”.

    He enjoined members of Course 27 to be thorough and unbias in their research in the state and to give the government a detailed report to enable it improve on its developmental and structural policies and programmes.

    Jonah expressed appreciation to the military forces for their sacrifices, commitment to national security and professional conduct.

    He called on the Federal Government to provide the needed logistics for the military to enable them perform optimally.

    He said: “For the participants, we wish you well. It is one of the best thing that could happen to you, to pass through the Defence College. As a person who has been there before, if you take course seriously, at the end of the day, you are no longer the same person.

    “We expect your research to be thorough and unbias. Tell us as it is but let it be based on evidence so that as a state we will learn something from it so that the state can improve as a result of your research here. That is the only way you can say you have impacted on society”.

    In his remarks, Dauke said the team was in Bayelsa state as part of its tour to study the role of youths in the society in terms of management and security.

    He said that Course 27 comprised 130 participants and 17 allied participants from Brazil, Nepal and India. 

  • Court remands IYC deputy chair for ‘robbery’

    The Federal High Court 7 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at the weekend remanded the Deputy Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Central Zone, Mr. Amiebi Turner, in prison for alleged robbery.

    He was arraigned on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy and robbery, contrary to Bayelsa laws.

    Turner, who was brought before Justice Ineikade Eradiri, pleaded not guilty.

    Counsel to the accused, W.C. Akeni, who led seven other lawyers, told the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the accused.

    He said they would move the bail application since it had been served the court and the attorney-general.

    But the prosecuting lawyer, A.F. Arthur, who appeared with the fiat of the attorney-general, said he had no copy of the application and pleaded for time to respond to the application.

    He said the state would call six witnesses and urged the court to remand the accused at the Federal Prison, Okaka, since he had been in police custody.

    But Akeni said they were ready to begin the trial if permitted by the court.

    The court adjourned the case till October 11 for trial and bail application.

     

  • IYC Chairman wins PDP ticket in Bayelsa

    The Central Zone Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Tare Porri, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2019 House of Assembly election in Ekeremor Constituency 1 in Bayelsa State.

    Porri, who polled 26 votes defeated the incumbent lawmaker, Ball Oyarede, who got 25 votes to clinch the ticket in a keenly contested election.

    The IYC chairman attributed his victory to the courage, overwhelming support, steadfastness and prayers of all stakeholders in the 

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capita, Porri said he was indebted to the delegates for their belief in him and promised not to let them down.

    Porri commended Governor Seriake Dickson for keeping democracy alive in the state the PDP.

    Referring to the governor as his father, mentor and GovernorI’d -General of the Ijaw nation, he said Dickson allowed a level-playground for all aspirants.

    Addressing his fellow contestants, he said: “To Miss Tari-ere Joyce Gita, history will never forget how you stood tall to defend democracy, with an outstanding character like you, there is hope for our people. 

    “I thank Chief Ball Oyarede for a keen contest and invite you, alongside with other aspirants to join hands with me in moving Ekeremor constituency 1 forward and also leading our party to victory in 2019 because l cannot do it alone.

    “It is the people, who won the election. You my people are the true winners and i accept this victory on your behalf, with confidence that we shall unanimously do same in the general elections.

    “I assure the PDP that there is no viable opposition in the general elections. With this mandate, l shall work tidiously to ensure the victory of the party at all levels. I shall reconcile all perceived aggrieved factions. I shall increase the numbers of the party in the area, and l shall ensure that the music of PDP never fades in the ears of my people.

    “Going forward shall set up a reconciliation committee, to ensure that the party is united and in one accord. After my emergence in the general elections, I assure my people, that Ekeremor constituency one will experience optimal development and growth, working in tandem with the Restoration government.  

    “This cooperation and enhanced policy harmony will surely pay handsome dividends, that will bring infrastructural growth, opportunities for youths, good policies, business sponsorship for market women and many other goodies”.

  • Court sentences ex-policeman to death for extra-judicial killing

    A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced a former policeman, Corporal Vincent Koluama-Owei to death by hanging for extra-judicial killing of a 17-year-old, Innocent Kokorifa.

    Kokorifa, who was running an errand for his mother, was shot dead on 18 August, 2016, near the Air Force Base, Okaka, Yenagoa, by a patrol team of the police, who labeled him a bandit.

    Koluama-Owei identified as the policeman, who fired the gunshot that killed the minor, has been standing trial for murder at the state high court 7 presided over by Justice Ineikade Eradiri.

    Members of the civil society group, Chief Nengi James, Alagoa Morris and Aluzu Ebi Augustine, who brought the matter to the limelight, turned up on Friday to listen to the judgment.

    Eradiri in his judgment that lasted two hours weighed the defence of the accused person against the evidence and witnesses of the prosecution lawyer and ruled that the prosecution proved his case beyond every reasonable doubts.

    The judge faulted the claims of self defence relied upon by the accused person in line with Section 33(2b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The judge said: “Human life is sacrosanct and as such a person can only deprive another only as a last and final resort. Only God Almighty created life and can take it away. Anyone who takes the life of another under circumstances not as permitted by law arrogates unto himself the driven power of the almighty and must answer here on earth and also in heaven.”

    The judge cited judicial decisions in cases of Ibukunle vs the state 2007, Ola vs the state 2014; Garba vs State; Adegboye vs State 2017, among others and concluded that the provision of self-defence would not benefit the accused person.

    He said: “In the circumstances of this case, section 33(2) of the 1999 Constitution does not avail the appellant. The firing of the gun at the back of the deceased to prevent him from escaping from a lawful arrest was not reasonable in the circumstance.

    “Someone has made a report to the police saying that hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were operating openly under a broad daylight in a residential area, the next thing that happened was that the police went there, cordoned off the area and shot someone, who was not even running but walking away.

    “The police did not do any serious observation as to confirm the report which they received. There was also no evidence whatsoever that the armed robbers were actually in operation. There was also no evidence that any of the so-called armed robbers was arrested after the killing of the deceased.

    “There was even evidence that after the deceased had been shot, he stood up and walked to the accused demanding to know why the accused shot him. And shortly afterwards, he slumped to the ground and died. The fact that the deceased walked across the narrow street, after he had been shot by the accused was not denied by the accused.”