The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Bar Association

  • 2019: Presidential aspirants urged to emulate MKO Abiola

    A human rights lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Monday urged presidential aspirants to emulate the legacies of the late MKO Abiola to enthrone good governance in 2019 and beyond.

    Agbakoba, also a former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), made the call in an interview with our reporters in Lagos.

    ”Our presidential aspirants in the coming 2019 elections should be purposeful and think about the electorate, the people, like the late Abiola.

    ”When you are running for an office, you are running to carry the burden of the people. It is like becoming the father of the house.

    ”Many of these politicians often forget why they go there and do away with all their campaign promises.

    “So, it is very simple; to be a politician, all you need to do is to remember the people that voted you to power, that is all.

    “If you do that, you will find that wherever you go, you will be honoured.

    Read Also: Buhari’s declaration: Agbakoba foresees upsets in 2019

    ”When MKO was alive, he was remarkable, because he had the will to listen and attend to the yearnings of the people.

    ”That is why today, we are honouring him, even in death. A politician must remember his political goal by providing good roads, healthcare, education and basic amenities for the people.

    ”The way forward in Nigeria is to get a good leader to rule this country,” he said.

    On the legality of declaring June 12 as the new date for the celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day as against May 29, Agbakoba said that it was “clearly an illegal declaration, but a popular one’’.

    ”I also think that the declaration is illegal, but I do not think that it is important. What is important is that there is a declaration that is popular; so, that is how we will take it.

    ”I know it is illegal, but I don’t feel aggrieved. I will not go to court to challenge the declaration; those who feel aggrieved can go to court and challenge it.

    “But, I know that the late Abiola’s family deserve the recognition,” he said.

  • NBA Ikeja protests to Lagos Assembly

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja  branch and some civil society organisations yesterday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa to protest the new Land Use Charge Law, 2018 of the State, describing it as anti-people.

    The protesters who displayed various kinds of placards to register their grievances also chanted anti-government slogans.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards included: “Stop killing justice in Lagos,” “No to hike in Land Use Charge, LUC, CDHR,” “The country is hard enough don’t add to it,” “Developing Lagos to megacity and kill Lagosians with pharaoric taxes,” “No to taxes without consultation,” “Lagosians commit suicide daily, stop this hardship” among others.

    The Chairman of NBA, Lagos branch, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana who addressed the press noted that they were shocked by outrageous land use charges introduced by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Ogunlana said a letter calling on the State government to reverse the new law would be made available to the Governor and the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

    “Our purpose is to communicate our grievances to Lagos State Government vis-à-vis the new direction by the governor. We have a letter for the Governor. We have anticipated that the Lagos Assembly will be more accessible than the office of the Governor,” the chairman stated.

    He pointed out that there were other civil society groups that joined the protest and they include CDHR, NCP, JAC among others.

    Ogunlana therefore called for “a rethink and review of the Land Use Charge and other obnoxious charges,” adding that the law was passed without wide consultations.

    He also faulted the enactment of the law under the state government, saying “the legislation usurps the power of local government.”

    Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, commended the protesters for being civil and peaceful, saying that their profession is noble.

    “It is your right to protest because peaceful protest is legitimate all over the world. The Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni would receive the protest letter and give it to the Speaker, while the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan, would receive that of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    “I want a good relationship with the Nigerian Bar Association and the legislature. We will want you to attend our public hearings where we debate all our bills before they are passed into laws,” he said.

    Agunbiade told the protesters that the request could not be attended to immediately, but that it would get to the Speaker of the House.

    The Majority Leader assured them that the House of Assembly is doing everything possible to serve the people and pass people- oriented laws, adding that they do everything possible to work on bills.

    According to him, the product of the bills is the responsibility of the executive and the legislature.

    He stated further that democracy becomes better when people are conscious of their rights.

    He told journalists that every law passes through three different stages such as first, second and third readings. The purpose of public hearings is to take the input of members of the public and there is no public hearing that we do that is not advertised in national newspapers for stakeholders to make their input.

    “If we do what we ought to do at the right time, then we will expect more people to attend the public hearings and come with their inputs. The Governor is a listening person and what affects one person affects another so the right thing would soon be done by the Governor. We represent the people and the Governor is also there to serve the people,” he said.

  • NBA Chairman calls for more training for young lawyers

    NBA Chairman calls for more training for young lawyers

     

    The Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Oyo State branch, Mr Akeem Agbaje, has called for the extension of pupillage to encourage adequate training and field practice for young lawyers as a way of enhancing their capabilities in the practice.

    He made the call at a public lecture organised by the Law Students’ Association, Lead City University, Ibadan. The title of the lecture was, ‘Be the lawyer of your dream.’

    He said, “The educational system and society is not conducive enough for smooth operation but aspiring professionals must strive hard with the courage to transform their vision into reality. Lawyers should be courageous, hardworking and determined in their bid to be successful. They must ensure strict adherence to professional ethics in their chosen career. So, creating more time for pupillage is a good step in the right direction.”

    He charged lawyers to be more informed and develop their mental ability, saying such was the only way they could be relevant and successful.

    Agbaje, who recently declared his intention to contest the Oyo state governorship seat come 2019,  while being probed on his intention to join politics said, his mission in government was to take the state to the next level.

    “The incumbent governor had done his bit. All I need to do is to advance the progress made so far. Government is a continuum and the society would be better for it,” he said.

    Earlier, the President of the student association, Wale Ojo-Lanre, said the lecture was organised to enlighten the student lawyers and prepare them on how to be successful in their chosen careers.

  • Judges who brought shame to the judiciary must be punished – Sagay

    Judges who brought shame to the judiciary must be punished – Sagay

    Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has said that Judges who brought shame to the judiciary must be punished for authority, power and dignity of the judiciary to be restored.

     

    Also to be punished, according to Prof. Sagay, are public servants n politicians who conspired to bribe and corrupt the judges.

     

    Prof. Sagay said Senior Advocates of Nigeria ‘who shamelessly approach judges and introduce them to culture of corruption deserve harsh punishment.

     

    Speaking in Benin City on Monday at the 2017 Annual Law Week of the Nigeria Bar Association, Edo State Branch, Prof. Sagay urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to investigate, arrest, and jail lawyers who receive loots as fee from corrupt public servants and politicians. 

     

    In his paper titled: “Corruption in the judiciary; the disciplinary role of the NJC vis-à-vis law enforcement agencies”, Prof Sagay said Judges must be perfect and remain the repository of honour, integrity and high moral authority.

     

    He said when the law court across the country failed to interpret, apply and enforce the law, the existence of the any civilized society will be endangered adding that loss of confidence in the judiciary will amount to chaos and disintegration.

     

    “No one ever expected judges to throw caution, rectitude, honour, justice and the credibility of the judiciary to the winds by selling his judgment. This is the destructive culture brought about by election petitions which has spread like epidemic through our formerly hallowed judicial system.

     

    “The disciplinary procedures of the NJC were not set up for such crime. That is why tragically we are now experiencing judges being tried in court like common criminals. That is why the anti-corruption and security agencies have taken it upon themselves to continue from where the NJC’s authority ends.

     

    “The bottom line is that judges enjoy no immunity from investigation, arrest, trial and conviction.

     

    “In order to restore the authority, power and dignity of the judiciary, we must go through extra ordinary painful process of punishing those who have brought same and obliging to that sacred institution.

     

    “Lawyers should be treated like accomplice after the fact because they share in the proceeds of the crimes of politically exposed persons and once paid from that stained loot, it becomes their life’s struggle to protect and shield the primary criminals from the consequences of their crime.”

     

    In his keynote paper, Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua, stated that the law has failed as a tool of fighting corruption ‘because in spite of laws prescribing stiff penalties for corruption, more money than ever has been stolen from the public coffer by corrupt means.’

     

    Atsegbua noted that all the laws against corruption would fail if disequilibrium in the social status of citizens were not met.

     

    He said Nigerian leaders lack the political will to fight corruption a situation which has hindered socio-economic development.

     

    Atsegbua said, “Corruption has become institutionalized in Nigeria. Despite several efforts by successive governments to curb corruption by the passage of several anti-corruption legislation, it is now clear that corruption can’t be fought solely by legal prescription.

     

    “Fighting corruption within the rule of law in a Democratic society will fail because, the laws divergence from society environment, social and economic inequality in society, lack of implementation capacity and the gain of law breaking exceeds the loss of punishment.

     

    “No matter the number of laws therefore passed by the National Assembly, corruption will still remain a landmark in Nigeria. 

     

    “Unless the state start living up to its responsibilities in providing functioning health services, education, electricity, payment of salaries and gratuity as and when due, the law will fail in its quest to fight corruption in Nigeria.

     

    “The fight against corruption in Nigeria ought to be structural leading to attitudinal change in order to make citizen aversion to corruption a matter of more conviction rather than one legal coercion”.

     

    Chairman of the occasion and Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esther Ikponmwen, said corruption if not tackled may continue to hamper the growth and development of the country.

     

    Justice Ikponmwen regretted that the judiciary has been affected by the sting of corruption noting that any act that deviates from acceptable standard of the law profession is corruption.

     

    She said successive governments have sought to fight corrupt practices without much result unlike the ongoing corruption fight which has yielded positive outcome.

     

    Justice Daniel Okungbowa in his paper said corruption would stop in Nigeria with the removal of immunity clause and ability to recall lawmakers.

     

    He also prescribed the death penalty for corrupt officials.

  • SGF suspension will add credibility to fight against corruption – Jonathan

    Mr Taidi Jonathan, a former Chairman of Minna branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), on Thursday says the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF] would add credibility to the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

    He stressed that the step taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the SGF and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency would send strong signals on his unwavering commitment to tackle corruption and ensure good governance.

    The former NBA chairman urged state governments in the country to take the issue of corruption seriously by taking steps to sanitise their adminstration.

    He said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that it was the only way to ensure good governance and development in the country.

    Jonathan, however, faulted the inclusion of the Attorney General of the Federation as part of the panel to investigate the SGF.

    According to him, the Attorney General of the Federation should excuse himself from the panel having earlier investigated and cleared the SGF on the same issue.

    Jonathan explained that in law, the Attorney General cannot review his previous investigation

  • PDP to NBA, others: Call Oshiomhole to order

    PDP to NBA, others: Call Oshiomhole to order

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State has urged the Nigeria Bar Association and the international community to call Governor Adams Oshiomhole to order.

    It said the will of Edo people should be allowed to be freely expressed and the outcome of Wednesday governorship election accepted by all.

    The PDP also call on all promoters of democracy to impress on the federal government to direct all organs responsible for the conduct of the Edo election to ensure that the election is not compromised directly or indirectly, before, during and after.

    A letter to the President of NBA and copied to several international organizations, the PDP urged the federal government to demonstrate good sportsmanship, having recently been a beneficiary of an election conducted by an incumbent administration.

    The letter signed by State Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Nehikhare accused Oshiomhole of deploying the police, the Attorney-General’s Office, and the State Revenue Service to harass, arrest and persecution of leaders of the PDP.

    Nehikhare alleged that Oshiomhole opted to deploy the state agencies having realized that it had not perfected its plan to rig against its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    He said the state government has dragged the State PDP to court over non-payment of tax by staff of the PDP Secretariat.

    His words, “The State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who apparently is the prime target of the litigation is mentioned as the defendant. The APC led government wants Chief Orbih remanded in prison custody during the remaining period of the campaign and on Election Day.

    “We see the disingenuous attack on Chief Orbih as a calculated attempt to throw the PDP in disarray and to manipulate the minds of our teeming supporters who are in the majority among the Edo electorate. We know that this resort is an exercise in futility.

    “The grand design of the APC is to subvert the will of the people and if this is not checked it may spell grave consequences for the state.”

  • NBA condemns govt’s failure to tackle insecurity

    NBA condemns govt’s failure to tackle insecurity

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) yesterday expressed dismay about government’s inability to address insecurity.

    It said the free reign of Boko Haram in the Northeast made Nigerians to question the basis of “this government’s existence and its capacity to deliver on its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.”

    NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), who spoke in Abuja at the valedictory court session in honour of the retired Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, noted that it was impossible for the country to have a free and fair election next year if the Federal Government remained helpless while insurgents’ activities threatened the existence of the country.

    He said: “The NBA is worried about the state of our country. It is witnessing the level of insecurity never experienced in its history.

    “The question agitating our minds now is whether the government charged to protect the lives and property of the citizens no longer has the capacity to do so. This question arises in view of the audacity and temerity with which Boko Haram insurgents are operating.

    “They recently extended their mode of operations by annexing some cities in the Northeast, renaming them as if there is no government in place. Yet Section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

    “It will appear that the military is not equipped and empowered for defence of Nigeria and Nigerians from internal and external aggression and maintenance of Nigeria’s territorial environment. The annexation and renaming of any part of the country is an assault on the territorial integrity of Nigeria.” Alegeh regretted the deceitful manner the government was going about the supposed fight against insurgency, citing the much publicised purported ceasefire agreement between government and Boko Haram, which turned out to be a hoax.

    The NBA president demanded a “total overhaul and reorganisation of the  Armed Forces.”

    He urged the Federal Government to equip the Armed Forces and inject human resources to position it for efficient and effective performance of its responsibilities.

    Alegeh praised Justice Mukhtar for her reform initiatives, which he said helped to improve public confidence in the judiciary and enhance its capacity for effective justice delivery.

    Justice Mukhtar, who expressed satisfaction about her performance in office, said contrary to claims in some quarters, all the judges who were investigated and sanctioned during her tenure were “given fair hearing with defence lawyers in attendance.” She said the appointments made under her were on merit and the process transparent.

    “I earnestly desired to leave a better and stronger Judiciary than I met it, and in the process, I may have stepped on many toes. Standard needed to be raised and equality of citizens needed to be assured, so that every citizen, no matter how lowly, will restore his faith and trust in the Judiciary. The fear of God has always been my guiding principle,”  Justice Mukhtar said.

    She reiterated her call on the Executive to abide by the principle of separation of power and rule of law, arguing that no democracy could survive a hobbled Judiciary, where law and order could not be guaranteed.

    The first woman Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs. Folake Solanke, who regretted corruption in the Judiciary, urged Justice Mukhtar’s successor, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to sustain the reform measures started by his predecessor.