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Tag: Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)

  • NBA describes invasion of National Assembly as threat to democracy

    …Cautions against use of security agencies to settle political scores

     

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has added its voice to the general condemnation of Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security personnel.

    NBA, in a statement by its President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), described the action by the security personnel as unconstitutional and constituting as grave threat to democracy.

    Read Also:Saraki storms National Assembly

    Part of the statement reads: “The Nigerian Bar Association condemns this brazen and blatant act of the security personnel and demands the immediate withdrawal of these personnel.

    “This action is unconstitutional and poses a threat to our democracy. We call on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) to immediately call the security forces to order.

    “The Nigerian Bar Association condemns, in the strongest terms the attempt, by the government or any faction of the political class to drag the Nigerian security forces into their ongoing political bickering and manoeuvres, totally unrelated to their responsibilities of governance for which they were elected.

    “We call on the military, the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and all other security agencies not to engage in any unconstitutional operations or allow themselves to be dragged into partisan political activities directly or indirectly.

    “We want to remind the heads of these security agencies that there is sufficient framework under domestic and international law to hold them accountable for illegal and unconstitutional operational use of security personnel.

    “The Nigerian Bar Association will continue to monitor the current situation and will not hesitate to take further and more drastic action in defence of Nigerian democracy should this call remain unheeded.”

  • Bagudu urges NBA to lead in freeing Nigeria from corruption

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi on Monday urged the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA ) to ensure speedy dispensation of justice and equity to free the country from pervasive corruption.

    Bagudu said at the 2018 Law Week organised by the state branch of NBA in Birnin Kebbi on Monday that in spite of efforts to stem corruption, it is still being regarded as part of the norm.

    The theme of the Law Week is `Promoting a Corrupt-Free Society.’

    “I task you to find ways of ensuring speedy dispensation of justice and equity to free our society from all forms of corruption.

    “The society still takes corruption as part of life especially in the public sector, as such our legal institution must do something to address the trend,” he said.

    He commended the association for organising the event, describing it as historic and timely.

    Read Also: NBA fixes July 27, 28 for election

    In his remarks, the state NBA Chairman, Mr Ebenezer Oguelina urged the state government to adopt the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ( ACJA ) to enhance quick access to justice.

    “The act was introduced for the benefit of victims, the court and society in the administration of criminal justice.

    “Many states have already adopted same and we cannot afford to be the odd one out,” he said.

    He also called for proper remuneration for workers including lawyers, adding that “If a worker is poorly paid, you cannot justly expect optimal performance from him.

    “Our members are poorly paid and there is no better forum than this to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

    NAN

  • Saraki seeks partnership with NBA for ease passage of bills

    Saraki seeks partnership with NBA for ease passage of bills

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has directed that all pending and prospective bills before the Senate be made available to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for its input.

    Saraki said that such partnership would only improve the quality of such bills but engender easy passage of the proposed legislations.

    The Senate President pledged the cooperation of the Senate with the NBA to ensure easy passage of bills before the upper chamber.

    A statement by Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said that Saraki spoke when the NBA Legislative Advocacy Committee led by Paul Erokoro (SAN) paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

    It said that the NBA official visited Saraki to solicit that the association be allowed to make its input to bills being considered by the Senate before passage.

    It quoted Saraki to have said that he was in complete agreement with the NBA that their input is necessary before bills go for public hearings.

    Saraki said, “l agree with you entirely as part of recommendations that we must have collaborations. I am surprised that our bills are new to you and that you don’t have free access to them. We have these bills on our website. You should be able to access them.

    “Going forward, I think that instead of you waiting for us, by your experience, there are areas that require necessary input and I think we should be able to collaborate closely.

    “We’ve done this in the business sector where we set up a working group with Nigeria Economic Summit Group and my office and we’ve been able to work together in some business related bills.

    “Some of these bills require amendment, some are outdated, and some are not inline with today’s practice. We have been able to come out with a road map which we are following and the economic sector is enjoying the efforts in the business communities and infrastructure.

    “We’ve passed the Railway Bill, Road Transport, Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and Secured Transaction bills. All these are as a result of collaboration. If there are other areas that need amendment or on general issues in the society, we want the NBA to partner with us. We will be very happy to work closely with you.  All we can assure you is that it is our responsibility to pass these relevant Bills.

    “The society has changed drastically and the times have changed. So, as we send these Bills to you, I think there should be some initiative from your own part too and we assure you that there will be prompt attention on our part to fast-track such bills”

    It said that Chairman of the NBA Legislative Advocacy Committee also demanded for a register of all pending bills before the Senate to enable them conduct a research on the bills, stating that such partnership would enable bills passed by the National Assembly to stand the necessary legal test.

  • NBA urges Nasarawa to appoint more High Court Judges

    NBA urges Nasarawa to appoint more High Court Judges

    The Lafia Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Nasarawa State Government to appoint more High Court Judges to hasten the dispensation of justice.

    Its chairman, Mr Mudi Dikko, made the call on Monday in Lafia, during the 2017 Appeal/Call over Session to review cases already decided by the lower courts.

    “High Court 1, Keffi, High Court 5, Lafia, and the entire High Court in Nasarawa have no judges; they have been lying fallow. This has affected the judiciary and we cannot continue this way,” he said.

    He said that the dearth of high court judges was hampering the delivery of justice, and advised government to act “immediately”.

    “Recommendations for the appointment of more judges was made more than one year ago. We keep wondering what is happening,” he said.

    Dikko also urged the government to establish more high courts to give litigants more opportunities for speedy justice.

    The NBA also cautioned against the constant transfer of judges, pointing out that such movement was detrimental to the cause of justice.

    In his response, Justice Suleiman Dikko, Nasarawa State Chief Judge, attributed the delay in the appointment of judges to an order from the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    “The NJC has directed that no new high court judge should be appointed until the state government provides befitting accommodation, court rooms and vehicles to those to be appointed,” he said.

    He, however, said that he had directed the Chief Registrar to commence the process of establishing another upper area court in Nassarawa-Eggon, due to the high number of cases there.

  • Woman docked over sale of four-months old baby

    Woman docked over sale of four-months old baby

    A 25-year-old woman, Sandra Ishaku, was on Tuesday arraigned at a Jos Upper Area Court, for allegedly selling her four-months-old baby for N100,000.

    Ishaku, along with three others – Amechi Emmanuel,  Jones Osim and Gladys Chukwuma – were charged with conspiracy, cruelty, and child abandonment.

    According to the prosecutor, Mr L. O. Ocho, Ishaku, on May 10, 2017, sold her baby to Chukwuma, for N100,000.

    Ocho told the court that the transaction was carried out in Jos, in the chambers of Osim, a legal practitioner.

    “Ishaku conspired with Emmanuel and sold her baby to Chukwuma, who had just relocated from Ebonyi State to Jos,” he said.

    The Presiding Judge, Yahaya Mohammed, did not take the plea of the accused, opting to remand three of them – Ishaku, Emmanuel and Chukwuma – in prison custody, while the matter was adjourned to June 1, when hearing would commence.

    Mohammed, however, granted Osim bail after his counsel, Mr Lawrence Anya, pleaded that he be released on bail to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Plateau State Chapter.

    A similar appeal by Mr Peter Ikeolu, counsel to the three others, had earlier been rejected after the prosecutor argued that freeing them would affect investigation into the matter.

  • Man remanded for impersonating as lawyer

    A Lugbe Area Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of 35-year-old man, Joseph Prince in prison custody for allegedly parading himself as a lawyer.

    Prince of Central Area, Federal Secretariat is facing a charge of impersonation.
    The judge, Garba Ogbede, ordered
    that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Prisons and adjourned the case till May 12 for further hearing.

    The prosecutor, Ndidi Ukoha, had told the court that a legal practitioner, Jolly Obazee, caught the defendant at Lugbe Police Station on March 20.

    Ukoha informed the court that on same date at about 10 a.m. the defendant introduced himself as Barrister Joseph Prince, whereas he was not.

    She added that a Penal Code and an identity card of a law firm, where Prince claimed to be working were recovered from him.

    At the resumed hearing, Obazee told the court that he caught the defendant on March 20 at Lugbe Police Station parading himself as a legal practitioner.
    Obazee said that as a legal practitioner, he became suspicious because of the way the defendant was dressed on a Monday morning.
    He said he reported the matter to the investigating officer and he called the defendant and asked him his name.
    “He introduces himself as Barrister Joseph Prince; his name was sent to branch secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for confirmation.
    “There was no name as Joseph Prince and the defendant claimed to have been called to bar in 2011,’’ Obazee said.
    The legal practitioner said that he and the vice chairman of Abuja branch of the NBA, Mr Babatunde Oyefeso and two police investigating officers went to NBA office at Central Area in Abuja for investigation.
    He said that they discovered after crosschecking that there was no name as Joseph Prince.

     

  • Enugu approves N10m for prisons’ decongestion

    The Enugu State Government has approved the sum of N10 million for prisons’ decongestion in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, said this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council’s (Exco) meeting.

    Udeuhele said the money would be used to contract legal practitioners to handle bail cases and for the welfare of detainees.

    The council directed that the various chapters of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in the state as well as legal based organisation should be contacted for support and cooperation, he said.

    According to him, the council has also directed that the NBAs and other organisations as well as private lawyers will be engaged to handle cases of bail for those awaiting trial.

    He said that the council also directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Milletus Eze, to liaise with the Chief Judge of the state to conduct periodic jail deliveries in the prisons and cases of awaiting trials.

    Speaking, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Milletus Eze, said that, “the N10 million is just a palliative to take care of the three prisons in the state’’.

    He said such services would also be extended to indigenes serving various prison terms in other states across the country.

    “The major effect of the decongestion will come from jail deliveries that will reduce pressures on prisons in the state,” he said.

    Eze said that no fewer than 300 prison inmates from the prisons in Nsukka, Enugu and Oji River were released during the 2016 jail deliveries.

    He said that the state governor also granted amnesty to some prisoners toward the end of 2016.

    “This has gone a very long way to decongest the prisons; but because crime wave is not static, the prisons soon get congested again,” he said.

    He said that the Federal Government as the sole owner of the prisons did not anticipate the number of prisoners.

    The attorney-general called for interplay between the federal and state governments to address the challenges that led to prison congestion.

    “The prison in Enugu has less than four vehicles with which they convey inmates to the various courts in the state.

    “There are more than 20 magistrates’ courts in Enugu urban alone and others in parts of the state. The state has 18 high courts with criminal jurisdiction.

    “The prison authorities are supposed to convey prisoners to all these courts for their cases but do not have facilities to do that,” he said.

    Eze said that the Constitution of the country had made it explicit that inmates must be present during their trials, adding that the dearth of facilities was mostly the problem affecting quick dispensation of justice.

    He said that it would be difficult to determine the number of inmates that would benefit from the N10-million-prison-decongestion largess.

    “The number of beneficiaries will depend on the willingness of the lawyers willing to accept the amount that the government will be ready to pay them as legal fees,” Eze said.

     

  • Magistrates demand special pay package

    Magistrates demand special pay package

    The National President, Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Mr Saidu Umar, says the association is seeking for legislation to create separate salary structure for magistrates.

    Umar told journalists on Tuesday in Dutse that the special salary structure would be called the Consolidated Magistrates Salary Structure (CONMGSS).

    According to him, the proposal will soon be submitted to both the national and state houses of assembly.

    He stressed the need to adequately remunerate magistrates in line with the duties they perform.

    The president appealed to the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to assist in ensuring the provision of a conducive working environment for magistrates.

    Umar lamented a situation where magistrates live in rented houses, adding that they are expected to live in secluded areas with necessary conveniences.

    The president urged the CJN to review 2014 Revised National Judicial Council Guideline and Procedural Rules for the appointment of officers of superior courts, which allows the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to recommend its members.

    He complained that the guideline did not extend the same opportunity to the Magistrate Association of Nigeria to recommend its members in the same manner.

    He urged the CJN to address the issue so that magistrates too can be appointed to the higher bench as a means of encouraging hard work at the lower bench.

    The president recalled that during a recent courtesy visit on the acting CJN, “he tasked us to work hard, saying that the work of magistrates was too enormous and demanding.’’

  • Falana urge NJC, NBA to expose corrupt judges, lawyers

    Falana urge NJC, NBA to expose corrupt judges, lawyers

    Human Rights Lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) Monday  in Enugu charged the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to as a matter of urgency, secure the integrity of the judiciary by identifying and exposing corrupt judges and lawyers.

    Falana expressed fears that the corruption in the judiciary had become so alarming that “these days, no matter how bad your case may be, its outcome is determined by the size of your pocket”.

    He spoke as a guest speaker at the opening of the Law Week of the Enugu Branch of the NBA with the theme “Corruption and the Justice Sector: Implications for the Rule of Law and Democracy”.

    Falana said invading the homes of criminal suspects at night was completely out of order “whatever the offences may be”.

    He said the situation was becoming worrisome especially when the houses of senior military, police and officers of other law enforcement agencies accused of corruption have not been so invaded.

    He canvassed that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami should be vicariously held liable for the consequences of such raids having accepted that he was the one that authorised the raids on the homes of judges by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS).

    “The government should better watch it because I recalled that sometime during the military junta, myself, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Gani Fawehinmi were severally harassed by state agents for projecting human rights views. I later discovered that it was not actually Babangida that ordered such harassment but they were executed by those behind the Okar Coup who wanted the Human Rights community to have disdain and hatred for the Babangida administration,  so that when the topple him, our support would be enlisted.

    “I want to warn that criminal elements may soon wear masks, invade the homes of judges, kidnap some and possibly kill some and the blame will be on the government. If they don’t stop, I am also asking judges never to open their gates at night. If they come calling, call them thieves and they will run away,” he said.

    He however blamed the “ongoing embarrassment of our judges” on some senior lawyers who he accused of refusing to do the needful by exposing and shaming the few judges that are bent on dragging the integrity of the judiciary in the mud, insisting “there is no corrupt judge that is not known to the lawyers”.

    Because of the actions of few corrupt judges, the institution is being denigrated. We still have judges who are working in the most difficult conditions and have refused to be tainted. NBA should speak out and protect the good judges. A few judges, a few senior advocates, a few lawyers are corrupt. We should isolate them, name them and shame them. Allegations remain allegations, we have to stop at just pointing accusing fingers but go the extra-miles of carrying out thorough investigations so as to unveil these bad eggs.

    “Judges should also be mindful of the companies of lawyers they keep because these set of lawyers who are bent on destroying the system will put you in trouble. They have made the price to be high now. Our hardworking lawyers are now in trouble because the corrupt ones are beginning to dictate the pace. Our courts have become super markets where only the rich do their shopping,” Falana noted.

    While also not excusing the NBA leadership from the corruption spree, Falana who hinted that he would soon withdraw his membership of the association, said the national election of the association had become even more expensive than a state gubernatorial election where candidates spend as much as N700 million to run for the presidency.

    He also attributed some of the conflicting judgements coming from Federal High Courts especially in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt to the corrupt activities that have enveloped the judiciary, lamenting that the situation might degenerate if nothing was urgently done.

  • New jostling for Deputy Governorship ticket in Ondo

    Ahead of the November 26 governorship poll in Ondo state, some political parties among the 28 participants in the poll are in the process of selecting their deputy governorship candidates.

    Among the parties, only the Alliance for Democracy (AD) with, Chief Olusola Oke as its candidate have picked its running mate in person of the former lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest Federal Constituency, Ganny Dauda.

    Dauda is a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) like Oke, the duo dumped the party following the post-primary crisis.

    The former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) was declared the winner of the primary election which was rejected by three frontline aspirants including Segun Abraham, Olusola Oke and Ajayi Boroffice.

    The Election Appeal Committee had earlier recommended the cancellation of the shadow election because of alleged malpractices,while majority members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC ratified the decision of the Appeal Committee to conduct fresh primaries, but the National Chairman of the party overruled it and submitted Akeredolu’s name as the APC candidate.

    Since then, peace has eluded the progressive party in Ondo state. Aggrieved aspirants such as Oke had dumped the party, Abraham is now seeking redress in court to reclaim what he called his ‘Stolen Mandate’.

    Akeredolu’s name has been submitted with that of former PDP lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo,Agboola Ajayi as his running mate.

    The one-time National Assembly Member who is from Southern District and a particular community where the mother of the candidate,Akeredolu hails from,political analysts believed must be a surrogate used by the APC flag bearer to meet the INEC’s deadline.

    Truly as being contended,the APC in the state has set up a five-man committee saddled with the responsibility of screening the Deputy Governorship aspirants to become the running mate to Akeredolu.

    The Committee is chaired by the only female governorship aspirant of the party, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose.

    Three governorship aspirants of the  September 3,shadow election including Tunji Abayomi, Victor Olabimtan and Ayo Akinyelure are also members with Bankole Oluwajana, Dr A.Shaba and Wale Akinterinwa.

    They are to screen the aspirants and shortlist the best among them to run with Akeredolu (SAN).

    Those interested in the position apart from that of Agboola Ajayi are mostly from the Southern and Central District.

    The aspirants are 19 in number out of which 13 are from the South while the rest six are from the Central.

    The APC candidate,Akeredolu is from Owo in the Northern district.

    Prominent among the aspirants are the United Kingdom (UK) based lawyer, Bolaji Odidi, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Sam Aderoboye, APC spokesman, Omo’ba  Abayomi Adesanya, Boye Adegbemisoye, a former Chairman of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government and Commissioner for Public Utilities.

    Also on the screening list are,Ifedayo Abegunde, former House of Representatives representing Akure South/ North Federal Constituency and Ade Adetimehin, the incumbent APC Deputy state Chairman among others

    For Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)its candidate,Eyitayo Jegede has not picked his governorship candidate,but he may emerge from the Northern District.

    Other political parties have sent the names of their deputy governorship candidates to to INEC,but most of the names are still are unknown politicians.

    The names of the Deputy Governorship candidates for Social Democratic Party(SDP)is John Owoso,Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)which will soon be replaced is Olumide Ogunje, African Peoples Alliance (APA) Owoeye Jonathan, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Paul Oluwasesan, All Progressives Congress (APC) Agboola Ajayi (tentative) Labour Party (LP) Akinbamire Benson,Citizen Popular Party (CPP) Owolabi Yusuf and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) Onisemo Oladapo.

    Others are Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) Emilere Akinlose,Democratic People Party (DPP)Lawrence Festus,New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Dr Babafemi Famakinwa,Hope Democratic Party (HDP) Oladutire Ronke,National Unity Party (NUP) Ojo Oladapo, Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) Olajobi Olalekan, Young Democratic Party(YDP)Egbeola Martins and Accord Party(A).

    The rest are All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Yaya Olasehinde, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Oladele Bamitale,African Democratic Congress (ADC) Aganmayo Iseoluwa, Action Alliance (AA), Biola Ojo, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Omopekun John, Independent Democrats (ID) Famuagun Moses, Kowa Party (KP) Alhaja Fausat Aliu, Peoples For Democratic Change (PDC) Olatunji Segun, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Ikusika Olanike, United Democratic Party(UDP) Olasupo Wasiu and National Conscience Party (NCP), Owolabi Stephen.

    It is observed that most of the names are unknown in the politics of the sunshine state,they are mostly surrogates to fill the list.

    But the real running mates would emerge latest October 19 when INEC must have released the final list of the candidates and their running mates.

    Meanwhile,the Alliance for Democracy(AD)has appointed the former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state,Hon Bola Ilori as Director General,Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation,while the former Speaker,Victor Olabimtan who is a governorship aspirant is appointed the Director General to Rotimi Akeredolu Campaign Organisation of the APC.

    Meanwhile, Political Campaigns for all parties are commencing this week around the state.