The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Justice Biobele Georgewill

  • Groups visit Presidential Panel, declare support for Armed forces

    Groups visit Presidential Panel, declare support for Armed forces

    Members of the National Committee of Yoruba Youth and the coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria, on Monday stormed the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, in a show of solidarity with the Nigerian Armed forces, at the sitting of the Presidential Panel set up to review the compliance of the armed forces, with Human Rights obligation and rules of engagement.

    Recall, that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had in August this year, inaugurated a 7-man Judicial Commission to review the compliance of the military with human rights and rules of engagement.

    The commission headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill of the Court of Appeal, is expected the submit its report to the Presidency in 90 days.

    Members of the panel are Major-General Patrick Akem, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, Mrs. Hauwa Ibrahim, Mr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwakama and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    The group who came in large numbers, said they have submitted a memorandum to the committee and have not only come to express their support for the patriotic commitment of members of the armed forces, particularly the Nigerian Army but to also brief the committee, about their observations as members of the Civil society, particularly on what it termed, “spurious allegations” against the armed forces, by some politically exposed Nigerians, who now hide, under the guise of Human Rights, to vilify the armed forces.

    Addressing journalist at the court premises, Convener of the group, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, said the overwhelming vote of confidence, by Nigerians on the armed forces, is “our way of boosting their morale and saying thank you, to these patriotic Nigerians, who have to give all they have, for Nigeria and Nigerians”.

    Odeyemi, lauded the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, for prioritizing Army/Civil relations, and adherence to discipline, within the force.

  • Court stop commission from probing Rivers crisis

    A Port Harcourt High Court on Friday declared an eight-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry put together by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to investigate the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly as unconstitutional.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court presided over by Justice Lamenkara Iyaye, also restrained the commission from sitting to investigate the crisis.

    Iyaye held that under the principle of natural justice, Amaechi lacked the capacity to constitute a panel to investigate a crisis involving him.

    The court restrained the state government from receiving or acting on any recommendation made by the commission of inquiry.

    He said that only a regular court was competent to inquire or try anyone on the allegation which led to the crisis in the assembly.

    NAN reports that the panel headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill was mandated to investigate the remote causes of the July 9 crisis in the House.

     

     

  • Rivers commission adjourns till August 15

    The Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry looking into the crisis that occurred at the state House of Assembly, Port Harcourt last month on Monday adjourned its sitting till Thursday, August 15 to enable counsels representing those who are yet to file their memoranda to do so through the Secretary of the commission.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, who announced this in Port Harcourt also said the panel has received many memoranda and reiterated his earlier promise that they would be fair to all the parties.

    Georgewill also urged anybody who has a testimony to give on the crisis to come forward whether the person has a counsel or not, promising that the counsel to the commission would make a procedure for such a person to make his presentation.

    The decision to adjourn till Thursday was based on the indulgence craved for by counsels to some of the parties in the crisis.

    For instance, while announcing appearance for the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers who were in the assembly on the day of the fighting, their counsel, Damain Okoro craved for 24 hours indulgence to enable him file his memoranda.

    Okoro also informed that his memo was still being uploaded at a Business centre and that “most of the witnesses who need to sign our deposition are not available at the moment.

    “So I crave for 24 hours indulgence to go through all relevant processes and we will be ready and prepared to participate in the hearing.”

     

  • Rivers ‘crisis: There will be no sacred cow – Commission

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis that engulfed Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) on July 9 and 10 has said that there would be no sacred cow in its report.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, who said this on Monday during the inaugural sitting of the body in Port Harcourt also said that every person found culpable “no matter how highly or lowly placed shall be apportioned blame and worthy and relevant recommendations shall be made.”

    To achieve this, Georgewill said that they would rely on concrete evidence to make recommendations that would bring lasting peace to the assembly irrespective of whose ox is gored.

    He also said that “heavens would never fall merely because justice was done in any given situation but rather even the heavens would rejoice when we unearth all the true circumstance and facts leading to this crisis and make all relevant recommendations to redress the crisis.”