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Tag: FEMI FALANA

  • Mind your business

    I don’t know when and why the above popular phrase was coined, but I know that whoever coined it did not have our own Femi Falana in mind at the time. I also know that nothing comes off the Yoruba mouth without a reason. Falana gbo ti e, t’ara eni laa gbo is a popular saying among the Yoruba, which simply means ‘mind your own business.’

    I think that’s an apt advice for PDP’s Jimi Agbaje, the good customer, according to a lyric cut by Ola Williams, the Iron Lady that leads his opponent’s Sanwoolu’s female-dominated ‘orhestra’ in “Jimi Agbaje … customer daada,” because of his penchant to lose in all governorship elections he had previously taken part in, since he entered the gubernatorial fray in Lagos state years ago against Raji Fashola and Akin Ambode.

    I knew when he poked his nose in the Ambode-Assemly affair that he would come out with a ‘bloody nose’ of disgrace. It needs no telling to know that Bola Tinubu is rich in history to know that the Yoruba have this saying that the head of the house on whose head the cohesion of his household collapses is the most guilty.

    Will he allow the political house he has toiled to build collapse on his head? Will he not? I knew he would not go to bed when his “Rome” was burning that he and his GAC team of reputable, successful professionals and credible politicians would put up their thinking caps to put off the fire on the mountain arising from the face-off between the Lagos State Assembly men and women and Governor Ambode.

    It is debatable who would win in the event of the face-off running its full course. I was goddamn certain the governor could have been impeached in an easier manner than many thought, but what was not easily predictable was the aftermath of the impeachment. Tinubu, with his team, was conscious of the fact that Ba’le Ile ti le ba tu mo l’ori, lo j’ebi oro, and because he and his co-leaders were not prepared to lick fingers of regret later, waded into the little misunderstanding between their children and got it resolved, leaving the likes of Jimi Agbaje with their mouths agape in frustration.

    What next for those poised to reap from other people’s misfortune? They should go and find other things to do. And, like Ebenezer Obey sang:

    “E je lo wa’se se,

    Be o ba lo wa’se se,

    Ao f’ejo yin sun orisa oko

    Ni’le yi o, eeh…”

  • Why hate speech, fake news are rife, by Falana

    Rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) blamed the rising spate of hate speech and fake news the absence of political will on the part the government to ensure effective application of existing laws.

    Falana noted that there were enough laws in the nation’s statute books to deal with the challenge of hate speech, fake news and electoral violence.

    He argued that the problem exists in the lack of political will on the part of those in authorities to apply the laws.

    Falana spoke in Abuja at “an interface with key regulators and stakeholders on hate speeches, fake news and election violence,” held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation.

    The rights activist cautioned against the practice of forwarding of fake text messages with hate speeches, because of the stringent punishment that will be meted out to anyone found guilty of hate speech and spreading fake news.

    Falana urged politicians to learn to do away with hate speech and fake news.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu said his agency  has initiated measures to address the growing deployment of hate speech by politicians.

    Read Also: Falana urges NJC to ask Onnoghen to step aside

    Ojukwu said NHRC was aware of the danger of hate speech and fake news, particularly in election year, and has taken the initiative to curb their uses.

    He said some of the measures being deployed by his agency include plans for the the formation of a Coalition Against Hate, Fake and Dangerous Speeches (CAFAHADS) and the appointment of social media ambassadors to promote activities against hate, fake speeches and election violence.

    Ojukwu, who disclosed that his commission was also planning a survey, to gauge the incidence of hate speech, fake news and electoral violence throughout the six geopolitical zones in the country.

    He said findings from the survey will enable the Commission put up directive or an advisory on hate speeches, fake news and electoral violence, with a view to creating an enabling environment for free and fair 2019 general elections.

    Ojukwu noted that hate speech and fake news were capable of inciting electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

    He noted that hate speech and fake news could also lower public confidence in the electoral process, create mutual distrust and ultimately affect the acceptance of the outcome of the election.

    Ojukwu added: “This has become a potent tool in the hands of individuals and groups that wish to truncate our democratic governance.”

  • Falana urges NJC to ask Onnoghen to step aside

    Rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to compel the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen to step aside pending the determination of the case against him.

    Falana said his position was informed by NJC’s precedent, in which it, few years back, directed judges arrested by security agents and charged to court, to excused themselves from judicial duties until their cases were concluded.

    He accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of engaging in double standard by taking a position to oppose Onnoghen’s suspension.

    Falana argued that it was wrong for the NBA, that called for the suspension of judges, who were arrested by security agents in 2016, to now turn around to insist that a CJN, against who a charge is pending, should remain in office.

    Falana, who was at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to attend to a case, in defiance of the NBA’s directive that lawyers boycott court, said the directive was ignored by many lawyers, who turned up in court on Tuesday.

    He said, while he faulted the Executive’s decision to suspend the CJN on an ex-parte order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), he thinks Onnoghen should resign.

    Falana said: “I have a case before court number 26 in the FCT High Court, Abuja. I left Lagos yesterday to handle my case. My clients are around. I have a contract with my client, which supersedes the directive of the NBA.

    “I thought the court would sit. But, unfortunately, we were told the judge is involved in a seminar in preparation for the sittings of the election tribunals, which, for me, is a good excuse for not siting.

    “But, on a very serious note, I am not bound by the resolution of the NBA. I have consistently maintained my position in this self-inflicted crisis that we are going through.

    Read Also: Submit yourself to Police, Falana advises Melaye

    “I have condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the basis of an ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. And, at the same time, I have also asked that the suspension be lifted.

    “I have also pleaded with the Chief Justice to do the needful by resigning from office. And I think there is still an opportunity to do what is needed to be done.”

    On why he chose to attend court on a day the NBA directed lawyers to shun courts, Falana argued that with the position he had maintained on the issue, he could not persuade himself “to engage in solidarity with criminality.

    “The National Judicial Council (NJC) should have met on the 15th of January, last week’s Tuesday, and that body would have had the opportunity to save the legal profession and the country this colossal embarrassment.

    “But the Chief Justice, as Chairman of the NJC, in his wisdom, decide unilaterally to postpone the meeting of the NJC indefinitely.

    “So, I am happy that some concerned members of the NJC requisitioned for a meeting of the body and the body is meeting today. And we are hoping that, regardless of the boycott of the NBA, that body will follow its own precedents by asking the honourable Chief Justice to step aside.

    The was what the NJC, in 2016, when a number of judges were arrested and charged before the Federal High Court, the NJC rightly decided that those judges be interdicted on the advice of the NBA, and they were so interdicted.

    This time around, the NBA is busy, mobilizing lawyers to defend the Chief Justice. And the picture that I have seen in court, a very sad picture, reminds me of the trial of Mandela. The impression is being given that a freedom fighter is on trial. But, we all know that that is not the case here.

    “We shouldn’t have pushed ourselves to this embarrassing level that the Chief Justice of our country is on trial. You would have expected the NBA leaders to give the appropriate advice in this case.”

    When asked his assessment of the level of lawyers’ compliance with the NBA’s directive, Falana said: “You can see that many lawyers are here in court in defiance of the NBA resolution, because it is not a popular resolution.

    “From information at my disposal, lawyers have turned up in court all over the country to have their cases heard.”

    On whether those who complied were being misled, Falana said: “I will not say that. Everybody has his own freedom. This is a country of freedom. So, those who want to sit at home are entitled to their decision. Those of us in court are also entitled to do so.

    This place (the court premises) could not have been deserted because the NBA has adopted a resolution, which, from what you have seen, is not popular with its members.

    “In the interest of the legal profession, we must operate under the rule of law. And that is what has informed my criticism of the position of the Federal Government,” Falana said.

  • Onnoghen: Falana accuses NBA of double standard

    Rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of playing double standard by taking a position to support the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Falana argued it was wrong for the NBA that called for the suspension of judges who were arrested by security agents in 2016 to turn around to fault the suspension of a CJN, against whom a charge is pending.

    Falana, who was at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to attend to a case, in defiance of the NBA’s directive that lawyers boycott court, said the directive was ignored by many lawyers who turned up in court today.

    He said while he faulted the Executive’s decision to suspend the CJN on an ex-parte order, he thinks Onnghen should resign.

    Details shortly…

  • Singer Falz begins year with hit single, ‘Talk’

    Ace Nigerian singer and rapper Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has started the New Year with the release of his single tagged “Talk”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the video of the song, which is directed by Prodigeezy, features Falz driving alongside his guys with different scenes relating to the lyrics played out.

    ‘Talk’ is a socio-conscious record that addresses critical happenings and advises the youths to be wary of ‘greedy politicians.’

    As the 2019 general election draws near, the artiste uses lyrics of the song to address critical leadership issues and advised Nigerians, especially the youths, to speak up for what they truly want.

    Falz, now popularly known by industry watchers as a ‘Music Activist’, had earlier hinted fans that he would release an album titled ”Moral Instruction” on Jan. 15.

    He said of the album: “There is a dire need for us to redefine the concept of humanity and morality.

    “There is a pressing need for re-education and re-orientation of the people, for this is the only way we can restore sanity.”

    NAN reports that Falz, a lawyer turned singer, began his professional career as a music artiste in 2009, and currently owns an independent record label called Bahd Guys Records.

    Read Also: CBN to support 120,000 rice farmers in Kano

    He is the son of Femi Falana (SAN), a Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer.

    The music artists came to limelight after his song “Marry Me” (featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade) won him a nomination in the “Best Collaboration of The Year” category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

    In 2018, Falz released a controversial audio/visual song “This Is Nigeria”, a mock-up of American rapper Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”.

    It addresses societal issues prevalent in Nigeria, including SARS brutality, codeine abuse, and killings in some parts of the country.

    The video of the song highlights the nation’s issues especially violence and corruption in politics, policing, and religious bigotry.

    The song was, however, banned by National Broadcasting Commission

  • Submit yourself to Police, Falana advises Melaye

    Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has advised Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, to submit himself for arrest by the Police in order to end the drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family and neighbours have been subjected in the past six days.

    Falana who gave the advise in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday in reaction to the insistence of the Police to arrest Senator Dino Melaye on the allegation that he has committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, urged legislator of the upper chamber, to do so without any further delay.

    He argued that “by politely requesting Senator Melaye to submit himself for arrest, the Nigeria Police Force has accorded him the special treatment that is normally reserved for Very Important Personalities (VIP’s) in Nigeria by security agencies”.

    He contended that but for Senator Melaye’s privileged position in the country, the Police would have forcefully arrested him without laying any siege to his house.

    He regretted that the decision of the senator not to submit himself for investigation, led to the situation where a team of police personnel have surrounded his residence with a view to effecting his arrest noting that the siege to the house by the Police had needlessly lasted for six days while the supply of electricity and water to the house has been disconnected by the Police. Such action cannot be justified in law.

    To buttress his advice to the senator to submit himself for arrest, the senior lawyer cited a decided case relating to the matter.

    He said: “the Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear in the case of Dr. Oladele Fajemirokun v Commercial Bank (Nig) Limited (2009) 21 WRN 1 that no court has the power to restrain the Police from arresting any citizen who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence”.

    Senator Melaye, Falana noted, has however refused respond to the invitation of the Police on the grounds that the permission of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was not sought and obtained.

    Falana contended that the Nigeria Police Force is not required to seek the consent or obtain the permission of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives before arresting a member of the national assembly who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence in any part of the country.

    Read Also: Buhari to Labour: Allow us continue to fix infrastructure

    While admitting that the fundamental right of every citizen to personal liberty is guaranteed by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria and article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, he argued that such right may however be violated by the State if there is reasonable suspicion that any citizen has committed a criminal offence contrary to what he described as the misleading statement credited to the leadership of the Senate on the procedure for the arrest of legislators.

    “Since legislators are not entitled to immunity under section 308 of the Constitution they are liable to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted if they are linked with the commission of any criminal offence. However. the arrest, investigation and prosecution must be conducted in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the penal statutes and the Constitution”, he stated.

    Falana however blamed the Police for the sensationalizing the planned arrest of the Senator Melaye.

    “The Police ought to have effected the arrest of the Senator under the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which empower the Police and other law enforcement to break into any house to arrest if there is evidence that any criminal suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by any court has absconded or is concealing himself or herself so that the warrant cannot be executed.

    “By sending over 60 armed police personnel to arrest a citizen is exposing the federal government to ridicule”, he lamented.

  • Parade of suspects

    A crime reporter once told me a story of how after the parade of some alleged robbery suspects by a police officer, she strongly felt that the accused persons were innocent of the charges against them based on their denial while speaking with crime correspondents.

    She was so worried about the accused persons being punished for the offence they were not guilty of that she sought the intervention of a superior police officer who after further investigation was able to establish their innocence.

    I am not sure what happened to the officer who tried to frame up the accused persons, but the incident confirmed the doubt I have always had about some claims by the police of their ‘exploits’ in apprehending ‘criminals’

    While the police can indeed claim to have done a lot to curb crime in the country through various arrests and prosecution, there have been cases of deliberate false accusations against innocent persons and miscarriage of justice which have been a cause for concern and require urgent attention to curb the practice.

    There have been cases of innocent persons who have been killed by security agents and labelled as robbers to give the false impression that they are ‘on top’ of some major cases being investigated.

    The recent outcry against parade of suspects who may turn out to be innocent persons is informed by instances in the past when claims by security agents were not proved in law courts. It is not enough to arrest persons for a crime, it is necessary to be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt in accordance with the laws of the land that they are guilty of the offences they are accused of.

    Since no one can be said to be guilty of a crime until he or she is proved to be so in the law court, it is wrong for security agencies to take the laws into their hands by parading suspects and calling them what they may not be.

    The police can announce that they have arrested persons in connection with a case, but parading them and making them to make ‘confession’ on camera to journalists who interrogate them based on the police accusation is not right as human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, and others have been insisting.

    There have been accused persons who have claimed that they were forced to admit what they didn’t do following torture and other extra-judicial means of obtaining evidences. Some accused persons are forced to pose with weapons which may not be theirs.

    Instead of taking time to get necessary evidence against accused persons, the impression one gets is that security agents think once they parade suspects and give room for unrestrained media trial, the case is over. Unfortunately what is required is not parade or media trial, but convincing evidence and diligent trial of accused persons.

    It is sad that after some accused persons have been falsely accused and subjected to public ridicule, they are freed by the court without commensurate publicity about their innocence.

    If the police and other security agents continue to ignore the wise counsel to stop parading accused persons, it is up to the media not to give the parade undue publicity. Arrests can be reported without pictures and videos since such violate the fundamental rights of those concerned.

  • Fashola to court: Dismiss Falana’s suit seeking to compel FG to fix Oshodi/Apapa expressway

     

     

    The Minister of Works, Housing and Power Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to dismiss the fundamental right suit filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) challenging the failure of the federal government to remove the gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

    In his preliminary objection against the suit, Fashola challenged Falana’s locus standi to file the suit.

    He argued that Falana has not shown that he has suffered over and above other motorists or users of the road.

    The Minister contended failure to repair the road has not in any way restricted or breached Falana’s freedom of movement

    In a counter-affidavit deposed to by one Ayodele Otedola, a litigation clerk in the ministry, on behalf of the Minister, it was stated the gridlock on the road “is always caused by tanker drivers who normally follow the route to Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) for the purpose of loading and offloading their goods”.

    It also stated that the minister’s “effort to clear the road and remove the trailers and tankers has not been easy but that effort has been redoubled to achieve this goal”.

    Falana, in his fundamental right suit, argued the state of the road constitutes a threat to his life and violation of his fundamental right to move freely in Lagos as guaranteed by Sections 33 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    He is therefore seeking the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the refusal or failure of the respondents to remove obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana asked the court for a declaration the failure or refusal of the respondents to make the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway safe for motorists is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 12 ff the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He prayed the court for a declaration the parking of tankers and trailers on the overhead bridges in Lagos is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant and other motorists guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He, in addition, asked for a declaration that the applicant is entitled to his fundamental right to economic, social and cultural development guaranteed by Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana in addition asked for an order of the court directing the respondents to remove all obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway forthwith.

    Meanwhile, the federal high court has fixed January 19, 2018 for hearing the substantive suit and the preliminary objection.

     

     

     

     

  • Stop sealing up suspects’ assets, Falana tells EFCC

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, on Sunday advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop sealing up assets belonging to suspects of financial crimes.

    The lawyer gave the advice in Ikeja at the presentation of ‘Compendium of High-Profile Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases in Nigeria.’

    The compendium, which highlights high-profile corruption cases and their implications on the economy was compiled by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a Civil Society Organisation.

    Falana said sealing up of properties while cases were still pending in courts did not do the public any good as the assets waste away with no economic value.

    The lawyer said it would be good if those assets were put into use by the EFCC, pending the final determination of the cases in which they were linked.

    “I do not subscribe to the locking up of assets or properties while a case is still pending in court. I do not think the EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies should be doing that.

    “If somebody has stolen money to build a hospital, just like the one on Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja, somebody was alleged to have stolen to build the hospital worth about N2.5billion, which is sealed now.

    “For me,you are not doing the public any good by just locking up the place and by putting your inscription: ‘Under Investigation’.

    “Why don’t you allow it to function so that the place can benefit the people, because it is already acquired for public purpose.

    “And this should go for all buildings too. People are looking for accommodation and you just lock up blocks of flat over cases still pending in court.

    “And these cases may be in court for years.And by the time the cases are concluded, the premises you have sealed no longer have their value.

    “The EFCC was set up to revive businesses not to liquidate them.You liquidate businesses by just getting some court orders.That to me, is not the way to fight corruption,” he said.

    Falana added that the sight of seized vehicles wasting away at EFCC offices was cause for concern, paying the assets could have been put into economic use.

    He, however, suggested that the vehicles could be sold by the EFCC to stop decay while the proceeds were kept in an account pending the determination of the cases involving their owners.

    “If the case is finally resolved in favour of the suspects, they are given the money, if not, the money is forfeited to government.

    “That, I think, is better than allowing these vehicles to waste away while cases are being investigated or still pending in court,” he said.

    Falana said the fight against corruption could not be genuinely fought by the government, but by Nigerians themselves.

    He therefore urged all stakeholders to be vigilant and play their part to confront the menace of corrruption

    Also speaking. Board Chairman of Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Muiz Banire, said seizing properties and allowing them to waste away made no economic sense.

    Banire, also a SAN, said such properties were better handed to AMCON to manage for the sake of the economy.

    “When these assets are seized by anti-cortuption agencies, most of them get destroyed over time without rescue.I think it will be good if those assets are managed by AMCON for the sake of the economy,” he said.

    In his speech, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of PremiumTimes (Online news medium), commended HEDA for the compendium, saying it would add value to the war against corruption.

    Olorunyomi said corruption was an albatross to development, calling for the concerted efforts of all Nigerians to tackle it.

    He commended the EFCC for the strides made in the anti-graft war, but said more was expected from the commission to defeat corruption.

    Earlier, Chairman of HEDA, Mr Lanre Suraj, said the group compiled the compendium to provide the needed information to intensify the anti-corruption war.

    He said HEDA was deeply concerned about the economic losses to corruption, hence the compendium to stress the need for all stakeholders to share ideas and information with a view to winning the anti-graft war. (NAN)

  • ASUU Strike-FG set to meet with union on Monday

    The Federal Government will meet with the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) on Monday Dec.10, over the ongoing nationwide strike.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made this known in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mr Samuel Olowookere, in Abuja.

    Ngige said that all further discussions between the Ministry of Education and ASUU would now reconvene at 4 p.m.at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    The Minister also condemned a statement credited to a Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana who was alleged to have described as illegal the enforcement of section 43:1 of the Trade Dispute Act 2004 on the’’ No Work No Pay’’

    Falana was also said to have asked the federal government to immediately withdraw what he termed an “illegal order”.

    The minister, however, said that the law of ‘’No Work, No Pay,’’ was a fundamental axiom in labour and industrial relations all over the world.

    He said that the ministry would investigate the media report credited to Falana to ascertain whether he actually quoted the Supreme Court judgments.

    “That is knowing that they are tangential and that they neither anchor nor dwell on provisions of section 43 of Trade Dispute Act T8(LFN 2004) before it will take further necessary action, ” he said.

    Read Also:ASUU strike: FG begins implementation of no-work-no-pay rule in striking varsities

    NAN reports that on Dec, 4, the meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU ended without any conclusio.

    Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU National President, while speaking with newsmen at the end of the closed door meeting in Abuja noted that negotiations were still ongoing. He said both parties were yet to reach a concrete decision.

    “For now, we have started to discuss. We are yet to reach any concrete decision. Once we have more information, we will make ourselves available to the press.

    “The union will reconvene very soon to continue negotiations,” he said.

    The meeting held at the instance of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu was to find lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the university lecturers.

    ASUU had on Nov. 4, embarked on an indefinite strike over poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements by government.

    Meanwhile, the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr Danielson Akpan has urged both parties to have a common ground so that the universities can reopen.

    He said they must put the interest of the country and Nigerian students above any other thing.