The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has offered to lend its services to the government with the production of the draft of a new constitution, if the National Assembly successfully amends the document.
The group made the offer in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting its memorandum on constitution review and electoral reform to the Senate, two weeks after the public hearing ended.
The NBA occupies a significant position in the process of constitution reviews and electoral reforms and part of the recommendations of the Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee is that a seat be created for the association on the board of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The association could not present its memorandum during the recently concluded national public hearing in Abuja and, therefore, sought for another date to make its presentations. The Senate obliged it by allowing it to make its presentation at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Wednesday.
Rotimi Akeredolu, the association’s chairman, led the delegation of lawyers who made the presentation. He asked the National Assembly to keep up the work on the constitution review, even though it (the Assembly) seems to be short of time.
He also appealed to the Senate to fast-track some justice sector reform bills which have been pending in the chambers for long. Top on the list is the National Human Rights Amendment bill, which, according to him, will make the body more independent; and the Prison bill, which Mr. Akeredolu said, is the longest existing bill in the National Assembly, among others.
Change of attitude
The association supported the view of Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River State), who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on the issues of constitutions review. The senator is of the view that unless there is a change of attitude by politicians, the whole effort at constitutional review and electoral reforms will be a waste.
According to Joseph Daudu, chairman of NBA’s Legislative Advocacy Working Group, “attitude represents a very key aspect of the reforms”.
The report, however, contains some recommendations which the NBA arrived at after a two-day retreat in September this year at Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.
The recommendations in the NBA report include the establishment of a state police system, an advice for a piece-meal approach to the amendment of the 1999 Constitution and establishment of constitutional courts, amongst other recommendations.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed appreciation for the NBA’s concern on issues of constitution review and electoral reforms and promised to make copies of their report and circulate same to all members of the constitution review committee for careful study
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Nigerian Ambassador Charges Security Council on AU Peacekeeping
Nigerian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bukun-Ola Onemola, has advised the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution on the five-financing mechanism to fund African Union (AU) peacekeeping operations.
Onemola, in his word while addressing the United Nations Security Council debate on Peace and Security in Africa, made it known that the adoption of the resolution would help in strengthening AU's capacity to respond to the ever growing peacekeeping and security challenges in our region.The Nigerian Envoy pressed further that the debate would assist the council in forging new consensus and support for the proposals contained in the UN Secretary-General's report before the council.
He, however, made it known that Nigeria was appreciative of the close collaboration between the UN and AU to strengthen partnership in the area of peace and security.In his word, the Diplomat said that Peace and Security Council, the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force and the Special Fund as some of the areas in which support was required.His words: "Africa also need sustainable, flexible and predictable funding for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the support required to facilitate the building of the continent's peacekeeping capacity and institutional mechanism.
Onemola, in his word while addressing the United Nations Security Council debate on Peace and Security in Africa, made it known that the adoption of the resolution would help in strengthening AU's capacity to respond to the ever growing peacekeeping and security challenges in our region.The Nigerian Envoy pressed further that the debate would assist the council in forging new consensus and support for the proposals contained in the UN Secretary-General's report before the council.
He, however, made it known that Nigeria was appreciative of the close collaboration between the UN and AU to strengthen partnership in the area of peace and security.In his word, the Diplomat said that Peace and Security Council, the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force and the Special Fund as some of the areas in which support was required.His words: "Africa also need sustainable, flexible and predictable funding for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the support required to facilitate the building of the continent's peacekeeping capacity and institutional mechanism.
Kidnappers demand N500 Million for Soludo's father
No word has been heard about the whereabouts of Mr. Simon Nwankwo, father of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, who was kidnapped on Tuesday night. However, last night, the kidnappers of the 78-year old man broke their silence.
They are demanding the sum of N500 million as ransom before they would release the father of the putative candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2010 Anambra Sate governorship election. A senior police officer of the Anambra State command of the Nigerian police who does not want his name in print, confirmed the report of the ransom demand. He, however, said the command had not been officially notified.
Mr.Nwankwo, was kidnapped in his hometown of Isuofia in Aguata local government Area on Tuesday by a six-man gang who came in a Peugeot 406 saloon car.
Chris Uba invited
The spokesperson of the Anambra State police command, Emeka Chukwuemeka, also confirmed to NEXT that the command had issued an invitation to Chris Uba, a leader of the PDP in Anambra state to report to the command today.
Mr Chukwuemka declined comments on whether the invitation was connected to the kidnap of Mr Soludo’s father. “We invited him because of the political meeting he (Chris Uba) convened in the state capital yesterday,” he said. Sources, however, told NEXT that the invitation was on the directive of the Inspector general of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo.
In an earlier phone conversation with NEXT, Mr Chukwuemeka said the command was yet to establish any contact with the kidnappers. He, however said that he believed that with the intense efforts being put into the search, Mr Soludo might soon be rescued.
“The command is doing its best to establish a lead, and the command has not found any,” he said. “This command has been doing everything humanly possible to establish contact with the kidnappers, but up till now, no information yet. That does not mean that even now or soon, we cannot re-establish contact with the kidnappers or rescue the man.”
Whiff of politics
But the Southeast Zone of the Nigeria Renewal Group (NRG) has accused the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party of being responsible for the kidnap.
A statement by the group’s chairman, Ejiamatu Chikwado, said the kidnap was politically motivated.
“The national leadership of the PDP ,since the Colonel Ahmadu Ali days, should be held responsible for acts of terrorism like this one because it has always rewarded its favoured members who brazenly indulge in all manner of criminal acts, even against fellow party members,” he said.
“The kidnapping of the PDP candidate’s father, apparently by his own party men, is what would always happen in a country where crime is rewarded, instead of being punished. Nigeria is not yet a country governed by the rule of law, but by the rule of men.” Chris Ngige, a former governor of the state was abducted on July 10 2003. But the group said this was equally done by his political opponents, whom it said were not punished.
“The abductors were thus encouraged to do more dastardly things, like the burning of such state institutions as the House of Assembly, the legislators’ quarters, Government House, the state judicial headquarters, broadcasting stations and others in November, 2004, for a whole two days in broad daylight,” the group said.
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They are demanding the sum of N500 million as ransom before they would release the father of the putative candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2010 Anambra Sate governorship election. A senior police officer of the Anambra State command of the Nigerian police who does not want his name in print, confirmed the report of the ransom demand. He, however, said the command had not been officially notified.
Mr.Nwankwo, was kidnapped in his hometown of Isuofia in Aguata local government Area on Tuesday by a six-man gang who came in a Peugeot 406 saloon car.
Chris Uba invited
The spokesperson of the Anambra State police command, Emeka Chukwuemeka, also confirmed to NEXT that the command had issued an invitation to Chris Uba, a leader of the PDP in Anambra state to report to the command today.
Mr Chukwuemka declined comments on whether the invitation was connected to the kidnap of Mr Soludo’s father. “We invited him because of the political meeting he (Chris Uba) convened in the state capital yesterday,” he said. Sources, however, told NEXT that the invitation was on the directive of the Inspector general of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo.
In an earlier phone conversation with NEXT, Mr Chukwuemeka said the command was yet to establish any contact with the kidnappers. He, however said that he believed that with the intense efforts being put into the search, Mr Soludo might soon be rescued.
“The command is doing its best to establish a lead, and the command has not found any,” he said. “This command has been doing everything humanly possible to establish contact with the kidnappers, but up till now, no information yet. That does not mean that even now or soon, we cannot re-establish contact with the kidnappers or rescue the man.”
Whiff of politics
But the Southeast Zone of the Nigeria Renewal Group (NRG) has accused the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party of being responsible for the kidnap.
A statement by the group’s chairman, Ejiamatu Chikwado, said the kidnap was politically motivated.
“The national leadership of the PDP ,since the Colonel Ahmadu Ali days, should be held responsible for acts of terrorism like this one because it has always rewarded its favoured members who brazenly indulge in all manner of criminal acts, even against fellow party members,” he said.
“The kidnapping of the PDP candidate’s father, apparently by his own party men, is what would always happen in a country where crime is rewarded, instead of being punished. Nigeria is not yet a country governed by the rule of law, but by the rule of men.” Chris Ngige, a former governor of the state was abducted on July 10 2003. But the group said this was equally done by his political opponents, whom it said were not punished.
“The abductors were thus encouraged to do more dastardly things, like the burning of such state institutions as the House of Assembly, the legislators’ quarters, Government House, the state judicial headquarters, broadcasting stations and others in November, 2004, for a whole two days in broad daylight,” the group said.
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
22 deportees arrive Nigeria
Twenty-two persons deported from Spain arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
They arrived the airport at about 3.30 p.m. in company of some law enforcement agents from Spain.
A source from the Nigeria Immigration Service, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that there were six males while the remaining were females.
The deportees were sent packing by the Spanish authorities for immigration-related offences ranging from illegal entry, expired visas and fake travelling documents.
The deportees were received at the airport by immigration officials and other law -enforcement agents.
Some of the deportees, who had no criminal records, were allowed to go home while those found wanting were kept for further interrogation.
NAN learnt that another batch of deportees is expected from the Netherlands next week.
They arrived the airport at about 3.30 p.m. in company of some law enforcement agents from Spain.
A source from the Nigeria Immigration Service, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that there were six males while the remaining were females.
The deportees were sent packing by the Spanish authorities for immigration-related offences ranging from illegal entry, expired visas and fake travelling documents.
The deportees were received at the airport by immigration officials and other law -enforcement agents.
Some of the deportees, who had no criminal records, were allowed to go home while those found wanting were kept for further interrogation.
NAN learnt that another batch of deportees is expected from the Netherlands next week.
Bankole: Nigerians Hungry for Good Governance
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has said the House is renewing its pact with the people to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
“Nigerians are hungry for good governance, that is, the one offered by democracy, and our pact with them is to ensure that democracy dividends are served in significant proportions,” the Speaker said in a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria.
“We have demonstrated time and time over in words and action that we prefer to be leaders as against rulers, as this is the only way we can make the difference in the lives of our people who have been impoverished over the years and therefore yearning for the kind of government that will reverse the unsavoury and unsatisfactory situation. We shall continue in that trend.”
The statement read in part: “The House has done many things during the period under review, that have been variously interpreted in many quarters. Significantly, our investigations of the happenings of the past have triggered questions as to our true intention.
“The inquiry has in many quarters been described as an attempt at witch-hunt directed at the last administration and notable officials. Let me use this opportunity to say that we are no hater of anybody. Our endeavours in this regard are borne out of the genuine desire to clear the rot of the past and use our findings to move Nigeria forward.
“We are saying that the former status quo that de-emphasised service delivery to the people, who ordinarily should be the masters of those in government is no longer acceptable. Government will be re-positioned to serve the overall interest of Nigerians. I hasten to say also that no amount of blackmail by those dubbing the inquiry as a witch-hunt will stop the investigation of the past by the House.
“The House has put the nation on an irreversible course in terms of law making that has human face and making various organs of government accountable to the people by giving bite to our oversight of the MDAs.
“No longer will national budget be a mere formality as has been the case under successive administrations. All of us are living witnesses to the innovation that the House put into the making of this year’s budget that saw us asking questions from relevant agencies on how they utilised past votes before new allocations were approved. The tenacity that we as lawmakers employed in the processing of the budget ultimately paid off as huge sums of money were recovered as unspent funds under the past budgets and built into the on-going budget.
“Now that the budget is being implemented, let me warn that nothing less than full implementation will be acceptable to the House as those who fail to play their part to the letter will incur our wrath.”
“Money has been voted for projects many of which are crying for attention and the people already impatient that the poor infrastructure across the country be fixed. We will follow the money so voted to see that it is applied in the right manner. Reckless government officials will, as we are wont to do, be summoned, as and when necessary, before the House to account for the money entrusted in their care.
“Nigerians are hungry for good governance, that is, the one offered by democracy, and our pact with them is to ensure that democracy dividends are served in significant proportions,” the Speaker said in a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria.
“We have demonstrated time and time over in words and action that we prefer to be leaders as against rulers, as this is the only way we can make the difference in the lives of our people who have been impoverished over the years and therefore yearning for the kind of government that will reverse the unsavoury and unsatisfactory situation. We shall continue in that trend.”
The statement read in part: “The House has done many things during the period under review, that have been variously interpreted in many quarters. Significantly, our investigations of the happenings of the past have triggered questions as to our true intention.
“The inquiry has in many quarters been described as an attempt at witch-hunt directed at the last administration and notable officials. Let me use this opportunity to say that we are no hater of anybody. Our endeavours in this regard are borne out of the genuine desire to clear the rot of the past and use our findings to move Nigeria forward.
“We are saying that the former status quo that de-emphasised service delivery to the people, who ordinarily should be the masters of those in government is no longer acceptable. Government will be re-positioned to serve the overall interest of Nigerians. I hasten to say also that no amount of blackmail by those dubbing the inquiry as a witch-hunt will stop the investigation of the past by the House.
“The House has put the nation on an irreversible course in terms of law making that has human face and making various organs of government accountable to the people by giving bite to our oversight of the MDAs.
“No longer will national budget be a mere formality as has been the case under successive administrations. All of us are living witnesses to the innovation that the House put into the making of this year’s budget that saw us asking questions from relevant agencies on how they utilised past votes before new allocations were approved. The tenacity that we as lawmakers employed in the processing of the budget ultimately paid off as huge sums of money were recovered as unspent funds under the past budgets and built into the on-going budget.
“Now that the budget is being implemented, let me warn that nothing less than full implementation will be acceptable to the House as those who fail to play their part to the letter will incur our wrath.”
“Money has been voted for projects many of which are crying for attention and the people already impatient that the poor infrastructure across the country be fixed. We will follow the money so voted to see that it is applied in the right manner. Reckless government officials will, as we are wont to do, be summoned, as and when necessary, before the House to account for the money entrusted in their care.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
FG not transparent over Halliburton scandal –NBA
The Nigerian Bar Association, on Wednesday, insisted that the Federal Government should release the names of Nigerians linked with the Halliburton bribe scandal.
The President, NBA, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who spoke at the opening of the NBA’s 4th Business Law Conference in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had not been transparent in the handling of the issue.
According to him, Nigerians are not satisfied with the way the office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice is handling the issue.
He said, “Rule of law is not limited to obeying court orders. Government has not been transparent. Nigerians deserve to have fuller information.
“The names of those involved should be released to the public and they should also be prosecuted. That is our position.
“The matter has already been tried in court in the United States of America, so there should really be no secrecy about the names of Nigerians who were involved in the scandal.”
Akeredolu noted that “the struggle for the economic emancipation of Africa must be fought from all fronts. There is no doubt that Africa’s development has been wasted by poor leadership as most our leaders pay lip service to the issue of the rule of law, while most of our leaders have benefited and are still benefitting from the proceeds of corruption.”
He also faulted the advice by President Umaru Yar’Adua to his ministers that they should be transparent in their operations, saying that all the President needed to do was to support the passing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill.
“There is also no commitment on the part of the National Assembly to pass the bill. Otherwise, if they pass it and the president refuses to assent, they should override him by two-thirds vote,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, immediate past president of the International Bar Association, Mr. Fernado Pombo, said that transparency was needed in fighting trans-border economic crimes such as corruption.
He said that effort should be made to trace money involved in such crimes and how it could be retrieved and brought back home.
He pointed out that lawyers played key roles in facilitating corrupt acts worldwide.
The former IBA President cautioned lawyers about engaging in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the profession, adding that “a lawyer’s obligation to his client to close a deal has its limitations.”
He said such limitation should not extend to committing a crime, as anything beyond a legal advice was no longer part of a lawyer’s duty to his client while lawyers were part of the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
The President, NBA, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who spoke at the opening of the NBA’s 4th Business Law Conference in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had not been transparent in the handling of the issue.
According to him, Nigerians are not satisfied with the way the office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice is handling the issue.
He said, “Rule of law is not limited to obeying court orders. Government has not been transparent. Nigerians deserve to have fuller information.
“The names of those involved should be released to the public and they should also be prosecuted. That is our position.
“The matter has already been tried in court in the United States of America, so there should really be no secrecy about the names of Nigerians who were involved in the scandal.”
Akeredolu noted that “the struggle for the economic emancipation of Africa must be fought from all fronts. There is no doubt that Africa’s development has been wasted by poor leadership as most our leaders pay lip service to the issue of the rule of law, while most of our leaders have benefited and are still benefitting from the proceeds of corruption.”
He also faulted the advice by President Umaru Yar’Adua to his ministers that they should be transparent in their operations, saying that all the President needed to do was to support the passing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill.
“There is also no commitment on the part of the National Assembly to pass the bill. Otherwise, if they pass it and the president refuses to assent, they should override him by two-thirds vote,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, immediate past president of the International Bar Association, Mr. Fernado Pombo, said that transparency was needed in fighting trans-border economic crimes such as corruption.
He said that effort should be made to trace money involved in such crimes and how it could be retrieved and brought back home.
He pointed out that lawyers played key roles in facilitating corrupt acts worldwide.
The former IBA President cautioned lawyers about engaging in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the profession, adding that “a lawyer’s obligation to his client to close a deal has its limitations.”
He said such limitation should not extend to committing a crime, as anything beyond a legal advice was no longer part of a lawyer’s duty to his client while lawyers were part of the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
Deportees raise the alarm over Nigerians
The 45 Nigerians deported on Tuesday by the Equatorial Guinea Government have expressed fears on the whereabouts of 11 others, saying they may have been killed in that country.
They also demanded the release of the 15 corpses of Nigerians killed for proper burial at home and $100m compensation to the owners of seized boats and the detainees.
Out of the 128 Nigerians detained by the government of that country, 11 of them were removed from their cell, to an unknown destination, while efforts to trace them have proved futile.
A statement entitled, Report of Assault on Nigerian businessmen and Sailors in Malabo by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, signed by the Secretary-General of Nigeria/Malabo Boat Owners Association, Mr. Wisdom Archibong and made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday, also alleged that 12 of them died through torture and shooting.
They were arrested on February 17 by a combined team of Equatorial Guinea Police, Navy and Army who took 98 sailors and 30 other Nigerians and detained at the Central Police Station in Malabo.
Three of the people shot dead, alleged Archibong, included one Mr. Sola Jide, adding that “three of the people in the boat were tortured to death, including a woman. The Equatorial Guinea Police, after killing them, placed guns on their bodies, took photographs and branded them militants.’’
He stated that despite complaints to the Nigerian government, the Consul-General remained mute over the matter.
But the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, told The PUNCH on the phone that “both the Nigerian Mission in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and the Federal Government have taken up the issue to ensure that the rights of our people are protected.’’
Reacting to the development, human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, told our correspondent that he would reach out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea.
They also demanded the release of the 15 corpses of Nigerians killed for proper burial at home and $100m compensation to the owners of seized boats and the detainees.
Out of the 128 Nigerians detained by the government of that country, 11 of them were removed from their cell, to an unknown destination, while efforts to trace them have proved futile.
A statement entitled, Report of Assault on Nigerian businessmen and Sailors in Malabo by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, signed by the Secretary-General of Nigeria/Malabo Boat Owners Association, Mr. Wisdom Archibong and made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday, also alleged that 12 of them died through torture and shooting.
They were arrested on February 17 by a combined team of Equatorial Guinea Police, Navy and Army who took 98 sailors and 30 other Nigerians and detained at the Central Police Station in Malabo.
Three of the people shot dead, alleged Archibong, included one Mr. Sola Jide, adding that “three of the people in the boat were tortured to death, including a woman. The Equatorial Guinea Police, after killing them, placed guns on their bodies, took photographs and branded them militants.’’
He stated that despite complaints to the Nigerian government, the Consul-General remained mute over the matter.
But the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, told The PUNCH on the phone that “both the Nigerian Mission in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and the Federal Government have taken up the issue to ensure that the rights of our people are protected.’’
Reacting to the development, human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, told our correspondent that he would reach out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea.
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