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Tag: FIDA

  • Ekiti governorship election credible – Observers

    A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) based in Ekiti State on Monday affirmed that the July 14 governorship election won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, reflected the wishes of the electorate.

    The CSOs, whose representatives were on the field as election observers, said the election was free, fair and credible contrary to claims to the contrary in some quarters.

    They urged the people of the state and other Nigerians to be wary of “fake election observers” hired to impugn on the integrity of the poll.

    The three groups – New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Centre for Social Justice, Good Health and Community Development (CENSJHOD) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) – condemned vote buying at the poll.

    While noting that virtually all parties were complicit in the vote buying saga, the observers said development cannot vitiate the process or taint the overall result of the poll.

    Addressing a joint news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, NISD Executive Director, Abiodun Oyeleye, said some groups who called themselves “election observers” and discredited the poll were allegedly hired to do the hatchet job.

    Reading from the report of the observers, Oyeleye praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for improved performance which led to success of the poll.

    Oyeleye said the CSOs were part of the Nigerian Election Situation Room, the umbrella body of all election observers accredited by INEC to monitor elections.

    He said: “There were fake observers, those who claim to be observers but reside in the Government House. We have the video clips of those who call themselves observers but were following government officials all around.

    “We had our observers on ground; in fact, in NISD alone, we trained 50 observers. The report of our observers on the field was that the election was free, fair, credible and reflected the election wish of people of Ekiti State.

    “Although there are incidences of vote buying, all parties induced one way or the other. Some parties did ‘prepaid,’ others did ‘see and buy’ while we had parties that shared electronics before the election.

    “The election represented the will of the people of Ekiti State, with the exception of votes buying we noticed. Many of those who cast their votes were willing to be bought. Some even waited at the polling units waiting for the highest bidder. And our observation showed that all parties were culpable of this.”

     

     

  • FIDA urges women to stop mutilation

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State chapter, has urged Abual/Odual women to stop genital mutilation.

    The Chairperson, Mrs. Tonia Osademe,   spoke in Ayama, the headquarters of Abua/Odual Local Government.

    She said February 6 is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

    Osademe, however, noted that the practice was on the decline in 22 local governments.

    She said FGM campaign was succeeding due to FIDA’s efforts, adding that the federation was taking the campaign across the state, including worship centres.

    The chairperson said Abua/Odual Council had the highest prevalence of female circumcision, adding that other 22 councils were gradually stopping the practice.

    She said circumcision of an expectant mother had consequences, such as infection, excessive bleeding and death, among others.

    Women at the campaign differed in opinions. Some supported the practice, while others described it as an old tradition.

    Mrs. Sokari Inmo, a mother of two, said she was not circumcised and would not circumcise her daughters.

    Other women said non-circumcision made young, unmarried ladies sexually active, “pursuing men up and down, seeking satisfaction everywhere.’’

    FIDA, which has its mandate as protection, promoting and preserving the rights of women and children, described the practice as “rape and violence”.

  • FIDA urges NASS to pass Gender Equality Bill

    FIDA urges NASS to pass Gender Equality Bill

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA ) has urged the National Assembly to pass the Gender Equality Bill into law to curb gender-based violence in the country.

    Mrs Ngozi Ikenga, Chairperson of FIDA in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made the plea in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

    “The bill on gender equality should be passed into law. I am appealing to the National Assembly to look at that bill again and pass it into law.

    “Women need to be brought into the scheme of things in this country, let the interest of women be covered both in the Constitution and other forms of laws in the country.

    “We have been clamouring for this Gender Equality Bill to be passed into law but it always met brick wall, frustration and all of that.

    Read also: Lagos govt reiterates commitment to gender equality

    “Women should have their own place both in the constitution and in anything that concerns us in this country, because we are human beings and living in the same country,’’ she said.

    Ikenga said FIDA was happy over the enactment of the Violent Against Persons Prohibition ( VAPP ) Act, 2015, but regrettable that only the FCT and Anambra had domesticated the law.

    She said FIDA was discussing with other state branches to lobby their state Assemblies to domesticate the Act.

    “The VAAP Act covers all areas of violence: domestic violence, sexual violence, rape and all forms of violence.

    “We are so happy that they expanded gender issues in the Act. Domestication is paramount.

    “If all states in the country domesticate this Act, there will be no hiding place for perpetrators of violence.

    “That is why we are lobbying all states to domesticate it,’’ she said.

    On issue of rape, Ikenga urged victims including physically challenged, to first report the matter to a government-approved hospital, before going to the police.

    According to her, a victim of rape needs to show evidence that she was raped and the police would as carry out their own medical examination and investigation.

    She said, “Sometimes, the reports from the Police angle may be compromised.

    “You may be delayed and the specimen for evidence has a life span and you need evidence in the case.

    “This way, it is better, so that you do not have a situation where they will take the sample and say somebody mistakenly throws it away. You already have one in hand.

    “The hospital reports will carry more weight in court. So, there is no harm in going to the hospital first to arm yourselves with results before going to the law enforcement agency.’’

    NAN

  • 20 rapists jailed in Ekiti

    20 rapists jailed in Ekiti

    At least 20 rapists have been prosecuted and convicted in various courts of law in Ekiti State in the last one year.

    The Chairman of the state chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Funke Anoma, disclosed this on Thursday at the commencement of the 2017 Annual Law Week in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The Ekiti FIDA Annual Law Week which has as its theme: “The Role of Stakeholders in the 21st Century Childcare,” had three Senior Advocates of Nigeria – Mallam Yusuf Alli, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe and Mr. John Baiyeshea – as guest speakers.

    Mrs. Anoma said FIDA was poised to tackle incidences of rape, sexual abuse of minors and women and all forms of violence, noting that babies are not exempted from the scourge of rape in the state.

    She said: “There are gross exploitation of women and children, with more internally displaced children everywhere you turn to, and scary social media crimes among our youths reflecting in more child offenders.

    “We have been doing our best to protect rights of women. We are currently prosecuting so many accused persons for gender based violence and sexual assault.

    “We are indeed happy that we are gradually overcoming the challenge of stigmatization because we have devised ways to protect the identities of victims. We used to keep their identities with high level of secrecy. Sensitization has helped to bring out victims to report to us for proper action and we are making progress.

    “Some of them were even bold to testify in courts because we now have a family court which was a special court handling such matters.”

     

  • Female lawyers fault Senate’s rejection of Gender Bill

    Female lawyers in the country have faulted the decision by the Senate rejecting the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill‎.

    The lawyers, under the auspices of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, accused the Senate of not being women friendly, in view of its alleged penchant for treating feminine issues with levity.

    FIDA, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mrs. Inime Aguma urged the Senate to always treat issues that concern women with the seriousness it deserves.

    “There would be no Senate without women. We can no longer afford to have citizens who cannot participate effectively in Governance because of discriminatory practices.”

    ‎The group noted that the Senate rejected the bill at a time when the country’s economy was in ruins and it requires the participation of all her citizenry to nurture the country back to her feet.

    FIDA urged well meaning Nigerians and Civil Society organisations (CSOs) to support the sponsors of the Bill to enable them represent the Bill and ensure its passage.

    “On the 16th day of March 2016,  the second reading of the  bill for Gender Equality and equal opportunities was on the Agenda at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    ‎”Unfortunately this bill which addressed all discriminatory practices against women was thrown out.

    “No.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.

    “The United Nations in further recognition of the importance of women’s participation in the socio- economic and political activities of any Nation chose the following themes for the International Women’s day and the United Nations consultative forum on women (holding now in New York) respectively to wit:  ‘planet 50-50 by 2030: step it up for gender equality’ and ‘women empowerment and it’s link to sustainable development ‘.

    “These themes are meant to draw global attention on the need by States parties,  to step  up  gender equality and empower all women and girls.

    “FIDA Nigeria has observed that the Nigerian Senate has decided to think differently from the world.

    “First the theme for the International Women’s day was trivialized to mean ‘men taking more than one wife’.

    “Now, the Equal Opportunities bill has been voted down on reasons that bother on religion and traditions underscoring the need to create a level playing field where women are gainfully engaged in Nation building and development.

    “The issue raised by one of the Senators that the Constitution guarantees the Rights of all persons and therefore the Gender Equality bill is not required is an argument that defeats itself.

    “The discrimination suffered by women are peculiar to women and so there is need for specific legislation to protect the girl child and woman from the monstrosity of our Patriarchal system , cultural and religious beliefs.

    “The provisions of the Constitution on human rights is broad based and the Gender Equality bill sought to promote specific legislation that identifies and prohibits all forms of violations specifically, especially as they are not mentioned in the constitution.

    “Women make up to half of the Nation’s population and a continuous violation of their rights affects the development of the Nation and projects Nigeria as one of the under-developed nations in the world.”

    “It is also time that Civil Society organisations act as a watch dog to Government’s inaction and non-implementation of treaties, making government accountable to the society,” the group said.

     

  • Bayelsa, police disagree on allegation of baby selling

    The Ministry of Health, Bayelsa State, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), yesterday, said it was not true that a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Sawyer Wisdom, sold a baby girl delivered in the Survival Hospital located at Igbogene, Yenagoa, at N200,000.

    The ministry and FIDA said contrary to the claims of the police that the baby was nowhere to be found, the newborn was being catered for at the Gloryland Children Home, a motherless babies’ facility owned by the state government.

    The police earlier said they arrested a doctor and a nurse at Survival Hospital over an alleged plot to sell a newborn baby to a willing buyer at N200,000.

    Speaking in a press conference in Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, said it became important for all the stakeholders in the baby-selling saga to clarify the issues to avoid dragging the ministry in the mud.

    Owei said there was no arrangement ab initio between the mother of the baby, Nwachukwu Nnenna and Sawyer, who is the owner of the hospital, to sell the baby.

    He said Sawyer discouraged her from carrying out the abortion, but opted to cater for and manage her condition until March 2 when she was delivered of a life baby girl.

    Owei explained that upon delivery, the mother and her baby were fed by the hospital and was later handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development because Nwachukwu said she could not take care of her.

    He said the police and other stakeholders went to the child care home to see the baby adding that the reports in the public domain about the matter were not correct.

    Also absolving himself of wrongdoing, Sawyer, said before he contacted the ministry to take the baby, the woman signed an undertaking to that effect.

  •  FIDA Lagos holds Law Week June 16

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Lagos will hold its 2015 Law Week between June 16 and 19.

    The opening ceremony of the Law week has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 16  with a lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos at 10.30am. The Theme of the program is: Women in Power and Decision.

    Chairperson FIDA Lagos State Branch, Eliana Martins said the programme is designed to explore the obstacles to and opportunities for women participation in all spheres of public and  private life,  address the challenges of legal reforms in eliminating all kinds of discrimination against women, project programmes that will encourage women’s access to decision making and participation in leadership and to project ways that the dignity and rights of women can be showcased in the media.

    Martins said FIDA Lagos, in striving to pursue its objective of enlightening and sensitising the vulnerable members of our society including women and children, is promoting the enhancement of their welfare and celebrating the international day of African child during the opening programme.

  • Fashola okays Atilade as chief judge

    LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has approved the appointment of Justice Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade as the new Chief Judge.

    The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment was sequel to an approval by the House of Assembly.

    Justice Atilade succeeds her sister, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, who bowed out as Chief Judge on July 26, 2014, having attained the statutory age of 65 years.

    Ipaye said the new chief judge would be sworn in tomorrow at a ceremony scheduled to hold at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja at 2.30p.m.

    Justice Atilade will become the 15th Chief Judge of Lagos State and the fifth woman to occupy the post.

    Her female predecessors in office include Justice Rosaline Omotosho, who occupied the office between 1995 and 1996. She was followed by Ibitola Sotiminu, who was there between 2001 and 2004.

    Justice Inimidun Akande followed in 2009 and retired on June 10, 2012, while the immediate Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, the fourth female to occupy the office, took over as the 14th Chief Judge in June 14, 2012 and formally retired last Saturday.

    The new appointee was born in London, England on September 24, 1952.

    She attended Ladi-Lak Institute, Yaba and Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere between 1965 and 1969 and Queens College between 1970 and 1971.

    She proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1972 and passed out in 1975, after obtaining a degree in law.

    She passed out of the Nigerian Law School in 1976.

    She was a State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice between 1977 and 1979; Principal Legal Officer, Nigerian Ports Authority 1979 to 1981; Lagos State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate Grade 1,  1981 to 1996 and was appointed a judge of the High Court on July 19, 1996.

    She became the Head Judge of the state judiciary in June, 2012, a position that was formerly occupied by Justice Phillips, before her elevation to the position of the chief judge.

    She is a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), International Bar Association (IBA) and Ikoyi Club 1938.

    Her hobbies include travelling, aerobics and music.

    She has three children.

     

  • Female lawyers fault Rivers acting CJ’s appointment

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has faulted the decision by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to appoint the President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, as the state’s acting Chief Judge.

    The group contended in a statement on Monday that the appointment amounted to “a flagrant breach of section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.”

    It stated that the most appropriate person for the position is Justice Daisy Okocha, who had been recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment in that capacity.

    FIDA also faulted the argument by the state’s Attorney General, Worgu Boms, to the effect that Justice Agumagu is the oldest serving judge in Rivers State.

    The group urged the state governor to “in the interest of justice and fair play” be properly guided by the provisions of section 271(4) of the Constitution and appoint an acting Chief Judge in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

    FIDA argued that the state’s Attorney General’s contention that Justice Agumagu was appointed into the High Court bench and not the Customary Court of Appeal bench was misleading.

     

  • Akwa Ibom partners FIDA on women’s rights

    Akwa Ibom partners FIDA on women’s rights

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has pledged to work with the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) to ensure the protection of the rights of women and the less privileged.

    Speaking when the group’s National President, Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, visited him, Akpabio condemned the age-long practice in some societies in which bereaved families disposses widows of the property of their late husbands.

    He said a bill before the House of Assembly would enable widows to enjoy all rights and privileges of their deceased husbands.

    Akpabio said the state government has long stopped the stigmatisation of children on allegations of witchcraft, saying that based on the law anyone caught doing so faces 10 years of imprisonment.

    The Governor said the introduction of free, compulsory education for every child of school age has led to the intake of about 1.7 million children in the state, both at primary and secondary school levels.

    This, he said, has drastically reduced child mortality and abuse.

    The governor, who donated N10 million to the national body and a bus to the state chapter of the organisation, urged FIDA to work with the state and federal governments to guarantee justice for all in the country.

    Shekarau said FIDA is non-political, non-religious and non- governmental body and was inaugurated in 1988 to protect and intercede for women and children who cannot afford the services of lawyers, saying the body has brought succour to women and children in the federation.

    She praised Akpabio’s wife for caring for widows, twins and orphans in the state and praised the governor for the provision of free health-care delivery services for the pregnant and the elderly.

    The FIDA boss was also happy with the appointment of women into key positions, granting of soft loans to women for small-scale and agricultural businesses as well as passage of the Child’s Rights Bill into law.

    She pledged FIDA’s support to the state government in the improvement of lives for women and children.