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Tag: disagree

  • SANs disagree on Magu

    SANs disagree on Magu

    Senior lawyers yesterday disagreed on the implications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Last Monday, the president sent a letter to the Senate requesting it to confirm Magu saying there was no evidence linking the acting chairman of EFCC to any act of corruption.

    Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Seyi Sowemimo and Abiodun Owonikoko offered divergent views on the renomination.

    Sowemimo said from what he had read in the papers, the president had said there was no evidence to back the allegations against Magu.

    He said: “You will realise too that some foreign governments, especially the American Embassy with its Ambassador and officials have visited Magu and their impression is that there is nothing damming against him and that it’s an attempt to frustrate the anti-corruption crusade.

    “If the Presidency comes out and says it has looked at the DSS’s concerns and gives him a clean bill of health, I don’t think the DSS will contradict the president.

    “The Senate too, the last time they considered the matter, said if the DSS comes with a different finding, they would consider him. I think that is what has been done now; so, I don’t really think there should be more problems concerning Magu’s confirmation.

    “The scenario is being painted that those who are opposing Magu are those who want to kill the anti-corruption drive, especially with the support given by the foreign bodies.”

    But Owonikoko’s sentiments differed. He said that the appointment of te chairman of the EFCC is governed by “divided” authorities, meaning that the president nominates; the parliament confirms.

    “Each of these two arms of government has its own exclusive role under the EFCC Act. So, the president, having done his bit, is not in a position to dictate to parliament how it will carry out its own function, which is confirmation.

    “Confirmation is a prerogative of parliament and it can be assisted but cannot be dictated to in coming to a decision.

    “In a properly functioning constitutional government once parliament rejects a candidate, while the law does not prevent, it is no longer appropriate – if there should be harmonious and reciprocal respect for both arms of government – for the president to continue to nominate the same person as if the country is short of materials.

    “So, the dilemma we have is that the department of government that is saddled with the responsibility of conducting checks on potential nominees to public offices has given its own verdict. The National Assembly has accepted its verdict. I think the only option left is for Mr Magu to challenge the DSS report in court to dispute what they have said.”

    He advised the Presidency not to personalise the issue, “otherwise we are going to have ourselves in a legal logjam”. “Other members of the commission were, from my recollection, cleared by the Senate. Will they now be holding meetings of the commission to be chaired by a person that the Senate has rejected as chairman?

    “And can the acting chairman whose nomination has been rejected still continue to perform the functions of that office in defiance of the clear provisions of the law that you can only occupy that office if you are confirmed?”

  • Smartphone users disagree over accessories’ use

    Smartphone users disagree over accessories’ use

    Smartphone users have disagreed over the necessity of the use of mobile phone accessories. While some say it amounted to frivolity and waste of funds, others say the advantages are too obvious to be ignored.

    Mr. Ugochukwu Nwanchukwu says he uses the Samsung S5300 smartphone, adding that the only accessory he uses is its ear piece.

    He said: “My phone is very small and it enters my breast pocket perfectly. The only accessory I use on my phone is my earpiece. This is because I use it to listen to the radio. I don’t use bluetooth that is why I don’t have a bluetooth. I don’t have a phone casing because it makes my phone to look bigger. I don’t have a screen guard because the phone is portable and would hardly fall off my hands. The earpiece is the only accessory that is useful to me.

    One of the most delicate parts of the smartphones is its screen. The screen which now doubles as the keyboard for most smartphones needs to be protected. A Sales Representative at Slot, Surulere, Vivian said the screen protector is a necessity for smartphone users.

    She said: “Whenever a customer buys a phone, I always advise him to buy a screen protector which has tempered glass. The tempered glass is dust prove, scratch prove, as well as anti-break. If you have a tempered glass on your expensive smartphone and it falls off, the tempered glass will serve as an external screen which would break instead of your smartphone screen”.

    Adebisi Ajayi who uses a Samsung Galaxy S5 describes her tempered glass as her “phone saver”. She said: “When my little cousin threw my phone down the staircase, the tempered glass protected my phone’s screen. Instead of spending precious time and money looking for the screen that would suit my Samsung Galaxy, I only had to go for a new tempered glass.”

    Mrs Esther Kokumo said she uses accessories to preserve the beauty of her devices and prevent them from going bad. She said: “Smartphones are devices that you take everywhere you go. Sometimes you keep them in your pocket with the car keys, place them on the dining table or on the dashboard of the car Overtime, it starts to lose its sleek colour and may take up a dull and unattractive look. But with accessories, you can make your smartphone look almost as new as when you just bought it.”

    Vivian agrees no less. She said accessories give mobile phones an added aesthetic value.

    “A lot people buy accessories because they don’t want to buy a new phone. It makes smartphones look more beautiful. In fact, you can also add tones and colours to your smartphones with the various phones shell. For those that like trendy things, especially ladies, the pink phones shell are beautiful with various back case that gives your phone a customised look,” she added.

    For picture freaks, the selfie stick is an accessory which is enticing. Ifeoluwa Bidemi, a student described the selfie stick as her favourite smartphone accessory. She said: “It is best for snapping a big crowd especially when nobody in the crowd wants to be left out of the picture. I also use it to take my selfies when nobody is around to snap me.”

    Like Bidemi, Vivian said that the selfie stick is best for personal shots.  “It is compatible with almost every smartphone because it uses a bluetooth connection. It comes with a control button that allows you to connect with your smartphone.  So when you take a shot with it, you take great shots but without it, your phone might slip off,” she said.

    Another accessory you may just need if you don’t want to ever run out of battery on your smartphone could be the multi-kit charger, power bank or the car charger or even a desktop charger for your spare battery. A commercial bus driver who simply introduced himself as Mr Sule said: “The car charger has now become an important accessory for drivers. Even passengers that sit beside me usually ask me if I have a car charger even if they still have power on their battery. Besides I also use the multi-kit charger to charge both my phone as well as that of my passengers on the go.”

    For Nnena, a cashier at PhoneAce Stores, the bluetooth is a very good accessory especially when while driving. “You do not have to hold your smarphones to pick calls while driving. And when you have two incoming calls at a time, you can use your bluetooth prompter to choose among the two calls. Like Ugochukwu said, she added that the hands-free also serve as an antenna that allows her to listen the radio while the headset is best to listen to music without disturbing others.

     

  • Lawyers disagree on gay rights at Commonwealth conference

    Lawyers disagree on gay rights at Commonwealth conference

    To what extent should gay rights be protected? Speakers were divided on the issue at the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) Conference.

    A Kaduna-based lawyer, Oladipo Tolani, disagreed with the guest speaker Michael Kirby at the closing ceremonies.

    While Kirby believes gay rights should be respected everywhere, Tolani thinks it is wrong for anyone to impose their culture on others.

    The 19th edition of the conference was held at the Scottish Events and Conference Centre,  Glasgow, United Kingdom.

    In attendance were lawyers  from over 53 countries of the  Commonwealth countries.

    CLA is a pan-Commonwealth organisation, which upholds the rule of law in the Commonwealth by encouraging exchange of ideas between legal professionals, academics and students, through projects and by driving improvements in legal education.

    •From left: Afam Okeke, Bimbo Kayode, Justice Ibrahim Auta and NBA First Vice-President Francis Ekwere.
    •From left: Afam Okeke, Bimbo Kayode, Justice Ibrahim Auta and NBA First Vice-President Francis Ekwere.

    The conference started with a welcome address by the former  Chairman  of the Scottish Civil Courts Review, Lord Gill, who spoke on the Independence of the judiciary and the legal profession.

    Speaking on gay rights, Kirby, who was a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Group that reviewed the operations, efficiency and the essence of the Commonwealth, gave an account of the work of Emminent Persons Group and its recommendations to the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGOM).

    Among them is the need to set up the office of a Commissioner for Human Rights. He said the group’s recommendations did not receive the blessings of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who felt that his office could handle such human rights matters.

    Kirby cited the  plight  of former human rights crusader, Mohammed Nasheed, as one of such critical  violations of human rights, which a commissioner for human rights could handle.

    He said he hoped that the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth would defend the rights of all, including the vulnerable group, the minorities, and the gay rights.

    Kirby who told the audience that he and his partner had been together for the past 48 years, adding that it was a wonderful

    relationship.

    •From left: S. Akubor (SAN), former Chairman, NBA Jos Branch Caleb Dajan; Steve Adah and Edward Ekpokol.
    •From left: S. Akubor (SAN), former Chairman, NBA Jos Branch Caleb Dajan; Steve Adah and Edward Ekpokol.

    He canvassed the protection of gay rights as he propounded the advantages of the gay relationship.

    During the question and answer session, Tolani expressed displeasure at the speakers’ views on gay and rights.

    He frowned at the efforts of developed countries to foist their beliefs on developing countries.

    He said: “The idea and theory of gay relationship is alien to the Nigerian culture and belief system and that  is why Nigerian lawmakers refused to pass the bill seeking to legitimise gay relationship into law in Nigeria, so no body should force us to accept it.’’

    He called on the Commonwealth lawyers to live together and respect each others’ views and rights as efforts to coerce people to accept what they do not believe in could create divisions.

    Lord Gill, in his address, said judicial independence is one of the fundamental values that the institution of the Commonwealth represents.

    “Society’s standards and its expectations of our justice system are changing all around us. But we must adhere to our own constant values.

    “As Judge William Cranch put it, ‘in dangerous times, it becomes the duty of the judiciary calmly to poise the scales of justice, unmoved by the armed power, undisturbed by the clamour of the multitude.’ Only in this way can we truly defend the right of the citizen to call the executive to account.

    •From left: Ime Obot, P. Okorie, Kauna Penzin, former Chairman NBA Ikom Branch Emmanuel Okang and Gloria Nweze.
    •From left: Ime Obot, P. Okorie, Kauna Penzin, former Chairman NBA Ikom Branch Emmanuel Okang and Gloria Nweze.

    “That the independence of the judiciary cannot survive without the independence of the profession; and I ask the question: What kind of judges do we wish to have?

    “In 48 years in the business of the law, I have known judges of outstanding academic brilliance who found it difficult to make a decision for fear of being wrong; or who pursued relentless logic without due regard to common sense.

    “I have known lawyers who were not forceful pleaders at the Bar yet flourished in the judicial life when they had time for reflection.

    “So, when a judicial appointment is made and the profession – as always – passes its confident verdict, remember this: you never can tell.”

    He added: “I suggest that to answer the question: What kind of judges do we wish to have?, our starting point should be that we wish to have judges who have come to judicial office by a process of appointment that is open, transparent and fair.

    “ Only in that way can the judiciary deserve and enjoy public confidence. I think that it is fair to say that until 20 years ago, in the United Kingdom jurisdictions the appointment process – if such it could be called – remained hidden from public view and had aspects of mystery.”

    Other keynote speakers includeed Ms. Hina Jilani and Dame Silvia Cartwright.

  • Kwara legislators, FG disagree on project execution

    National Assembly members from Kwara State and the Federal Government have disagreed over capital project execution in the state.

    While the Federal Government  claimed it had constructed Malete Dam in Moro Local Government Area, the legislators differed.

    In a statement,  House of Representatives member representing Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Dr Rafiu Ibrahim said for Federal Government to have claimed responsibility for the construction of the dam is deceit of the highest order.

    Ibrahim, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kwara South, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ajibola, of listing the projects one of the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan during the president’s rally in the state.

    He said: “The history of the construction of that dam dates back to when the National Assembly members in Kwara State; comprising of three senators and six House of Representatives members decided to use their Zonal Intervention Fund allocation to embark on projects that will benefit the generality of the state.”

    He said the N1.1 Billion Naira Malete water dam project was one of the projects decided on, adding that all National Assembly members from the state contributed, except Senator Ajibola, representing Kwara South Senatorial district.

  • Nigerians in Diaspora disagree

    Nigerians in Diaspora under the aegis of the Buhari Friends Organisgaion Network has kicked against Federal Government’s decision to postpone the polls.

    The group described the postponement as a third term plot as well as a sign of desperation of the ruling party.

    Coordinator of the group, Mr. Charles Whate, in a statement in Jos, Plateau State yesterday, said: “We have observed that Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC chairman, was bullied and threatened by the presidency into postponing the February elections. The sighting of security as the reason for the postponement is ridiculous and makes a mockery of Nigeria in the eyes of the international community.

    “The situation in Nigeria is not even near that of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, yet all those countries conducted their elections despite the monumental security challenges.

  • PDP, APC disagree on FG agric programme

    PDP, APC disagree on FG agric programme

    • ‘We’d create 3 million jobs’
    • PDP: Jonathan has provided food

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government, saying it has not translated to reduction of food prices in the market.

    The party also declared that the description of Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa has not reflected in the livelihood of the common man in the country.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme and agricultural value chains of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as cardinal achievements of the present administration.

    APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, and the PDP’s representative, Dr. Katchy Onanoju, presented these positions at the third edition of the Nigeria Political Parties Discussion (NPPD) series organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) at the weekend in Abuja.

    Mohammed said: “What we have here are figures, it has not reduced the cost of foods. They rejig the figures and they came and said we are the largest economy in Africa.

    “What are the facts on ground? Nigeria has a population of 170 million. 100 million of them try to make a living on daily basis. With our population of 170 million, government cannot provide us with just 5000 mega watts of power.

    “We said we are the biggest economy and 55 per cent of our youths in rural areas are unemployed, 30 per cent of the urban youths are unemployed, 10 million of our children are out of schools, even 40 per cent of Nigerians could not live up to the age of 40 because of diseases. So, what you cook in your office is not what we feel outside. We are Nigerians.”

    He added that any economy that does not translate to job creation and better infrastructure is not an economy.

    Mohammed, however, said the plan of the APC is to address the needs of the sector one after the other without setting unachievable goals.

    “We said we will construct 3,000 kilometres of super highway and 4, 800 kilometres of rail. There should be relief before reform,” he added.

    The APC spokesperson noted that agriculture and manufacturing would be major sectors the party would use to diversify the economy and create three million jobs especially through a National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

    Onanoju disclosed that the present administration was able to contribute additional 12 million tons of food to national food reserves.

    He said the federal government was able to meet its food production target before 2015.

    Onanoju said: “A lot of rice being imported into the country has been stored in the warehouses for about 15 years and that’s what we consume. But now, there are local production of rice such as Ebony and others.”

    The PDP representative noted that government was able to privatise the power sector and increase private participation in government policy implementations.

     

  • Rivers govt, police disagree on Amaechi’s council tours

    The Rivers State Government and the Police Command have disagreed on the tour of the wards in the 23 local governments embarked on by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Police Commissioner Tunde Ogunsakin said the ban on political campaigns was still on until 90 days to the elections, in line with the Electoral Act.

    The Rivers government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said yesterday in Port Harcourt that it was out of place for Ogunsakin to warn Amaechi against campaigning during his tours.

    Mrs. Semenitari noted that government was worried about the tone of the statement and concerned about its implication.

    The Rivers government said: “For the purposes of clarification and emphasis, the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi considers participation a key element of democratic rule and good governance. As a result, it embarked on stewardship accountability fora and stock taking since the governor assumed office in October 2007.

    “Town Hall meetings, meet the people tours and engagement with professional groups are neither novel nor strange with the Amaechi administration. The alleged comments of the Rivers Police Commissioner appear curious, especially coming on the heels of the overtly politically- purported endorsement of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, for governor, by members of the Rumuepirikom community and the political visit of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, to local governments in Rivers State.

    “While the purpose of these political gatherings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is campaign for 2015, CP Ogunsakin appears unable to see or hear any evil. The Rivers State Government is conscious of this, but wishes to reassure CP Ogunsakin that it is not a brigand nor an irresponsible government.

    “Governor Amaechi has stated that the purpose of his ward tours is to find out the impact of his projects on the people at the grassroots and what gaps still exist to enable him cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s, as his administration finishes its last lap. We can state unequivocally that we will not disregard the rules of engagement and that when we are set for campaign, it will be clear not just to the Rivers State Police Command, but also to the entire world.”

  • ENYIMBA 2-0 SHARKS: Ayansi, Ogunbote disagree over ref’s performance

    REFEREE Ben Odeh was in the spotlight yesterday as Enyimba International Football Club of Aba overpowered a hard-fighting Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt 2-0 to sail through to the semi-finals of the Federation Cup.

    The Gbenga Odubote-tutored Sharks bowed 2-0 to the superior fireworks of Enyimba at the Goal Project Centre of the Abuja National Stadium, as Sokari Kingsley and Raphael Boumsong scored in the 24th and 35th minutes of the game to seal the semi-final slot for the Aba-based side.

    Referee Ben Odeh gave Emeka Nwana his marching orders in the 72nd minute for foul charge on a Sharks player but that was not enough to stop Enyimba from cruising to the last four of the competition.

    The Sharks bench was clearly unhappy with the performance of referee Odeh and the club’s General Manger Okeh Kpalukwu reacted angrily against the referee after the match. Sharks’ Technical Adviser Gbenga Ogunbote also did not hide his annoyance.

    “It is unfortunate that we lost the game and we all saw what happened during the match. I don’t know what to say than that we lost under pains.

    “I don’t discuss officiating but I dare you  people to write what you have watched here today.

    “It is unfortunate that we lost because we had some careless moments during the course of the game and we paid dearly for it.

    “But I am sure that we wouldn’t have lost this way if things were normal. That is just the truth”, Ogunbote told SportingLife shortly after the match.

    But Enyimba International FC boss Felix Anyansi-Agu strongly disagreed with Ogunbote and asked him and his club to take the result of the match in good faith and in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “The good thing about the club is that Enyimba will always be Enyimba and in Federation Cup competition there are bound to be surprises.

    “As regards the outcome of this match, the match has been won and lost. It is high time we learnt how to accept result of matches in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

    “So I don’t want to comment on whether the two goals we (Enyimba) scored were good or not.

    “People watched this match and the match has been won and lost. That is just it”, Anyansi also told SportingLife.

  • TUC members disagree over National Conference

    Some affiliates of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have disagreed over some decisions taken by the leadership of the National Conference (CONFAB), saying some of them were bypassed.

    But, the Congress has refuted the allegations. It said some of the affiliates that refused to pay check-off dues were trying to blackmail the Congress by distributing mischievous information to create unnecessary crisis in the organisation.

    TUC’s President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation, saying: “It is unfortunate for the affiliates to have uttered such things.”

    He said some of the affiliates were yet to pay their dues, adding that their allegations were baseless.

    “All affiliates of TUC were fully consulted before the delegates for the Confab were made. We are aware of the allegation and the Council dissociates itself from the allegations,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the affiliates that signed the protest letter to the TUC Secretariat, including Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSA), among others, said Kaigama single handedly selected those that will be representing the TUC at the conference without due consultation with the affiliates.

    They also argued that many interests, such as oil and gas, manufacturing, shops and distributive, aviation and the maritime sector are not represented, because the unions that are operating in these sectors were not consulted by the leadership of the TUC before going to the National conference.

    The affiliates, which had earlier met about two weeks ago, to review activities and operations of the TUC, expressed strong worries and fears with the ways and manners that the leadership of TUC of flouting the constitution of the congress.

    They alleged that since the President assumed office, he has refused to convene any regular meeting of the constitutional organs of the congress to deliberate on any issue affecting the labour centre.

  • Fayemi, Bamidele disagree on posters

    Fayemi, Bamidele disagree on posters

    A governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central in the House of Representatives, has accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of violating the directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the pasting of campaign posters for the June 21 poll.

    But the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said Fayemi is a law-abiding citizen, who would not go against INEC’s directive.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega announced that it was illegal for aspirants to paste posters and erect billboards before the time stipulated for electioneering by the Electoral Act.

    Bamidele spoke at the weekend at LP’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, during the election of the party’s executive members. He said it was “inappropriate for INEC to treat the governor and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as sacred cows”.

    Bamidele said: “I assure you that the governorship election is going to be a peaceful one. I know INEC is going to do its best and the LP is law-abiding. We have obeyed INEC’s directive to stop erecting billboards and pasting posters.

    “We have removed ours from the streets but we are surprised that the governor’s posters and billboards are all over the place and nobody is talking about it.”

    Oyebode said the governor and the APC never ordered the erection of billboards or the pasting of posters, adding: “If Bamidele did his homework well, he would have gathered that moves are being made to remove them.”

    On an earlier allegation that the governor was sponsoring division in the LP, Oyebode said: “It is shameful that the LP is openly admitting that its house is so disorderly that an outsider could be causing division and disaffection in it.

    “How can a party whose house has never been in order and which does not know who will represent it at an election coming in four months hope to be successful in such an election?”

    Mr. Akin Omole is the LP’s new chairman. He has six deputy chairmen.

    Other members of the executive are: Mr. Abiola Olowokere, secretary; Mr. Banji Gbenga, treasurer; Mr. Olu Olofin, financial secretary; Mr. Olugbenga Daramola, organising secretary; Mrs. Bola Olakunle- Bruce; Mr. Olalekan Olatawura, legal adviser; Mr. Bisi Omotoso, auditor and Mrs. Modupe Otun, women’s leader.

    The executive has three assistant secretaries and three assistant women leaders.