The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group trains lawyers in oral advocacy

    A Non-Governmental Organi-sation (NGO), Conference for Western Attorneys-General (CWAG), in conjunction with the African Alliance Partnership (APP),  has held a training to enhance lawyers’ capacity in oral advocacy.

    CWAG coordinator Ebele-chukwu Enedah  said the training was a forum for cross fertilisation of ideas among legal practitioners from different parts of the world and would impact positively on justice delivery in Nigeria.

    “The training is aimed at preparing our lawyers for oral advocacy. This is very important because businesses have gone trans-border; we are no longer contained in Nigeria so we cannot say we are only in Nigeria,” she said.

    Assistant Attorney-General, office of the Attorney-General of Arizona State, United States of America, Scott Blake, who gave a lecture on “Objections”, commended the organisers of the workshop, noting that it has afforded him opportunity to see how things are done in Nigeria.

    He expressed confidence that after the training there would be a definite difference in the way participants prepare for and handle their trials, adding that this would impact positively on justice delivery in Nigeria.

    Participants, on their part, said the workshop would help in tackling the issue of undue delay in justice delivery.

    “There are a lot of things we have learnt here that have not been in full practice in the country before and we hope to translate them in the speedy dispensation of justice.

    “We have seen the method of dispensation of justice, particularly criminal justice in the US, their method is very fast and much more effective, so with the training we have acquired here we hope to translate it into assisting the court and all ministers in the temple of justice,” said Abdullahi Yakubu from the Zaria branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.

    The training covered areas such as preparation for trials, presentation of evidence, direct and cross examination, general overview of trial amongst others.

  • Group to Fed Govt: beam searchlight on anti-state bodies

    The Federal Government has been commended for taking a proactive step in stemming the unrest in the Southeast and urged to extend same treatment to other anti-state groups in other part of the country.

    The Southsouth Reawakening Group (SSRG), which gave the commendation in a statement made available to journalists in Warri yesterday also lambasted the state governments of Igbo states for failing to act on time, saying their inactivity almost cost Nigeria her peace and unity.

    The statement, signed by the Convener of the SSRG, Joseph Ambakederimo, also called on parents in the Southeastern part of the country to rein in their children who might have been participating in

    the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), even as it warned youths not to allow themselves be used.

    Commending the Arewa youth bodies for exercising restraint in the face of provocation by IPOB members in the South-East, the body noted that no group in the country is superior to the others, adding that no ethnic group should be held responsible for the misfortune of others.

    “We support, wholeheartedly, the President for the steps taken so far on the IPOB menace. We are talking of national security here, and when national security is at stake the liberty of any individual or the right of any group of persons takes the back seat.

    “The issue of national security should be devoid of politics, because the issue to safeguarding lives and property is the primary responsibility of any government. In fact, the designation of the IPOB as a terrorist organization is long overdue. We have on record ( tape) where the self professed supreme leader of IPOB in a forum in the United States solicited for arms and ammunition to fight the Nigerian state.

    “We are sure millions of Nigerians have seen even more damning  recordings of the IPOB group, yet nothing was done by his people to denounce or proscribe the group. Nothing is more treasonable than what we have seen and heard as a people from Nnamdi Kanu.

    “In view of the above we urge government to also beam its search light  on other such amorphous groups in all parts of the country and proscribe them or designate them terrorist groups if necessary. Going

    forward the South-South Rea wakening Group is of the opinion that government should begin to crackdown on anti-state actions in order to stem the tide of downward slope to anarchy.

    “For the young men and women who devote a better part of their life span to engage on this meaningless crusade we say have a rethink and contribute your quota to the development of Nigeria rather than

    dissipate your energies to chase a mirage.

    “No one tribe should be seen to be dominating others we are all equal at every given time as all bad people are found in all ethnic groups. For us to hold a section of this country as responsible for all of our problems is to say the least uncharitable.

    “We should not lose cognizance of the resoluteness of the Arewa youths who have shown restraint to accommodate the agents provocateurs so far. We therefore urge the Arewa youths to continue to exercise restraint in the face of deliberate provocations and accommodate all and sundry”, the group said.

  • Alleged $8.8m fraud: Group sues Lagos A-G for stopping Indians’ trial

    Alleged $8.8m fraud: Group sues Lagos A-G for stopping Indians’ trial

    A pressure group, the Incorporated Trustees of Laws and Rights Awareness Initiative, has sued the Lagos State Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem for stopping the trial of two Indians, Messrs Deepak Khilnan and  Sushil Chandra, for alleged $8.8m fraud.

    Lagos State had in 2015 charged Khilnani, a chartered accountant, along with Chandra, for allegedly defrauding Gree Fuels Limited of $8,776, 862.

    The Attorney-General, on July 13,  filed a nolle  prosequi in the case, leading to protests by some lawyers.

    But the group, made up of 28 lawyers led by Olayinka Olu-Daniels, in its originating summon, is contending that the Attorney-General acted ultra vires and against the constitution.

    In a motion filed on September 11 by their counsel, Olumide Babalola, the claimant sought an injunction to restrain the defendant and his officers from further exercising the powers given under Section 211 (1) (C) of the Constitution unless and until they are able to satisfy the court that such exercise is in the public interest, interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process as provided under Section 211 (3) of the Constitution.

    It asked for a declaration that the exercise of the defendant’s power of nolle prosequi under Section 211 (1) (C) of the Constitution cannot be activated in the absence of any formal explanation by the defendant to the court.

    According to the group, such explanation ought to satisfy the requirement of public interest, interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process as provided under Section 211 (3) of Constitution and

    It sought “a declaration that the exercise of the defendant’s prayer is not, under Section 211 (1), (2), subject to the defendant’s discretion, whims and caprices”.

    The claimant therefore urged the court to determine “whether or not by the interpretation and construction of Section 211 (1), (2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the defendant can validly exercise his powers of nolle prosequi thereunder without regard for the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process”.

    The plaintiff wants the court to hold “that the exercise of the defendant’s power of nolle prosequi was not exercised in the interest of the public, justice and it in itself constituted an abuse of court process in violation of Section 211 of the Constitution;” and that the claimant is entitled to relief sought if the issues raised for determination of the court are resolved in its favour.

    The plaintiff sought two reliefs from the court.

    “A declaration that the defendant cannot validly exercise his powers under Section 211 (1) (c) of the Constitution, except in the public interest, in the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process;

    “A declaration that public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process as stipulated under Section 211 (3) of the Constitution are the basic considerations to be satisfied by the defendant before exercising his powers under section 211 (1) (c).”

    In an affidavit deposed to in support of the originating summon by Daniel John Daniel, the plaintiff averred that the defendant, by a letter dated April 30, 2015, through the office of the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) issued a legal advice indicting the two Indians and recommended them for prosecution.

    It stated that based ­on the legal advice, the suspects were charged before a Lagos High Court in suit number ID/1544/2015 by the state government.

    The deponent averred further that members of the claimant named in the motion, led by Olayinka Ola-Daniels and numbering about 28 legal practitioners, appeared before the court as amicus curiae on July 13 when the suit was about to be struck out and expressed reservation on the unconstitutionality of the notice of discontinuance.

    The claimant, therefore, prayed the court for a definite pronouncement on the questions distilled for determination as it will help strengthen social justice, constitutional governance, federalism, the rule of law and due process of the laws of the country.

    It contended that it would be in the interest of democracy, justice, rule of law and the people of the state to grant the reliefs sought.

     

  • Group to Nigerians: reject PDP, others in 2019

    •13 political parties plan merger •INEC to register Freedom and Justice Movement soon, says Interim National Chairman

    Nigerians have been urged to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC), among others in the 2019 general elections.

    Thirteen  registered political parties  have agreed to collapse into one mega party to be known as Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), its interim national Chairman, Dr. Onwunbuya Breakforth, has said.

    Briefing reporters yesterday, in Abuja on the state of the nation, Breakforth said the planned merger is coming as a result of the ‘failure’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rescue Nigerians from the various challenges bedeviling the nation.

    He however, declined to mention the names of the parties, saying their names would be made public when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the registration of the new party adding that all arrangements have been conclude.

    “This movement has been consulting with different political parties and 13 of them have agreed to come together and merge as one mega party. It’s a merger not alliance. We are going to merge like the ACN, CPC, ANPP, New PDP and part of APGA merged to become APC and seized power in 2015.

    “We have approached INEC for registration of the 13 parties as Freedom and Justice Party and the commission has already approved the name and our logo. We have met all the requirements and INEC has 30 days by law to do this.

    “The arrangement is that each of the 13 political parties will organise a national convention and the decision to collapse into the mega party would be taken at the convention which remains the highest decision-making body of all political parties in Nigeria.

    “Our decision to merge is premised on the fact that there is no need having too many political parties that cannot win elections. So we are forming a merger that is bigger than that of the APC. Our plan is that after 2019, there will be no more PDP or APC because the APC is a party with a head but without body, while the PDP has body without a head,” he said.

    He claimed that Nigeria’s exit from recession as announced by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently was a “paper work aimed at deceiving Nigerians” explaining that it has no effect on the poor man on the street.

  • Group hails NDDC chairman

    A group, the Akwa Ibom Unity Forum, Lagos, has praised the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, for what it called his sterling leadership qualities in developing the region without discrimination.

    In a statement issued after its August Congress in Lagos, the group said Ekere, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has made Niger Deltans happy through his humility, commitment, hard work, love and selfless service to humanity.

    The statement, signed by the group’s General Secretary, Peter Umoh, a lawyer, added: “We are happy that our brother and son has made us proud in his national assignment as the Managing Director of NDDC having touched critical areas of need in the region.

    “It is an indication that when other state or national assignments are given to him, he would do even better. We are well pleased and are solidly behind him, party and his future endeavor, politically and socially.”

    The group pledged its support for Ekere, urging him not to relent in his effort to transform the region.

  • Group urges EFCC to investigate aspirants

    Group urges EFCC to investigate aspirants

    Group, the Anambra Conscience Movemnet (ACM), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate four governorship aspirants over the allegation of using accumulated funds for constituency projects to woo delegates at primaries.

    The group accused the aspirants, who are members of the National Assembly, of misusing funds for constituency projects.

    The aspirants are Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Uba, Tony Nwoye and Lynda Ikpeazu.

    The petition, which has been received by the office of the EFCC chairman, was signed by the group’s president, Chief Godwin Chukwuyenlu, and secretary, Prince Osita Nwankwo.

    Former presidential aide Senator Uba has been in the National Assembly for six years, Senator Oduah is in his second year in the Senate. Nwoye has spent a year and eight months while Rep. Ikpeazu is spending the second year of her second term in the House of Representatives.

    The group stated in the petition: “We also have received credible information that orders have been placed for a large number of cars, tricycles and motorcycles also to be diverted for election campaign purposes. These orders are to be paid for with funds which were supposed to be used for Constituency projects but which were diverted.

    “Some of the materials like sewing machines, grinding machines, motorcycles etc are materials which were collected over the years for empowerment of constituents from the MGD office and other empowerment agencies of government but were hoarded and are now being used to induce delegates.

    “Several of the people being given these items are not from within the constituencies being represented by the members who are involved in this. Every Senator and Honourable member has a specific constituency which is not the whole state. The act of denying constituents of their rightful benefits and the use of such materials for campaign purposes and outside the constituency it is originally meant for is condemnable and must be stopped immediately.

    “You will recall Sir, that the Electoral Act provides that candidates for election into the office of Governor of a State should not spend more than N200, 000, 000:00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) only and should not receive donations in excess of N1, 000, 000:00 (One Million Naira) only from any individual.

    It added: “We call on you to immediately invite all the aspirants who are currently public officers including the above named members of the National Assembly to inquire into the sources of the humongous amounts of money they are sharing, unravel to confirm the source of money and the identity(ies) of the public officer(s) who has or have ordered for the cars, tricycles motorcycles, sewing machines and other items.

  • E11 elects new officers, denies endorsing governorship candidates

    E11 elects new officers, denies endorsing governorship candidates

    A socio-cultural group in Ekiti State, E11 has elected new officers to run the affairs of the group.

    Chief Kola Akosile was elected as Chairman to replace Mr  Femi Ajiniran.

    Others elected at the extra-ordinary meeting of the group on Saturday  are: Mrs Yetunde Fosudo as Vice Chairman, OSKA Seyi Aiyeleso as General Secretary,  Mr Tunde Dada as Social Secretary, Mr Dele Morakinyo as Public Relations Officers and Mr Seyi Oluboba as Treasurer

    The group also inaugurated Political Committee headed by Chief Adetunji Orisalade with Chief Yomi Aluko, Prince Diran Adeleke, and Mrs Funke Owoseni as members

    Messrs Tunji Olatunde and Seyi Oluboba are in the Economic committee, while Women Empowerment Committee is headed by Mrs Funke Owoseni with Mrs Yetunde Fosudo and Mrs Toyin Ajakaiye as members. Youth Committee has OSKA Aiyeleso and Prince Aladesanmi as members.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting, Chief Akosile disclosed that his emergence was to move the group forward noting that Senator Babafemi Ojudu was the first Chairman, while Femi Ajiniran who spent ten years as the Chairman was the second.

    The group in a recent statement signed by the former Deputy Speaker of the State and who is the Chairman of the Political Committee of the Group, Chief Orisalade denied reports that E11 has backed the Gubernatorial ambition of Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

    Chief Orisalade stated that: “though Senator Ojudu is a front line Member of the Association and qualified as per his ambition, he had never informed the Association, at any General Meeting of his Gubernatorial ambition, not to talk of his adoption, promotion and backing by the Association”.

  • Group urges govt to boost organic food

    Group urges govt to boost organic food

    The Federal Government should increase organic foods, members of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) have said.

    They spoke at the National Organic Agriculture Business Summit in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    The event with the theme, “Global organic agriculture development: Unbundling abundant entrepreneurial opportunities for Nigerian youths” was sponsored by the Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative.

    NOAN, which drew about 120 participants from Nigeria and a delegate each from Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania, said the organic products market stood at $80b.

    Its President, Prof  Victor Olowe, said: “Organic agriculture has been adjudged the fastest-growing sector in agriculture in the world and presently, the global market for organic products stands at $80 billion. So, Nigeria must not be left out.”

    He said there were opportunities for youths in organic agriculture business.

    ‘’We must tap into direct and indirect organic agriculture value chain systems benefit for food security and job opportunities, and thus contribute to a healthy environment, and boost varieties for domestic and export trades.”

    Declaring open the summit, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, represented by the Southeast Regional Director in the ministry, Dr. Nnamdi Ibezim, said Nigeria must maintain standards to enhance the export of its produce to other countries.

    He said for Nigeria to sustain the feat it achieved with the yam export to Europe and America, it must imbibe best practices.

    “Nigeria has what it takes to produce the best, and as well be the best,” he said.

    He, however, urged the group to follow the rules in the practice, regulation and use of organic agriculture products and produce.

    The Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, Nigeria, Dr. Olugbenga Ade Oluwa, urged Nigerians to focus on organic farming.

    “We are what we eat; this is why the (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria is using every opportunity to support and promote organic agriculture, to make sure that the health of Nigerians and its environment are safe.”

    He said the theme of the summit was to stress that the youth have significant roles to play in organic agriculture to ensure job opportunities for them to contribute to national development.

    “Engaging youths in organic agriculture can also help address food insecurity and contribute to improving the livelihoods of the stakeholders in the organic agriculture value chain,” he said.

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export, Afam Mbanefo, said everything was being done to make the state an organic food dependent one.

    “Anambra State is the front runner in terms of organic agriculture and that is why we are the first state in the country to start the export of organic vegetables.”

    Resource persons at the event included President, African Organic Network (AfrONet), Mr. Jordan Gama;Dr Casmir Ifeanyi of the Faculty of Veterinay Medicine, University of Abuja, Ms. Catherine Kibarah of Kates Organic, Kenya, Mr. Mohammed Oyelami of Ajibode Organic Farmers’ Group, Ibadan.

  • Group hosts career guidance workshop for students

    A student-focused group, Global Interns Nigeria, is to host its maiden career guidance workshop tagged: The career connect series.

    Tertiary institution and high school students are expected to attend the event holding on August 22, at Eko Hotels and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The event, aimed at guiding students towards the right career path and prospects associated with them, will feature facilitators from various professions to address critical issues students encounter when making career choices.

    The group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Modupe, said the initiative was informed by the need to properly guide the youth on their career paths. She said the workshop would help young people to understand the meaning of career choices and networking.

    “We promise the event would be practical and interactive between students and facilitators,” she said.

    Mrs Modupe noted that students were still being forced to make career decisions in line with the desire of their parents, without looking at the prospects and satisfaction in their choices.

    She said: “The workshop will provide a platform for students to enable them understand and take good decision in choices of career.”

    According to her, many young people had their aspirations dashed, because it was too late to reverse the choice they wrongly made. “This is why proper career guidance becomes relevant to fill the gap and help our young people. This is what the workshop aims to achieve,” she said.

    Global Interns Nigeria is an organisation that connects college and high school interns to lifelong rewarding internship jobs and volunteering programmes in Nigeria and Ghana.

  • Group plans career workshop

    Global Interns Nigeria, a student-centered organisation, has concluded plans to hold career guidance workshops tagged “The Career Connect Series” for students in secondary schools and universities.

    The first of the series will hold August 22 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Modupe, said the need to groom and guide young people to choose the right career paths informed the workshops.

    “This workshop provides a platform for students to enable them understand the meaning of career choices.  There should be an understanding of what course to choose and whether capabilities match interests. This is what Global Interns career guidance workshop intends to achieve,” she said.