Month: April 2024

The Federal Government is to convene national policy summit on Justice to address critical challenges in the justice sector April 24.

Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made this known while addressing a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the summit is organised by the Ministry of Justice, alongside the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the summit is ‘Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory, and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency.

He noted that the summit will usher in a new era of positive change and progress in the justice sector, ensuring a fair, accessible, and efficient legal system that upholds the rule of law while safeguarding fundamental human rights.

‘This crucial event seeks to address the significant challenges plaguing Nigeria’s justice sector and pave the way for much-needed reforms that will make justice more accessible to all Nigerians.

‘Key s
takeholders from across the country will engage in constructive discussions and develop practical solutions that prioritise the justice needs of the average Nigerian.

‘It is unique opportunity to collectively tackle the pressing issues hindering the efficient, fair, and people-centered delivery of justice in our nation.

‘They will share their invaluable knowledge and expertise and proffer constructive solutions for making the justice system more efficient and accessible to all Nigerians”.

According to him, the summit will also deliberate on draft legislations proposed to address specific identified challenges within the justice sector, relating to the judicial appointments process, administration, funding and budgeting for the judiciary.

‘It will eliminate delays and inefficiencies in justice delivery and evolve ways to reduce the amount of time for adjudication of cases, eliminate some of the associated technicalities, and reduce the number of cases getting to the Supreme Court.

‘In this regard, we int
end to look at a situation where many cases will terminate at the Court of Appeal to reduce the burden on our noble justices of the supreme court”.

Fagbemi said that the summit’s goal is to review, validate, and adopt the revised National Policy on Justice 2024- 2028 to drive prison reforms, access to justice for the average Nigerian.

‘It will also review electoral laws and procedures in handling election related cases, among several other reforms.

‘The comprehensive policy document outlines a broad framework and initiatives in 17 thematic areas aimed at reforming the justice sector to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility to all Nigerians.

‘It also ensures that justice is not just a privilege for the few, but a right for all”.

He said the policy aims to address various challenges within the legal framework, seeking to promote social cohesion, bolster economic development, and foster good governance.

‘These proposed laws will serve as a catalyst for collective action, provide a guiding framework
for relevant governmental institutions to establish an effective, efficient, and people-centered justice system.

‘We cannot afford to remain complacent in the face of the obstacles impeding the efficient delivery of justice for all Nigerians.

‘This is an opportunity for us to unite our efforts, leverage our collective expertise, and chart a course toward a more just and equitable society.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday admitted the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele to bail in the sum of N50 million.

Emefirle is charged with abuse of office and fraud to the tune of 4.5 billion dollars and N2.8 billion.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, admitted Emefiele to bail with two sureties in like sum.

Oshodi held that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years tax payment with the Lagos State Government.

He also ordered that the sureties must show proper identification and must be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The judge also said that he was satisfied with the bail conditions of N1 million, earlier given to Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, who is standing another charge before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat, before a Yaba High Court.

Oshodi, however, said that the bail documents must be transferred to special offences court and must also be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The E
conomic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 8 arraigned Emefiele on a 23-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications and corrupt demand.

His charge also include receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage, while his co-defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on acceptance of gift by agents.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the time of filing this report, the counsel were making applications for accelerated hearing and trial.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Oleh community in Delta has urged the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to prevail on the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, from fuelling crisis in the town.

The appeal is contained in a petition to the Governor by some leaders in Oleh, Isoko South Local Govt, Delta, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Friday.

In the petition signed by four leaders on behalf of the community, they alleged that the SSG

was unjustly interfering in the leadership succession in Oleh, an action capable of breaching the peace in the town.

The petition was signed on behalf of the community by Chief Zaakie Okupa, Hon. Osibi Henry, Mr Anthony Okeh, and Mr Ayo Ubara.

The SSG, however, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), denied all the allegations against him in the petition addressed to the governor.

The petitioners wrote: ‘your Excellency, it has become expedient to write you as a community and peace loving people, reporting the bias interference of the SSG,
Dr Kingsley Emu in Oleh matters; an action threatening our peace and survival.

‘Sir, it is worthy of note that considering the recently dastardly acts and attack witnessed by the state at the moment, Delta needs relative peace.

‘As the Chief Security Officer of the State, it will be too dangerous if your Excellency remains silent as many fingers are already pointing at the SSG who had suddenly developed questionable intentions and vested interest to fight our collective interest in Oleh.

‘It is in this context that we respectfully appeal to our governor, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who do not toy with the rule of law to kindly call Dr Kingsley Emu to order.

‘The SSG must end this erroneous desperation, stay neutral without allowing himself to be coerced into a matter that could affect us if not well handled.”

On the succession issue in the community that the SSG was accused of meddling into, the petitioners said the former President-General of Oleh Community Development Union (OCDU), Chief Believe Alakr
i, refused to relinquish power when his tenure expired in December 2023.

They alleged that Alakri, hiding under the influence of government paraphernalia, breached the extant law, which stipulates that election shall be conducted at least, three (3) months before the expiration of the tenure of his office.

The petitioners said that rather than conducting the election, Alakri planned to impose stooges as the community leadership

They alleged that Alakri also failed to render an account to Oleh people as required by the constitution after his five years of stewardship.

‘He made a lopsided appointment by placing his cousin as the Chairman, Oleh Electoral Committee, his closed ally, Secretary and other members without recourse to equity and traditional spread, thereby breaching the constitution.

‘This unhealthy appointment was carried out for the reason that a sinister plan was in the offing to plant a surrogate as a successor,” they alleged.

The petitioners said following the infractions and to avert cri
sis, the aggrieved members of the community secured a valid order of a Delta State Chief Magistrate’ Court to right the wrongs.

Specifically, they said Chief Magistrate B.O. Williams ordered that an interim body should take over the leadership of the association, in line with the provisions of the constitution of OCDU.

They said the court directed the interim body to hold the annual conference of OCDU and conduct election into the leadership of the association within three months as stipulated by the constitution.

The petitioners said rather than obey the orders of the court, Alakri and one Chief Joe Arausi introduced a narrative that the leadership crisis in Oleh town had political colouration.

They alleged that the duo of Alakri and Arausi made the government to believe that the leadership infraction in Oleh had party affiliation.

‘Your Excellency, it is sad, worrisome, and quite unfortunate that Dr Kingsley Emu (the SSG) had allowed himself to be brainwashed and misguided

‘Regrettably, Dr Kingsley Em
u had intentionally midwife several calls, not excluding calls to the late Magistrate, Chief Magistrate B.O. Williams (before she died), threatening and commanding that the conference should be held against our constitution.

‘Your Excellency, if Dr Kingsley Emu denies this fact, we will apply to Court to licence the network providers to produce phone calls conversation within this specified time.

‘The last time we checked, the SSG has not been assigned the herculean functions of Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in Delta State. The signals are very clear.

‘He must end this erroneous desperation, stay neutral without allowing himself to be coerced into a matter that could affect the party tomorrow if not well handled,” the petitioners said.

In his reaction in a telephone interview with NAN, the SSG said he was aware of the petition, but the allegations therein were unfounded.

Emu said they waded into the crisis in the community to keep peace, because the state could not afford a repeat of Okuama and
Okoloba crisis..

‘Although, we are aware of the court cases, we cannot afford to watch and allow this crisis to degenerate

‘Without prejudice to the cases in court, we summoned all the parties for a meeting. We did so in order to resolve the crisis through arbitration.

‘We have waded into similar cases, such as they had in Isoko, and we resolved the crises amicably and peacefully among warring parties, we will continue to intervene to ensure peaceful co-existence.

‘I am the SSG and a peace loving person. I cannot take side with any party. The Governor has his trust in me. I am not frivolous, reckless or irresponsible,” he said

According to the SSG, the allegation is coming from a misguided people who want to fan embers of crisis in the community.

‘The major cause of the crisis is resources; it is about oil, leadership tussle and boundary.

‘We will stop at nothing lawful to ensure peace in the state.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Nigerian Scholar, Prof. Wale Adebanwi, has bagged the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship which is awarded on the basis of prior career achievement and exceptional promise.

Adebanwi, who is the Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Africana Studies and Director of Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, U.S., is among the 188 winners of the 2024 awards.

The Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation said in a statement that the Fellowships covered a ‘distinguished and diverse group of culture-creators working across 52 disciplines’.

‘Humanity faces some profound existential challenges,’ said the President of the Foundation, Mr Edward Hirsch in the statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

‘The Guggenheim Fellowship is a life-changing recognition.

It is a celebrated investment into the lives and careers of distinguished artists, scholars, scientists, writers and other cultural visionaries who are meeting these challenges head-on and
generating new possibilities and pathways across the broader culture as they do so,’ he added.

Adebanwi previously served as the first African ever to be appointed as the Rhodes Professor of Race Relations and Director of the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

The scholar, who is also a prolific author, holds a Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and another Ph.D in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar.

His books include ‘The Nigerian Press and the Politics of Meaning,’ ‘Authority Stealing: Anti-Corruption War and Democratic Politics in Post-Military Nigeria,’and ‘Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency’

NAN reports since its founding in 1925, the Guggenheim Foundation has awarded over 400 million dollars in fellowships to more than 19,000 fellows.

The fellowships is among world’s most prestigious awards, and this year alone had over 3,000 a
pplicants.

It total, 52 scholarly disciplines and artistic practices are represented in four broadly considered categories: the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and creative arts.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Friday, sentenced convicted cross dresser, Idris Okuneye (alias Bobrisky), to six months in prison for abuse of the Naira.

The court did not give the cross dresser an option of fine.

Bobrisky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court convicted him on April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved sentence until April 9.

The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending sentencing.

However, due to Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April 10 and April 11 public holiday, the case could not proceed as scheduled.

On Friday, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the convict without an option of fine.

The judge held that imprisonment would take effect from the date of the cross dresser’s arrest.

Okuneye was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.

The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye.

The charge bordered on Naira mutilation and money
laundering.

He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.

The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.

On April 5, Mr Bolaji Temitope, a prosecution witness and Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding prosecution of Okuneye.

After review of the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross dresser.

According to EFCC, Okuneye committed the offences on March 24, at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.

The commission stated that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event, by spraying same.

Okuneye also sprayed various tranches of money such as N20,000 and N50,000 at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to EFCC.

The offences contravene Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of Money Laundering Act of 2022.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A falling 40-feet container killed a woman inside her car at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday.

Her driver, however, survived the accident unhurt, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has stated.

Its Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, stated that the driver of the articulated truck carrying the container and his assistant fled the scene as soon as the accident occurred.

‘Preliminary investigation showed that the fleeing truck driver was driving on high speed when he experienced brake failure and lost control of the vehicle.

‘The truck rammed into the car and spilled the container on top of it.

‘LASTMA already handed the evacuated corpse of the woman to the police,” Adebayo stated.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria