The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cases

  • ‘How we handle land grabbing cases’

    ‘How we handle land grabbing cases’

    ‘In handling cases, we first employ the method of mediation which has surprisingly been the most successful before we move on to others. A lot of people get frustrated about the time it takes to go to court but we have, more or less, provided them an alternative
    and most times they co-operate’.

    Major role of Task Force

    The major role of the task force is to eliminate the menace of land grabbing in Lagos State by implementing the provisions of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016, which has prescribed various terms of imprisonment for the crimes under the law.

    Petitions treated

    since inauguration

    We have received about 1,300 petitions from the public since the Task Force was inaugurated and we have resolved up to 400 of them. We are not resting on our oars as work is currently ongoing on others.

    Methods adopted

    in handling cases

    We use various means in resolving these issues such as reconciliation, mediation and we have had to use force in some places. We have made arrests; there are some places under investigation. We also have a few cases in court.

    Parties’ response

    to cases treated

    In handling cases, we first employ the method of mediation which has surprisingly been the most successful before we move on to others. A lot of people get frustrated about the time it takes to go to court but we have, more or less, provided them an alternative and most times they co-operate.

    People understand that we have the force of law and government backing. So, whenever we call them for discussions, both parties usually have it at the back of their mind that this is government talking to them.

    A lot of time, we have found out that majority of these issues emanate from lack of communication. So, we provide the parties with the opportunities to talk together. Whenever we hold such discussions, we make the parties to enter into memorandum of understanding which is binding.

    Use of charms by Omo Onile

    I’ve heard people say it and each time they do, I just retort to them that here, we work with physical things. For instance, if harm was done to you by machetes, we can deal with that but we can’t deal with whatever we can’t see.

    So far, we have heard such allegations but never encountered any. When we go out on operations, the people warn us that those we want to go and confront are fetish and powerful. However, those things have never affected us; maybe because we don’t believe in them. We don’t have any mechanism in tackling them; we only deal with physical things.

    Rent from landlords

    after land purchase

    Whatever people do by way of agreement, I mean if they agree among themselves that after buying, you’ll pay a rent every year, all they are saying is that your land is a lease; you are not paying me outright payment.

    In some places, it is as low as N500; just a little amount to show that you are a tenant on the land. A case like that is completely legal and we have no issue with it. Where we have problem is when there is no agreement to that effect and somebody just wakes up and say you have to pay me for this land. That kind of person will have to face the Lagos State government.

    Challenges

    The major challenge faced by the task force is in relation to the police. The culture of the parties to land disputes using the police against one another had been so engrained that it has become difficult for some of the various police formations to accept that they don’t have the power to deal with land disputes other than to ensure that law and order are maintained.

    There is also the problem of lawyers aiding and abetting land grabbers in the name of carrying out a brief. We have thus received many court summons challenging our powers, especially when their clients are in the wrong side of the law.

    There’s also the challenge of lack of land documentation for many of our people in Lagos State.  We, therefore, take this opportunity to advise our people to take steps to document their land holding with Lands Bureau.

    Demolition of

    Otodo Gbame community

    I am not speaking for the government on this because I don’t have a brief. But what we have discovered in the course of our work is that when people are allowed to stay in a place for a long period of time, they tend to take ownership of the place. When such people settle, they erect buildings that don’t have government’s approval.

    They cannot approach the government for approval because they are not entitled to the land and various administrations allow them to stay in compassion and that is when such people start to feel they have right to the land; meanwhile they don’t. That is the case in many shanties in Lagos and government cannot fold its arms to the dangers of living conditions in these places. I am sure that some panacea will be provided for them in resettlement.

    Seeking redress

    The law specifically requires that anybody who has a grievance should send a petition to us; addressed to the Chairman of Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers and we can take it up from there. They should put in their petition all the details, facts, supporting documents on the land in question and they should make effort at including details of those they are accusing so that we will know who we are dealing with.

    They should also accompany their petition with an affidavit. The law requires that they bring along sworn affidavit so that we could punish those who bring us frivolous petitions. We have received many petitions in which it is the land grabber who is writing petition against the actual owner of the land; thinking that they can come and tell us lies. The affidavit will affirm that they have lied and that is punishable under the Lagos State law.

    Contacts

    Yes, whenever they are in actual distress, they can call us on 09020085005, 09096667123.

  • Ekiti APC uncovers plot to stop murder cases

    Ekiti APC uncovers plot to stop murder cases

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has raised the alarm on alleged plots to stop the murder cases against suspects accused of complicity in the killing of former World Bank consultant Ayodeji Daramola and Tunde Omojola during the first term of Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The party said it was monitoring all activities by the governor and other individuals to manipulate the cases and exonerate the suspects.

    Omojola, based in the Netherlands, was murdered on May 28, 2005 during a councillorship by-election in Ifaki-Ekiti, where he served as an agent of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

    Daramola was assassinated at his home in Ijan-Ekiti on August 14, 2006, shortly after receiving the blessing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for governor on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 general elections.

    The AP,C in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said: “We understand that Daramola ‘s and  Omojola’s cases are being pushed for retrial to get them dismissed .

    “This was started in an lleged secret trial late last year before the plot leaked, but this was after the court first struck out the case for ‘lack of diligent prosecution’ in a secret trial that the families of the victims were kept in the dark.

    “It was after the cases were struck out that they realised that what they needed was outright dismissal to bury the case permanently, but the matter leaked at the point of relisting the cases for fresh hearings, and since then, there was no information on it again.

    “But now, another plot is afoot to manipulate the court for the outright dismissal of the cases and the man pushing for dismissal through manipulation of the courts is the prime suspect in the two  cases.”

  • 512 new HIV cases in Borno IDPs’ camps

    512 new HIV cases in Borno IDPs’ camps

    •NSCDC deploys 240 to stop prostitution in camps

    Executive Secretary of Borno Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (BOSACA) Barkindo Saidu has said 512 new cases of the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) have been recorded in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

    Saidu, who addressed reporters yesterday, said the cases were recorded after voluntary screening conducted in some IDPs’ camps.

    Of the 512 cases, two are children, he noted.

    “We are currently conducting voluntary HIV/AIDS screening in IDPs’ camps to determine the people’s status, especially those rescued from Boko Haram terrorists.

    “As at last week, we have recorded 512 positive cases, among which two are children.

    “Currently, 2.4 per cent of the state population are living with HIV/AIDS, which translates to 108,000 persons, going by the record of the National Population Commission.

    “But only a tiny portion of these people can access treatment because most anti-retroviral centres have closed.

    “Before the insurgency, we had 90 treatment centres in the state, but only 32 are functional today. The rest have been shut due to insurgency,” Saidu said.

    He called on the Federal Government and donor agencies to intervene in the situation.

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State has deployed 240 officers in 16 IDPs camps to check prostitution.

    State Commandant Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, that “240 personnel were deployed in 16 IDPs camps in the state capital to check prostitution among the IDPs.

    “You will recall that the command raised the alarm, about five months ago, that some persons were taking advantage of the situation of the IDPs to engage them in prostitution.

    “When the alarm was raised, the ugly trend stopped, but I can tell you that they have now shifted their activities to the host communities, where they meet and do all sort of things without fear,” Abdullahi said.

  • ‘100,000 cases of breast cancer recorded’

    A gynaecologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr. Chinyere Akpanika, has warned that Nigeria records over 100, 000 new cases of breast cancer annually.

    She spoke on “Early Detection and Prevention of Cancer” at a free breast cancer screening and awareness lecture organised by the Zonal Director, Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, Mrs. Omotayo Oluwole, at the weekend.

    Dr. Akpanika said breast cancer was the second leading cause of death in women worldwide.

    According to her, early detection of the disease increases the chances of survival.

    “Today, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women after lung cancer…,” she said.

  • ‘Some cases should terminate at Appeal Court’

    A Supreme Court Judge, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called for an amendment of the Constitution so that some cases can terminate at the Court of Appeal.

    This, in addition to more deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), she said, will reduce the Supreme Court’s workload.

    She spoke in a paper she delivered at the fifth annual lecture in honour of Prof Alfred Kasumu, which held at the University of Lagos.

    Justice Kekere-Ekun backed suggestions that some cases terminate at the Court of Appeal, adding that a review of the constitutional provisions governing the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is necessary.

    “I am in full support of certain classes of cases terminating at the Court of Appeal. In my humble view, the amendment of the 1999 Constitution has added to the burden of the Supreme Court.

    “It made the Supreme Court the final court of appeal in respect of decisions arising from Governorship election tribunals.

    “Such appeals, by virtue of Section 285 (7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) must be concluded within 60 days from the date of the delivery of the judgment of the Court of Appeal,” she said.

    She said the provision has led to an influx of appeals and has also affected other cases pending before the court, which are already overdue for hearing,  but which had to be set aside while  election related appeals are heard and determined expediently.

    She also called for the use of more technology in court processes.

    “The global village is moving at a faster pace, the apex court of the most populous nation in Africa cannot be left behind. We must embrace information technology and take advantage of all that it offers along with alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, where possible.

    “A reduction of the inflow of cases and more efficient management of the court’s docket will allow the justices to devote more of their time and resources to research, study, reading, consultations among themselves for the advancement and administration of justice.”

    In her paper entitled: the Nigerian Supreme Court: structural reforms for today’s dispensation of justice, Justice Kekere-Ekun said for the Supreme Court to discharge its role effectively, the adoption of Information technology will allow for easy sharing of information.

    She said it will also help to create a database for decided cases by all the courts and which will also be accessible by judicial officers anywhere.

    In addition, she said ICT will facilitate communication between the justices, the registry and other administrative staff. According to her, the project is capital intensive and requires political will, purposeful leadership, and the commitment of substantial resources.

    “It also requires training for the justices and upgrading the knowledge and skills of courts staff to enable them effectively manage the facilities.  The present leadership of the court is fully committed to this transformation.

    “The role of the Supreme Court today should primarily be that of development of legal policy and to discharge the role effectively, its current docket has to be greatly reduced,” she said.

    A life bencher, Mrs Hairat Balogun, who chaired the event, said hiring more research assistants will help to reduce unemployment and ease the justices’ workload.

     

  • Rising diabetes cases worry endocrinologists

    Endocrinologists are alarmed over rising cases of diabetes. They are seeking better management of the disease in Nigeria and the world at large.

    To achieve this, the Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSON) has organised in Lagos a two-day scientific conference for its members. It was the 37th. The theme was “New Horizons in diabetes care”.

    Other issues discussed included- obesity; dabetes in the young; bone health and animal models in endocrine research’.

    According to the society, with so many new technologies, diabetes can be better managed now than a decade ago. All signs are that technological developments will continue and probably accelerate, given the expected increase in the number of people with diabetes. While a miraculous cure is unlikely, advances in medical technology — both directly and indirectly related to diabetes — can make diabetes control easier, more convenient, and more accurate for everyone.

    The participants were told that the use of fixed-dose combinations of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors with other oral antidiabetic agents seemed attractive to patients because of their reduced pill intake and minimised financial burden, and may improve adherence.

    They were equally told that an efficient strategy to slow down diabetes must include emerging therapies and regimens, coupled with intensive patient education that includes information on treatment benefits and adverse effects, medication costs, and medication regimen complexity.

    The shortage of pancreas islets has led to the research into stem cells. EMSON President, Prof Feyi Adegoke said: “We have a really long way to go before we have stem cells available. The idea of stem cells is to take a cell that is not normally a beta cell or an insulin-making cell and try to make it one. There is a lot of work going on, but it is still very preliminary. And we as clinicians must not be caught napping while the world is actively researching into better diabetes care and management. The theme and sub themes were chosen to reflect both national and global trends.”

    The Chairman, Central Conference Organising Committee, Dr Abraham Osinubi put it in perspective that the innovative advances in diabetes care are evident in every dimension\- new oral medications, new insulin, nutrition guidelines and choices, new glucose monitors, computer related technology, and new administration devices and aides.

    He said preventing the onset of diabetes, especially among the nation’s youth, should be a high priority of care and education. “Even more exciting is the concept of self care and management as the basis for diabetes treatment and education in this age of managed care,” he said.

    Dr  Osinubi said the themes and sub-themes are timely and important to underscore the data from around the world.

    According to the international Diabetes Federation (IDF 2014), the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus is 8.3 per cent, which translates to about 387 million people living with diabetes across the world,  and 46.3 per cent of these remained undiagnosed. There are also six million new diabetes sufferers in the world each year. And that every 10 seconds someone in the world dies as a result of having diabetes, i.e about three million diabetes related deaths a year.

    Dr  Osinubi said diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairments in adults in the developed world. A diabetes sufferer is up to 40 times more likely to need a lower limb amputation when compared to  someone, who does not not have diabetes.

    In addition, an increase of 205 million people living with diabetes is expected by 2035. The number of people with diabetes is increasing due to population growth, ageing, urbanisation, and increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity.

    The African region, where diabetes was once rare, has witnessed a surge in the disease. Estimates for Type 1 diabetes suggest that about 39, 000 people suffered from the disease in 2013 with 6.4 per cent  new cases occurring yearly per 100,000 in children less than 14 years old. Type 2 diabetes prevalence among 20 to 79 years old is 4.9 per cent with less than 60 years old in the majority; the highest proportion (43.2 per cent) is in those aged 40 to 59 years.

    Figures are projected to increase with the numbers rising from 19.8 million in 2013 to 41.5 million in 2035, representing an 11 per cent absolute increase. Mortality attributable to diabetes in 2013 in African region is expected to be over half a million with three quarter of these deaths occurring in those less than 60 years old. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes remains unacceptably high at 50.7 per cent and is much higher in low income (75.1 per cent) compared to lower and upper middle income Africa region countries (46.0 per cent). The number of diabetes sufferers by 2025 is expected to double in Africa.

    The Special Guest of Hounour, who is the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, said introducing diabetes related topics in the schools’ curriculum is a preventive measure among the youths.

    He said: “The society and the government should not take the dangers posed by this disease with kids gloves, as diabetes has shown that more ravaging effects not only among adults, but curiously among children and adolescents. I challenge the society to explore areas where it can partner with the state in sensitising people on the need to live a healthy lifestyle.

    “It is important for the society to let the people know that even though diabetes might be hereditary, there are steps that can be put in place to prevent its escalation as Nigeria has the highest number in Africa of Type 2 diabetes cases.”

    Three members were awarded Fellowship of the society. They were Dr Reginald Oputa, Prof Sunday Chinenye and Prof Fabian Puepet, while a renowned Reproductive Endocrinologist, Prof Oladapo Ashiru, represented by Dr (Mrs) Kemi Ailojie-Ibru, was the Keynote Speaker.

  • Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    A Non-governmental group, Akwa Ibom Ofon-ama Initiative, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful and not allow himself to be dragged into the governorship election petition cases currently going on in the country.

    The group, speaking through its National President, Ambassador Ukai Udeme Emmanuel, commended the president for standing on the side of justice, regarding the Rivers State Local Government election.

    Ambassodor Udeme said,” Without being sentimental, President Buhari is trying hard to govern the country as he promised during his electioneering campaigns and we all must support him to deliver on those promises to better every one’s life in the country.”

    On the Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta states Governorship Election Petition Tribunals, Udeme noted that these Niger Delta states are known PDP states and moving their governorship tribunals from these states where the elections took place to Abuja against the provisions of the enabling law is making the region uneasy.

    Udeme said, “Nobody is angry with anybody who may have genuine reasons questioning the result of the elections. But the tribunal should operate where the law prescribes for it to function and should not be controlled by any group.”

    He siad that if not handled satisfactorily, militancy could be resurrected in the region. ” The country today has enough trouble from the North East region of the country. The Boko Haram crisis that the president is trying to address, he should not allow himself to be dragged into unnecessary controversy. If these things are not done properly, trouble might break out from the region.”

    He commended President Buhari for recognizing the expertise in Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in appointing him as one of the four wise and trusted governors to unravel the rot in the NNPC, assuring that the governor will not disappoint.

  • Kogi courts discharge 7,850 cases in 2013/2014

    Courts under the Kogi State Judicial Service successfully handled 7,850 cases during the 2013/2014 legal year, it has been learnt.

    It was also learnt that 5,663 others were outstanding.

    The Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, spoke at the maiden Kogi State Chief Judge’s Annual Awards, which held at the State High Court Complex in Lokoja, the state capital.

    Justice Ajanah hailed the Judiciary for exceptional performance during the outgoing legal year, adding that it would fast-track the administration of justice in the state.

    He said: “In the 2013/2014, the High Court had 1,323 cases, which include the cases brought forward from the previous year. Of the figure, 846 cases were completed, leaving an outstanding, which was carried into new legal year. At Magistrate Court level, 3,507 cases were filed before Magistrate’s courts but 2,138 cases were disposed of and 1,369 are pending.”

    He added that the Area courts had 8,690 cases filed, out of which 4,701 were disposed of and 3,989

    According to him, the Family Court, which handles matters involving children of 18 years and below, recorded 121 cases and disposed of 73, leaving 48 cases pending.

     

  • Nigeria records 160,000 cases of stroke yearly

    Nigeria records 160,000 cases of stroke yearly, it was learnt at the weekend.

    According to a United Kingdom-based cardiovascular disease expert, Tony Rudd, 168 people die of stroke in Nigeria daily while 18 stroke cases are recorded every hour.

    The consequence of this, Rudd said, was that seven people die of stroke in Nigeria every hour.

    The expert spoke at a lecture organised by Stephen James Stroke Centre of Excellence in Abuja, at the weekend, with the theme: “A containable epidemic: Developing stroke care in Nigeria.”

    He warned that trend might increase, if urgent actions were not taken by both the government and individuals.

    He said: “All those people who have stroke, about 40 per cent, will die within the first month; that is as twice as many that will have stroke in Europe. That is about seven people in Nigeria die every hour as a result of stroke. That is something we have to urgently do something about.

    “And if you survive your stroke, about 60 per cent of people will have long-term significant disability.

    “We have an epidemic of vascular disease in Nigeria. It is going to get worse, if something is not done urgently done about it.”

    But the Federal Government, through the SURE-P, has in partnership with Stephen James Stroke Centre of Excellence concluded plans to “establish a world class stroke centre.”

    The Minister of State for Health and Supervising Minister of Health, Khaliru Alhassan, lamented the rate at which Nigerian children were being addicted to fast foods.

    “What this means is that very soon, the cases of stroke is going to get worst in the country, if adequate preventive measures are not put in place. We must be up and doing and do everything possible to ensure that we address this issue.

    “This lecture on stroke is a master stroke taking place here through the SURE-P. It is an essential part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President. That shows that there is a commitment by the government to give the best to the citizens.

    The Chairman of the Board of Stephen James Stroke Centre of Excellence, Jerry Gana, said the centre is in partnership with the Federal Government through the SURE-P.

    “Very soon, this country will be a destination for many others from Africa as far as treatment of stroke is concern. Instead of going to India, Germany or United States (U.S.), they will come to Abuja. We can do it,” he stressed.

  • Multi-Door Court to settle over 200 cases

    Multi-Door Court to settle over 200 cases

    •Begins district settlement week tomorrow

    In line with its pilot district settlement week billed to start tomorrow, the Lagos State Multi-Door Court (LMDC) has said it would resolve about 200 cases from the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court.

    The week-long exercise is geared towards decongesting the courts by using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to solve issues emanating from contract disputes, debt recovery, property, tenancy, defamation as well as family matters.

    With 10 cases billed to be resolved per day, the LMDC Director, Mrs. Caroline Etuk, said seasoned mediators had been selected and lined up.

    “The exercise is aimed at bringing ADR to the grassroots as well as giving participants opportunity to explore settlement of their disputes by the intervention of skilled mediators.

    “The parties are not deprived of their day in court. In the event of a non-settlement, the matter is returned to the court’s docket and the parties are at liberty to continue with the case in court.

    “Since the mediation process is conducted confidentially and without prejudice, neither party is prejudiced by the mediation process”, she explained.

    Etuk assured that the exercise will be extended to other magistracies like Ikeja, Yaba and Ebute-Meta very soon? in order to aid the administration of justice.

    According to her, the LMDC provides services for disputants in various areas of law including commercial, employment, and contract, maritime, matrimonial, energy using ADR mechanism such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, early neutral evaluation and hybrid process.

    The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) was established on June 11, 2002, as a public-private partnership between the High Court of Justice, Lagos State and the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG).

    Its objective is to facilitate dispute resolution within the Nigerian Justice System. It is the first court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in Africa.

    Section 3(1) of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse empowered the Chief Judge of Lagos State to designate a week in which disputants, lawyers and neutrals would engage in the settlement of disputes through the deployment of ADR mechanisms.