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Tag: Joe Okei-Odumakin

  • Women protest illegal detention of nursing mother, 9-month old baby

    A civil society group under the aegis of Women Arise for Change Initiative Wednesday took to the streets, protesting against an alleged illegal detention of a nursing mother, and her nine months old son by the Zone 11 of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The protest which was led by the President of Women Arise and the winner of the American Government’s Award of International Woman of Courage, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin had over 200 women and men protesters who defied the scorching sun to express their displeasure over the illegal detention of Mrs. Rofiat Oladepo and her son, a minor, a nine months old who were arrested and kept in custody of the Nigeria Police at the Zone 11 Headquarters in Osogbo in lieu of her husband.

    The organization described the action of the police as a violation of the victims’ universally recognised   fundamental human rights and the law of the land.

    In her remarks while being received by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Zone, AIG Leye Oyebade and his management team, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin asserted that, “We are pained and disappointed that the Nigeria Police held in custody a nursing mother and her baby, in lieu of her husband.  Not only were they arrested and detained by proxy, they were also detained beyond the constitutionally sanctioned period. It is most nauseating to learn that Mrs. Oladepo and her baby who were arrested on the 24th April, 2019 at Dural Toaheed, Oke Anu area of Ede and taken to Zone 11, Gbogan road, Oshogbo, were kept in inhuman conditions, only to be released later and given the sum of N500 (five hundred Naira) only as their transport fare back to Ede”.

    Read Also: Two Nigerian authors listed among 2019 Women’s Prize for Literature

    Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin further informed AIG Oyebade that since their release from Police custody, Mrs. Rofiat Oladepo and her baby have been hospitalised.

    She therefore demanded that the officers and men of the Nigerian police who conducted such unprofessional and illegal act be unmasked and brought to book while also requesting for the payment of medical bills being incurred by the victims at the hospital and immediate Public apology to Mrs. Oladepo and her 9-months old son.

    While responding to the demands of Women Arise President, AIG Oyebade appealed to the protesters to please stay further action as he would carry out immediate investigation into the matter and ensure that justice is done forthwith. “One of the hallmarks of our ethics is policing with the fear of God aside the general rule of policing with integrity.” AIG Oyebade said.

    He further said that such impunity would never be allowed to thrive under his purview, as he further expressed the willingness of the Nigeria Police Force, under the incumbent leadership, to collaborate with the civil society in promoting a people’s friendly police force that will ensure total compliance with human rights violations.

     

  • Osun poll: Group, lawmaker, commend INEC, security operatives

    The Women Arise for Change Initiative, an election monitoring group has commended the large turnout of voters for Osun governorship election on Saturday.

    President of the group, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, who gave the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife, said the turnout of voters was impressive.

    Okei-Odumakin lauded the readiness of the electorate to cast their votes, adding that the group deployed more than 100 observers for the election.

    The rights activist commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the timely arrival of voting materials across the polling units.

    Okei-Odumakin also commended the security agents for displaying high sense of professionalism in discharging their duties.

    “Unlike what we experienced during the Ekiti governorship election, security agencies are very civil and polite in the discharge of their duties here in Osun and we want that to continue,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.

    She also commended politicians for displaying high sense of good conduct so far in the election.

    “So far so good. The election is going on smoothly without any report of ballot snatching or thuggery, ‘’ Okei-Odumakin said.

    Also speaking, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, a member of the Osun House of Assembly, commended INEC for the timely arrival of ad hoc staff and voting materials at the polling units.

    Olatunji (APC-Ife North) said: “Aside that the voters’ turnout was impressive, the process has been peaceful and electorate are excited to exercise their rights.

    “The election materials arrived on time.

    “I am optimistic that the election will be free, fair and devoid of any form of violence.’’

  • Anti-graft war: Okei-Odumakin seeks support for EFCC

    The Movement Against Corruption (MAC), a coalition of civil society groups, on Thursday called on Nigerians to give the necessary support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption.

    The Steering Committee Chairman of the movement, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Lagos.

    Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war would be more effective if citizens gave the EFCC the needed cooperation in its assignment.

    She urged Nigerians to always volunteer information to expose perpetrators of corruption, as it would enable the commission to act on such people.

    “Nigerians should support the EFCC by volunteering information and exposing perpetrators, especially in our public institutions.

    “Also, citizens can support the anti-graft war by educating themselves against corrupt practices through the various faith-based organisations.

    “Family and peer groups can also impact positively on the moral regeneration of the society, thereby drastically reducing the menace of corruption,’’ she said.

    Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war should be citizen-driven to yield the desired results.

    She urged the EFCC and other security agencies to see the need to constantly engage stakeholders and enlist the support of all Nigerians to strengthen the war.

    “The advocacy against corruption should be citizen-driven, by so doing; perpetrators will begin to see it as a war not only between them and the EFCC.

    “They will see that it is also between them and Nigerians who are often the real owners of the commonwealth that is being stolen,’’ she said.

    Okei-Odumakin said MAC was birthed out of the need for civil societies to come together to fight corruption collectively.

    He said the movement would continue to partner the EFCC on advocacy and citizens’ education on the dangers of corruption to development.

    The movement chairman said she did not share the sentiments in some quarters that the anti-corruption war as being fought by the EFCC was selective or politically-motivated.

    While noting that people had the right to their own views, she said majority of those being fingered for corruption actually had questions to answer.

    Okei-Odumakin said the EFCC had acquitted itself remarkably in its assignment so far, but much needed to be done to win the anti-corruption war.

    “While we may respect the right of such persons to their opinions, it is important to say that the fight has been holistic, even though we, as a country, haven’t been able to get to our desired end in eradicating corruption.

    “It is also not enough to say that majority of these cases of corruption, especially those being prosecuted by the EFCC, are politically-motivated.

    “It is public knowledge that several of these people genuinely have one corruption-related issue or the other associated with the EFCC,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.

  • Ekiti election a litmus test – Okei-Odumakin

    The President of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said on Saturday the Ekiti State governorship election would be a litmus test for the country.

    Addressing journalists in Afao, she urged politicians to respect wishes of the electorates.

    She said the Ekiti governorship election was conducted under peaceful ambience, adding that the skirmishes recorded in few places were not enough to discredit the exercise.

    Okei-Odumakin, who is a member of election observers’ group in the state, said there was tension in the build up to the election, stressing that the outcome so far belittled the apprehension.

    The right activist expressed optimism that Ekiti people would not deviate from the quest of making the election a success.

    She said: “So far, the process has been impressive and commendable. The process will help to restore credibility to the election. Initially, we were worried about the conduct of the election, but as it is the process is commendable.

    “The voters conducted themselves in orderly manner. I must say most of the people have imbibed the spirit of June 12 and one can see the ambience of peace in most of the polling booths.”

    Okei-Odumakin said areas where problems occurred could be improved upon ahead of future elections.

    “We have reports of technical issues which is also not enough to discredit the polls outcome. There was the case of a card reader not capturing the fingerprint of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, the case of the wife of the All Progress Congress (APC) candidate, Bisi Fayemi and the Accord Party candidate.

    “Ekiti is going to be the litmus test for coming elections. Don’t forget we have the Osun State election close by and the 2019 election. The outcome of the election will go a long way to defining the image of the country.”

     

     

  • Okei-Odumakin calls for more gender laws to protect women

    Okei-Odumakin calls for more gender laws to protect women

    Woman rights activist, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, on Wednesday called for more laws to protect women from further attacks.

    Okei-Odumakin, who is the President, Women Arise for Change made the call in Lagos at the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme: “Press for Progress.’’

    The event was organised by All Nigerian Council for Women (ANCW) in various labour unions in the country.

    Reviewing attacks on women, the activist expressed concern that Nigerian women had continued to suffer various abuses because of inadequate laws to protect them.

    According to her, inadequate implementation of gender violence laws has made it difficult to abate violence against women in homes.

    “There should be gender parity and government at all levels must address the insecurity in the country as women and children are at the receiving end,’’ she said.

    Contributing, Mr Issa Aremu, President of Industrial Global Union urged women unite and ensure the protection of their rights.

    Aremu said political leaders should endeavour to deliver on good governance and improve common wealth rather than allow the populace to suffer.

    He said women were being disenfranchised in so many ways, adding that the economic status of Nigerian women must be transformed for the better.

    Aremu also said efforts should be made to protect the nation’s territorial integrity by ensuring the safety of all citizens.

    “The Federal Government should ensure that the kidnapped Chibok and Dapchi girls are rescued without further delay,’’ Aremu said.

    Mrs Oluchi Amaugo, Chairperson of the NUPENG Women Commission, said International Women Day’s celebration sought to recognise exploits and achievements of women.

    Amaugo said such recognition had acted as catalyst to spotlight gender equality.

    She also urged the women to continue to press for progress toward gender parity and fight against violence and harassment.

    She said that all women should continue to speak against killings and kidnappings of women and girls going on across the country.

    International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year to commemorate the movement for women’s rights.

    The first observance of the Day was held on Feb.28, 1909 in New York, while March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Woman’s Conference for the event to become an “International Woman’s Day.

    NAN

     

  • Fight against corruption becoming tougher – Magu

    Fight against corruption becoming tougher – Magu

    The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has said that the fight against corruption is becoming tougher, urging all Nigerians, including children, to use every weapon at their disposal to fight it.

    Magu said this in Lagos on Friday during the sensitisation forum on the plan to launch “EFCC – Creative Youth Initiative Against Corruption (CYIAC) Corruption Busters”.

    He said the fight against corruption was not personal and therefore called on Nigerians, including those in Diaspora to join hands in the fight, stressing that the commission was already mobilising Nigerians outside the country for support.

    “The fight against corruption is becoming tougher. We cannot fight it alone. We want to mobilise everyone in the fight; the more people in the fight, the better.

    “I am determined in the fight against corruption. I urge other Nigerians not to get exhausted. Don’t expect anyone to thank you for fighting corruption. It is a thankless job.

    “Whatever weapons you have, use it against corruption. Use your strategic thinking; the fight must go on with or without me, it is not a personal thing.

    “The press have a lot to do in this fight. If they do more, the battle would be half solved,’’ Magu said.

    The Coordinator of CYIAC, Ms Foluke Michael, said the corruption busters would be launched on Dec. 9 to mark the UN International Anti-Corruption Day.

    Michael said that her platform was EFCC’s preventive project, stressing that the forum was a sensitisation programme targeted at the children, youths and women meeting global goals by 2030.

    She said that the CYIAC was launched in 2016 with the pilot scheme tagged; ‘My New Nigeria; Free from Corruption’, stressing that 2017 edition would kick-start with online campaign to sensitise children, youth and women.

    “The online campaign will be followed by the launch of CYIAC APP and nationwide registration portal on Nov. 1 for participants between ages 9 and 14 for category 1, and 15-25 years for category 2.

    “Participants will also be required to submit essays, short stories or creative ideas online based on the theme: `Imagine the World free from corruption’ between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15,’’ she said.

    Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Chairman, a steering committee for Movement Against Corruption said both organisations had endorsed CYIAC as a vehicle to reach out to children, youths and women.

    “The idea to involve young people in advocacy and fight against corruption is a movement in the right direction.

    “Corruption must be destroyed from the root in Nigeria if the sufferings of the masses will be alleviated,’’ she said.

    Some Youth Corps members, civil society groups and secondary school students in Lagos selected as CYIAC Ambassadors using arts, painting, dance and music to speak against corruption, were part of the occasion.

  • FRSC confers honourary special marshal on Okei-Odumakin

    FRSC confers honourary special marshal on Okei-Odumakin

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday conferred honourary special marshal to rights activist, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin,  for defending FRSC officers reportedly attacked by security operatives attached to the Speaker of Abia Assembly, Mr Chikwendu Kalu.

    The Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, made the conferment on Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), at WA Office on Omole Estate, Lagos.

    Two FRSC personnel were on July 15 reportedly shot by policemen attached to Kalu.

    The officers were said to have stopped a vehicle conveying the speaker’s wife, on the Umuikaa-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. The officers reportedly stopped the vehicle over a traffic offence.

    “Legal action is a process, and we can all see what the inspector-general of police has already done; the policemen involved have been tried and dismissed.

    “For the speaker, we have engaged our solicitors. We have filed all the papers now; legal process is not what you wake up today and conclude; you must follow the process.
    “The wife will be charged with traffic offence. The husband too will be charged. Let us meet in the court.

    “Denying it is wrong; he should have accepted what has happened publicly and closed the matter, but now that he has denied it, we will meet in court,” Oyeyemi said.

    He said that the corps would continue to partner with civil societies which, he said, had a crucial role to play in road management through advocacy, public education and enlightenment.

    In her address, Okei-Odumakin commended FRSC leadership for the honour.
    She called for synergy between civil societies and security agencies for effective road management, giving the assurance that WA would not let Nigeria down.

    “There is need for consensus building between FRSC, civil societies and the general public. As a civil society, we have done many things with law enforcement agencies.

    “We will continue in our advocacy, education and enlightenment to ensure that road users obey road rules and orders,” she said.

  • Okei-Odumakin seeks law to sustain back-to-school for married women

    Okei-Odumakin seeks law to sustain back-to-school for married women

    An NGO, Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), has urged the Federal Government to make a law to support its proposed  special schools for women who abandoned school for marriage.

    Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of WA, said on Thursday in Lagos that an enabling law would enhance the sustainability of the schools.

    Okei-Odumakin gave the advice in a statement in Lagos.

    According to her, similar schools established in the past had not been developed due to lack of proper legal backing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Al-hassan, had said that the special schools would also be for women who got married at an early age.

    “It is a policy in the right direction, provided there is a long-term sustainability plan.

    “I recall there has been similar efforts, including the Almajeri School Programme which, today, we have been unable to improve upon as a nation,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.

    She hoped that the special schools would  prevent early marriage,  enhance girl-child education and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

  • Bring Abiola’s killers to justice, Okei-Odumakin tells Fed Govt

    Bring Abiola’s killers to justice, Okei-Odumakin tells Fed Govt

    Sixteen years after the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, died in Federal Government’s detention, rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has urged the government to fish out his killers.

    Okei-Odumakin spoke yesterday in Lagos during a procession on Abiola’s death on July 7, 1998.

    The activists noted that the government’s unwillingness to expose Abiola’s killers was robbing the nation of good people, who may fear that they too could be eliminated.

    She decried the spate of impunity and lawlessness in the land.

    Okei-Odumakin urged Nigerians to unite and avoid ethnicity and religious bigotry.

    The activist described Abiola as a man of uncommon courage, unparalled dignity and unusual candour, who defended the mandate given him by change-seeking Nigerians.

    She said:”Sixteen years after his elimination, ‘President’ Abiola still stands tall than all his adversaries and killers. He represents what Nigeria is capable of being but which we are not because of the machinations of a greedy cabal.

    “All the troubles of Nigeria, which his victory was about to abolish, are the very things that are threatening the corporate existence of the country today. A country that elected Abiola with a Muslim running mate would not hear of such today as it is badly divided by regions and religions.

    “We are now remembering M. K. O. in the midst of insurgency ruins, Chibok abductions and people burying their dead in the Boko Haram harvest of blood. His memory challenges us to end terror in Nigeria. The very democratic tree his victory planted has withered as we are still in search of real democracy in our clime.

    “The only reparation Nigeria can pay M. K. O. is to ensure that a new order emerges from the ongoing National Conference to instil justice, equity and fairness in our body politic. These are the very virtues M. K. O. defended till he died.

    “Once again, we salute the memory of ‘President’ M. K. O. Abiola, the only truly elected President of Nigeria, whose election was clean, free and fair and adjudged so by local and international observers.”Bring Abiola’s killers to justice, Okei-Odumakin tells Fed Govt

  • Ejigbo assault

    Ejigbo assault

    • Suspects should be prosecuted to send the signal that society does not condone such barbarity

    The heart-rending story of the inhuman treatment of two young girls and their mother for allegedly stealing pepper in a market in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos, sometime last year, appears set to be properly rested now. Thanks to the viral social media, the tenacity of a social activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, and the unwavering commitment of Lagos State government and the police; those allegedly responsible for the inhuman treatment of the young girls and their mother have been arrested by the police. The alleged suspects include the Babaoloja of Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo, Isiaka Waidi and 15 others.

    In a most bizarre show of brutality, the victims, as shown in the video that went viral, were stripped naked, tortured and had pepper mixed with hot drink poured into their private parts. The bandits responsible for this most degrading assault allegedly also extorted the sum of N50, 000.00 as ransom from the victims, before banishing them from the community. Until the parade of the suspects, many Lagosians were astounded that such barbarity could be associated with the cosmopolitan city of Lagos. Ordinarily, such brutish assault would perhaps be associated with remote towns and villages, considering the share impudence of the barbarians involved.

    Unfortunately, it is reported that one of the victims had died, apparently from the injuries sustained from the assault. Dr. Okei-Odumakin, says that she has visited the grave of the victim, Juliana, in Benin Republic, where she was reported to have relocated for treatment. In her testimony, one of the victims, Nike Salami, a half-sister of late Juliana, claimed that one of the torturers was enraged that Juliana had resisted his pass on her, and so he gruesomely maltreated her, when the opportunity came. She also claimed in the testimony that they were forced to steal, just to buy a day’s meal.

    While parading Mr. Isiaka Waidi and 11 other arrested suspects, the police noted that four others were on the run, and promised to publish their pictures so that public and other security agencies can help to track them. The names of the suspects on the run, who had been declared wanted by the Police, include Tiri, an alleged member of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otera Oluranti, Michael Abolore and one Akeem. The police public relations officer, Mr. Frank Mba, who paraded the suspects in company of the deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said the arrest of the suspects was facilitated by the civil society groups.

    We urge the police to quickly and professionally conclude their investigation so that the suspects can be taken to court. Notably, the Director of the Office of Public Defender, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, while observing that the case file will be forwarded to the Office of Public Prosecution, promised: “we will ensure that justice is done in this case”. This is the least that members of the public expect from the authorities in charge of criminal prosecution in the state. For, as Dr. Okei-Odumakin succinctly put it, it is important “to prove a point that jungle justice does not pay”. A diligent prosecution of the offenders will also send a signal that Lagos State does not condone such barbarity.

    It is also important that the state authority continues its effort to take miscreants off the streets and disarm cult groups and hoodlums who like to take the laws into their own hands. They must realise, by a zero tolerance action of the state officials and security agencies, that self-serving quasi-security agencies have no place in the mega city status of Lagos.