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Jonathan Tasks African Lawyers On Democracy, Rule Of Law

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The Source
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Jonathan Tasks African Lawyers On Democracy, Rule Of Law

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has charged African lawyers to work to protect democracy, good governance, human rights, as a means of bringing an end to growing conflicts and violence in the continent.

In this regard, he urged them to advocate for the establishment of a strong rule of law, describing it as a basis for accountable governance which would help prevent and mitigate violent crimes.

Dr. Jonathan stated this in a speech titled ‘Accountable Governance as a Panacea for the Unending Conflicts in Africa: The Legal Profession as the Driver,’ which he presented on Monday as the Guest Speaker at the 2021 Annual African Bar Association (AFBA) Conference holding in Niamey, Niger Republic.

In establishing a correlation between functional governance and security, the former President noted that “lack of  accountability leads to  conflicts and insecurity while accountable governance almost always leads to peace, stability and development.”

He further noted that all actors within the judicial system have a critical role to play in advancing the course of justice towards bringing peace and development to the society.

He averred that one of the most critical purposes of law in the society is to preserve the moral sanctity that binds the people, describing law as the upholder and provider of order.

According to him: “The rule of law is more potent in preserving societies than the rule of man. A functional legal system should therefore serve as a hope enabler and catalyst for peace, societal order, growth and development.”

“African lawyers  both at the bar and the bench,  therefore have a great role to play in advocating for the rule of law in our nations. In fact, the role of the state attorneys is critical, if Africa will witness reduced conflicts.

I urge lawyers and judicial officers not to compromise their integrity in the process of upholding the rule of law and resolving disputes either in the courts, or  via the various alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.”

The former President also made a case for free, fair and credible elections and urged legal professionals to lend their weight towards deepening democracy in Africa.

He said: “There is no doubt that the independence of the electoral management bodies, is the key plank upon which a thriving democracy rests. I have always made the case that a truly democratic system narrows the space for strife and conflicts.

“It is therefore the prerogative of the legal professionals to not only protect the independence of the electoral management bodies, but also seek to ensure the integrity of electoral processes.”

Dr. Jonathan also decried the spate of poverty on the continent, noting that “ if we tackle  poverty through good governance, conflicts on the continent will be drastically reduced.”

Pointing out the importance of education in fighting poverty, the former President said: “One of the key remedies for poverty is education which, I believe, countries should provide for as a matter of right.

“I charge the executives and members of the African Bar Association, in their stated objective of using the legal profession to drive down the instances of violent conflicts in Africa,  to return to their individual countries and push for the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all Africans.

“One of those rights is the right to education. Education is not a privilege.  It is a right. And you, gentlemen, are in the best position to see to the actualization of that right.

As Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Notice Madiba did not say tool. He said ‘weapon’. The war on terror requires weapons, and whether from Nigeria to  Niger Republic, or from Cape to Cairo, the best weapon with which to fight terror is education.

“It is a long-term strategy. And it is scientifically proven to work. Education is the greatest equalizer known to man. According to the Global Partnership for Education, every year of education a person receives considerably reduces the risk that they would be involved in conflict.

“It is obvious that countries with high knowledge intensity and human capacity development enjoy higher per capita profiles than others.

“African lawyers  both at the bar and the bench,  therefore have a great role to play in advocating for the rule of law in our states. I urge lawyers and judicial officers not to compromise their integrity in the process of resolving disputes either in the courts, or  via the various alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.”

We must all work together to put in place a sustainable, equitable and inclusive system of governance that delivers justice, peace and progress to our people.

Nigeria Was Never One – Saraki

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Senate President and former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, is perturbed by the present economic and insecurity state of the nation, saying that the nation is still work in progress.

The two-term Governor said the entity called Nigeria was two countries joined together by the British for administrative purposes for their own selfish interest.

He said this while responding to questions from newsmen in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital during an Independence Day lunch with diverse Nigerian youths. He said the nation still has a long walk ahead and shouldn’t be compared with some other countries that did not have diversity from day one in terms of its process.

Speaking further, Saraki said that he read a a book on how Nigeria was formed and he realized that contrary to the claim and belief that Nigeria was one, the book showed that from inception when the amalgamation took place, the country was never one.

“I realized that we were never one country. We were two countries but it was efficient for the British to bring the two countries together for administrative purposes.

“It made sense at that time to bring the two countries together for commercial purposes. From day one, Nigeria is going to be a work in progress because it’s a country with so much diversities. So we can’t compare ourselves with some other countries that don’t have diversity right from time.

“A society that continues to allow that, where are the values for hard work? Where’s the value for doing things right? What message are we sending? The message that we must cut corners? As a country, we need to redefine that”, he said.

Power Outage Hits Lagos Residents; Eight Weeks Power Outage Looms

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

For Eight weeks, Lagos residents, particularly those in Ikeja, Ogba, Oke Ira axis of the State and its environ would experience power shutdown.

Reason for this blackout for the said period is for the repair work that would be embarked on by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

The Source Magazine gathered that the aforementioned areas would be affected to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, re-conduct its 132KV lines include Oregun, Police Training College, Oba Akran, Oke Ira, Ogba, Magodo, Anifowoshe and Omole Phase One.

Olajide Kumapayi, the Ikeja Electric Plc, Chief Technical Officer, said the power outage in the said areas would begin on October 11, 2021, with the sole aim of increasing the capacity of the transmission lines to wheel more power from the generation companies.

Commenting on the motive of the TCN in embarking on this project while briefing the media, Kumapayi  noted that some of 132K lines installed over 50 years ago had become obsolete and degraded due to time and usage, hence the need for the upgrade.

According to him, the TCN is currently embarking on the upgrade of the 132KV lines from Ikeja West to Ota and Alimosho in stages. This is the second stage.

“The TCN is replacing all the aluminum conductors with gap conductors which is more sophisticated to withstand heat and has more capacity to carry current.

“The implication of this is that from 8a.m. to 6p.m. everyday, the substations controlling these areas will be switched off, which will affect the feeders connected to them.

“This will affect all categories of customers within the area especially our Maximum Demand (MD) customers such as Ikeja City Mall, Police College, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and the Ikeja High Court.”

Kumapayi disclosed that the next phase of upgrading would be the Alimosho and Agege axis.

He noted that the upgrade was a power sector initiative to boost transmission and distribution of electricity to Nigerians.

TCN Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, said that the DisCo had written to the MD customers notifying them of the situation, adding that the company was also meeting with its bilateral power supply agreement partners and appealed to all those affected to exercise patience with the DisCo during the period.

“Even though this is a TCN project, it is our duty to inform our customers of the situation because we are the ones that interface with them on a daily basis.

“We believe it will be for the benefit of our customers at the end of the day and will also allow Ikeja Electric to invest more in our system to improve power supply to customers under our network,” Ofulue said.

Pandora Papers: Group Alleges Witch Hunt Of Obi, Aimed At Discrediting Him

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Anambra State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2019 Polls, Peter Obi, is engulfed in crisis over allegation of corruption, fraud in his foreign business activities by Pandora Papers, reveals  PREMIUM TIMES.

PREMIUM TIMES in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, ICIJ, a non-profit newsroom and network of Journalists centered in Washington DC, United States of America tagged  Pandora Papers had revealed how former Governor Obi, set up companies using fronts and hiding it from the public and Government in Nigeria. It laid bare a global entanglement of political power and secretive offshore finances and dealings.

According to the report, the former Governor is involved in a number of dealings which comprises money laundering and the establishment of companies with fronts in order to avoid detection by Nigerian authorities.

However, Human Rights Group, Nigerians For Justice, NFJ, has alleged that the allegation on Obi is a witch hunt against his person, political aspiration and an “obvious sponsored inquest”.

In a statement issued by the Group on Monday, 4th October, 2021, in Asaba, Delta State capital, it alleged that Online News Platform, PREMIUM TIMES report on Obi’s foreign business activities published earlier today was targeted at creating a wrong impression about Obi and a brazen plot to tarnish his political image.

Chairman of the Group, Francis Ezeoka, accused PREMIUM TIMES of bad faith and of doing a hatchet job, “lacking in substance” and “purity of motive.”

The Group alleged that some desperate political forces, intimidated and afraid of the rising political profile of Obi as the 2023 Presidential Election draws closer, are bent on tarnishing and rubbishing his political will and prowess.

NFJ said that the PREMIUM TIMES shot itself on the foot by betraying its motive in the first paragraph by passing judgement, thus betraying the fact that they were on a sponsored mission targeted at tarnishing Obi’s reputation.

The Group said that Nigerians are highly

intelligent and also discerning people who would not fall for the bait of the news medium that is on a sponsored mission to discredit Obi, and that it is also confident that Nigerians  would ask PREMIUM TIMES the ultimate questions: “Did you trace any missing Government money to any company Obi has real or imaginary interest? Is any public money missing in any public establishment Obi has had contact with, such as Anambra State, Security and Exchange Commission?”

Ezeoka also queried the nexus between Obi’s numerous speeches the report referred to and the actual issue the news medium pretended to be investigating. However, dismissing the report as failing short of expectations by trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

The Group said: “There is nothing in PREMIUM TIMES’ investigations or report that impeaches Obi’s integrity. It provides no proof of corruption by Obi but merely alleges failure to declare his foreign assets.

“To prove that he has nothing to hide, we learnt that Obi made himself available to PREMIUM TIMES and honestly answered all their questions. Apparently disappointed that they could not establish a case of corruption against him, the newspaper resorted to editorialising and playing the prosecutor contrary to the journalism tenet of fair reporting.”

“We know many fantastically corrupt Nigerians and the property they acquired while in government, as well as how they stole the money of their states and ended up plunging their states into debt and yet PREMIUM TIMES did not consider them objects of investigations,” NPF further said.

The Group implored Nigerians to disregard the alleged sponsored report, assuring that fighting corruption is good, but must be differentiated from witch-hunting.

Exonerating himself of the allegation, In his defence, Peter Obi told Premium Times that “The offshore entity is the holding company for most of his assets and that the business structure he adapted was to enable him to avoid excessive taxation.

“I am sure you too will not like to pay inheritance tax if you can avoid it,” he clarified.

Army Replaces Python Dance With Golden Dawn In Anambra

By
Uche Mbah
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Soliders on Patrol

By Uche Mbah

The 302 Artillery Regiment General Support, of the Nigerian Army, has launched ‘Exercise Golden Dawn’, to provide security in the State.

Anambra state has turned into a killing field in the wake of the approaching November 6 Governorship elections, with the major gladiators going underground and unknown gunmen going on a rampage.

On Sunday, a police station and the office of the Department of State Security were torched.

Days earlier, husband of the late former National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, boss, Dora Akunyili, was  murdered in cold blood.

But the Commander 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Col. Abdulkarim .B. Usman, in the welcome address he presented at the flag-off ceremony at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area, said it is an avenue to combat insecurity in Anambra State, and foster inter-agency cooperation, apart from being a routine training exercise in various geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The exercise commenced on October 4th and will end on December 23rd, 2021, long after the elections.

“The military will use the golden opportunity in conjunction with other security agencies to curb the existing security threats in Anambra State. The threat ranges from secessionist agitations, by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Eastern Security Network, ESN.

“Others are banditry, kidnapping, cultist activities, land disputes clashes, communal clashes, chieftaincy issues clashes, assassinations and youths restiveness. To curb these countless security challenges, a robust posture in what the unit has always maintained” Usman said.

Col. Usman said more needs to be done to combat security threats in the state.

“Remarkable improvements have been recorded, particularly in the refurbishment of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, procurement of new platforms, upgrading of training facilities, and construction of new accommodation for officers and soldiers among others.

“These transformational efforts have greatly enhanced the welfare and operational capabilities of the troops. It is, therefore, my fervent hope that the exercise will record successes.”

IPOB has dissociated itself from the spate of killings in the State.

IPOB Rallies Groups Outside South East To Join One Month Sit At Home

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is reaching out to Activists in other geopolitical zones in the country to join its planned total lock down of Nigeria.

IPOB had earlier issued a threat to declare a one month sit-at-home in the South East if its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not produced in court on October 21.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Mr Emma Powerful, indicated that the group has reached out to Oduduwa Republic agitators, their Middle Belt counterpart and Christians in the North to join its members in shutting down Nigeria for one month if the Federal Government fails to bring Kanu to court on October 21.

The group also told Igbo living in other regions to shut down their businesses for one month.

The statement added that:

“Following our earlier declaration of one month lockdown of Biafra land should the Nigeria Government fail to bring our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to the court on October 21, we the Global Family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), request our brothers and sisters in Oduduwa Republic and Middle Belt including Igbo and Biafra businessmen and women, traders who are doing businesses outside Biafra land to shut down their businesses for one month.

“This is to demonstrate our resolve for the emergence of our new nation Biafra and support for our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and others who are facing similar fate with us should join us in sympathy protest.

“All lovers of Biafra including Christian communities in the North and other parts of Nigeria, who receive unnecessary humiliation, intimidation and killings from Fulani terrorists, bandits and murderous herdsmen should understand that the time has come for all victims of Fulani impunity and atrocities to unite together for resistance.

“We need to put our differences behind us and rise as one people to defend our ancestral land against our common enemy and show those enemies and their cohorts that Nigeria belongs to all of us.

“Any Biafra man resident in Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Jigawa, and other parts of the North and western parts of Nigeria must shut down their shops in support of this fight for freedom and release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“We advise all oppressed people in Nigeria to be prepared for the one month sit-at-home, if the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Department of State Services, DSS, fail to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court on the next court adjourned date.”

Benue: Killers From Sudan Are Coming For Me – Gov Ortom

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Benue Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, has alleged that there is an underground moves to use foreign mercenaries to assassinate him.

Governor Ortom had, for sometime, been having running battles with bandits on one hand, and the presidency on another hand, over insecurity in the state.

The Governor had once escaped an ambush by suspected bandits during a visit to his farm.

He made the allegation at the Sesugh Maria Pilgrimage Centre Ayati, Gwer East local government area of the State.

The Governor, also, claimed that those behind the plot are planning to hire killers from Sudan to attack him.

However, Ortom said he has made up his mind to serve the people of the State even if he dies in the process.

“No going back on this matter. It doesn’t matter; if I perish I perish. With all the threats against me.

“If I perish, I perish. I’m just like Shedrack, Mishack and Abednego. Last week I was told that people were hired from Sudan to come and eliminate me.

“I remain committed to the service of my people. I’m committed because they elected me and I will do their bidding.

“No one will intimidate me and make me stop until justice is given to our people in Benue state.”

Breaking: Relief As Doctors Suspend Strike For Six Weeks

By
Bayo Bernard
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Chris Ngige
Chris Ngige

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief following the decision of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD to suspend its two months old strike.

The doctors who have abandoned their work for two months said they start attending to patients from Wednesday.

The strike action started on August 2, and had dragged despite appeals by well meaning Nigerians including the federal government to the angry doctors to end the strike.

Last month, the National Industrial Court, presided over by Justice Bashar Alkali ordered the doctors to shelve the strike so save the lives of many Nigerians, noting that the strike will affect efforts to combat the COVID 19 pandemic. The doctors refused, insisting that their demands must be met.

Sources informed the magazine that relations of sick persons had been forced to either take their patients to private hospitals or back home to receive treatment.

Unconfirmed sources said many have died in public hospitals due to the doctor’s strike.

The court held that there is no amount of money that will compensate for the loss of lives in the circumstances.

But speaking on Monday, NARD President, Dr Godiya Ishaya disclosed that the strike has been suspended for six weeks to allow for further negotiations with their employer, the federal government.

Godiya said the period will be used to break the current stalemate with the government.

The strike which began on August 2 has been suspended with effect from 8am, Wednesday, according to the President of the association, Dr Godiya Ishaya.

Ishaya, said NARD has noticed that “there was a stalemate in the enrollment of our members into the IPPIS and payment of their areas.

“The government was invoking the trade dispute article 41, that is the ‘no work, no pay.’ And since they have been enrolled into IPPIS, it means there was not going to be any salary into their accounts.

“Without them being paid, they won’t get their areas; that was a stalemate we felt we should give a window to see if the government can start paying them salaries and push their areas into their accounts.

“On the issue of ‘no work, no pay,’ we have not agreed to forfeit our salaries. The strike was unnecessarily prolonged because of the government’s response to the strike. Instead of sitting on the table, the government decided to go to court and that kept prolonging negotiation.”

He said the National Executive Council, NEC of the Association would meet after six weeks to determine the next line of action.

Justice Alkali had in September ordered the doctors to suspend their strike. He also directed all parties to return to the negotiating table.

The judge said the doctors must go back to work, notingt thatthere is no amount of money that will compensate for the loss of lives in the circumstances.

Open Grazing: Again, FG Backs Miyetti Allah Against Southern Govs

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By James Orji

The Buhari administration says it is in support of the decision of Miyetti Allah to go to court to challenge the anti-open grazing law.

Dr Umaru Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media to Abubakar Malami, the Attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice, disclosed this on Sunday, insisting that it is within the rights of the umbrella body of cattle breeders in the country to challenge any law capable of infringing on their rights.

The magazine learnt that the federal government through the AGF office will asked to be joined in the suit as soon as Miyetti Allah Allah decides to take the matter to court.

Malami had in May criticized the law against open grazing, describing it unconstitutional.

The 17 Southern Governors, met in Delta state in July, where they agreed to enact a law to prevent the movement of cows on foot.

Since then the Governors who believe that the law will put an end to farmers/ herders crisis and killings in the southern part of the country, have enacted laws to this effect, with Governors Dapo Abiodun and Ifeanyi Ugwuayi of Ogun and Enugu states, being the latest to sign the law, after it has been passed by their various State Houses of Assembly.

Gwandu, who disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH, said the herders have the rights to seek redress in the court when their rights are violated.

According to Gwandu, “the rights trampled upon are individual rights of Nigerians as constitutionally guaranteed.

“The Nigerians whose rights are violated reserve the right to approach the court for the protection of such rights within the context of freedom of movement among others. It will be viewed with that consideration in mind.”

The AGF had six months ago criticized the decision of the decision of some Governors in the country to ban open grazing because it “does not align with the provisions of the Constitution, hence it does not hold water.”

“It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?

“For example: it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north.

“Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”

Malami advised the governors to work towards the amendment of the 1999 Constitution in their move to prohibit open grazing.

“If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the Constitution is amended.

“Freedom and liberty of movement among others established by the constitution, if by an inch you want to have any compromise over it, the better approach is go back to the National Assembly to say open grazing should be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment.

“It is a dangerous provision for any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around,” Malami said.

Adeboye Predicts End To Insurgency After Boko Haram Took Over 500 Communities In Niger State

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By James Orji

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG has predicted that terrorism and Banditry will soon be a thing for f the past in the country.

Deadly Islamic group boko haram, who on Saturday sacked sacked another local government in Borno state, killing score and forcing residents to flee into the forest, has killed tens of thousands since it took up arms against the federal government in 2009.

Adeboye spoke barely a week after the insurgents sacked over 500 communities in Niger state.

Suleiman Chukuba, chairman of Shiroro LGA in Niger state, said last week that the communities were sacked by the rampaging Islamic terrorist group.

Chukuba told journalists that no fewer than than eight wards in the LGA are now under Boko Haram siege.

The affected areas, he said areas are Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawa, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwati, Chukuba and Galadima Kogo.

According to him the insurgents have gained the support of the residents “by telling them they have arms and money to give them so they can assist them in fighting the government,” he said.

“Shiroro local government has an uncountable number of Boko Haram fighters.

“I have the proof being that I am the executive chairman, the chief security officer of the local government. When they go to the various communities, what they tell them is that ‘We don’t want primary, secondary schools. We only want Islamiyya schools.’”

The Governor of the state, Abubakar Sani Bello had recently decried the activities of the insurgents who he said have taken over people’s wives and children.

Bandits on the other hand have continued to render communities in the North East desolate, after killing many people and abducting residents, particularly students for ransom.

In the face of the fear that now pervade much of the Northern part of the country, Adeboye said he’s confident that the malaise will soon be over..

Adeboye who spoke at the church monthly first Sunday telecast had deplored the kidnapping of emirs, politicians and other leaders in the north, noting that this development does not augur well for the country.

The clergy man however assured his congregants that “all the acts of terrorism, all the acts of banditry, all kinds of evil actions will come to end,” the revered cleric noted.

Quoting  the book of 1 Samuel 17 the pastor said no evil last forever, noting that God will intervene in the security problems confronting the country.

According to him, “when God is involved with a nation, He can solve a national crisis overnight,” Pastor Adeboye added while pinning his assertion on Exodus 14 verses 1-31.

“When God speaks, it is done. When He sends a word of prophecy, you can be sure that as soon it is gone out, it is settled,” Pastor Adeboye said.

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