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  • DAME: Lawyer hails The Nation

    DAME: Lawyer hails The Nation

    A Lagos lawyer, Adeleke Adeyemo, has hailed The Nation for its good outing at the this year’s edition of the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) held at the weekend.

    The newspaper won five of the 14 prizes in the print category of the prestigious award. Its Editorial Board Chairman, Sam Omatseye, won the Nigerian Press Council Prize for Informed Commentary, with his entry “For Citizen Fahat and Zaharu Africa”, which was published on December 29, last year. Omatseye has won the category the fourth time.

    Also a serial award winner, Olatunji Ololade and Chief Correspondent Kunle Akinrinade’s joint entry “Deadly potions: Nigeria’s herbal gin nightmare” clinched the Heath Reporting category prize.

    The UNICEF Prize for Child-Friendly Reporting was won by The Nation’s Gbenga Alaka, with his entry “Wild, wild world of dogs”.

    Joseph Jibueze also won the Justice Omotayo Onalaja Award for Judicial Reporting with his two-part series “How sabotage, blackmail and undue delay are killing the judiciary”. He won the category back-to-back.

    Senior Correspondent Collins Nweze won the Aliko Dangote Prize for Business Reporting, with his entry “Banking in a digital world”.

    The lawyer said the feat demonstrated The Nation’s commitment to good reporting and responsible journalism. He congratulated the management and staff of the media house for the achievement, saying it was a testimony to the newspaper’s march to greater heights.

    Adeyemo said: “The news of The Nation’s performance at DAME is heartwarming. I congratulate the management and staff. These awards, no doubt, are testimonies to our sure and steadfast march to greater heights.”

  • The Nation urges court to reject Senate’s bid to ‘arrest judgment’

    The Nation has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to refuse the Senate’s bid to ‘arrest judgment’ in the newspaper’s suit against the National Assembly.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa, on November 9, adjourned for judgment after the plaintiffs’ counsel, Wahab Shittu, adopted their processes.

    But the Senate denied being served with the suit or hearing notices.

    In an application filed on December 1, it prayed the court not to deliver the judgment but to extend the time within which it “may” file and serve its counter-affidavit to the suit.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), the Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent, Imam Bello, are the applicants.

    Shittu had informed the court that respondents were yet to file any response to the suit.

    “They have neither filed a memorandum of appearance, nor have they joined issues with the applicants,” Shittu said.

    After identifying all the motions he filed, he prayed the court to enter judgment in the plaintiffs’ favour, following which the court adjourned till Friday for judgment.

    But the Senate, in the motion on notice, sought an order striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    It prayed the court to set aside the proceedings, as well as its orders and decisions taken so far in the case.

    The Senate said it was “on account of non-service of the originating motion and hearing notices in this case on the second respondent/applicant herein (Senate).”

    In a supporting affidavit, Clerk of the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, Freedom Osolo, said the Senate “is willing to defend this case.”

    He added: “The inability of the second respondent to file a counter affidavit and written address in opposition to the Originating Motion of the applicants/respondents within the time stipulated by the applicable rules is not deliberate but is due to the non-service of the aforesaid process of this honourable court on the second respondent.”

    However, the plaintiffs, in a counter-affidavit to the application, said the Senate’s motion was an abuse of court process.

    According to them, the respondents had ample opportunity to defend the suit but failed to do so.

  • THE NATION EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIRMAN HONOURED AT NIGERIAN OSCAR

    THE NATION EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIRMAN HONOURED AT NIGERIAN OSCAR

    For their contributions to the growth of the country, Nigerian students, under the auspices of the Outstanding Students Choice Award for Recognition (OSCAR), last Sunday, honoured deserving members of the society.

    The event which took place at the Bespoke Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, is the brainchild of Nigerian students in 118 tertiary institutions in the country, and is spearheaded by its founder, Sam Adegbola; a post graduate student of the University of Ibadan.

    The Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, Mr. Sam Omatseye, who was among the awardees, presented the keynote address titled, Nigeria Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Lessons Learnt, Challenges, and Opportunities.

    The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, received two awards; The OSCAR Person of the Year Award, and Statesman of the Year Award. Other awardees include Sam Omatseye (Media), 2face Idibia (Music), Tunde Kelani (Filmmaking), Dr Taiwo Afolabi (Entrepreneurship), Steve Babaeko (Advertising), Ejiro Amos-Tafiri (Fashion), Dr Dapo Majekodunmi (Health services), Femi Falana (Legal services), Alhaji Mohammed Mutiu Anthony (Humanitarian services) and Oscar Onyema (National service/administrative leadership).

    Also awarded were Senator Babajide Omoware (Public presentation), Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Aliu (Public service), Prof Okechukwu Ukwuoma (Science and Technology) and Japheth Omojuwa (Social activism/advocacy).

    Speaking on the criteria for choosing the awardees, the founder of the OSCAR said that 852 names were initially nominated for the awards, but campus representatives scaled down the list to fifteen names. Speaking further he said, “There are four criteria for picking the awardees. They include performance, humility, contribution of the individual to national development and relationship with Nigerian students.”

    In response to his most outstanding media practitioner of the year 2015 award, Mr. Omatseye said, “Thank you and I am humbled by the award.”

  • Kudos to The Nation and LASPOTECH

    SIR: I want to thank The Nation for its role in the release of my Higher National Diploma (HND) result by the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).

    I wrote a complaint letter over protracted delay in the release of my result since August 2013 and sent it to several newspapers in the country. But only The Nation published the letter to my chagrin. Lo and behold, the deputy registrar of LASPOTECH called me to come and pick my result on that very day, saying it was ready since April. I was very shocked, yet very glad within. What a power of the press!

    The speed at which my result was released following the letter in The Nation was unprecedented. I would surely have continued to lament over the long delay if I had not sent the letter.

    Surprisingly, the deputy registrar did not only assist me in going through the stressful processes of result collection, he also made sure that I did not spend much time in getting my result.

    Therefore, I express my gratitude to The Nation for its advocacy role, LASPOTECH management for being sensitive to the plight of hapless Nigerians. I will forever be grateful to The Nation.

     

    • Ogunbona Abisola Aishat

    Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta

  • Court gives Senate 30 days to respond to The Nation’s suit

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the Senate and the National Assembly to respond to a suit filed by The Nation’s Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent Imam Bello within 30 days.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa said the respondents should be given time to “enter appearance” before the plaintiffs’ motion for interlocutory injunction is determined.

    He relied on Section 99 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act which says: “The period within which a defendant is required to answer before the court to the writ of summons shall be not less than 30 days after service of the writ has been effected.”

    The plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, informed the court that the respondents have been served with the order of injunction.

    The order restrained the Senate from compelling the plaintiffs to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    According to the proof of service, the processes were received by the Senate President’s Office on September 1.

    The first respondent, National Assembly, was earlier served on August 27 through its Office of the Deputy Clerk.

    The bailiff, Mr. Lambo Moshood, in an affidavit of service, stated that the Senate was served at about 12.01pm on September 1, and that it acknowledged receipt via an official stamp.

    Justice Yunusa made the order following a motion ex-parte moved by Shittu.

    The order is to subsist pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs’ motion ‎for interlocutory injunction.

    Should the motion for interlocutory injunction be granted, it will subsist pending hearing of the main suit, which seeks, among others, an order of perpetual injunction against the respondents.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’ published on July 30.

    The Senate wrote again on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

  • Bullet lands on The Nation man’s seat

    Bullet lands on The Nation man’s seat

    A worker of The Nation, Abiola Adenekan yesterday escaped being hit by a bullet inside his office.

    Adenekan of the Sales and Distribution Department was working on a production report around 10.28am when the bullet penetrated his office from the ceiling.

    “I was getting ready for the day’s work when I felt like eating something. As I stood up to go to the canteen, I remembered the production report and started working on it. I kept asking myself why I was standing when I had a seat in front of me. Suddenly, I heard a huge sound. I ran away because I was scared,” he said.

    Adenekan, who got married six-months ago, said he was shocked when he saw something on his seat.

    He said: “As I moved closer to my seat, I saw a bullet. My lips went dry because I didn’t know who to call; I was the only one in the office at that moment. I really don’t know what would have happened if I was seated. I don’t know how my pregnant wife would have received the news because this morning (yesterday) she still talked about how we were going to celebrate my birthday which is coming up in two weeks time. I am really grateful to God. I thank the spirit that made me ask my wife not to cook for me this morning.”

    According to him, the policeman attached to the company said it was an AK-47 bullet and took it away.

     

  • Senate served with order in The Nation‎ editor’s suit

    The National Assembly has been served with the interim order of injunction restraining the Senate from compelling The Nation’s Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent Imam Bello to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    A proof of service filed by a Federal High Court bailiff, Lambo Moshood, shows that the Senate was served on August 27.

    In an Affidavit of Service which he swore to, the bailiff said a Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly who gave his name as Martins received the processes.

    The bailiff said he met Martins at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja at about 2.14pm on August 27.

    Among processes served are a copy of the court order, a Motion on Notice, an Originating Motion, Written Addresses and affidavit exhibits.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order on August 21 following a motion ex-parte moved by the applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants, while the National Assembly and the Senate are the respondents.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’ published on July 30.

    The Senate wrote another letter on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

    But Justice Yunusa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate Committee.

    The court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate Committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The order, the judge held, is to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice.

     

  • Court bars Senate from compelling The Nation’s appearance over report

    Court bars Senate from compelling The Nation’s appearance over report

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted an interim injunction restraining the National Assembly from compelling The Nation’s editor, Gbenga Omotoso, and a correspondent, Imam Bello, to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order following a motion ex-parte moved by the applicants’ lawyer, Mr Wahab Shittu.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants, while the National Assembly and the Senate are the respondents.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’.

    The report says that 22 Northern senators elected on the All Progressives Party (APC) platform have been identified as “teaming up with the opposition to work against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party”.

    The Senate wrote another letter on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

    Justice Yunusa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate Committee.

    The court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate Committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The order, the judge held, is to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice.

    Shittu, in a supporting affidavit to the motion ex-parte, said unless the respondents were restrained, there is a great likelyhood of the breach or threatened breach of the applicants’ fundamental rights to receive and impart information as guaranteed by the Constitution.

    The applicants said the content of the publication has not been disputed or challenged, nor has the National Assembly issued a rejoinder to the story or made a formal complaint over the publication.

    According to them, the laws of libel and slander are available to anyone who feels aggrieved by any offensive publication, an option that is also available to the Senate.

    Shittu said rather than react to the story or deny it, the Senate wrote to the applicants, directing them to compulsorily appear before the committee or risk being arrested.

    The lawyer said the applicants are seeking to enforce their fundamental human rights to personal liberty and freedom of expression.

    He said the story, which is of national interest, was published based on “anonymous but informed sources” who cannot be disclosed to anyone in line with the ethics of journalism.

    Shittu said the Senate was trying to compel the applicants to explain the source of the story, threatening to violate their right by arresting Omotoso and Bello should they fail to show up before its committee.

    “The rights of the applicants to freedom of expression and the press guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution is about to be infringed upon except your Lordship interferes quickly before one of the country’s leading newspapers is brought to ridicule.

    “If they (respondents) have any cause to challenge the story, they can go to court and sue for libel. They also have a right to publish a rejoinder. Unless your Lordship restrains them, they will issue a Bench warrant and our clients will be embarrassed beyond repair.

    “We urge your Lordship to grant the reliefs in the interim so that they will not foist a fait accompli (state of helplessness) on the honourable court,” Shittu said.

    Besides, the lawyer said the Senate cannot compel the applicants to appear before it under Section 39 because the applicants are not a government agency, but members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm whose functions are guaranteed by the Constitution.

    “Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution does not derogate from the rights guaranteed to the applicants under Section 39. The invitation is intended to prevent the applicants from discharging their duties in the ordinary course of business,” Shittu said.

    After listening to the submissions, Justice Yunusa held: “I have considered the processes filed and the constitutional provisions relied on. I hold the view that the application has merit and is hereby granted.”

    The judge adjourned to August 28 for report of compliance.

  • Court bars Senate from summoning The Nation over report

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday granted an interim injunction restraining the National Assembly from compelling The Nation’s Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent Imam Bello to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order following a motion ex-parte moved by the applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants, while the National Assembly and the Senate are the respondents.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators “working against Buhari.”

    The report said that 22 Northern senators elected on the All Progressives Party (APC) platform have been identified as “teaming up with the opposition to work against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party.”

    The Senate wrote another letter on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

    Justice Yunusa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate Committee.

    The court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate Committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The order, the judge held, is to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice.

    Shittu, in a supporting affidavit to the motion ex-parte, said unless the respondents were restrained, there is a great likelihood of the breach or threatened breach of the applicants’ fundamental rights to receive and impart information as guaranteed by the Constitution.

    The applicants said the content of the publication has not been disputed or challenged, nor has the National Assembly issued a rejoinder to the story or made a formal complaint over the publication.

    According to them, the laws of libel and slander are available to anyone who feels aggrieved by any offensive publication, an option that is also available to the Senate.

     

  • VC praises The Nation on CAMPUSLIFE

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Faraday Orumwense, has praised The Nation for creating a platform for campus journalism to flourish. He said CAMPUSLIFE has enabled many students to contribute positively to education development in no small measure.

    He made the remarks while receiving the institution’s CAMPUSLIFE reporters – Eddy Uwoghiren, a 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, and Ezekiel Efeobhokhan, a 400-Level Pharmacy student – in his office.

    Eddy said the visit was to congratulate the VC on his appointment and intimate him with campus journalists’ activities in the school.

    Commending the VC for sustaining the tempo of development of the former VC, Prof Osayuki Oshodin, the students pledged their commitment to the present administration’s  programmes through their reporting.

    Responding, the VC applauded the students for their activities, noting that he was thrilled reading the students’ reports about the school in The Nation.

    His words: “I am marvelled at how far both of you have done. I am also marveled at how you both combine professional courses like Medicine and Pharmacy with the strenuous task of journalism. You might not see the reward of your engagement in campus journalism today, but with time you will be surprised at how far this practice has taken you. I strongly encourage you to keep it up.”

    He added: “With CAMPUSLIFE platform created by The Nation, students have been able to channel their energy for productive ventures, which will definitely benefit them in the future. The Nation deserves commendation for this opportunity. I want the media firm to keep the platform going.”

    Highlight of the visit included presentation of past publication of the school events in The Nation to the VC and a photo session.