The Nation Newspaper

Tag: verdict

  • As Dickson awaits Jonathan’s verdict

    As Dickson awaits Jonathan’s verdict

    Unless there is a change in plans, President Goodluck Jonathan will be in Bayelsa State soon for a two-day working visit. The President is expected to arrive the state after the SouthSouth zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Bayelsa is the state of Jonathan and he has been visiting both Yenagoa, the capital of the state and his hometown in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area for private and party activities especially since Seriake Dickson became the governor.

    However, the proposed visit is expected to be special and remarkable. It will be a period for the President to assess the performance of Dickson who has been tagged the “godson” of the President. The governor is at the midterm of his administration and since he rode into the Creek Havens (sobriquet for the state’s Government House in Yenagoa), his “godfather” has yet to appraise his giant strides in all the sectors of the economy.

    The forthcoming working visit will assist Jonathan to justify the massive support he gave Dickson before and after the 2012 election that made him the governor. Jonathan was precise, firm and resilient in his quest to change the past administration which he described as a monumental failure. He provided the political substratum and fulcrum for the current governor to assume the administration of the state.

    So, the President would want to know how far the state has gone in terms of development under the restoration government of Dickson. Observers believe that Jonathan would like to see newly constructed roads, good public schools, improved healthcare infrastructure and services and other public infrastructure dotting different parts of the state.

    Already, there are indications that the proposed two days may not be enough for the President to go round and inaugurate all the projects completed by Dickson. Investigations revealed that the government has lined up 33 projects for his godfather to inaugurate.

    Undoubtedly, Jonathan will have a busy schedule. According to a list of projects released by the state Ministry of Works, Jonathan is expected to inaugurate four roads. The AIT-Sanni Abacha, Azikoro and the State Archive roads have been lined up for inauguration in Yenagoa, the state capital. Also the Angalabiri-Toru Orua link road contracted to Zeerock Nigeria Limited will be commissioned by the President.

    In the list of Yenagoa projects are the state-of-the-art multi door courthouse, four massive secretariat annexes and the Bayelsa State Integrated Communication Control and Coordination Centre.

    The President is further expected to inaugurate one block of two storey building, 18 two bedroom flats, police post, one block of two storey building  and four other projects at the ongoing construction of a diagnostic centre located within the 500 bed hospital complex in Yenagoa.

    Besides, Yenagoa and Sagbama, Amasoma in Southern Ijaw and Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma have been included in the itinerary of President Jonathan. In Amasoma, the home of the former Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alameiseigha, the President will inaugurate seven blocks of one bedroom flats at the camp of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    At Kaiama are an administrative block, hostel blocks, dinning hall and many blocks of quarters at the permanent site of the NYSC orientation camp in the area. Perhaps, President Jonathan will be glad to see the ongoing infrastructural development of the Boro Town, named after the late Ijaw hero, Isaac Boro.

    The President described as a true Ijaw man will be happy to inaugurate an Outdoor Auditorium, two duplexes, four bedroom bungalow, a bedroom flat and lascaping of the town.

    So, expectations are high as the governor, members of his cabinet and the people of Bayelsa await Jonathan’s first working visit to his state. Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, maintains that the state is ready to receive the President.

    Describing the proposed visit as special, the CPS said Jonathan will be proud of the achievements of the governor.

    “This is the President’s home state and we receive the President every now and then. But this one is very special especially because this is the first time we are inviting the President to come on a state visit to see what the restoration has done so far.

    “I am sure when the President comes, he will be very proud. It is not just the government that is saying it, the people are also saying it that this government has done so well in every sector. When the President comes we will take him round to see those projects that Bayelsans are applauding us for”, he said.

    He added that the governor deliberately reserved big projects for the President to inaugurate. according to him the proposed visit is the celebration of good governance in Bayelsa State under the leadership of the present governor.

    The CPS said: “Everything is on top gear to ensure that when he comes, it will be one big event. It is like one big family coming together. There is no godfather or son in this.

    “What is most important is that we have a performing governor. A governor that any President will be proud of whether he is a President from the north, south or west.

    “But, thankfully, he is our President because he is from here. So, he will be proud of what this governor has done. This president will be proud of Governor Dickson for the giant strides that he has recorded in the state for the past two years.”

    He said the President would be proud to see Dickson’s achievements on security. The CPS insisted that President Jonathan would congratulate Dickson on ensuring that people in the state sleep with their eyes closed.

    Referring to Dicksn’s giant stride on security as something to cheer, he said the huge investments on the sector had paid off. He said the President would be glad that a governor of his home state has become a model for other governors to emulate.

    “Look at the peace we have enjoyed in the state. We are almost taken this security for granted. People go to sleep with their eyes closed because the massive investment we have made paid off. That is something to cheer and that is something l know the President will be very proud of.

    “It is nice for the President who is from here to be in Abuja and to know that his home state is at peace and he can use his home state as a model for every other state. You heared when the President talked about the need for the government to be responsible for the security of their various states.

    “So, Governor Dickson s a role model for other governors for the kind of work he has done in the area of security and that will make any president proud. So, if the President is losing sleep over insecurity in other parts of the country, he is not losing sleep over insecurity in his home state.”

    Besides, he said the restoration government has improved largely on the infrastructure in the state. He said the President would be proud to see that Bayelsa has changed.

    He said: “The President will come home and see that it is not the same Bayelsa that he left behind when he was called up to a national assignment. He will see that this is a new Bayelsa under the leadership of a countryman governor.

    “He will come and physically inspect the projects. He will see that it is the same level of development that had taken place  here that is taking place in other parts of the state. It will be a thing of joy for the President to see that development cuts across the state.”

    Furthermore, Iworiso-Markson said President Jonathan would be elated to see the continuation of some of the policies and programmes he introduced when was the governor of the state.

    For  instance, he said the administration has taken some of the policies and programmes to a greater level. For instance, he said the government has pursued with vigour Jonathan’s programme on gifted children’s education.

    He said: “He (Jonathan) will also be proud to see that some of the policies he initiated while as governor, this government has taken these policies to another level. A very critical one is the policy on the gifted children’s programme.

    “We have taken it to another level and the records are there for everybody to see. So, the President who initiated that programme will be proud to see that it has not died. I am proud to say that some of these students have graduated in various schools across the country.

    “What is interesting to note about it is that these are children of ordinary people who before now did not imagine that they will have the privilege of having their wards attending schools otherwise reserved for the children of the elite.

    “A number of them have gotten scholarship from this same government to go for further studies abroad. That is something to learn about governance that it is continuity. We may even bring some f the students to meet with Mr. President. There is so much more to show to Mr. President.”

    Beyond performance assessment, the CPS believes that the proposed visit is an opportunity for people in the state state to celebrate the President, their kinsman. He said Jonathan has done well in transforming the country despite prevailing challenges.

     

  • Akwa Utd, Warri Wolves displeased with Appeal Committee’s verdict

    Akwa Utd, Warri Wolves displeased with Appeal Committee’s verdict

    •But agree for a replay

    Both Akwa United and Warri Wolves have kicked against the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Appeal Committee order to replay their botched Week 16 Glo Premier League clash held at the Uyo Township Stadium.

    The Appeal Committee had during its sitting on Friday nullified the decision of the NFF’s O&D which ruled that only the second half of the match be played while the result will still stand at 2-0 in favour of the host which led at halftime before the centre referee, Henry Ogunyamodi refused to continue the game citing security concerns and the fans’ assault.

    The Appeal Committee instead ruled that the game be replayed at the Dan Anyiam Stadium,Owerri at a date to be fixed by the League Management Company(LMC) while the centre referee and the match commissioner for the match who were hitherto handed bans till the end of the season have now be referred to their committees in the NFF for appropriate sanctions.

    Speaking after the verdict was given, a visibly shaken Akwa United media officer, Umem Ekoh disclosed that they were not happy at all with the outcome of the Appeals Committee’s verdict insisting that they were expecting the committee to either uphold the decision of the O&D or award the full points to the Uyo side.

    He said the verdict was a miscarriage of justice and that the committee was neither fair nor just in its verdict despite their plea for fair hearing.

    “Akwa United are not pleased with this outcome at all. This is not the type of judgement we were expecting. We were not the ones that stopped the match and we now find it displeasing that the Appeal Committee did not uphold the decision of the O&D and is calling for an outright full game on a neutral ground. This is not fair at all,” Ekoh told SportingLife.

    While making his own view known to SportingLife, the media officer of Warri Wolves Moses Etu described the decision to order a replay as terrible and not in the interest of the club.

    He stated that negative precedent had been set and that the football house is trying to bend the rules it had made on the issues relating to match abandonment.

    His words:” the rules are very clear on this but somewhere along the way some people are trying to bend the rules now. A precedent is being laid. It is not in our favour and we are not happy with the decision because they have succeeded in bending the rules. Seasiders were not happy with the outcome of this decision at all. In a situation like this the rules are clear. The footage of everything that happened the LMC saw it. This is a terrible decision and it is not in our favour at all.

    “But as a law abiding club, we are going to abide by the decision and we are going to go to Owerri to sort it out with them. What we are craving for is good officiating. All the LMC officials should be there to watch the match and the best referee in the land should be called to handle it. The rules are very clear and since they have succeeded in bending it like this, we are going to look at the next club to fall victim and see what they will do. A precedence has been laid. They have set aside the rules of LMC and what it says on match abandonment, and they have used another rule to decide this matter.”

    Etu reasoned that the Appeals Committee has been able to bypass the LMC laid down rules and that it might be difficult for it to remain sacrosanct with a decision like this.

     

  • Prayers in Ondo ahead Appeal Court’s verdict

    As the Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, delivers judgment in the last governorship election today, Christian and Muslim faithful at the weekend converged on Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area to pray for the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    They also sought divine intervention in the administration of the state.

    The interdenominational religious programme organised by the Sunshine Coalition (SC), a group in the ACN, was led by Prophet Akinola Michael and Evangelist Raphael Akerele for the Christians. Alhaji Adepoju Tajudeen and Alhaji Mudashiru Shittu led the Islamic prayers.

    Their prayer points centred on leadership change and victory for the ACN and its governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The religious leaders acknowledged the efficacy of “prayers in bringing justice to the pauperised citizenry”, stressing that “rather than rituals being carried out by those in the corridors of power, we seek divine intervention by God.”

    They recited Holy Bible and Holy Koran verses, saying the hardship experienced by the people would be reversed by prayers.

    Speaking to reporters after the prayers, the Coordinator of the Sunshine Coalition, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, said: “In this time of suffering in the state, God is the only solution to our problems.

    “We are praying for justice at the Appeal Court. We are not like those, who have confidence in fetish power. We believe in the efficacy of prayers. It happened in Osun and Ekiti states. Ondo will not be an exception.

    “Even the biblical Israelites in their turbulent days called on God and their prayers were answered. Ondo State is currently in ruins; it has remained static. We need God’s intervention and this prompted these prayers.”

    The SC Chairman in Akure North, Fatukasi Oluwatuyi and Woman Leader, Alhaja Serifat Adepoju, said: “We believe in God; we abhor rituals and with our ceaseless prayers, we will get justice at the Appeal Court.”

  • Odi: Verdict on Feb. 19

    Odi: Verdict on Feb. 19

    Justice Lambi Akanbi of the High Court, Port Harcourt, will on February 19 deliver judgment on the N100 billion suit filed by the people of Odi against the Federal Government.

    The plaintiffs are seeking the amount as damages for the destruction of lives and property in Odi during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Obasanjo had deployed troops in Odi and authorised the use of force to deal with militants accused of terrorising the state.

    After the Odi invasion; the indigenes brought a N100 billion suit against the president, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff.

    When the matter came up last Thursday, the Court was filled with reporters from many media houses who came to watch proceedings in the case that has been described as earth-shaking.

    During the proceedings, DVD and projectors were used to show military operations in Odi land how the various shelters, machine guns, bombs and helicopter gunships were used to destroy lives and property in Odi Land.

    In a chat with the Nation, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, L.E. Nwosu (SAN), told The Nation:

    “The President and commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had responsibly stated that no militant was killed in that military invasion. It was only old men, women and children who could not run that were massacred in that military operation.

    “Nwosu said: “A situation where you turn guns and artillery purchased with tax payers’ money against the tax payers is a call for sober reflection, and a matter of serious concern.

    “It calls for atonement for the dead and compensation for the living for the trauma and loss they have been made to suffer as refugees and loss of their precious homes, loved ones friends and objects of reverence”.

    Nwosu led I. A. Adedipe (SAN) and I. R.L Rabana (SAN) for the plaintiffs while Nkoli Awa and M. Ode appeared for the defendants.

  • UNILORIN hails Supreme Courts verdict on 49 lecturers

    Authorities of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have hailed Monday’s ruling by the Supreme Court in a suit filed by the sacked but reinstated 49 lecturers, popularly called the UNILORIN 49.

    The lecturers had asked the apex court to compel the university to pay their unearned sabbaticals.

    They also prayed the court to promote them and backdate the promotion to cover the period of their absence.

    Reports on the verdict had said the apex court warned the lecturers not to make frivolous demands from the university authorities.

    Counsel to the lecturers, Mr Toyin Oladipo, said the reports were taken out of context.

    He said: “The fact of the matter is that their lordships struck out UNILORIN’s motion for an interpretation based on our preliminary objection. It is true that the justices counseled the two parties to put heads together. Unfortunately, the statements have been taken out of context to elicit propaganda. The position is that their case was struck out.”

    Oladipo said the verdict of the Federal High Court, which the Supreme Court restored, gave the lecturers not only their salaries but also other rights and entitlements which they missed during the termination of their appointment.

    “It is left for the Federal High Court to determine what these rights and entitlements are,” he said.

    In a statement, UNILORIN’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun said: “Monday’s landmark ruling has now laid to rest the pesky antics of the lecturers. The attention, energy and efforts of the management will now be directed towards pursuing its set goal of running a first-class citadel of learning.

    “The ruling is consistent with the university’s argument that the June 12, 2009 judgment of the same court, which ordered the reinstatement of the lecturers. It is clear and unambiguous.

    “It only covered the payment of their salaries and allowances, conditions which the university has since fully complied with.

    “Right from the beginning, the university has always drawn the attention of the public to the fact that the suit was frivolous and tantamount to an abuse of judicial process by the lecturers. The management will continue to build on the progress already recorded by the university, especially its unbroken record of academic stability as well as its top rating among the universities in Nigeria.

    “We are very passionate about these records and we intend not only to sustain them but to break more grounds so as to serve the country and humanity better.

    “We are, however, happy that the landmark judgment of the apex court has put to rest all the antics to draw the hand of the university’s clock backwards. It is hoped that the lecturers will now settle down to their primary responsibilities of teaching, researching and community service and put behind them other distractions that will, in the long run, not be in anybody’s interest.”

  • Bakassi: Why Nigeria won’t appeal ICJ verdict, by govt

    Bakassi: Why Nigeria won’t appeal ICJ verdict, by govt

    Failed case will be diplomatically damaging, says Attorney-General

    Advocates of a fresh legal action over Bakassi lost the battle last night.

    The Federal Government last night declared that it will not appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

    The decision was communicated in a statement by Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke.

    The nation’s number one law officer said after consultations locally and with an international firm, he decided not to explore the window of appeal because “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail.”

    Besides, a failed application for review by Nigeria “will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.

    The government’s position reflects The Nation’s exclusive story last Friday that the government had decided not to appeal the ruling. It was a day that many newspapers reported that government had decided to appeal the judgement.

    Government said yesterday that it did not have any new evidence to enable it successfully challenge the judgment.

    The full text of the Attorney general’s statement is as follows:

    “It will be recalled that on 10th October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered judgment in Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria, which covers about 2000 kilometres extending from Lake Chad to the Sea. It will also be recalled that before the judgment was delivered, President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon gave their respective undertaking to the international community to abide by the judgment of the Court.

    “The commitment and undertakings given by both Heads of Government were confirmed by the establishment of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) pursuant to the Joint Communiqué adopted at a Summit Meeting on 15 November 2002 in Geneva. The CNMC is composed of the representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria and the United Nations and is chaired by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa.

    “The CNMC has held 29 Sessions since its inception and has peacefully, amicably and successfully:

    (a) brought Cameroon and Nigeria back to negotiation table;

    (b) supervised the handing over of 33 ceded villages to Cameroon and 1 to Nigeria in December, 2003 and received 3 settlements and territory in Adamawa and Borno States Sectors from Cameroon in 2004;

    (c) initiated the Enugu-Abakiliki-Mamfe-Mutengene Road project as part of the confidence building measures between the two countries;

    (d) supervised peaceful withdrawal of Civil Administration, Military and Police Forces and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in 2008 in line with the modalities contained in the Greentree Agreement signed by Cameroon and Nigeria in 2006 which the United Nations, Germany, USA, France, UK and Northern Ireland witnessed; and

    (e) commenced the emplacement of boundary beacons/pillars along the land boundary and initiated final mapping of the whole stretch of the boundary. It is instructive to note that about 1800 kilometres of the boundary have so far been assessed for Pillar Emplacement leaving only about 220 km to complete the assessment of the entire boundary.

    “The Greentree Agreement was also signed by H. E. Paul Biya, and President President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, on 12 June, 2006, in Long Island, Greentree, New York, USA; reaffirming their willingness to peacefully implement the judgment of the ICJ. The Agreement contains the modalities for withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in pursuance of the ICJ Judgment.The Follow-Up Committee comprising representatives of Nigeria and Cameroon wasestablished to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Agreement. Nigeria handed over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008.

    “The Statute of the International Court of Justice provides that the Judgment of the Court is final and without appeal. However, following the resolutions of both Houses of the National Assembly calling on the Executive to take steps to apply for a review of the judgment, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan called a Stakeholders meeting comprising the leadership of the National Assembly, the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the Members of the National Assembly from both States, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director General, National Boundary Commission to review the situation.

    “The Stakeholders Meeting after due deliberations constituted a Committee comprising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director General, National Boundary Commission and Members of the National Assembly namely: Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Dr. Ali Ahmed and Nnena Ukaje to examine the issues in contention and available options for Nigeria including, but not limited to the application for review of the ICJ Judgment, appropriate political and diplomatic solutions.

    “Although the judgment of the ICJ is final and not subject to appeal, the ICJ Statute provides for circumstances under which its judgment can be reviewed. The relevant provisions are:

    (a) Article 61 (1) which provides that the Court can review its judgment upon the discovery of some fact of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given, unknown to the court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was due not to negligence;

    (b) Article 61 (4) which stipulates that application for revision must be made at least within six months of the discovery of the new fact, and

    (c) Article 61(5), which provide that no application for revision may be made after the lapse of 10 years from the date of the judgment.

    “The implication of the above provisions of the ICJ Statute is that a case for revision of the judgment of the court can only be successful if:

    (a) the application for revision is based on the discovery of a new fact;

    (b) the fact must have existed prior to the delivery of the judgment;

    (c) the newly discovered fact must be of a decisive nature; and

    (d) the party seeking revision (Nigeria) and the Court, must not have known of the fact at the time of the delivery of the judgment.

    “The Committee proceeded to examine the case for revision against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute and was constrained to observe from the oral presentations made to it by the proponents of the revision that the strict requirements of Article 61 could not be satisfied. This is because theirpresentation was unable to show that Nigeria has discovereda decisive fact that was unknown to her before the ICJ judgment, which is capable of swaying the Court to decide in its favour.This is more so as most of the issues canvassed in support of the case for a revision of the ICJ judgment had been canvassed and pronounced upon by the ICJ in its 2002 judgment.

    “The Federal Government also retained a firm of international legal practitioners to advise on the merits and demerits of the case for revision. The firm after considering all the materials that were placed at its disposal against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute came to the reasoned conclusion that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail” and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.

    11. In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government is of the informed view that with less than two days to the period when the revision will be statute barred (October 9, 2012), it would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) -(5) of the ICJ Statute.Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

    “Government is however concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroon within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroon in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula. Nigeria will also not relent in seeking appropriate remedies provided by international law such as the invocation of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ; Petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council and good offices of the United Nations Secretary General which has played pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful demarcation and delimitation of the boundary between the two countries and other confidence building measures and calls on the United Nations to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations.

    “Finally the Federal Government wishes to assure all Nigerians especially the people living in the Bakassi Peninsula of its determination to explore all avenues necessary to protect their interests including but not limited to negotiations aimed at buying back the territory, if feasible, the convening of bilateral meeting of the Heads of State and Government to ensure protection and development of the affected population.In the meantime, we call on all well meaning Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula to be law abiding and to allow the various initiatives being undertaken by the Federal Government to bear fruitful results.”

     

  • Govt won’t contest Bakassi verdict

    Govt won’t contest Bakassi verdict

    NIGERIA will not appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon about 10 years ago, it was learnt yesterday.

    But the government has chosen to file complaint to the court on abuse of human rights of Nigerians resident in the oil-rich peninsula.

    The abuse of the rights is a violation of the provisions for the enforcement of the judgment by the two countries.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the government insisted on complying with the ICJ judgment after a three-hour session at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.

    The session was attended by a former President of the International Court of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), legal and border experts from various ministries and agencies and stakeholders from Cross River State, including members of the National Assembly.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “At the session, those who wanted a review of the judgment were asked to support their position with cogent facts, in the light of Article 61 of the Statute of the ICJ which they had pleaded.

    “None of them could come up with concrete evidence or cogent evidence to convince the President on why the nation should seek the review of the judgment.

    “Both the AGF and Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), however, argued on the point of law why the application for the review is unnecessary.

    “Apart from the fact that application for a review of the judgment will erode international confidence in Nigeria and attract sanctions from the UN Security Council, the two Senior Advocates maintained that Article 61 technically mandated Nigeria to make such an application upon discovery of some facts.

    “Armed with documents and ICJ Statute, they said that there was no discovery of fresh facts to warrant such an application before ICJ by Nigeria.”

    Article 61 says: “An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when it is based upon the discovery of some fact of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given, unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence.

    “The proceedings for revision shall be opened by a judgment of the Court expressly recording the existence of the new fact, recognising that it has such a character as to lay the case open to revision, and declaring the application admissible on this ground.

    “The Court may require previous compliance with the terms of the judgment before it admits proceedings in revision. The application for revision must be made at latest within six months of the discovery of the new fact.

    “No application for revision may be made after the lapse of 10 years from the date of the judgment.”

    Those in favour of the review cited cases of abuse of human rights, including killings of Nigerians, as justification for the review.

    They also alleged that the Peninsula had actually eroded the territorial integrity of Nigeria beyond the judgment of ICJ.

    Another source in the Presidency added: “At the end of the session, the government decided that it will not seek a review of the judgment of the ICJ on Bakassi.

    The source said: “We have taken a position to comply with the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon because there are no fresh facts known to law to back such an application before ICJ, in the light of Article 61.

    “Those seeking a review acted on emotional sentiments than factual or legal points.

    “But the meeting agreed to challenge alleged abuse of human rights of Nigerians in Bakassi Peninsula by Cameroon contrary to the undertaking of Cameroon when the territory was ceded by Nigeria.

    “We are going to invoke compliance provision in the jurisdiction of the ICJ to protect Nigerians in the Peninsula.

    “So, a report of the abuses will be complied by Nigeria and this will be made available to ICJ and UN Human Rights Committee. If we are making any request at all, it is about compliance by Cameroon with the rules and regulations stated in ICJ judgment.”

    Asked if the complaint of alleged abuse of human rights would be made before the October 10 deadline, the source added: “This has no time limit. But for now, we have finally ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.”

    “We have mandated those concerned to compile a list of violations committed by Cameroon for verification before we file an application before ICJ.”

    It was learnt last night that an eight-man committee was raised to look into the alleged abuse of human rights of Nigerians in Bakassi.

    The committee, headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, comprises, a Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, four members of the National Assembly, including chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs, and representatives of Cross River State.

    Another source added: “The session was attended by some members of the National Assembly led by the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark.