The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kutigi

  • Kutigi: Icon of judicial activism

    Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru and Mr Sebastine Hon pay tribute to former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) the late Idris Legbo Kutigi, who died on October 21.

    Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi was born in December of 1939 at Kutigi town in Niger State. He started his educational career when he attended the Elementary School Kutigi, from 1946 to 1951. From there, he proceeded to the Niger Middle School, Bida 1952 to 1953. Between 1954 and 1959, he was at the Niger Provincial Secondary School Bida, after which he proceeded to the Famous Government College (now Barewa College), Zaria where he studied from 1960 to 1961.

    Between 1962 and 1963, he was at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, after which he studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, between 1963 and 1964. He also attended the Inns of Court School of Law, London, between 1963 and 1965, and the Gibson and Weldon College of Law between 1964 and 1965.  He was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn, London, on 20th July 1965. He attended the Nigerian Law School between 1965 and 1966 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 22nd July, 1966.

    As a Lawyer, KUTIGI acquired vast experience in the Ministry of Justice. He served at various time as Pupil State Counsel from July 1966 to July 1968; State Counsel, North Western State, July 1968 to July 1970; State Counsel Grade 1, July 1970 to July 1971; Senior State Counsel Grade 1, July 1971 to July 1972; Principal State Counsel, July 1973 to July 1974; Deputy Solicitor General July 1974 to July 1975; Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, April 1975 to October 1975.

    Between October, 1975 and March 1976, he served as the Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, North Western States, Sokoto. Later he became the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Niger State, between April, 1976 and December, 1977. Within that same period, he also served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Niger State. In the course of his career in the civil service, he attended the Commonwealth and Overseas Legal Officers Course in the United Kingdom between 1970 and 1971. He also served as a member of the North Western States Local Government Reforms Committee between 1969 and 1970.

    The judicial career of Kutigi began with his appointment as a High Court Judge in 1976. He served in that capacity until October 1980, when he was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench. In February 1992, he rose to the pinnacle of the judiciary in Nigeria when he was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court.

    At the Supreme Court, Kutigi was involved in many landmark judgments. In particular, he delivered the leading judgments of the Supreme Court in the cases of A. G. Abia State Vs. A. G. Federation (2002) 6 NWLR (Pt. 763) 264, wherein the Supreme Court resolved in favour of the Houses of Assembly of the States as against the National Assembly, the dispute between the Federal Government on the elections into Local Government Councils. That decision led to the eventual repeal of the Electoral Act 2001.

    Before that landmark decision of constitutional significance, Kutigi had also delivered the leading judgment of the Supreme Court in N.T.C. Ltd Vs. Agunanne (1995) 5 NWLR (Pt. 397) 541, where the Supreme Court held that the doctrine of “common employment” as a defence in an action in negligence under the common law was no longer applicable in Northern Nigeria, by reason of the fact that the Law Reforms Personal Injuries Act, 1948 of England had abolished the doctrine long before the High Court Law of Northern Nigeria, 1955, which by its reception clause in Section 28 adopted the common law, the doctrines of equity, and statues of general application which were in force in England on the 1st day of January, 1900.

    Where Justice Kutigi disagree on any issue of law with his brother Justices of the Supreme Court he does so courageously as he did in the cases of Chima Vs. Ude (1996) 7 NWLR (Pt. 461) 379 and Okike Vs. L.P.D.C. (2005) 15 NWLR (Pt. 949) 471.

    Between 13th February, 2006 when the profile of Honourable Justice Kutigi was published in the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports and Thursday, 18th January, 2007 when he was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria, although he was sworn-in as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria on Tuesday, 30th January 2007, he had cause to deliver more leading judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in such landmark cases as: Plateau State Government Vs. Attorney General of the Federation (2006) 3 NWLR (Pt. 967) 346 wherein the Supreme Court struck out the suit challenging the declaration of State of Emergency in Plateau State on 18th May, 2004 on the ground that there was no valid authority to institute the action; and Umanah Vs. Attah (2006) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1009) 563 wherein the Supreme Court held that it did not have jurisdiction over election matters in respect of the office of a Governor, even though the claim involved allegation of fraud allegedly committed by members of the Election Tribunal that decided the election petition earlier filed by the appellant.

    On the other hand, His Lordship dissented in the case of Attorney General of Abia State Vs. Attorney General of the Federation (2006) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1005) 365 wherein, by the majority decision of the Supreme Court, it was held that the National Assembly lacked the competence to enact law (the Monitoring of Revenue to Local Governments Act, 2005) for monitoring of allocation of fund to Local Government by State Governments and Dada Vs. Dosunmu (2006) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1010) 134 where he presided and dissented on the issue of the identity of the parcel of land in dispute.

    Upon His Lordship becoming the Chief Justice of Nigeria, many more landmark cases, mostly involving constitutional issues, have been decided by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Some of the cases include: A. G. Kano State Vs. A. G. Federation (2007) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1029) 164 where the Supreme Court held that it did not have original jurisdiction with respect to a criminal matter: A. G. Abia State Vs. A. G. Federation (2007) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1029) 200 where it was held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as an agency of the Federal Government, cannot be sued by an original action before the Supreme Court; Abubakar Vs. A. G. Federation (2007) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1031) 626, which His Lordship read the leading judgment, it was held that the reference of constitutional issue in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, because there was no proceeding before the Court of Appeal, and the reference was struck out.

    In Inkoju Vs. Adeleke (2007) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1025) 427, the Supreme Court gave its reasons for its earlier decision setting aside the impeachment of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as Governor of Oyo State. Also in Dapianlong Vs. Dariye (2007) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1036) 332, it was held that the impeachment of Governor Joshua Dariye was invalid, and was accordingly set aside by the Supreme Court.

    Other notable constitutional cases decided by the Supreme Court under Kutigi’s tenure include Lufadeju Vs. Johnson (2007) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1037) 535, where it was held that remand proceedings in Magistrates’ Court are constitutional. While in A. G. Federation Vs. Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1041) 1, it held that Vice President Atiku Abubakar did not vacate office by reason of his defection to another political party.  There is also the case of Global Excellence Vs. Duke (2007) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1059) 22, where the Court settled the issue that immunity from suit conferred by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution does not preclude a beneficiary of the provision from instituting an action.

    There are other important cases involving election matters such as Ugwu Vs. Ararume (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1048) 367, where the Court held that a political party cannot substitute its candidate within 60 days to an election, except for cogent and verifiable reasons under Section 34(2) of the Electoral Act, 2006.

    Similarly, in Amaechi Vs. INEC (No. 3) (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1065) 105, the Supreme Court applied its earlier decision in Ugwu Vs. Ararume (supra), and went further to order the incumbent Governor to vacate his seat and that the appellant be sworn in as Governor immediately.  While in Action Congress Vs. INEC (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1048) 222, the Court held that INEC cannot disqualify a candidate for an election either under Section 137(1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution or Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2006.

    Following the same trend, in Obi Vs. INEC (2007) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1046) 565, the Supreme Court held that the term of office of a Governor is four years certain and begins to run from the date the occupant is sworn in.  But in Ladoja Vs. INEC (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1047) 119, the Court held that it could not extend the term of office of a Governor to compensate for period of unlawful impeachment.  While in A.G. Anambra State Vs. A. G. Federation (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1047) 4, it was held that a State Government has no locus standi to sue in respect of personal right of the occupant of the office of a Governor.

    A widely travelled man, he was awarded the prestigious National Honors of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2001. In December 2008, he was listed for the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He was a past Chairman of the Body of Benchers and was a Life Bencher. He was also a Member of the World Jurists Association and of the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges Association.

    Idris Legbo Kutigi, Former C.J.N. G.C.O.N was happily married with 18 children. Two of the male children are Judges of Superior Courts of records in Nigeria, namely Honourable Justice M. B. Idris of the Court Of Appeal, Abuja Division and Honourable Justice A. I. Kutigi of the F. C. T. High Court, Abuja. He also had as his son, Honourable Kutigi, a former member of the House of Representatives, Abuja.

    All his children are educated and married and he had more than 40 grandchildren.

    Kutigi describes himself as a farmer’s son who prefers to live life as an ordinary man.

    Kutigi says in their time, camera was only available in Bida and that is why he does not have early photographs as he was living in Kutigi village in Niger State.

    Kutigi advice hard work, patience and perseverance for young people.  In his very words he says “do not be in a hurry”.

    The Former Chief Justice of Nigeria says the work of Chief Justice of Nigeria is mainly administrative and very tasking. The Chief Justice of Nigeria is the Chairman of National Judicial Council, the Chairman of Federal Judicial Service Commission and the Chairman of National Judicial Institute etc.

    Hon. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, CJN saw Lord Denning as his role model. Lord Denning was of the Lincoln’s Inn and the Chief Justice of Nigeria was also of Lincolns Inn. Kutigi said he was inspired by the dissenting judgments of Lord Denning at the Court of Appeal which was always upheld at the House of Lords.  The Late Former Chief Justice of Nigeria recalls with excitement the way Lord Denning preferred to move down from the House of Lords back to the Court of Appeal in order to enjoy the freedom of giving dissenting judgments so that the House of Lords can make pronouncements on them. It is a historical fact that most of the dissenting judgments of Lord Denning at the Court of Appeal were upheld at the House of Lords and they proved the basis of so many landmark judgments in our legal literature in the Common wealth law jurisprudence.

    A thorough bred public servant and astute Judge, his professional life had revolved around service to the Nation through the law. Idris Legbo Kutigi served in all the professional strata of the Ministry of Justice and adjudicated at the following superior courts of records in Nigeria, namely the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Upon his retirement, Kutigi was the Chairman of the National Constitutional Conference convoked by the Administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The Kutigi Report will provide an answer to the vexed question of the restructuring of Nigeria.

    God called His Lordship home on Sunday, 21st October, 2018 at a London Hospital after a brief illness.

    Goodnight Great Jurist.

    Adieu, Father of Judicial Activism.

  • NBA, group mourn Kutigi

    The judicial pronouncements of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) the late Idris Kutigi will remain reference points for future generations, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Paul Usoro (SAN), has said.

    Justice Kutigi, who died on October 21, aged 79, was Niger State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice before becoming a high court judge.

    Usoro, in a statement, said Kutigi’s death has robbed Nigeria of one of its icons.

    “This is a loss, not just to the Nigerian judiciary or even the legal profession, but a loss to Nigeria, as a nation, and it comes at a crucial time when strong and respected voices need to be heard in defense of our national ethos such as the rule of law, democracy, Nigerian unity and oneness as a nation, respect for the fundamental rights of our people and much more,” NBA president said.

    A human rights group, the Access to Justice, said the late Kutigi served Nigeria and the Judiciary inspirationally and faithfully.

    A statement by its Convener Joseph Otteh reads: “It was him who promulgated, in 2009, the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) (FREP) Rules (2009) that is currently used to enforce fundamental rights in our courts.

    “The FREP Rules fundamentally changed the landscape of enforcing constitutional rights in Nigeria.

    “It simplified fundamental rights litigation, made it speedier, and created a separate, inexpensive filing-cost regime for human rights cases, thus ensuring that poverty was, as far as human rights cases go, not a significant barrier to access to justice.

    “The Rules also direct courts to ensure that international norms of human rights are applied in the resolution of domestic human rights claims.

    “Hon. Justice Kutigi’s legacy will live on, not only in the tremendous contributions he made to national development but also in the FREP Rules.

    “No narrative of the struggle for judicial activism in the protection of constitutional rights in Nigeria can be authentic or complete without a mention of his prodigious contribution to it.”

     

  • Senate wants FG to immortalise Kutigi

    The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to immortalise late former Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Idris Kutigi, by naming a national monument after him.

    Kutigi died on Saturday in a London hospital at the age of 78 years.

    The senate’s resolution to honour the deceased former CJN emanated from a motion sponsored by Sen. David Umaru, representing Niger-East Senatorial District, the deceased’s constituency.

    Umaru described the former CJN as a gentleman, who occupied the Bench with “unquestionable integrity, character, industry and dignity” during his lifetime.

    He added that Kutigi left behind indelible footprints and enduring legacies in the Nigerian judiciary.

    The senator recalled that Kutuigi had a distinguished career in the legal profession at the state and federal levels that spanned 40 years.

    The deceased, according to him, was the first Niger indigene to be appointed to the Supreme Court, and so far, the only CJN in Nigeria’s history to swear in his successor.

    “During his tenure as CJN, he initiated reforms that began the process of repositioning the Nigerian judiciary into a strong, independent and impartial judiciary.

    “Kutigi was a patriot and nationalist whose devotion to the development of Nigeria spurred him to continue to serve the nation even after his retirement.

    “This was exemplified by his acceptance to serve as the Chairman of the National Conference convened by the then President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014,” Umaru said.

    He commiserated with the Nigerian judiciary, the government and people of Niger over the passing of the erudite jurist.

    Contributing to the motion, Sen. Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), described Kutigi as a no-nonsense individual, and one of the few incorruptible judges in the country.

    Read Also: Buhari okays burial of former CJN at National cemetery

    Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi (Niger North) said the death of the former CJN was a national loss due to his immense contributions to the development of the country.

    On his part, Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said Kutigi demonstrated “extraordinary integrity, calmness and disposition towards efficient dispensation of justice while on the Bench of the Supreme Court as CJN’’.

    Umeh, who was a delegate to the 2014 National Conference, recalled how the deceased was able to successfully steer the forum, characterised by “so many contentious issues and frayed nerves”.

    “It is to his credit that in spite of the turbulent conference we had in 2014, we were able to reach 600 important resolutions on very important national issues by consensus; we never voted on any item.

    “As much as people felt very strongly on certain matters, Kutigi was able to navigate the conference both inside and outside plenary to reach middle grounds on many issues canvassed,” he said.

    The senators consequently resolved to send a high-powered delegation to commiserate with Kutigi’s family, the government and people of Niger.

  • Tinubu mourns  Kutigi, Tukur

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has commiserated with the families of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, and ex- Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAC) Hamman who died at the weekend.

    In a statement by Tinubu Media Office yesterday, the APC leader said Kutigi and Tukur were statesmen and distinguished Nigerians who served the country creditably in their different areas of specialisation and capacities, adding that they would be sorely missed not only by their families, home-states but also by the country at large.

    Tinubu recalled the late Justice Kutigi’s onerous contributions to the country’s judicial system, to jurisprudence and to the political system.

    He described Kutigi as a thorough-bred judicial officer who rose through the rank, serving as Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State until he was appointed a High Court Judge, serving in that office for more than a decade from where he was appointed into the Supreme Court.

    The APC national leader said: “He distinguished himself as the nation’s 11th Chief Justice of Nigeria, serving from January 2007 to December 2009. I particularly recall how Justice Kutigi helped to stabilise the judiciary and starved off a judicial crisis when on the eve of his retirement from office he swore in his successor, Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu, in the absence on health grounds of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was constitutionally empowered to so do”.

    Speaking on Tukur, Asiwaju Tinubu commended the former RMAFC chairman for standing firm and holding to the ideals of professionalism and transparency while in office during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Though he was appointed by President Obasanjo in 1999, Tukur refused to be cowed in the discharge of his duties and implementation of the revenue allocation formula and other issues around revenue allocation.

    He left indelible marks at RMAFC, leading the way in resolving several disputed oil wells among states in the Niger Delta region and monitoring sources of revenue from both oil and non-oil sectors, which led to important improvement in accruals to the Federation Account during the period,” he said.

    The APC leader commiserated with the families of the two leaders and the governments and people of Niger and Adamawa states.

    He prayed that the Almighty Allah should grant repose of their souls and their families the strength and courage to live on without their patriarchs.

  • Kutigi: CJN declares 7 days mourning

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has confirmed the death of one of his predecessors, Justice Idris Kutigi.
    Born on December 31, 1939, the late Justice Kutigi, from Kutigi Town, in Niger State, served as the CJN between January 30, 2007 and December 30, 2009.
    A statement issued on Sunday by Onnoghen’s media aide, Awassam Bassey, said Kutigi died on October 20 this year in a London hospital at 78 years.
    Bassey was however silent on the actual cause of death.
    He said Onnoghen, who commiserated with the deceased’s family, directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all judicial institutions.
    Part of the statement reads: “The Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has received with sadness the news of the demise of His Lordship, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, GCON, who died in a London hospital on Saturday, 20th October, 2018 at the age of 78 years.
    “The CJN, on behalf of the Nigerian Judiciary and, indeed, all Nigerians, commiserates with the family of the deceased former CJN and urges them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived to the fullness of age and served his country diligently, rising to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the highest office in the third arm of government.
    “As a mark of deserved honour to the deceased jurist, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that the Nigerian national flag in the premises of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the CJN’s official residence in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja, all Judiciary institutions including the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), as well as all Courts of Records in the country, should be flown at half-mast for a duration of seven days.
    “Similarly, the CJN has instructed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to open condolence registers at both foyers of the court to enable Honourable Justices of the court and other well-wishers pay their last respects to the deceased Justice Kutigi, who was Chief Justice of Nigeria from 30th January, 2007 to 31st December, 2009.
    “The Hon. Chief Justice prays for the peaceful repose of Hon. Mr. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi and urges God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. “

  • Kutigi wins NBA/Gani Fawehinmi human rights award

    Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi has won the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)/Gani Fawehinmi Signature Award for human rights and social justice in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day.

    NBA President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) said Justice Kutigi stood by the rule of law while in office.

    “He has not only attained distinction in public interest work and demonstrated boldness, courage, independence, and innovation, but has also during his short period of service as the CJN shown commitment to the promotion of the rule of law and protection of human rights in the enactment of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009.

    “It expanded the human rights field and created flexibility in its application, removing all technicalities like locus standi, thereby facilitating access to justice and making it easy for third party enforcement of right violations.

    “ It is for this reason that he was nominated by several individuals and organisations and the NBA Human Rights Institute found him worthy for the Gani Fawehinmi Signature Prize/Award of the NBA for which he has emerged winner,” Mahmoud said.

    Justice Kutigi’s son, Justice Abubakar Kutigi, received the award on his father behalf.

    At the event, which held in Abuja were Bar leaders and members of the human rights community.

    They include Chairman, NBA Human Rights Instutute, Mr. Caleb Dajan, NBA Second Vice President Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu (SAN), Acting NBA Executive Director  Salamatu Sidi, Acting Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), represented by Director, Legal Services and Enforcement, Mr. Olaniyi Omodara, among others.

     

     

  • Aggravating Kutigi’s Freudian slip

    IN a plenary last week at the ongoing national conference, a different but disturbing attribute of Justice Idris Kutigi came to the surface. Throughout his years on the bench, particularly at the apex court, the jurist had not been known for intemperate remarks or regrettable verbal lapses. But on Wednesday, Justice Kutigi, who is also the chairman of the conference, unleashed a verbal fusillade against journalists covering the conference. The chairman of the Committee on National Security, Albert Horsfall, had requested the chairman to excuse reporters covering the conference because of the sensitive nature of some of the things he was about to disclose. Rather than issue a simple directive, which could not have been discountenanced anyway, Justice Kutigi brusquely ordered the journalists to disappear.

    A newspaper quoted him as follows: “Disappear from this place immediately. Pressmen clear yourselves! The pressmen should disappear from this place! I say pressmen disappear, shut your cameras down, shut everything and get out from the gallery right now. Clear and get out from there! Disappear.” Another newspaper quoted overzealous security men as telling journalists they had been described as security risks. In their indecent scramble to enforce Justice Kutigi’s orders, the officers bellowed at reporters: “What are you still doing there? Did you not hear what the chairman said? You have been tagged security risks; leave immediately in your interest.”

    Justice Kutigi’s order and its enforcement by security agents unfortunately reinforce the suspicion that something is fundamentally wrong, perhaps irredeemably, with the orientation of Nigerian leaders. It is not just an unthinking detachment from sensible reality, as some are wont to say, or a carry-over of colonial mentality, as many analysts think. Even if that official haughtiness was influenced by the condescending attitude of colonialists to their subjects, still colonialism does not fully explain the long-lasting problem that disgraces Nigeria and the black race and also enervates the system. Colonialism ended more than 54 years ago. If Nigerian leaders still retain the suffocating and dislocating economic and social structures of colonialism, it is not because they had a legacy to keep but because they lack the understanding and depth to know any better.

    That Justice Kutigi could succumb to such unflattering methods indicates that the problem is much deeper than previously thought. It is ingrained in their subconscious. The problem, it is clear is not ameliorated by education, social status, achievements or even religion. It is a uniquely Nigerian problem that only the right, visionary and intelligent national leadership can deal with. As the security agents who enforced the order also showed, the problem is even worse among law enforcement officers who have sometimes executed directives thoughtlessly. Neither political leaders, broadly speaking, nor security agents fully appreciate the fundamentals and nuances of power. Unable to handle power with the circumspection it requires, and inured to the responsibility that accompanies it, Nigerian leaders continue to celebrate the perks of power without paying corresponding attention to its obligations.

    We are used to and dismayed by the law enforcement agents’ irresponsible use of power. What is disturbing is that the Kutigi lapse, which he is said to have regretted, is so pervasive among the elite that there seems to be no hope the problem can be remedied in the foreseeable future.

  • Delegates may ask for more time

    Delegates may ask for more time

    THERE were indications yesterday that the National Conference may request for further extension of time to conclude its assignment.

    This emerged as the chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, told the delegates yesterday that the conference had only five weeks to turn in its report to the Federal Government.

    Justice Kutigi, who repeatedly informed delegates that the conference was running out of time, explained that the information became necessary so that delegates would do the needful to save time.

    The chairman also told delegates that the conference had debated and adopted reports of four committees with about 17 reports still outstanding.

    He suggested that the time the delegates used to debate committee reports should be saved to consider and vote on the committees’ recommendations.

    According to him, delegates who have amendments on any recommendations should forward same to the conference secretariat.

    Though majority of the delegates agreed that there was need to avoid a waste of time, Justice Kutigi’s proposal did not go down well with some members, especially those who claimed to have been shut out of speaking since the conference started on March 17.

    Those opposed to the proposal insisted that rather than foreclose the debate of committees’ reports, the time allotted to each delegate to speak should be cut down.

    Following some delegates’ opposition to Justice Kutigi’s suggestion, Deputy Chairman Prof Bolaji Akinyemi reminded the delegates that the conference had been extended for four weeks.

    Prof Akinyemi said Justice Kutigi led a group to the Presidency to request for a six-week extension, adding that the government granted only four weeks.

    He prayed the delegates to optimally use the remaining time because the conference had barely five weeks to conclude its deliberations, write its report, bring back the report for adoption before sending it to the President.

    Some delegates told our correspondent that there is need for a further extension of time “to allow us do a thorough job”.

    One of the delegates from the South-South said: “If we are expected to do justice to the work we have been assigned, more time is needed. We cannot rush the debates, especially when we have not considered the main issues for which the conference was convoked in the first instance.”

    The Federal Government extended the conference from June 30 to July 31.

     

  • No plot to undermine Christians, says Kutigi

    No plot to undermine Christians, says Kutigi

    Chairman, National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), yesterday said there is no plan to undermine the interest of Christians at the conference.

    Kutigi, who spoke through his Assistant Secretary (Media and Communications) Mr. Apandem James, described as misleading the protest of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the composition of the conference’s committee on religion.

    CAN on Tuesday faulted the composition of the religion committee alleging that Kutigi deliberately tilted the composition of the committee in favour of Muslims.

    The Christian apex body specifically said that Kutigi tactically chose Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as Chairman of Religion committee in order to control the committee from the back door.

    But Kutigi noted that there was no truth in the claim.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a misleading statement issued by Mr Sunny Oibe, who signed as the Director (National Issues) in the Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). There is no truth whatsoever in the unfortunate alarm raised in the press statement which tends to give the impression of an attempt to undermine Christians in the National Conference.

    “In trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments, Oibe claimed that the Committee on Religion is made up of 12 Muslims and eight Christians. That is not correct. The Committee has 21 members – 11 Muslims and 10 Christians.

    “It must be noted that delegates were asked to submit names of three committees they would prefer to serve, in order of preference. Seven Christians indicated Religion as their first choice, four as second and two as third choice.

    “That brought the total number of Christians to 13. Three Muslims made Religion their first choice, seven made it their second choice and eight made it their third choice bringing the total number to 20.

    “However, some of those who had other committees as first and second choices were placed in the primary committees of choice leaving the Committee on Religion with a lesser number than was required to form a full Committee.

    “It must also be noted that the official list of delegates showed that both Muslims and Christians have six representations each; which means that only 12 out of the 492 delegates are at the conference as Christian and Muslim leaders.”

  • Kutigi changes confab committees’ venue

    The National Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), has announced a change of venue for some of the confab’s standing committees, as deliberations at the committee level begin on Tuesday.

    This is contained in a statement by the conference’s Assistant Secretary on Media and Communications, Mr. Akpandem James, on Monday in Abuja.

    It said committees 11 to 20, hitherto scheduled to sit at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, would now hold their sessions at the NICON Luxury Hotel.

    “The change in venue for the second set of committees became necessary because Sheraton will not be available for the number of days envisaged,’’ the statement said.

    It, however, said committees one to 10 would hold their sessions at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the official venue of the conference, as earlier announced.

    Kutigi, in the statement, while apologising for the sudden change in venue, enjoined delegates to go straight to their respective venues as they resumed from the Easter break on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the confab chairman had last week given a hint of what was to come.

    He had said two venues had to be created for the committees to sit because of inadequate Committee Rooms at NJI.

    NAN reports that committees one to 10 include those of Devolution of Power, Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, National Security, Environment, and Politics and Governance.

    The others are Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reform, Social Sector, Transportation, Science Technology and Development, and Agriculture.

    Similarly, committees 11 to 20 include Civil Society, Labour and Sports, Public Service, Political Parties and Electoral Matters, and Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters.

    Others are Land Tenure and National Boundaries, Economy, Trade and Investment, Energy, Religion, Public Finance and Revenue, and Immigration and Related Matters.