The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta State

  • NEC approves inauguration of 18 committees for NBA, ratifies previous ones

    The National Executive Committee(NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), last week in Asaba, Delta State, gave nod to the President of the NBA, Okey Wali (SAN) to set up 18 committees to drive its administration and deliver the 10 point agenda of the Okey Wali administration.

    The NEC also ratified the five committees which were previously inaugurated by the NBA President because of their strategic functions and they could not wait for the approval of NEC. The previously inaugurated committees are the Lawyers Welfare Trust Fund, the Data Base Committee, the Legislative Advocacy Working Group, the Rule of Law Action Group and committee on Constitution Review and Law Reform.

    Inaugurating the committees, Wali (SAN) said: “The establishment of committees is fundamental to ensuring a more active Bar, as it is not possible for the national officers or the secretariat to deal with all activities and functions of a Bar. In addition, the use of committees allows lawyers who have interest and expertise in a particular area to focus on specific issues.”

    He called on all the chairmen and members of the newly inaugurated committees to view the assignment as their contribution to the legal profession in addition to their past efforts and if they are new comers to the process, they are opening chapter of a long and rewarding service to our noble association.

    The new committees are : Technical Committee on Conference Planning with Chief Joe Agi (SAN) as chairman, Olumuyiwa Akinboro as Alternate chairman and Oluseun Abimbola as Secretary. NBA Local Government System Reform and Community Access to Justice Committee with Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) as Chairman,Faye Dikio (SAN) Alternate Chairman and Niyi Osunubi as Secretary. The NBA Welfare Committee has Mr Steve Abba as Chairman and Chinelo Iriele as Secretary. The Human Rights Institute Governing Council has Justice Amina Augie (JCA) as Chairman, Mr Festus Okoye as Vice Chairman and Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau as Secretary.

    The NBA Anti-Corruption Commission has Yusuf Olaolu (SAN) as Chairman, Mr Ledum Mittee Alternate Chairman, Hajiya Fatima Kwaku as Vice Chairman and Charles U. Eduzor as Secretary. The NBA Election Working Group has Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) as Chairman, Mr Reuben James as Alternate Chairman and Folake Abiodun Emmanuel as Secretary. NBA Judiciary Committee has Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN) as Chairman, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) as AAlfernate chairman and Dr. Violet Aigbkhaerbo as Secretary. NBA Legal Education Committee has Prof. Alwalu Yadudu as Chairman, Mr Lateef Fagbemi , Alternate Chairman and Dr. Ogugua Ikpeze as Secretary. NBA Property Development Committee has Dr. T.C Osanakpo (SAN) as Chairman, Obi Okwusogu (SAN), Alternate Chairman and Mrs. Kemi Osisanya as Secretary.

    The committee on branch capacity building has Funke Adekoya (SAN) as Chairman, D. C. Denwigwe Alternate Chairman and Mr Ibrahim Eddy Mark as Secretary. Criminal justice Reform Committee has Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) as chairman, Hon. Nimi Walson Jack Alternate Chairman and Nnenna Uko as Secretary. NBA Human Rights Committee has Mr Osa Erhabor as Chairman. The Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Board has Pro. M. I. Jegede (SAN) as Chairman, Chief John Ochoga and Prof. Ernest Ojukwu as Project Director, NBA Editorial Board has Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) as Chairman, S. T. Hon Alternate Chairman as Alternate Chairman.

    The Committee on the Liberalisation of Legal services has Yemi-Candid Johnson (SAN) as Chairman, Mrs. Mfon Usoro Alternate Chairman and Mrs. Olufunmi Oluyede as Secretary. NBA Academic Forum has Prof. Ernest Ojukwu as Chairman and Mr Omale Ogar Omale as Secretary. The Finance Committee has Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) as Chairman, Mr John Olatunde Ayeni , Alternate Chairman and Mazi Okechukwu C. K. Unegbu as Secretary. The Peace and Secrurity Committee has Okey Amechi (SAN) as Chairman, J. S. Okutepa as Alternate Chairman and Miss Fatima Hassan as Secretary.

    The committees were given their terms of reference and charged to hit the ground running.

  • Uduaghan woos churches on good governance

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged religious institutions to help foster good governance in Nigeria, saying the country’s quest for people-oriented leadership must not be left in the hands of political leaders alone.

    Uduaghan, who identified religious institutions as veritable organs in the total transformation of Nigeria, said unless religious leaders begin to see political leadership as an area that requires collective effort, the country’s renewed attempts at providing people-oriented government would elude it.

     Delivering a keynote address through Mrs. Gloria Okolugbo, Delta State Commissioner, Directorate for Multi-lateral Relations in Abuja Office, at the National Leadership Conference of the Methodist Cathedral Church, Abuja, Uduaghan challenged the church in particular to provide points for search for good governance.

    The governor, whose address centred on leadership and good governance, said it was in recognition of the need to provide purposeful leadership that his administration was concentrating on priority areas.

     He said the issue of leadership and good governance was paramount in the life of his administration, saying this has been demonstrated in several areas since he assumed duty.

    He particularly mentioned the part he has played since flood ravaged the state.

    “For us as a government, we have not rested on our search to provide good governance for the people. Since thousands of our people were displaced by flood, we have been there with them; we sleep with them, eat with them and share with them. This is leadership by example”, he said.

    Uduaghan while noting that his state was worst hit by the flood, said he was consoled in the fact that God, according to the holy bible, would not end the world with flood the second time.

    Delivering a paper on a theme: “Integrity and good governance promote peaceful co-existence,” Barrister Oyekola Omowunmi Iyabode, tasked leaders to see good governance as a service to the growth and development of the community.

    He enjoined those who find themselves in positions of authority to shun corruption just as he said they must see integrity and moral principles key ingredients that bring about good governance.

    “Corruption undermines good governance and fundamentally destroys the integrity of an organization”, he emphasised, adding “corruption will not diminish in the society until government makes all effort and takes necessary steps to increase the integrity of such a society. The incidence of corruption has risen and the peaceful tie among people of different faith, race colour has been greatly hampered”.

  • Delta Deputy governor’s wife seeks help for less privileged

    THE wife of the Deputy Governor of Delta State Mrs Nelly Utuama has asked Nigerians to assist the less privileged in the society. She said the essence of life is service to humanity, adding that this should be through giving to those who do not have.

    She spoke at the launch of Rola Foundation at the University of Lagos.

    While hailing the Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Frances Kofoworola Ajeyalemi, for forming the foundation, she said: “Kofo got it right by caring for the less privileged. It is a noble cause and it should be encouraged.”

    She noted that most of the ills of the society are caused by some of those in the less privileged class. “God should touch the lives of those being cared for so that they would give to the society,” she added.

    She also said Jesus Christ cared for the less privileged. “This foundation is doing what Christ did many years ago.”

    The former Attorney-General of the Western Region, Dr Festus Ajayi (SAN), who was chairman of the occasion, said giving is about self-denial. He recalled that during the Second World War in the 1940s, those who lost their limbs and hands received free plastic replacements from a group at the then army centre at Igbobi in Lagos. He said this was another form of caring for the less privileged. He prayed for Rola Care and asked for support for it.

    Mrs Ajelayemi said she was born into a family where giving is given a priority. “I was born into a family of giving. My late mother was known for her giving. She brought us up to give. We were taught that God provided for us so that we can give to others. Giving gives me so much joy and satisfaction.”

    Wife of Prof Theo Vincent, Maryam, recalled Mrs Ajayelami’s creativity in fashion and hair dressing and large heartedness, adding that she offered free services to her neighbours. She noted that she was the brain behind the Student Support Programme (SSP) of the Chapel of Our Light of UNILAG, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to undergraduates of the university.

    Chairman of the Foundation, Prof Duro Ajelayemi, said: “The foundation is set up to cater for the welfare of the less privileged in the society. We take care of their needs on quarterly basis as our resources permit. As of today, we cater for over 40 lives. To do more, we decided to launch the foundation.” He appealed for financial support to achieve the objectives of the group.

    At the event also were the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Omololu Soyombi; Chairman, Ack Insurance Brokers, Prince Olu Awoboro and Prof Alo Ejiogu of UNILAG, who was MC of the occasion.

    Ejiogu said: ‘If you do not have a caring heart and finger, life is meaningless.”

  • Delta Commissioner kidnapped, security aide killed

    Delta Commissioner kidnapped, security aide killed

    Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha was kidnapped on Sunday by suspected gunmen at Abavo, lka South on his way to Asaba to attend 52nd Independence anniversary thanksgiving service.

    His security aide Mr. Innocent Odah, a sergeant was reportedly killed by the suspected kidnappers while his driver  hit by bullets is presently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    It was learnt that his official car which was riddled with bullets and his telephone handsets were abandoned by the kidnappers.

    The commissioner was driven off to yet unknown destination in the Toyota Camry of the gunmen but there has not been call yet between the kidnappers and the family members.

    When contacted, the State police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the kidnap of  the commissioner and said he was intercepted by the suspected kidnappers who trailed him from Warri to Abavo.