Two Army Generals at the weekend escaped death after encountering a hidden Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Banki Junction- Pulka road in Borno state.
The Chief of Administration (Army), Major General IM Alkali and the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor O Ezugwu were on operational visit to troops of 26 Task Force Brigade deployed for Operation LAFIYA DOLE currently engaged in Operation DEEP PUSH when their convoy encountered and cleared four IEDs buried by suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists along their way from Bama to Gwoza on Saturday.
The four clustered IEDs were buried at a crossing point along Banki Junction and Pulka road, about 6 kilometres to Firgi in Borno State.
The Explosive Ordinance Device team were however able to quickly detect the deadly IEDs and safely extracted and detonated them.
Former Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Ishaya Rizi Bamaiyi has opened a Pandora’s box with his memoir titled :’’ Vindication of a general’’. How he arrived at that title I do not know. What I know is that Nigerians will never forget how he dealt with them as army chief between 1996 and 1999. Bamaiyi was a disaster of an army chief. He held an office which he did not have the temperament for. Though I have not been privileged to read his book, what I have gleaned from newspapers so far is enough for me to talk about the man Bamaiyi because I was in this country when he was army chief.
Bamaiyi served as the late Gen Sani Abacha’s army chief. If Abacha was evil, Bamaiyi was devilish. He was the power behind the throne who goaded the late head of state to do most of the things he did. As army chief, Bamaiyi was the eyes and ears of the late Abacha, who took all he told him as the gospel truth. Since the late Abacha was ensconced in the Villa for the fear of God knows what, the likes of Bamaiyi had a field day feeding him with titillating stories of how some people were always plotting to overthrow him. As army chief, Bamaiyi took delight in framing people up for phantom coups. Today, he wants us to see him as the best army chief this country has ever had. But no so fast, general.
An army chief worth that name would have taken many things into consideration, particularly the period he served, before taking certain actions. Bamaiyi came into office at a most inauspicious time in the political annals of the country. It was the time the country was split along the north-south divide – a situation brought upon the country by the same army which he then headed. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 election by the Babangida junta set the country on edge. The annulment was a fatal error and in his sober moments, Gen Ibrahim Babangida will always regret his action.
Many military officers supported their then commander-in-chief. They felt that within a few weeks things would return to normal. They never thought that the late Chief M.K.O Abiola would put up a spirited fight for the restoration of his mandate “freely given to him by the Nigerian people on June 12, 1993”. In the heat of the June 12 crisis, Babangida was forced to ‘’step aside’’. He handed over to the dark-goggled Abacha. In no time, Abacha detained Abiola for declaring himself president at Epetedo on June 11, 1994. This was the setting when Bamaiyi became army chief in 1996. “As chief of army staff”, he said in his book, ‘’I experienced the most turbulent tenure and challenges in the history of the Nigerian Army”. He was right, but it was a problem the military brought upon itself.
What did he do to rectify things? Rather than break the ice, he exacerbated things. But in his book, he tried to portray himself as a saint who was made to suffer for nothing. “The most challenging of my challenges is my unfair incarceration for eight years”, he claimed. If he alleges that he was “unfairly incarcerated”, what will the late Abiola family say of the treatment meted out to its patriarch. Bamaiyi was not “unfairly incarcerated”. Some of those he claimed to have treated him unjustly like former President Olusegun Obasanjo have replied him. One of those he framed up over the 1995 phantom coup, Col Gabriel Ajayi, who found some of the claims in his book horrible, also took him to the cleaners. According to Bamaiyi, former head of state Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Babangida and others installed Obasanjo as president in 1999. He also claimed that the Obasanjo administration planned to kill him, while Abiola died mysteriously in detention under Abdulsalami’s regime.
Trust Obasanjo not to allow any attack to go unreplied. ‘’Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him, for what? To achieve what? What of the people he killed? My government did not plot to kill him. My government asked him to answer to those that were alleged to have been killed by him, and that is legitimate. That if there is an allegation that you have done something, that you have committed a crime and you are arrested, you should answer. There were allegations. The police and other law enforcement agencies decided to look into the allegations. They invited him and they asked him to answer as a result of what was found. So, they charged him to court’’. It is the outcome of the court case that has emboldened Bamaiyi to write the ‘’Vindication of a general’’. He may have been acquitted by the law court, but he will never be acquitted in the people’s court.
Describing him as a liar for his claim that Abiola died mysteriously under Abdulsalami’s watch, Col Ajayi said : ‘’It is not in my character to impugn the sanctity of senior military officers because we worship people like that in the military. Unfortunately, when a senior officer descends into the sewage tank, the officer cannot expect to smell of perfume. Bamaiyi is a devious person. He is a fraud. The book is a comedy of errors and a fictional thriller. It should be titled: The platform of Mallam Bamaiyi (reminds me of the late Cyprian Ekwensi’s great novel: The passport of Mallam Ilia). Do not mind him. At the Oputa panel, Gen Ibrahim Sabo alleged that when Abacha died, Bamaiyi said the military should equal the equation. How could he claim that Gen Abdulsalami should be held accountable for Abiola’s death when he was among those who tortured Abiola before he died’’.
I do not know what prompted Bamaiyi to write this book than his hunger for vindication. His acquittal for the attempted murder of Mr Alex Ibru, the late Guardian publisher, will never wash him clean of all the atrocities he committed under the late Abacha. ‘’History’’, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe said, ‘’will vindicate the just’’. But the posterity, which Bamaiyi claimed to have written his book for, will never vindicate him because he was not just, fair and equitable while in office.
• Eight rebel officers flee to Greece • Over 250 dead, 1,440 injured in botched takeover • President: They will pay a heavy price their treason
Istanbul’s most senior soldier has been charged with treason as eight leading members of the plot to overthrow the government fled to Greece.
General Erdal Ozturk who commanded the Third Army Corps has been detained and is facing treason charges for his role in the aborted coup.
His men attempted to seize strategic locations across Istanbul last night when they were confronted by thousands of unarmed civilians who came out in support of President Recep Erdogan.
Erdogan has suggested the ringleaders could face the death penalty even though Turkey abolished capital punishment as part of its attempts to join the European Union.
Turkish officials have said 161 civilians have killed and 1,440 wounded.
Almost 2,900 troops have been arrested, including at least two generals.
Eight soldiers landed in Alexandroupolis today and tried to claim asylum in the EU state, after a coup in neigbouring Turkey that left more than 250 people dead.
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu immediately demanded that the captain, two majors and five privates were returned ‘immediately’ to Turkey where they would face punishment.
Two majors, a captain and five privates have landed in the EU nation in a military helicopter today, according to Turkish Dogan news agency
Greece claimed it would have to consider international laws before returning them, although it promised to send the helicopter back.
However, Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Greece has now promised to return the ‘treacherous soldiers’ to be punished in Turkey.
The news comes after Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim said the nation would consider bringing back the death penalty to deal with them, after it was abolished in 2004.
The blackhawk helicopter landed in Greece today after a night of violence in Istanbul, where more than 1,500 people were injured.
Some 104 plotters were killed, while more than 200 people – at least 41 of them police officers and 47 civilians – fell as ‘martyrs’.
Footage shows Greek officials leading the men out in handcuffs after they were arrested for illegal entry into Greece.
A spokeswoman for Greece, Olga Gerovasili, today said that they are in contact with Turkish authorities and will arrange ‘the return of the military helicopter as soon as possible’.
As for the eight military passengers, she said: ‘We will follow the procedures of international law.
‘However, we give very serious considerations to the fact that (the Turkish military men) are accused, in their country, of violating the constitutional order and trying to overthrow democracy.’
Greek police say that the eight arrested Turks include two majors, four captains and two sergeants first class.
This differs from Turkish sources that said they were two majors, a captain sand five privates.
Last night, the army had told people to stay indoors so that they could depose President Erdogan, but they were met by civilians who confronted them, defending the government.
Ordinary Turks confronted rifle-wielding soldiers, climbed atop tanks and laid in front of military vehicles in an effort to take back control of the country.
President Erdogan called on people to take to the streets, leading to reports of groups of soldiers surrendering at several key locations in Ankara and Istanbul, including Bosphorus Bridge.
Former Corps Commander Medical (CCM) Major General Samuel Ameh (rtd) has called for the repositioning of military hospitals to deter Nigerians from seeking treatment overseas.
Ameh, who spoke at the pulling out of 21 senior officers at the Nigerian Reference Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, said Nigeria could become a medical tourism destination for other African countries.
He said the right infrastructure and manpower should first be provided to raise more revenue for the country.
He said: “Quality healthcare is hinged on a tripod- appropriate infrastructure, right equipment, well trained and retrained personnel. The present NAMC (Nigerian Army Medical Corps) is grossly deficient in all of these. It is worthy of note that some former Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) made genuine attempts at addressing these problems, unfortunately these attempts were not sustained.’’
Ameh, who was also pulled out after meritorious service, lauded plans by the Nigerian Army to hire some health personnel into the corps as well as employ consultants as Majors.
“The solution to the problems should be holistic and sustainable so that the corps will be in a better position to provide timely and comprehensive medical support for the enhancement of the combat efficiency of the NA,” said Ameh.
The Corps Commander Major – General. Abimbola Amusu said the event was held to celebrate Generals who have retired from the NAMC in the last three years.
“This ceremony is part of the customs of the Nigerian Army and a sign of respect and farewell from service for Generals that retire honourably. It is, therefore, the wish of every officer that attains this rank. It serves to appreciate the officer for his or her meritorious service, while being motivation for those still in service.
Hold fast the cord of Allah and do not be disunited. And remember the Mercy of Allah upon you when you became adversaries to one another and Allah saved you from falling into the quagmire of Hell by reconciling your hearts with love. That is Allah’s way of illustrating His signs to you that you may be grateful”. Q. 3: 103
Preamble
This article was meant for publication in this column penultimate Sunday, April 24, 2016. That was the day the second General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) was held. The venue was the University of Ibadan International Conference Hall. More than 350 delegates and a sizable number of prominent guests from the six States of the South West were in attendance.
Attendance
The Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Senator Ishak Abiola Ajimobi, was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ishmael Lekan Ali. A former Minister of Justice and World Court Judge, His Excellency, Prince Abdul Jabbar Bola Ajibola, who is the Chairman of MUSWEN’s Board of Trustees as well as a former Inspector-General of Nigeria Police, Alhaji Musliu Smith were among the prominent personalities present at the occasion.
Also present were a former Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Najeem Awodele, former Deputy Director-General of the Stock Exchange, Alhaji Rasak Oladejo, a onetime President of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Sulaiman Owoyemi and the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello as well as the Secretary-General of the League, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe.
Also present were a retinue of Professors, including T. G. O. Gbadamosi, Lateef Hussein, Saeed Malik, M. O. Abdul Rahman, K. K. Oloso and others too many to be listed here, Others were the Chief Imam of Ibadan Land, Sheikh Abdul Ganiyyi Ajigbotomo kekere and Iya Adini of Yoruba, Alhaja Sekinat Adekola as well as Baba Isale Adini of Ibadan Land, Alhaji Lateef Oyelade.
The Chairman of the GA’s Planning Committee was Professor Muheeb O. Opeloye while the Secretary was Alh. Tajudeen Alabede, the Assistant Director, Programmes and Corporate Services of MUSWEN
Life like weather
Life is like weather. It changes posture from season to season. If the weather is too hot in summer, let no hope be lost. A clement weather may be experienced in winter. There is no weather without effect. Nigerians are currently in an uncertain economic weather in which nothing is predictable with precision. This was the situation that influenced the theme of MUSWEN’s second General Assembly held penultimate Sunday. That theme was ‘Zakah and Poverty Alleviation’.
Nigerian Muslims have been perennially facing two fundamental problems. One is poverty, the other is ignorance. A solution to one can automatically proffer a solution to the other. But the failure on the parts of the concerned stakeholders to search for any solution at all has consistently remained a spectre chasing the ghost of every Muslim day and night.
President’s welcome address
In his welcome address, at the occasion, the President of MUSWEN, His Excellency, Dr. Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola (OON), said inter alia that:
“….Despite the fact that we are operating in a particularly difficult time in the nation’s history, MUSWEN has recorded a number of accomplishments since our last General Assembly especially with efforts that were geared towards deepening and widening relations with stakeholders within the Ummah both within and outside the region”.
“With effective coordination by the Secretariat, the active collaboration of the other organs of MUSWEN and the State Councils/Communities as well as the critical support of other stakeholders, it is heart-warming that MUSWEN has continued to serve as the rallying point for Muslims in the region”.
Components of MUSWEN
“The result of this has been the improved and growing relationship with the State Councils/Communities who are the major components of MUSWEN; the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) of which MUSWEN is a major component; the League of Imams and Alfas, which MUSWEN recognizes as an essential pillar of the Ummah; the numerous Islamic organizations and other stakeholders.
Of particular significance is the high degree of trust that the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, reposes in MUSWEN and its leadership”.
State of the nation
Talking about the State of the nation as at the time of the General Assembly, the President of MUSWEN said:
“It is especially significant that in spite of the fears that we all had early last year, Allah helped us to survive the negative predictions about the 2015 general elections…. There is no gain saying the fact that our dear nation, Nigeria, is passing through a difficult time. In the last few years, the socio-economic climate has been tough. People are daily faced with hard choices. Insecurity, corruption and poor economy have continued to plague the nation”.
“It is gratifying, however, that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is making frantic efforts to get Nigeria out of the woods. The battle against insurgency in the Northeast is giving Nigerians the hope that, in not too distant future, that part of the country would regain its peace that was shattered some years back”.
“A sad development arising from the dastardly act of insurgency was the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
It is worrisome that for over two years now, the Chibok girls have remained in bondage. I, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to do all it could to ensure the safe return of the girls to their families. But more importantly, let us fervently pray to Allah for the safety and return of the girls”.
“In the same vein, the fight against corruption could not have come at a better time. Given the amount of information about the level of corruption that Nigeria had sunk into, one can only say that we are really fortunate that Nigeria is now on its way back to sanity and global respect. To this end, the President and his team need the support and prayers of all well-meaning Nigerians, including Muslims, as they strive to reset the nation on the path to progress and greatness”.
State of the region
Appraising the situation of the South West region, Alhaji Babalola made the following observation:
“The Southwest region of Nigeria is blessed by Allah with abundant human and natural resources. What’s more, the region is noted for setting the pace in matters of progress and development. It is not for nothing that this region is home to Nigerians from diverse backgrounds who seek means and ways to fortune and personal progress….”
“While I must acknowledge the challenges faced by the state governments in the region in their desire to develop the region, our people have no reason to be poor. I, on behalf of Muslim stakeholders in the region, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to appeal to our political leaders in the region to pull their resources together and make genuine effort to revamp and integrate the economies of the States for the greater glory of the region and our people”.
He continued thus: “In the same vein, I am delighted about the atmosphere of peace and religious harmony that continues to exist among our people irrespective of their religious affiliations. This is a tradition that has earned the South West region the respect of other people. However, experience has shown that more still needs to be done. Of particular significance is the need for more accommodation of Muslims in the political structure of Ekiti State. Muslims in the State deserve a better deal. The principles of equity, fairness and inclusive leadership need to be adequately respected in multi-stakeholder settings like ours”.
And in conclusion, the President of MUSWEN said: “I must not end this address without recognising the critical support of the State Councils/Communities, the League of Imams and Alfas, major Muslim title holders, Islamic organisations and other stakeholders whose sustained commitment has continued to make the idea of MUSWEN a pleasant reality: “K’ajo kan l’awa nse” (to be one united body is our objective)”.
The BOT Chairman
In his own remark, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), His Excellency, Prince (Judge) ‘Abdul Jabbaar Bola Ajibola, SAN, KBE, CFR, LLD, DLitt, FICArb, FNIALS, after welcoming the delegates and guests to the second General Assembly, commended the Presidency of MUSWEN for cooperating with the Board of Trustees in working for unity, welfare and progress of the Muslim Ummah saying:
”As the custodians of the shared values of our organisation, the BOT has followed with keen interest and a sense of satisfaction the various indicators of progress in MUSWEN since the last General Assembly. The BOT is Particularly glad to note that MUSWEN has been successful in reaching out to an increasing number of corporate and individual stakeholders within the Ummah and beyond. There is no doubt about the fact that this is surely the best way to further strengthen the organization for the benefit of the Ummah.
About Deputy President-General of NSCIA
The support of the stakeholders to the BOT in the course of consultations on the nomination of a new candidate for the position of Deputy President-General (South) of NSCIA is particularly commendable.
This Second Assembly should, therefore, be regarded as an opportunity for us to resolve to build on the successes recorded so far in this and other regards. The various organs of NSCIA should, on the other hand, resolve not to rest on their oars but to do more for the benefit of the apex body.
About the theme
In view of the importance of the theme of the Second Assembly – Zakah and Poverty Alleviation – the BOT wishes to commend all of those who have been supporting MUSWEN financially, believing that Allah will continue to reward them most richly in fulfilment of His promise. It is my hope that the theme will deepen our collective consciousness to support the cause of Islam financially for the general good of the Ummah.
Keynote address
The keynote address was delivered by yours sincerely on the neglected pillar of Islam called Zakah vis a vis the glaring overwhelming poverty threatening the lives of majority of Nigerian Muslims.
The contents of that address as well as the general report of the Central Working Committee of MUSWEN and that of the first General Assembly held in 2015 cannot be brought here because they are too lengthy to be accommodated in a one page article.
There is hope that both and some other related issues, will be published in this column in a foreseeable future.
THE Eighteenth Brumaire of Luis Napoleon from which this piece derived its title and inspiration is one of the great classics of historical expositions. Written in 1852 as a response to the slow-motion unravelling of the French Revolution, The Eighteenth Brumaire is a sustained piece of polemical brilliance; a tour de force of imaginative perspicuity. Karl Marx was obviously at the height of his intellectual power. Superb insights and witty observations leap from its scornful and sardonic pages like tracer bullets.
The great German philosopher makes two valid points which are very germane to the issues at hand in Nigeria at this moment. Appropriating Hegel’s earlier observation that historical occurrences and personages tend to come twice, Marx added that the first time it is usually a tragedy while the repeat appearance often yields a farce. Building on this tantalizing insight, Marx goes on to contend that even if the same historical personages happen on the same stage after an interval of time, it is as poor parodies of their former selves.
In other words, Luis Napoleon was not just a grim caricature of his illustrious uncle, this was how the illustrious uncle himself would have appeared at that material time, a fumbling caricature of his old self, a pathetic pastiche of the real thing. In an interesting and absorbing gloss on this perplexing historical drama, Terry Eagleton has noted that Louis Bonaparte was not just a regressive caricature of his more illustrious uncle, the distinguished uncle was also offering himself as a parlous parody of his former self through his less talented nephew. The gifted family had scraped the bottom of the barrel.
Echoes of Nigeria’s recent history? Let us not jump ahead of the script. There are important lessons for Nigerians and their elected president to learn from this reappearance of historical personages on the political scene. Today, in his second coming, President Buhari is confronted by an awful mess. The task is even more Herculean than his first coming. It is a revolutionary situation without revolutionary enablers.
It is obvious from his body language and its abiding militarism, his caustic disdain for shabby politicking that President Buhari would like to cut through the crap and bring immediate restitution to a Nigerian populace braying for the blood of their tormentors. But given the fact that the retired general is a product of democratic consensus, there is no way he can do this without sawing off the tree branch on which he himself is perched perilously and precariously.
It is a situation that calls for much caution and greater tact. There can be no doubt that if it is to survive this perilous conjuncture, Nigeria needs a wholesale redemptive cleansing. Yet with a compromised judiciary, a section of the political elite screaming from the rooftop and a National Assembly populated by retrogressive elements from the ancien regime, there is going to be a lot of caterwauling and hollering in the land. It is impossible to imagine a civilian regime with this level of daring and pluck. The general is alive, long live the president!!!!!.
Who becomes the next Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation? Whoever gets the job should be prepared to hit the ground running, say lawyers. Eric Ikhilae writes
Will the next Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation be different from his predecessors? Will he wage the war against corruption without fear or favour? How will the legal profession fare under him?
These are some of the questions being asked by watchers as the nation waits for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate last week cleared 18 of his nominees, setting the stage for their swearing in anytime from now. More nominees may be screened and cleared this week.
In the past, some Attorney-Generals looked the other way as laws were broken. Arbitrariness was the order of the day. Public officials and institutions equated themselves with the state. Court judgments and orders were obeyed selectively; prosecution of corrupt state officials was haphazard. At times the trial of those close to the seat of power was discontinued while politically connected convicts were pardoned.
Impunity reached an embarrassing height under the last administration when a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) withdrew the security aides of immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives and refused to recognise him as such because he had defected to another party.
Even while the issue was in court former police chief, Suleiman Abba insisted that based on his interpretation of the constitution, the Speaker could no longer be so recognised, having defected to another party.
The then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice saw nothing wrong in the conduct of the IGP and offered no contrary opinion on the issue.
Many are expecting a departure from the confusion of the immediate past when this government, which came to power on the strength of its promise to effect change, appoints its chief law officer.
This is because of the power a Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) wields, given that the society is founded on law and order.
Section 150 (1) of the Constitution states: “There shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation, who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation.”
The Constitution specifies the skill to be possessed by an AGF in Section 150(2): “A person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than 10 years.”
The Attorney-General, by virtue of Section 174 (1) of the Constitution, acts as the adviser to the Federal Government on legal issues, coordinates the activities of the prosecuting agencies, among others.
Section 174 (1) states: “The Attorney-General of the Federation shall have power –
(a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly;
(b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; and
(c) to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.”
Sub-section 2 of Section 174 allows the AGF to delegate its responsibilities by providing that: “The powers conferred upon the Attorney-General of the Federation under subsection (1) of this section may be exercised by him in person or through officers of his department. “
Unfortunately, these powers of the AGF are sometimes exercised in breach of sub-section 3 of Section 174 of the Constitution.
The section is as follows: “ In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.”
Under the immediate past administration, some cases against public office holders and major corporate organisations were discontinued with the AGF exercising his power to enter nolle prosequi with little consideration for the public interest.
During ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, statutory allocations to local governments in Lagos State were illegally withheld despite the Supreme Court’s order for their release. The then AGF defended the illegal and unconstitutional action.
Also under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the AGF argued that the Commander-in-Chief could rule from wherever he was, even when the president had been away for months without formally informing the National Assembly, as required by the constitution. This omission prevented the Vice President from acting in his place, while the president sought medical assistance abroad.
Observers have reasoned that in view of the present government’s pledge to break from this unenviable past, it should ensure the emergence of an AGF, who will recognise the importance of his office.
Such an AGF would deploy his constitutionally ascribed powers to creating a society founded on law and order, where citizens’ rights are safeguarded within an arrangement that guarantees social justice and the rule of law as against the rule of man.
They argue that the new AGF should tackle, among others, the embarrassing delay in criminal justice administration, prevail on the Executive to ensure proper funding for the Judiciary, and ensure the effective coordination of the activities of the various investigating and prosecuting agencies if the government will be successful in its anti-corruption efforts.
Adegboruwa
The new AGF should be able to eliminate the current discriminatory application of the prosecutory powers of the state. Today, it is the practice that cases involving indigent defendants, without the financial power to manipulate the trial process, are promptly decided, with the convict handed hefty jail terms, while those with money are able to either scuttle the trial or agree to a plea-bargain arrangement with the state.
Nwobike
Lawyers including Joseph Nwobike (SAN); Sebastine Hon (SAN); Mahmud Magaji (SAN); Abuja-based Abubakar Sani and rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, have recommended that whoever emerges as the new AGF, must hit the ground running in view of the current state of the nation’s affairs.
They suggested areas where he must direct his/her energy, include enhancing the capacity of the judiciary to function effectively, improved training for investigators and prosecutors, among others.
Nwobike said the new AGF should concentrate on building the capacity of prosecutors and investigators.
This, he added, is because the major obstacles to successful prosecution of cases, particularly those relating to economic
Sebastine Hon
crimes, include poor investigation and inadequate prosecution.
Hon advised the in-coming AGF to watch his steps and realise that he/she is serving in a government that has zero tolerance for corruption. He also urged the new AGF to avoid the mistakes of his/her predecessors.
“The person should also realise that the international community is now interested in how the justice ministry operates. The new AGF should not let us down by engaging in any act of corruption or stay aloof when acts of corruption are being perpetrated.
“I expect the new Attorney-General to also initiate legislations that will improve on the state of the nation’s criminal justice system, including tampering with some provisions of the constitution. I fully subscribe to the call for the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases because of the attendant unwarranted delays being experienced in regular courts.
“Such a specialised court will also aid specialisation among judges. Those with general knowledge of law will become specialists in this area of law if assigned to the specialised court. They will be able to handle most delay tactics by lawyers.
“I also expect a greater coordination in the activities of the investigating agencies. Currently, there is no synergy between the police and other investigating agencies. The in-coming AGF has the responsibility of ensuring that the activities of these agencies are centrally coordinated to allow for efficiency,” Hon said.
Magaji advised the new AGF to be concerned about how to ensure the effectiveness of the criminal justice system to ensure that criminal cases are heard and decided on time. He said all efforts should be made to reduce the delay currently associated with criminal trials.
“The issue of bail should be automatic so that cases are not delayed. As soon as somebody is arraigned, he should be granted bail so that he can prepare for trial. This will eliminate the time that is wasted on arguing bail applications.
“He/she should also ensure strict application of the newly introduced Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which is directed at eliminating delay in the criminal trial process,” Magaji said.
Sani urged the in-coming AGF to work to eliminate contradictions in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Act, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act and the Code of Conduct provisions of the constitution in relation to the fundamental rights provision of the constitution.
“Specifically, with regard to the Code of Conduct provision, anybody convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) could also be subjected to criminal trial in the regular court. This negates the constitutional provision against discrimination. This provisions amounts to discriminating against public officers.
“So, this provision in the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which allows further criminal trial for a public officer convicted by the CCT on the same issue, subjects such public officer to double jeopardy, which is generally unacceptable.
“The provisions in the EFCC Act, the ICPC Act and the NDLEA Act, which empowers the agencies to prosecute anyone that refuses to respond to their queries/questions, negates the right of an accused person to remain silent. Even during trial in a criminal court, an accused cannot be compelled to testify. You have a right to remain silent,” Sani said
Adegboruwa noted that the major task for the new AGF is to tackle the intolerable delay in the administration of criminal justice.
He said: “The long year spent on prosecuting cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court is an embarrassment to this nation.”
Adegboruwa added that another major task is for the AGF to prevail on the Executive to ensure that the Judiciary is well funded.
“Funding is critical to ensuring an efficient Judiciary. The needed change in the Judiciary cannot be realised through the enactment of legislations alone. There is need for more judges, introduction of technologies to court operations, and continuous training for judges and court employees on new ways of doing things.
“It is totally unacceptable for cases to be adjourned because of lack of electricity. It is unacceptable for you to have up to 50 cases in a court’s list for a day. This is because the number of judges is inadequate.
“The new AGF should also look at ways of harmonising the various existing civil procedures applicable in all the states. This will make practice easier. He/she should also work to harmonise the activities of all the investigating and prosecuting agencies if he/she wishes to ensure an efficient criminal justice system,” Adegboruwa said.
The Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Mr. Yemi Kale will speak at the Chatham House in London today.
Kale will speak on the relevance of data for development and how Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics has led the continent with innovation, methodology in the areas of data processing and dissemination.
His topic is: “Right Data, Right Policy, Innovations in Data Collection and Dissemination in Nigeria.”
Chatham House said: “Dr Yemi Kale, the statistician general of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, will discuss the country’s efforts to gather and disseminate improved data in the face of logistical challenges and a domestic lack of trust in institutions. He will discuss the significance of improved data to better policy-making.
“The availability and accuracy of data is central to resolving multifaceted governance challenges in Africa and has a critical role to play in improving transparency and decision-making.
“The 2014 rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP saw Nigeria become the largest economy in Africa and also shone a light on the potential extent of gaps in data and understanding of policy contexts resulting from informal activity and challenges to data collection.”
The volume of data requests both online and from walk-in visitors testify to the increased attention on Nigeria’s statistics. For instance, in the first one month following the release of the rebased national accounts/GDP series last year, the Bureau averaged 3 downloads per minute for the main reports.
Experts believe that “these broad factors have combined to increase the demand for Nigeria’s economic statistics in the last few years.” Last year, the Bureau had almost 6 million hits on its website and users downloaded reports over 2 million times compared to less than 100,000 hits and less than 50,000 downloads four years ago. Last year NBS had by far the highest freedom of information requests and responses of any agency in Nigeria.
Data dissemination has seen a number of innovations, driven largely by efforts to save costs and maximise the use of technology. The Bureau is also in the process of developing an APP that brings data to the user on the move.
Kale had earlier lamented that the Bureau still faces huge challenges including “finding innovative means of sustainably financing statistical activities both at the federal and state levels is urgently needed. There is also need to better coordinate with the development partners and ensure a more effective alignment of mutual interests with respect to an enduring national statistical system.”
It would be recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari was invited for talks there just immediately before the 2015 general elections.
The discussions to be coordinated by the Africa Programme at the Chatham House, headed by Alex Vines, aims to develop foreign policy-oriented research on issues affecting individual states of Africa, the African continent as a whole and relations with the outside world.
The Programme has hosted the former President of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former Chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It is neither surprising nor shocking, but understandable, that Nigerians expectation of the coming government headed by the people’s general. (President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari) is sky high. We all should appreciate the fact that Nigerians have endured for so long in the hands of clueless leaders, and definitely there is a limit to what the oppressed can endure. It is a common knowledge that the outgoing government over stretched people’s endurance and tolerance.
Millions of people were made to exist in neediness and unprecedented hardship while we read and hear in the news how Billions of Nigeria oil money could not be accounted for by the NNPC. Impunity was the order of the day; caution was an alien in the corridor of power, our president (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) suddenly became the most powerful president in the world. Nigeria was fast coming to her knees. Coming from this background genuinely rationalized the people’s demand. They really want and truly deserve a better country in no time.
The coming government is expected to hit the ground running by the long impoverished people of Nigeria. From the first day in the office, President-elect (Gen. Muhammadu Buhari) is expected to turn stone to bread. To me, their demand is not totally ungodly, they believe they voted into power a government able enough to provide them succors and make them forget in no time the years of torture and anguish that characterized the government of the conservatives’, clueless leaders that could not provide us electricity for 16 good years.
The problem confronting the nation is too many that no government can tackle in a little space of two years, except we want to distort the truth. The PDP government fed corruption so well in the last sixteen years that it has become a fully grown muster that only a relentless serious effort can cage.
Unemployment is heart aching. Millions of Nigerians able youths are roaming the street unemployed. Insecurity enveloped the nation, no place is secured from the North to the south, and we cannot even secure our territory.
Economy is in shamble, one dollar is equated to #250 yet we were told our economy is the biggest in Africa. In the light of this gigantic nature of our national problems, I appeal to my fellow Nigerians to please exhibit patience and understanding with the coming government. My appeal should not be seen as an attempt to prepare ground for business as usual (excuses). With no iota of doubt in my heart, the coming government is up to the task Nigerians can be sure of that.
I can say this for free, the general and his team are adequately aware of the people’s predicament they definitely know where the shoe pinches, they only need time to stabilize, before setting out to correct the wrongs perpetuated by the outgoing government. 16years of bad government and maladministration cannot be corrected overnight. Nigerians can be rest assured that in no time the coming government will give us all the Nigeria we can be proud of.
President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari is to drop the title General from his name after he is sworn in on May 29.
This was disclosed by his Media team in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.m
The statement signed by the Director, Directorate of Media and Publicity of the President Elect, Mallam Garba Shehu also released the official portrait of the President elect and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The one paragraph statement reads: “From May 29, 2015, the President-elect and Vice-President-elect are to be respectively known and addressed as Muhammadu Buhari, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
