HUMAN RIGHTS – CITY LAWYER MAGAZINE

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Nov 14, 2022
833
0
0

NBA LAGOS REPLIES AKINLADE, SAYS DINNER FUNDS WELFARE SCHEMES

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch has stated that its 2019 Annual Dinner posted a whopping N20 Million surplus which it deployed to fund welfare and capacity building programmes for members.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER and signed by the Branch Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, the branch blasted former NBA Ikorodu Branch Chairman, Mr. Adebayo Akinlade for the “annual ritual” of lampooning the Branch Annual Dinner programme, describing his remarks as “uncharitable.”

Akinlade had berated the branch for its planned 2022 Annual Dinner, saying: “In 2019, I was informed that the Branch spent some 30 million Naira, I wrote about it but it seemed that it’s leaders didn’t get it. How can you spend that much on a 4 hour event?”

He added that “It was very disheartening to note that the same branch cannot even raise substantial funds to enable it’s (sic) members to respond to human rights violations and most of its committees that work to implement the core function of the NBA constitution do not have the funds to operate effectively.”

But Uwanna disagreed, saying: “Ordinarily, I would not respond to the publication given the fact that the NBA Lagos Branch reserves a right to decide how to spend its funds as budgeted and approved by its members but since it has now become an annual ritual for Mr. Akinlade to criticize the very responsible members of the NBA Lagos Branch, I consider it necessary to set the record straight.

“It is important to note that the NBA Lagos Branch has a very robust Human Rights Committee (HRC) and Programme. Indeed, the administration of the NBA Lagos Branch (building on the work of past administrations) has elevated the discourse on human rights and supported its Human Rights Committee in achieving the objectives of the NBA. The HRC has in the past year conducted an audit of inmates in Ikoyi Custodial Center. Over 200 inmates were interviewed and matters litigated in various courts.

“The NBA Lagos Branch HRC has also developed a Human Rights Scheme (the first of its kind by any Branch of the NBA). The comprehensive NBA Lagos Branch Human Rights Scheme has now been adopted by the Branch to address the Human Rights challenges we are faced with daily – in a systematic way.

“To commemorate the International Human Rights Day, the HRC is set to engage principal stakeholders in the administration of justice, through a platform called Stakeholders’ engagement dialogue series, culminating in a world-class summit on the 13th of December 2022 to create awareness on Human Rights issues.

“It is uncharitable for Mr. Akinlade to denigrate the efforts of over fifty (50) volunteers of the NBA Lagos Branch HRC who are working tirelessly to ensure that the NBA Lagos Branch fulfills its mandate to society to uphold the human rights of members and citizens of Nigeria.

“The glamorous yearly dinner of the NBA Lagos Branch is an age-long tradition. Members, Law Firms, and Corporates who find value in the hosting of this annual event donate to fund the event. We inherited this tradition from our past administrations one of which Mr. Akinlade served as Assistant Secretary many years ago. This tradition beyond its social value is another opportunity for the members of the NBA Lagos Branch to network in a very congenial atmosphere, exchange ideas, knowledge, and develop capacity for the year ahead. It is also a business development event for the Branch.

“Interestingly, every branch of the NBA (including the Ikorodu Branch under Mr Akinlade’s leadership) hosts an annual dinner or similar event. We are not aware that Mr Akinlade has stopped wining and dining in his Branch, office or household because he would rather use the funds to address human rights abuses.

“The 2019 Dinner, which Mr. Akinlade referred to in his uncharitable publication generated a surplus of about N20million, which the Branch judiciously utilized to sponsor over 100 of its members to obtain training and CIARB certification in arbitration, provide COVID-19 palliatives for thousands of young and mid-level lawyers during the COVID-19 lockdown, subscribe members to a Health Insurance Scheme and fund other welfare projects for our members. Of course, Mr. Akinlade’s bad faith won’t let him get his facts right.

“The NBA Lagos Branch is committed to a well-rounded capacity and welfare development of its members; that is why issues of Health Insurance, Mental Heath, Soft Skill Training, Mentorship, and Job placements amongst others have been on its front burner and we will continue to address these issues. Indeed, the perennial issue of remuneration of lawyers which the NBA NEC during the Olumide Akpata administration addressed by approving a comprehensive report is receiving attention from the NBA Lagos Branch and the Branch Executive Committee has resolved to recommend that the Branch should set up a TaskForce on Monday 14/11/22 to adopt and implement the new remuneration regime which will largely change the face of the legal profession.

“Our assurance to Mr. Akinlade (and any who may share his unfortunate views) is that the NBA Lagos Branch will continue to raise the Bar and do its best to ameliorate the societal issues bedeviling the Legal Profession.”

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Oct 25, 2022
874
0
0

AGOMOH, TOP RIGHTS ADVOCATE, BAGS UN C’TE MEMBERSHIP

Foremost human rights advocate and Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Dr. Uju Agomoh has been elected as a member of the United Nations Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT). The election was held at Geneva, Switzerland on 20th October, 2022.

The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is the international body established by the OPCAT. Consisting of 25 independent experts, the body has a preventive mandate focused on a proactive approach to preventing torture and ill treatment.

The SPT has a dual mandate to monitor conditions in detention and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty through country visits, and to advise on OPCAT implementation, in particular support the establishing and functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms.

Agomoh is the Founder and Executive Director of PRAWA, a Nigerian civil society organisation which promotes human rights especially of persons in prison and helps those who have survived prison to successfully integrate into the community.

She holds degrees in Law, Criminology, and Psychology which makes her strongly positioned to contribute to the work of the SPT through a holistic and multidisciplinary outlook.

Over the past 20 years, Agomoh has held key positions in global, regional and national institutions working to prevent torture through detention monitoring, security sector reform and support to survivors of torture. These include serving on the Executive Committee of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT); the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Global SOS-Torture Covid 19 Crisis Action Group, and the Independent Investigation Panel of Inquiry on the Nigeria Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The highly decorated rights activist has personally carried out over 1000 prison monitoring visits covering about 150 prisons in 32 countries, providing her with extensive expertise in detention monitoring methodologies and engagement with detention authorities and detainees.

She is also a Council Member of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission and the Special Rapporteur on Police, Prisons and Centers of Detention (2001 – 2008); Co-Chair of Development Law Group (DLG) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (2021 – 2023), and Co-Lead in the development of the harmonized curriculum for security agencies training institutions in Nigeria including thematic areas of Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Civil -Military Relations. She led the development of National Legal Aid Strategy of Nigeria 2016-2022.

Agomoh has conducted visits to places of detention in more than 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. She is a Fellow of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF) with a specific focus on overuse of imprisonment and fairness and consistency in administrative and judicial decisions (2017 to present); Expert, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) on development of guidelines on rehabilitation of prisoners (2017); Visiting Expert on treatment of women prisoners, United Nations Asia and Far East (UNAFEI, 2015); Member, Executive Committee (Representing Sub Saharan Africa), International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT, 2012-2016), and Member, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Global SOS-Torture Covid 19 Crisis Action Group (September 2021-December 2022).

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Oct 20, 2022
1.1k
0
0

LAWYER SEEKS COURT ORDER TO CARRY AK-47

Fiery human rights lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has sued the Federal Government at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order of the court to bear AK-47 automatic rifle.

Omirhobo, who confirmed levying the suit to CITY LAWYER, also alleged in the suit that the Federal Government has refused to respect the right of Nigerians to keep and bear arms for the preservation of life, liberty and property.

Among the respondents in the suit is the president of Nigeria, the Attorney general of the federation and 74 others.

When the suit came up today, only Lagos, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Edo states were represented in court by lawyers while others sought adjournment of the hearing of the suit.

The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the suit to 24 January, 2023 for hearing. He also ordered that the processes including hearing notice be served on the respondents that were yet to be served.

In an originating summon marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1078/2021, Omirhobo stated that the plaintiff and Nigerian citizens are entitled to “right to life, right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, right to freedom of movement and to reside anywhere in Nigeria and right to own movable and immovable property in Nigeria except when these rights are being derogated or limited by law.”

He asked the court to say whether, by the combined interpretation and/or construction of Sections 3, 6(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) of the Fire Arms Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and sections 33(1)(2)(a)(b), 34(1)(a), 35(1), 36, 37, 43 of the 1999 Constitution; sections 281, 282, 286 and 287 of the Criminal Code Act and sections 40, 45, 46 and 47 of the Penal Code Act, it is lawful, legal and constitutional for the 2nd defendant to refuse, fail and/or neglect to grant the plaintiff license to possess and own an A6 147 premium, AK 47 Assault Rifle based on the plaintiff’s application of July 8, 2021, to enable him to exercise his constitutional right to self defence.

He stated that the suit is aimed to protect his life, family and property and also for the safeguard of his fundamental rights as enshrined and guaranteed by the constitution in the face of the high level of insecurity ravaging Nigeria and the inability of the defendants to meet up with their primary responsibility of protecting life and property from the attacks of heavily and well-armed criminals with AK 47, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and other sophisticated weapons.

In a 123-paragraph affidavit, Omirhobo said the constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen the fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, private and family life, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement and right to own moveable and immoveable property. He added that the constitution gives every Nigerian the right to defend his fundamental rights from unlawful violence.

He said: “In collaboration with the Nigerian constitution, both the Criminal Code Act and Penal Code Act gives every Nigerian citizen the right to self defence by applying the use of such force as they believe on reasonable grounds to be necessary to prevent their fundamental rights to life, the dignity of the human person, personal, liberty, private and family life, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement and right to own moveable and immoveable property from unlawful violence.”

Omirhobo prayed the court to declare that the killings, raping, sodomising, extorting, kidnapping, abduction brutalisation, dehumanisation, debasement, destruction of property, the restriction of the freedom of movement and right of residence, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, family and private life and the seizing of property of defenceless Nigerians by heavily armed criminals with unlicensed AK 47 Assault rifle, GPMG and other sophisticated weapons is a violation of these rights and therefore illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

He urged the court to declare that it is legal, lawful and constitutional for the 2nd defendant to revoke the gun licenses of Nigerians via proclamation and/or executive order in the face of the high level of insecurity in Nigeria and thereby depriving them of their rights to self-defence and in the process exposing them to the way of harms in the hands of heavily armed criminals with AK 47 Assault rifles GPMG and other sophisticated weapons.

The applicant, according to a news report, therefore asked the court for an order compelling the 2nd defendant and 4th defendant (Inspector General of Police with all the commissioners of police in Nigeria) to renew all expired gun licenses upon application of all Nigerians who are qualified to retain their gun licenses to enable them to exercise their rights to self-defence and safeguard their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution from the attacks of heavily and well-armed criminals with sophisticated weapons.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Oct 15, 2022
637
0
0

OZEKHOME: THE ‘COMMANDER’ AS FIERY RIGHTS ADVOCATE

BY IGE ASEMUDARA

When Vladmir Lenin first employed the phrase “Commanding Heights,” it was to describe the control of perceived key segments of a national economy as further espoused by Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw when they first published their book, “The Commanding Heights: The Battle Between Government and the Marketplace That Is Remaking the Modern World” in 1998. However, today I am employing the phrase in its metaphoric signification to access and situate the life, works, struggles and agitation of the Iviukwe-born Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome SAN who was just conferred with the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger. The phrase is quite suitable especially in view of the original ideological history of Chief Ozekhome as a Leninist who has also struggled to rescue the commanding heights of the Nigerian economy from the forces that have held it back. Yes, on the 15th of October, 2022, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN will be Sixty-Five years of age; hale and hearty 65!

I first began to read and hear about Chief Mike Ozekhome about the year 1997 when I worked under my first employer and political tutor, Mr. Akin Ayebiwo, a school principal who in those days made it a point of duty to buy dailies daily. He would read them, give them to me and we would discuss the top political stories even late into the night whenever he was free. It was a time the struggle to unseat the military leaders and confine them to the barracks was climaxing under General Sani Abacha. I found the various protests; civil disobedience and litigations challenging the status quo intriguing. I also found a set of Nigerians featuring consistently in the fight very inspiring. I always looked forward to a day I would join them at the barricades on the street of Lagos. Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, Olisa Agbakoba SAN (CLO), Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN (CLO/UDD), Mr. Femi Falana SAN (CDHR), Beko Ransome-Kuti (CDHR) and few others were always at the forefront. Back in Okitipupa, my boss would tell me of their glowing days at the University of Ife and how Ife shaped the life of most of the names in the forefront of the struggle and why the military must go. I took interest in all of them and their struggles to the extent that when in 1998 I took the JAMB form, I had no hesitation in filing Obafemi Awolowo University as my University of first and second choice. I also chose law as my first and second choice. For me, only a knowledge of law could empower me like these worthy and strong Nigerians and only the Obafemi Awolowo University could offer me the right spirit; and fire the ember of struggle in me. I had no second choice, my mind was made up. I got what I wanted.

I passed that University Matriculation Examination; I got admission into OAU on merit. The week of my resumption, I joined the CLO and the CDHR which I also later coordinated briefly on campus and remained a member till I graduated. When we were in the third year, I had the privilege of meeting Chief Mike Ozekhome in his chambers on Ogunlana Drive in Surulere, Lagos alongside few other law students. I got more interested in him because he was as brilliant as he was exciting and never letting any opportunity to be humorous and banterous slip away.

Chief Ozekhome is a repository of history, philosophy, politics, literature, economics and very sound knowledge of the law. His knowledge is not accidental. He was first admitted into the Department of English Language of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ife in 1977. He sought to cross to the Faculty of Law but was not allowed unless he could muster a benchmark performance, Ozekhome had an easy cross as he topped his class in the English Language Department. He graduated among the best at the faculty of law in 1980. He returned to obtain a Master’s degree of that university in 1983. As of today, Chief holds a Doctor of Law degree of the Alliance International University, Lusaka, Zambia with specialty in Constitutional Law. On the 20th of October, 2022, he will deliver the 10th Convocation Lecture of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and the following day, he will be conferred with the Doctor of Laws degree (Honoris Causa). That will be the twelfth of such honourary doctorates he has received from different institutions which include International Biographical Centre, (IBC), Cambridge, England, American Heritage University, San Bernardino, California, USA, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State among others. He has received well over four hundred honours and awards locally and internationally including the UN Ambassador (Eminent Peace), honourary citizen and recipient of the keys to the cities of Atlanta Georgia, USA (2002) and Dallas, Texas, USA (2002).

Trained by the inimitable Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, SAM, GCON, Chief Ozekhome is a workaholic, a walking law library, an orator and a very creative law practitioner. In 2010, he was, alongside eighteen others, conferred with the prestigious rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Chief is driven, in his practice of law, by a need to subject everyone to the rule of law and afford everyone fair hearing whether high or low and this reflects in his cases and the varied statuses of his clients. To the poor, he appears as a poor, to the rich he appears rich and to those in captivity, he wears his shackles as bands. Although Chief Ozekhome can no longer, in my humble view, be strictly described as a Leninist or leftist as his ideology is more or less that of a very radical centrist, he is however a very passionate human rights activist who believes in equality and social justice and does everything within his capacity to engender a just society.

As a lawyer, I have had the privilege of closely working with Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN in not less than ten cases at the Federal High Court and at the Appellate Courts. I first worked directly with him in FRN V. Dudafa & others where we acted for different co-defendants together with the equally experienced Gboyega Oyewole SAN, a former Attorney-General of Ekiti State. We all also worked together in a number of cases including the case of Patience Jonathan v. EFCC where we also acted for different parties but as a team. Chief Ifedayo Adedipe SAN would also bring his leadership to bear in those cases just as our beloved but now deceased Glanville Abibo SAN brought knowledge, glamour and candour. Chief Ozekhome brought knowledge, strength and audacity to the team.

Chief Mike Ozekhome has through various cases and court verdicts written his name in gold. The law reports are awash of his Midas touch on law and legal works. He seems to be a reincarnate of King Midas in Greek mythology, his latest breakthrough being the victory recorded in the Nnamdi Kanu’s case at the Court of Appeal. Chief dazzles and dazes his opponents with law and some courtroom theatrics. You need to see him at some of his finest moments when he addresses the court. Telling can never equal seeing. Hey! He has a memory as green as spirogyra! It is a unique gift from God deliberately watered by Chief himself through avid reading and prolific writing.

In recognition of his works as an activist, he was in 2014 conferred with a national honour; Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On 12th October, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari who he has always publicly criticized awarded him a higher national honour than he previously had. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) as if the president just admitted that Ozekhome has always been right in his critique of his regime.

Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN remains in the vanguard of the struggle to free the Nigerian people from the shackles of oppression, poverty and economic suffocation and to hand over the commanding heights of the economy to the Nigerian people; the wretched of the earth. In doing this, he employs very strategic and dialectical approach to solve both legal and political problems. Just a few days ago, Chief Ozekhome followed the ideological prescription of Paulo Freire in recommending the dialogue option to President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the IPOB’s Biafra secessionist impasse. Whilst that letter was pending on the President’s table and he had not taken action, the Court of Appeal discharged Nnamdi Kanu and struck out the charges against him. Freire had written in his Pedagogy of the Oppressed that “Leaders, who do not act dialogically but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people – they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated. They oppress”. General Muhammadu Buhari may be adamant but he surely has learnt his lessons.

At 65, Chief Ozekhome SAN still fires on all cylinders, he soars like an eagle! He has done well in the classroom, in the courtroom and in the “other room”. Although he has every right to borrow the immortal words of the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare through the character of Gratiano in his 1597 dramatic work, Merchant of Venice to gladly say “with mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come”, the Akpakpavighivighi of Edoland has rather chosen to typify the words of American writer Mark Twain that “age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Little wonder no wrinkle has come at 65, it is youthfulness all round as the Commander still has many rivers to cross and so many fleets to command. At the commanding heights, Chief Mike Ozekhome still soars! Bravo!

Ige Asemudara is a lawyer and the Convener of Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria (MAIN).

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Oct 02, 2022
699
0
0

OBIDATTI23 RALLY: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ENDSARS BOSS, POLICE DISAGREE

The Nigerian Police Force and some human rights activists have disagreed sharply on the conditions to be met for party supporters to assemble for rallies.

The controversy was triggered by a tweet by Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin when he tweeted: “No procession on the expressway. Be guided!!!”

Hundeyin had also stated that “the Command will equally live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons, especially under the guise of rally or procession.”

Fiery human rights activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong quickly responded, saying: “Why is it so difficult for the Police to abide by the rule of law? The police has no right to stop or disrupt political procession, irrespective of the size. By Section 91 of the Electoral Act, your role is limited to provision of security. You’re deviating from the court order.”

In an effort to douse the controversy, Hundeyin explained that “This is quite a touchy issue. Let me rephrase. Hindering anybody’s fundamental right to freedom of movement will not be allowed. A procession of the magnitude being planned would likely obstruct free flow of traffic. We have a duty to look out for all Nigerians.”

This only ended up stoking the controversy when one of the leaders of the ENDARS Movement, Ms. Rinu Oduala in several tweets stated that “You have traffic wardens. Your job is to provide (sic) traffic.”

She warned the police against disrupting the rallies aimed to bolster support for the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. Her words: “You don’t have any right to prevent freedom of gathering and association tomorrow. You will tell us whether those people are not Nigerians.”

In yet another tweet, Oduala said: “You are not the judge. Nobody said people can proceed on the expressway. You can shoot though. Not like this is your first time.”

Tweeting at @RuleofLawNG, Rule of Law Nigeria also disagreed with the police spokesman, saying: “Using these rationales, @PoliceNG have removed the right to protest from the Constitution. If a protest could inconvenience any person, the protest cannot hold. If the protest could be of a large magnitude, as imagined by the police, the protest cannot hold.”

Hundeyin had in a statement issued on the eve of the rallies stated that “The warning therefore goes that anyone found flouting the court order or infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Meanwhile, CP Alabi enjoins all peace loving persons to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation, reiterating that adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians at designated rally venues and across the state at large.”

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had last Wednesday ordered the Labour Party and its supporters not to converge on the Lekki toll gate for its #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally billed to hold on October 1 2022, even as the court held that the supporters can pass through the Toll Gate to access Falomo Bridge and other venues. Justice Osiagor had directed the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

The court made the orders while ruling on a motion for injunction brought by 10 plaintiffs through their counsel, Mr. Romeo Ese Michael, asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally until the hearing and determination of their Motion on Notice of September 12, 2022.

However, a preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could not be entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served. The court adjourned hearing of the substantive suit to November 4, 2022.

In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs argued that a repeat or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS protest of 2020 under the political guise of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” will cause a breakdown of peace and will result in post-traumatic stress disorder for them and the public.

They prayed the court for four reliefs as follows:

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants; their associates and loyalists from conducting the scheduled END SARS Rally tagged as the “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally on the 1st of October, 2020 or any other subsequent date, at the Lekki Toll Gate until the hearing and determination of the Motion-On-Notice dated September 12, 2022.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants and their loyalists from further planning and promoting the Scheduled END SARS Rally tagged as the “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally”….

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 5th 6th, 7th Defendants from allowing or granting permissions to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants, their agents and the organizers of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” at the behest of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants from carrying out the said anniversary on the 1st of October, 2022 and any other subsequent date…

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 8th Defendant (LCC) from granting permission to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants; their agents, privies, allies and loyalists, to make use of the Lekki Toll Gate or any space under and within the control of the 8th Defendant for carrying out the said anniversary on the 1st of October, 2022 and any other subsequent date…”

The plaintiffs are Adedotun Ajulo Esq., Salamatu Suleiman Lewi Esq., Hakeem Ijaduola, Esq., Ogunbona Akinpelu Esq., Owolabi K. Oluwasegun, Esq., Mogbojuri Kayode Esq., Wuyep Mantim Nadom Esq., Dimimu Mabel, Esq., Kolawole Salami, Esq. and Mr. Wale Abe Lawrence.

The 1st to 10th defendants are Obi, LP, Baba-Ahmed, Abure, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command), Director-General (Department of State Services), Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Limited, Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Governor of Lagos State.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jul 13, 2022
493
0
0

‘MY AGENDA TO RAISE THE BAR,’ BY LIMAN SALIHU

THE LIMAN AGENDA Part 1

My vision if elected as the 1st Vice President while working with the President of the NBA is:

● To uphold the standard and reputation of the legal profession while entrenching global best practice as the core values of any lawyer in Nigeria.

● To create a National Data Base for lawyers in Nigeria and all Human Rights cases in Courts across the Country.

● To resuscitate and re-engineer the NBA Human Rights Institute for efficiency.

● To hold National Summit for Young Lawyers in Nigeria on Matters Generally affecting our Practice, Opportunities in the Legal Profession, Human Rights, Gender Based issues and remuneration of Young Lawyers.

● To ensure that NBA partners or collaborate with Civil Societies for the promotion of Human Rights in Nigeria and by so doing strengthen the Human Rights posture of the Association.

Vote LIMAN SALIHU as 1st Vice President of the NBA

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 23, 2022
2.74k
0
0

ACTIVIST-LAWYER CAUSES STIR AT SUPREME COURT WITH ‘CROSS DRESSING’

Human rights activist, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo has appeared at the Supreme Court in lawyers’ robes garnished with traditional embellishments.

In trending videos sighted by CITY LAWYER, the lawyer cited a Supreme Court judgement delivered last Friday as having given him “licence” to dress in that manner, noting that he appeared without wearing shoes.

This is coming against the backdrop of a query given to a Bar aspirant by the Nigerian Law School for drinking water during Bar dinner without the use of a glass cup.

According to Omirhobo, “This is how I will be coming (to court). By the Supreme Court judgement we have been given licence to dress in our religious attire because it will be an infringement or a flagrant violation of my fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion for anybody to stop me.

“You saw, I went into the Supreme Court and we have been given the licence. Even my children will dress like this to the Supreme Court and I will encourage my fellow traditionalists, those who are serving Olokun, and Sango and Sopano, God of Thunder, God of Iron, I will encourage them to dress like this because it is always good to be religious. We need to be close to the spirits.

“You can see, I am not wearing any shoes. Ifa has told me that if I wear shoes, I will be dead. So what will I do? I have to obey the spirits. By the Supreme Court judgement on Friday we have been given licence to dress in our religious attire because it is the mood of our worship.”

Asked whether he could be arrested by security operatives for dressing in that manner, he stated that not even President Muhammadu Buhari can arrest him for that, adding that “It is my fundamental right.”

He vowed to appear in court and present his case in the same outfit, saying the Nigerian Constitution did not bar him from doing so.

It was unclear at press time the judgement the activist was referring to. CITY LAWYER however recalls that the Supreme Court had last Friday given approval to female Muslim students to wear hijab to school in Lagos State.

Watch video here:

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 18, 2022
429
0
0

‘I WILL ASSIST NBA PRESIDENT TO FOSTER RULE OF LAW,’ VOWS LIMAN SALIHU

FEATURED

The cardinal objective of the N.B.A is to promote the Rule of Law. I will at all times assist the NBA President in ensuring the promotion of the Rule of Law, Good Governance, Equity, Fairness and Justice prevail in our society.

Thus, the primary responsibility of the 1st Vice President is to assist the NBA President and any other role that may be assigned by the President.

My vision if elected as the 1st Vice President while working with the President of the NBA is:

 To uphold the standard and reputation of the legal profession while entrenching global best practice as the core values of any lawyer in Nigeria.

 To create a National Data Base for lawyers in Nigeria and all human Rights cases in Courts across the Country

 To resuscitate and re-engineer the NBA Human Rights Institute for greater efficiency.

 To hold National Summit for Young Lawyers in Nigeria on Matters Generally affecting our Practice, Opportunities in the Legal Profession, Human Rights, Gender Based issues and remuneration of Young Lawyers.

 To ensure that NBA partners or collaborate with Civil Societies for the promotion of Human Rights in Nigeria and by so doing strengthen the Human Rights posture of the Association.

 There will be Continuous Legal Education and Capacity Building Programmes for lawyers with more emphasis in ICT

 To introduce National Pro bono Project to assist the indigent and less privileged in our society in civil and criminal matters for access to justice and speedy dispensation of cases in Nigeria.

 NBA intervention programs for young lawyers.

 Endowment programs for lawyers and above all empowerment of lawyers to have decent means of livelihood.

 To move the NBA to initiate voluntary six (6)months to one (1) year internship program for young lawyers with prestigious law firms in Nigeria and abroad which will be code named Bringing Up Smart Lawyers in Nigeria or the Smart Lawyers Project

Thanks

Liman Salihu Esq

Former Chairman, NBA Lokoja

To download the complete Manifesto, click here.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 11, 2022
540
0
0

HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER, BABATUNDE JINADU EXTOLS CLEMENT CHUKWUEMEKA

My encounter with MR. CLEMENT UGO CHUKWUEMEKA, the chairman (as he then was) of NBA Bwari Branc and now a cleared candidate for the office of the 2nd Vice President in NBA Election 2022

As a young lawyer, I had the opportunity to handle one of the EndSars matters, precisely that of Eromosele “eromz”. Mr Chukwuemeka was already on ground at FCID Abuja before my arrival.

When I came, he welcomed me and supported me, as if we have been together for years. He bought food for Eromz and made efforts to secure his release without intending to take the glory or hijack the matter from me.

He told me to proceed with the filing of bail application while he would prepare FHR Enforcement processes. He related with me freely and encouraged me.

He doesn’t relate with colleagues based on class or age at the Bar. He is truly a DEMOCRAT(S), as he is commonly referred to.

I will not hesitate to vote for Honest and Selfless Service. CLEMENT UGO CHUKWUEMEKA exemplifies selfless service. Thank you

SIGNED: BABATUNDE JINADU, ESQ. Member Ikeja Branch . (11/06/2022)

EMEKA NWADIOKE
May 18, 2022
551
0
0

GADZAMA URGES POLICE TO RESPECT LAWYERS’ RIGHTS

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Relations Committee, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN has stated that the best way to maintain law and order in the society is through the Police.

Speaking at a training workshop in Abuja organized by NBA in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation , Gadzama emphasized the need for the police to pay utmost respect to lawyers in the course of representing their clients.

Below is the statement made available to CITY LAWYER on the event.

“LAWYERS AS PEOPLE OF NOBILITY AND DIGNITY SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT BY THE POLICE, PARTICULARLY BY FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS….,” SAYS JOE-KYARI GADZAMA SAN, OFR, MFR

The Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation on May 18, 2022 held a training and workshop at the NBA National Secretariat, Plot 1101 Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja FCT, Nigeria with the theme “The Role of the Nigeria Police in the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,2015 and Compliance with Principles of Human Rights in Law Enforcement”.

The training was anchored by Ogaga Emoghwanre, Esq. and started with the Nigerian National Anthem followed by the NBA National prayer.

Tobenna Erojikwe, Esq., Chairman, NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education, a facilitator at the workshop welcomed, introduced participants, and urged them to sit tight, learn, and participate fully while at the training.

Honourable Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, Chief Judge, FCT High Court was ably represented by Honourable Justice M. E. Anenih, Judge of the FCT High Court. My Lord in his speech commended MacArthur Foundation and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education for the initiative and also applauded participants for coming out in mass to be trained and learn at the impressive workshop.

My Lord further pronounced the workshop as one that should not be trivialized but recognized because it is apt and timely.
He reiterated on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act as one that aids in the seamless dispensation of Justice, rule of law, and maintaining delivery in the legal institution.

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN , Chairman, NBA-SARC in delivering his goodwill message at the workshop, quoted section 214 of the Constitution of Nigeria that establishes the Police Force and Section 4 of the Police Act which provides for the functions of the Nigeria Police.

The learned Silk further posited that the best way to preserve law and order in the society is through the Police. He further emphasized on the dignity of lawyers and how they ought to be treated with utmost respect by the police.
Going further, he urged participants to extend knowledge gained at the workshop to others, as it is not enough to learn and not share knowledge. He implored the audience to pay attention and wish them an informative workshop and training in conclusion.

Idris Bawa, Esq. Made a presentation on the procedures of arrest, suspects of crime, instances where the police can arrest without warrant, and expounded on the duties of the police in general.

Umar Mohammed, Director of Public Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice who was represented by A.A Yusuf, expounded on the innovations of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act with regards to the Police in dispensation of Justice.
He raised the issue of remuneration for State Counsel and Nigeria Police, and on the abrupt takeover of cases by the Attorney General, interested Parties and Private Practitioners.

The question and answer session was anchored by Kate Okoh-Kpina (Mrs), Advisor, Rule of Law, Giz Police Program, Africa-Nigeria. Vote of thanks was performed by Osita Okoro, Project Team Coordinator. Participants later engaged in networking among one another.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
May 05, 2022
950
0
0

FUNMI ADEOGUN BATTLES POLICE ZONAL COMMAND OVER BATTERED LAWYER

The Vice Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch and Treasurer of NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Funmi Adeogun is leading the battle for justice for a lawyer allegedly battered in the course of his work.

The victim, Mr. Friday Osiziate Akpeji, a member of the branch was said to have been battered on his way to the Meiran Police Station on 15th June, 2021.

Following the transfer of the case to Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police Force based on a petition by NBA Epe Human Rights Committee, the committee led by Adeogun finally compelled the issuance of the long-awaited O/C Legal Zone 2 Advice last Wednesday which directed that both the lawyer-victim and the suspect be charged to court for affray. The committee has faulted the Legal Advice and observed that the Police officers involved in the matter were never invited for interrogation.

This has led the fiery Human Rights Committee Chairman to insist that justice must be done in the matter, adding that she would not relent until the main culprits including one Saidi Aremo (aka Gucci) Mr. Monsuru (a.k.a Organizing), Supol Bola and Inspector Olabode both attached to the Meiran Police Station are brought to justice for alleged kidnapping, conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime, threat to life, assault, use of police to disrupt peaceful state setting, economic loss, act likely to cause breach of peace, and illegal police action.

It is recalled that sometime in May 2021, in the course of his duties as a lawyer, Akpeji submitted a petition on threat to life by an alleged dreaded cultist, armed robber, drugs dealer and kidnapper on behalf of his clients, Mr. Andre Patrick Ubi and Mr. Nwachukwu Chikwado. On his way to the Meiran Police Station, the suspect and his accomplices allegedly attacked him at Ile-Iwe, Meiran.

They allegedly took the victim to an uncompleted building on the same street, beat him mercilessly, threatened to kill him, kept him in their custody from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm, and demanded for a ransom of N4.5 million (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Akpeji was put under intense pressure in the suspects’ den and was forced to call his in-law who paid #10,000 (Ten thousand naira) while his brother subsequently paid N50,000.00 (Fifty thousand naira) to the suspects to secure his release from captivity.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Mar 13, 2022
948
0
Comments Off on ASF FRANCE, PARTNERS HOST POLICE/CSO SITUATION ROOM

ASF FRANCE, PARTNERS HOST POLICE/CSO SITUATION ROOM

Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers without Borders France), in collaboration with its partners, the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization (CAPIO) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has hosted the second convening of the Police and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Situation Room in Abuja. The event is in accordance with its mission of promoting human rights in Nigeria.

The programme served as a follow-up to the first convening of the situation room established exactly a year ago. The situation room was established under the auspices of the European Union (EU) and the Agence Française de Développement funded “Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocating for an End to Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria Project” (SAFE), targeted at addressing issues of torture, ill treatment, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention in Nigeria.

In attendance at the second convening of the Police – CSOs situation room were 38 participants representing the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, key CSOs working on justice sector reform in Nigeria like: Human Rights Watch, Avocats Sans Frontières France, RULAAC, NOPRIN, CAPIO, CIRDDOC, WACOL, EWEI and NACTAL. Relevant government institutions like; the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), and the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ) were also in attendance.

The objective of the meeting was to review the level of implementation of the collaboration set up between the Police and CSOs to drive reforms aimed at improving the status of human rights in the country, and accountability within the Police for human rights violation by its officers.

The representative of the European Union, Mr. Clément Boutillier, Head of Governance, Peace and Migration at the EU delegation to Nigeria & ECOWAS reinstated the commitment of EU to the SAFE project and for peace and security in Nigeria saying ‘Peace and Security are at the core of the EU’s partnership with Nigeria. Therefore, the EU is very interested in this situation room and its deliberations, as it creates a platform for CSOs and the Police to share their problems surrounding human rights, and jointly develop recommendations for implementation’. The Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontieres France, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, in one of her contributions said “the police and the CSOs are working for the same cause, which is to promote and protect human rights, thus it is really important for us to continue working together to achieve success. This platform also ensures accountability in the work to improve the level of human rights enjoyment in the country”.

The Head of the Police-Complaints and Response Unit (P-CRU), ACP Markus Ishaku Basiran said at the meeting that the complaints received by the unit went down by 60% because of the twitter ban. The P-CRU explored other tools for receiving complaints from the public, such as phone calls and Instagram. However, they were not as effective as Twitter. With the lifting of the ban, it is anticipated that the complaints and response component of the unit will be reinvigorated.

The deliberations at the second convening of the Police-CSOs meeting produced key recommendations which were adopted for further action. The recommendations include:

Improved sensitization of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force on human rights standards and the Anti-torture Act (2017) for better implementation.

The need for the Police to also sensitize members of the public on their fundamental human rights and techniques to identify and escalate human rights abuses by police officers and other security agencies.

The need for the P-CRU to establish physical presence in other states of the country for improved access, response and coordination.

The need for the P-CRU to invest in initiatives that widely sensitize the public on its availability and mandates, such as radio campaigns and tours, adverts, and dissemination of other key media visibility materials.

The need for the current police app for reporting crimes and human rights abuse to be tweaked to support other features that improve evidence-based real-time reporting such as live streaming. The app should also be widely publicized for improved usage.

The need for CSOs to prioritize the strengthening of the police force and the P-CRU through fundraising and visibility-based initiatives.

Coalition of CSOs must amplify voices for the demand of accountability in the work of protecting and promoting human rights.

Investigation rooms of the police force needs to be equipped with recent cutting-edge technology that makes influences the officers to rely on international standards of investigation and interrogation.

The mainstreaming of the Anti-torture Act (2017) and human rights principles in the curriculum of the Police Training Colleges.

According to Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director, ASF France Nigeria, “ASF France aims to sustain the impact of the situation room by virtually convening more frequently to monitor and review the implementation of the strategies adopted.”

Copyright 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Mar 09, 2022
693
0
Comments Off on ASF FRANCE TRAINS SECURITY AGENCIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

ASF FRANCE TRAINS SECURITY AGENCIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Avocats Sans Frontières France and its partners in Nigeria have hosted a one-day stakeholders roundtable meeting on Human Rights in Kaduna State.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER and signed by its Country Director, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the association stated that “The aim of the stakeholders’ roundtable meeting organized in collaboration with ASF France local partners, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization was to sustain the momentum on key human rights discourse such as stakeholders’ mobilization for the implementation of the Anti-torture Act and development of recommendations for promotion of respect for human rights in Kaduna state.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

The importance of stakeholder engagement in achieving sustainable change cannot be overemphasized, based on this, Avocats Sans Frontières France and its partners in Nigeria hosted a one-day stakeholders roundtable meeting on Human Rights in Kaduna State on the 3rd of March 2022. The meeting was hosted under the European Union and the Agence Française de Développement funded “Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocating for an End to Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria project” (SAFE), targeted at addressing issues of torture, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention in Nigeria.

The aim of the stakeholders’ roundtable meeting organized in collaboration with ASF France local partners, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization was to sustain the momentum on key human rights discourse such as stakeholders’ mobilization for the implementation of the Anti-torture Act and development of recommendations for promotion of respect for human rights in Kaduna state.

Prior to the stakeholders’ roundtable meeting, a training on human rights was held on the project for security agencies in Kaduna state from the 28th of February 2022 to the 2nd of March 2022. The 3-day training which was aimed at bridging the knowledge gap of security agencies on Human Rights laws and standards had in attendance 30 security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army (NA), the Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Corrections Service (NCS), Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Vigilante Service.

As for the roundtable, 25 participants drawn from various security agencies, key justice sector institutions and CSOs in Kaduna State such as the Police, Corrections, Army, Department of Security Services (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), and media organizations participated in the deliberations.

At the end of the roundtable, Mrs. Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria, commended stakeholders for key recommendations made and highlighted the need to actualize these recommendations through high level advocacy and partnerships. Some of the insightful recommendations made by stakeholders in response to the human rights issues raised are as follows:

Officers of Nigerian security agencies are urged to accord more humane treatment to detainees, as this falls within the ambit of their fundamental human rights.
Officers of Nigerian security agencies are urged to show respect for the rights of Nigerian citizens during the discharge of their duties.

Implementation of high-level advocacy to the hierarchy of relevant human rights stakeholders in Kaduna State, for implementation of the Anti-torture Act (2017) in the state.

Improvement of the modus operandi of the Nigerian Police Force as it relates to civilized conduct and humane treatment of Nigerian citizens.

Improvement in the efficiency levels of the Ministry of Justice in Kaduna State to boost the process of promoting and protecting the human rights of persons in the state.

Officers of Nigerian security agencies are urged to show decorum and respect in their dealings with legal counsels and arbitrators.

Journalists and other media professionals are urged to actively participate in the campaign against torture. Media professionals in the state are urged to leverage the wide array of tools available to them in amplifying the activities and outcomes of the SAFE project for wider reach and impact.

Relevant stakeholders in the Kaduna State criminal justice sector are urged to implement initiatives that improve the capacity of their personnel as it relates to the intersect between human rights & the discharge of their duties.

Avocats Sans Frontières France was called upon to engage in the development and dissemination of radio jingles and other media visibility tools that reinforce the zero-tolerance culture to torture in Nigeria.

Signed: Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director, ASF France Nigeria

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jan 07, 2022
805
0
Comments Off on ‘ACJA IMPLEMENTATION GAPS HAMPER SAFEGUARDS,’ SAYS UN TORTURE C’TE

‘ACJA IMPLEMENTATION GAPS HAMPER SAFEGUARDS,’ SAYS UN TORTURE C’TE

The Committee against Torture (CAT), a United Nations entity, has poked holes in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, saying there are “numerous shortcomings” in the implementation of the fundamental safeguards secured by the Act.

In its latest report on torture in Nigeria, the Committee commended the enactment of the legislation, but decried poor implementation which has made the realization of its safeguards a pipe dream.

According to CAT, “While welcoming the State party’s enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and its commitment to continue strengthening the justice system made during the universal periodic review (see A/HRC/40/7/Add.1), the Committee is concerned that despite the existing legal provisions, the implementation of fundamental safeguards is subject to numerous shortcomings.”

The Committee listed the implementation challenges to include: many instances in which persons are held in police custody beyond the legal time limit of 24 or 48 hours (in contravention to the section 35 of the Constitution and section 62 of the Police Act); the allegations of arbitrary arrests and incommunicado detentions without any contact with the relative or person of their choice and the absence of systematic and consistent use of registers of persons deprived of liberty at all stages of detention and details thereof, and the reports that the arrested persons do not receive routinely information about the reason of arrest and about their rights, including the right to legal representation.

Others are the fact that legal aid is difficult to obtain in practice, despite the establishment of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria with its underfunded offices in all thirty-six states; the lack of routine audio or video recording of the questioning during the investigation in police custody despite a specific requirement provided for in law, and the absence of an independent medical examination from the outset of detention (art. 2).

The Committee then urged the Federal Government to: Ensure the right of detainees to be brought promptly before a judge, or to be freed, and to challenge the legality of their detention at any stage of the proceedings; Ensure that persons have their deprivation of liberty accurately recorded in registers at all stages of the proceedings and ensure their right to inform a relative or another person of their choice of their arrest or detention, and Ensure that arrested and detained persons are informed immediately of the accusations and charges against them and that they are able to have prompt access to a lawyer or to free legal aid throughout the proceedings, including during the initial interrogation and inquiry, in line with the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems.

The Federal Government is also to: Provide the human and financial resources needed to ensure the proper functioning of all local branches of the Legal Aid Council; Ensure that the questioning of persons deprived of their liberty is video recorded, that those recordings are stored in a safe place under the control of oversight bodies and that the recordings are made available to investigators, detainees and their lawyers; Provide necessary technical and financial support to the police stations to facilitate the implementation of this recommendation, and Ensure that detainees have the right to request and obtain medical examination by an independent physician or a physician of their choice and that such medical examination is available without conditions and in full confidentiality promptly upon arrival at a police station, detention centre or prison.

The government is again urged to provide adequate and regular training on relevant legal provisions, monitor the compliance and penalize any failure on the part of officials to comply.

The Committee against Torture is a United Nations body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by its State parties. The Committee against Torture is composed of 10 independent experts who are persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights. The Committee is currently chaired by Mr. Claude Heller.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jan 02, 2022
691
0
Comments Off on UN RUES NIGERIA’S FAILURE TO SUBMIT TORTURE REPORTS

UN RUES NIGERIA’S FAILURE TO SUBMIT TORTURE REPORTS

The Committee against Torture (CAT), a United Nations entity, has lamented Nigeria’s continued failure to comply with its reporting obligation under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

In its latest report on torture in Nigeria, the Committee which operates under the ambit of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), noted that Nigeria’s failure has “precluded the Committee from assessing the implementation of the Convention by the State party on the basis of the Government’s report.”

The Committee also observed that the Federal Government has for almost 20 years failed to submit a report on torture even when it was urged to “accept the simplified reporting procedure to assist it in preparing such report.”

While the Committee noted that the Federal Government in 2012 provided it with information on the establishment, mandate and conducted activities of the National Committee against Torture, the Committee bemoaned the persistent neglect by Nigeria of its reporting obligations, saying: “The Committee however regrets that the State party has failed to meet its reporting obligations under article 19 of the Convention for more than 19 years, which precluded the Committee from assessing the implementation of the Convention by the State party on the basis of the Government’s report.”

It also noted that “Notwithstanding the commitments made by the State party following the 2018 universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council to strengthen the implementation of its international obligations and cooperation with human rights protection mechanisms, in particular by reporting to all treaty bodies (see A/HRC/40/7/Add.1, para. 148.15-18), the Committee regrets that the State party has not yet complied with its reporting obligations under the Convention.”

Tracing its longstanding efforts to get the Federal Government to comply with its reporting obligations, the Committee noted that Nigeria acceded to the Convention on 28 June 2001, adding that “The State party was under an obligation to submit its initial report under article 19 (1) of the Convention by 28 June 2002. Each year thereafter, Nigeria was included in the list of States parties with overdue reports in the annual report, which the Committee submits to the States parties and the General Assembly.

Continuing, the Committee said: “By a letter dated 27 June 2012, the Committee reminded the State party about the overdue initial report and the possibility for the Committee to proceed with a review in the absence of a report as a result of the extended delay in its submission. On 10 December 2012, the State party sent a response to the Committee with information on the establishment, mandate and conducted activities of the National Committee against Torture, as follow-up to the letter sent to the Committee by the Chairman of the National Committee against Torture in Nigeria on 26 September 2012.”

Said the Committee: “By a letter of 30 September 2019, the Committee once again reminded the State party about the overdue initial report and the possibility for the Committee to proceed with a review in the absence of its overdue report and invited the State party to accept the simplified reporting procedure to assist it in preparing such report. In the absence of a reply, the Committee informed the State party about its decision to proceed to the review of the implementation of the Convention in the absence of the State party’s report at its seventy-first session by two subsequent letters of 9 December 2019 and 27 March 2020.”

According to the Committee’s report, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the functioning of treaty bodies and in-person sessions, by a letter of 5 October 2020, the Committee informed the State party about the postponement and rescheduling of the State party review for the seventy-second session. On 10 September 2021, the Committee once again informed the State party of the possibility of reviewing the situation in the State party in the absence of a report at its seventy-second session, in accordance with rule 67 of its rules of procedure. The Committee welcomes the State party’s response confirming its participation in the seventy-second session sent on 22 October 2021 and its subsequent participation in the dialogue.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Dec 31, 2021
683
0
Comments Off on ENDSARS: ASF FRANCE HOLDS PARLEY ON POLICE REFORMS

ENDSARS: ASF FRANCE HOLDS PARLEY ON POLICE REFORMS

As part of its activities to mark the International Human Rights Day 2021, Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria recently convened a stakeholders’ roundtable meeting on Human Rights in Abuja. The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders in the human rights sector in Nigeria to deliberate on key issues and proffer solutions aimed at improving the enjoyment of human rights in the country.

The roundtable which was themed “#EndSARS: The Role of CSOs in Driving Police Reforms” was aimed at exploring methodologies for driving police reforms in the aftermath of the #EndSARS, a nationwide protest targeted towards ending human rights abuse by the Police in Nigeria.

According to Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director, ASF France Nigeria, the meeting was organized under the auspices of the “Promoting the United Nations Convention against Torture” (ProCAT) project with the financial support of the German Embassy in Nigeria and the United Nations Voluntary funds for victims of torture.

Constituting the roundtable were representatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Correction Service, Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Department of State Security (DSS), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), related Civil Society Organisations and media organisations.

Recommendations were proffered to the human rights issues raised. Stakeholders emphasised the need for continuous momentum in the human rights struggle until success is achieved. Some of the insightful recommendations made by stakeholders in response to the human rights issues raised are as follows:

1) There should be increased collaboration between the CSOs and the security agencies.

2) The need for strict implementation of disciplinary measures against security officers found guilty of torture, including demotion in rank to serve as a deterrent to other officers.

3) The need for an effective follow-up on judgements passed in favour of torture victims to ensure and enforce 100% compliance of judgement.

4) There should be increased efforts towards training of junior officers regarding the use of torture and the implementation of the Anti-torture Act (2017).

5) The need for the use of databases and technology in criminal data retention for better prosecution of offenders and a more efficient justice system.

6) There should be better cooperation from security agencies during civil unrest and protests as this falls under the fundamental human rights of citizens.

7) The need to make officers understand that when they torture, they do not act on behalf of the government, they act on their own accord and are fully liable for their actions.

8) The need to mass-produce and distribute the Anti-torture act to widen its reach and implementation.

9) The need for rigorous sensitization, seminars, and workshop for state-actors against the use of torture.

10) There is a need to improve the welfare of police officers to ensure adequate behaviour from the police officers. There is also a need to increase budgetary allocation for the police force to cater for improvement in facilities and technology for better service delivery.

11) The need to put in structures and initiatives geared towards the effective implementation of the Anti-torture ACT (2017)

12) Increase the pressure on the AG for the effective implementation of the Anti-torture Act.

13) The need to empower security agencies with adequate equipment to proper carry out constitutional duties instead of resorting to torture.

14) The need for psychosocial support for security officers, especially during the onboarding process after graduation from training schools/facilities.

15) The need for removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks in the modus operandi of the Police Public Complaints & Response Unit (PCRU) for effective action against guilty officers.

16) The need to reward police units and officers with less torture cases to serve as examples to other security agencies.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Dec 31, 2021
1.09k
0
Comments Off on TORTURE: UN COMMITTEE URGES TRAINING FOR NIGERIA’S JUDGES, LAWYERS

TORTURE: UN COMMITTEE URGES TRAINING FOR NIGERIA’S JUDGES, LAWYERS

The Committee against Torture (CAT) has urged the Federal Government to train judges and lawyers on the application of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The Committee also expressed concern on “lack of information” on the application of the Convention by Nigeria’s courts, and on cases where the Convention has been directly applied by the domestic courts.

Rising from its 72nd meeting, CAT urged the Federal Government to “provide judicial officials and lawyers with specific training on applying the Convention directly and asserting the rights established in those provisions before the courts and submit information about specific cases in which the Convention has been invoked before the domestic courts in its next periodic report.”

While welcoming the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act that is applicable in the whole country, the Committee in its “Concluding observations in the absence of the initial report of Nigeria” noted that “it is concerned at the lack of information on the actual practice of direct application of the Convention by the domestic courts, and on cases where the Convention has been directly applied by the domestic courts (arts. 2 and 12).”

The Committee also expressed concern on the adopted definition of torture in Nigeria’s Anti-Torture Act, adding that contrary to the expectation of the Convention, a “specific purpose based on discrimination ground” is linked to the purpose of intimidation or coercion of an individual or a third party, rather than a standalone purpose.

Noting that the Anti-Torture Act “does not cover attempts to commit torture in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention and lacks specific provisions establishing statute of limitations and barring the amnesties and pardons for the acts of torture (arts. 1 and 4),” the Committee urged the Federal Government to “Continue to make efforts to bring its definition of torture fully into line with article 1 of the Convention and explicitly add the following separate purpose to the definition of torture: “or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind;” “Include criminalization of the attempts to commit torture in the Anti-Torture Act;” and “Clarify and ensure that there is no statute of limitations for the offence of torture explicitly provided in law in line with General Comment No. 3 (2012) on the implementation of article 14, and that torture is explicitly excluded from the scope of amnesty and pardon provisions.”

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Dec 22, 2021
731
0
Comments Off on COURT RESERVES JUDGMENT, AS GADZAMA ARGUES NBA’S CASE AGAINST POLICE

COURT RESERVES JUDGMENT, AS GADZAMA ARGUES NBA’S CASE AGAINST POLICE

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in the matter on unlawful dismissal brought against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission (PSC) by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). After a series of proceedings, the court has slated judgment for February 21, 2022.

It is recalled that one Omotola Olajide was on 26th January, 2021 dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force for being pregnant while unmarried.

The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Intervention Committee, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN had volunteered to represent NBA in the strategic litigation to press for respect for the fundamental rights of the dismissed officer.

Gadzama, who is also the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest Litigation Committee, volunteered to take up the matter “to champion the cause of not only Omotola Olajide but all unmarried women in service against the discriminatory practices which infringed on their rights.”

Meanwhile, the law firm of J-K Gadzama LLP has held its End of the Year Party and 7th Christmas Carol to draw the curtains on the year. The event was an opportunity for the staff, family, friends and well-wishers of the firm to express their gratitude to God for a successful year.

Held on Monday, December 20, 2021, the firm’s Founding Partner, Gadzama welcomed guests to the occasion and wished them an amazing time. Also speaking, Mr. Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN noted that “this tradition is very dear to Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN as the Learned Silk is always on the look-out for an opportunity to appreciate God and his employees.”

Miss Sarah Atumga and Mr. Lamar Joe-Gadzama, both Associates at the firm, made a recap of the joyous moments and successes the firm recorded during the year, noting that Gadzama “is fixated on capacity building and in line with this, he sponsored all counsel in chambers to the recently concluded Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

As a performance-driven firm targeted towards rewarding talent and distinction, the event also witnessed presentation of awards to members of staff who had excelled in different areas throughout the year. The awards cut across various categories including Longest Serving Support Staff, Best Tennis Player (Male and Female Categories), Longest Serving Counsel in Chambers.

The chairman of the occasion, Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in his brief remarks urged the Bar and Bench to step up to their duty of ensuring the independence of the Judiciary. Fade Sax serenaded the guests with melodious rendition of Christmas hymns. The event came to an end with a vote of thanks by Mr. Madu Joe-Gadzama, a Senior Partner in the firm.

Other guests were Prof. Oluyole Akintayo, National President of Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON); Rev. Caleb S. Dakwak, Resident Pastor of the Church of the Brethren (EYN Church) Utako, Abuja; Justice Anwuli Chikere who was represented by Mrs. Amaruche Onyedum Anya; Prof. Paul Idornigie, SAN; Mr. and Mrs. Karagama; Mr. Keffas Gadzama, members of the Unity Bar and other friends of the firm.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jul 16, 2021
1.14k
0
Comments Off on ODINKALU APPOINTED PROFESSOR BY TOP US VARSITY

ODINKALU APPOINTED PROFESSOR BY TOP US VARSITY

Vocal human rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu has been appointed a ‘Professor of Practice’ by one of America’s elite universities, Tufts University.

In a press release dated July 14, 2021 the leading university stated that Odinkalu, a former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), “will join Fletcher’s multi-disciplinary faculty focused on preparing tomorrow’s leaders to use the latest legal, political, economic, and business thinking to generate policies and inform decisions that shape global events.”

According to Kelly Sims Gallagher, Academic Dean at The Fletcher School, “Chidi Odinkalu is a renowned human rights activist with a distinguished record of public service who has spent more than three decades working at the front line of human rights law and research, development advocacy, international institutional law and governmental policy.”

The statement added that Odinkalu’s “profound contributions to the advancement of human rights intersect with Fletcher’s mission and core values,” adding that “We are delighted to welcome him to the Fletcher community.”

Tufts University is reputed as a leader in American higher education, distinctive for its success as a moderately sized university that excels at research and providing students with a personal experience. According to the university “Our unique combination of research and liberal arts attracts students, faculty and staff who thrive in our environment of curiosity, creativity and engagement.”

Below is the full text of the press release.

Human Rights Activist Chidi Odinkalu joins The Fletcher School
July 14, 2021

The Fletcher School is pleased to announce the appointment of international human rights law expert Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, PhD to a Professor of Practice faculty position for a three-year term beginning in the Fall of 2021.

He will join Fletcher’s multi-disciplinary faculty focused on preparing tomorrow’s leaders to use the latest legal, political, economic, and business thinking to generate policies and inform decisions that shape global events.

“Chidi Odinkalu is a renowned human rights activist with a distinguished record of public service who has spent more than three decades working at the front line of human rights law and research, development advocacy, international institutional law and governmental policy,” remarked Kelly Sims Gallagher, Academic Dean at The Fletcher School.

“His profound contributions to the advancement of human rights intersect with Fletcher’s mission and core values,” she added. “We are delighted to welcome him to the Fletcher community.”

Odinkalu’s background reflects an extensive record of research, publishing and teaching in the areas of human rights, development law and public policy throughout Africa, Europe and the US.

Most recently, he was part of a three-member team that mediated the readmission of The Gambia into the Commonwealth, where he litigated human rights before national and regional courts as well as in transnational contexts.

From 2011 to 2015, he chaired Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, the country’s lead institution for the protection of human rights and promotion of human rights policy. He also worked within human rights philanthropy.

For 10 years prior, he was involved in drafting the Protocol for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights through to adoption by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1998.

In 2004, he led the advocacy effort for its entry into force with the creation of the Coalition for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. For more than three years, until 1993, Odinkalu was head of legal services for the Civil Liberties Organization in Lagos, where he was responsible for litigation, advocacy and constituent building strategies, as well as managing relationships with the military government and its institutions.

“I am honored to join the Fletcher community and look forward to working with Fletcher’s students, faculty and administration to apply intellectual and strategic innovation to the most pressing challenges in governance and international human rights law,” said Odinkalu.

A native of Nigeria born into internal displacement during the country’s civil war, he received his PhD in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 12, 2021
1.09k
0
Comments Off on TWITTER BAN, CENSORSHIP AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (1)

TWITTER BAN, CENSORSHIP AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (1)

IGE ASEMUDARA is a rights activist and Notary Public for Nigeria. In this article, the senior lawyer notes that free speech has become a dominant issue due to the suspension of TWITTER operations in Nigeria, adding that while there are permissible online censorships, the law frowns against suppression of public information through censorship

At the moment, free speech and censorship has taken the centre stage of political and legal discussions in Nigeria largely due to the “squabble” between Twitter Incorporated and Nigeria’s President, General Muhammadu Buhari on the question of censorship. In order to put the issues thrown up by their controversy in perspective, this article shall briefly examine the nature and essence of freedom of expression and the implication of online censorship.

Freedom of expression is basically the fundamental right of a person to hold, articulate, share or disseminate his views and opinions or even receive information on an issue in a polity. There are some claims that freedom of expression (also sometimes called freedom of speech) originated from the ancient Greece appearing in Greek literature around 5th Century BC as “parrhesia” meaning “free speech”. It has since undergone several historical metamorphoses including political expansion, legislative recognition, international affirmation and judicial pronouncements. The English Bill of Rights 1689 recognised freedom of speech as essential whilst the French Declaration of the Rights of Man 1789 broadened its scope to cover free communication of ideas and opinions as well as freedom to speak, write and print. On its own part, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America adopted on the 15th of December, 1791 expressly forbade congress from making any law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.

Thus, the right to freedom of expression continued to gain prominence to the extent that in the early years of the 2nd World War, American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered an address in January, 1941 where he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people everywhere in the world must enjoy namely; freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Incidentally, freedom of speech topped the list of the four fundamental freedoms. So, it was not an accident that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 which convincingly shut the barrels of gun used at the 2nd World War contains in its Article 19 the following provisions “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted in 1966 also provide for free speech in Article 19 of the treaty that came into force in March, 1976. In the same vein, our regional human rights instrument, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights in its Article 9 specifically provide for the right to receive and disseminate information, and to express opinions within the law.

In Nigeria, the much vilified 1999 Constitution provides for freedom of expression and the press in Section 39 as follows: “(1) every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”. “(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions: Provided that no person, other than the Government of the Federation or of a State or any other person ort body authorized by the president on the fulfillment of the conditions laid down by an Act of the National Assembly, shall own, establish or operate a television or wireless broadcasting station for any purpose or whatsoever”. “(3) Nothing in this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society; (a) For the purpose of preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of courts or regulating telephone, wireless broadcasting, television or the exhibition of cinematograph films; or (b) imposing restrictions upon persons holding office under the Government of the Federation or of a State, members of the armed forces of the Federation or member of the Nigeria Police Force or other Government security services or agencies established by law”.

With the emergence of the wonders of the internet, this fundamental freedom has expanded to cover the right to receive, store, share or disseminate information, views, opinions and ideas on the internet just as freedom of the press now covers online media including the social media. Today, social media online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram etc have taken a huge space in information gathering and dissemination including airing political views and opinions and thus, sensitive information can be disseminated across the globe at a pace faster than the speed of light. So, governments and private authorities also put measures in place to control the dissemination of information or the spreading of views and ideas that may impact on them. This is called censorship.

Censorship is a restriction that has travelled with the freedom of expression through the ages. It is a deliberate suppression of free speech, opinions, public communication and a restriction on information dissemination by public or private body usually on the ground of it being harmful, offensive, objectionable, not convenient or just unacceptable. Censorship may come in different forms. It may be by legislation and this accounts for the qualification in most legislative provisions on freedom of speech. It may also be by rules set up by organizations or private individuals. For instance, all the social media operators have their rules of engagement governing the kind of information or images to be shared through them. For example, Twitter recently pulled down a particular statement tweeted by Nigeria’s President, General Muhammadu Buhari on the basis of its offending Twitter rules on permissible posts. In response, the General banned the use of Twitter in Nigeria virtual space by blocking the social media company. He went on to ban Nigerians from using Twitter handles as the company’s mission in Nigeria is said to be suspect. Now, both of them are involved in censorship of some sorts. While Twitter’s censorship is directed at a particular tweet, General Buhari’s censorship is quite sweeping as same is directed on all posts and activities undertaken by Nigerians on Twitter or by Twitter in Nigeria. This is nothing but an annihilation of free speech.

One terrible implication of such attempt at online censorship of freedom of expression is that same portends evil for other freedoms. For example, the freedom to propagate your religion, to disseminate religious information and to practice one’s faith is intricately connected to the freedom of expression as it had become clear since the days of R. v. Penn and Mead (1670) 6 St Tr 951 when William Penn was obviously persecuted (not prosecuted) for preaching in Gracechurch street, London to a gathering of more than five persons contrary to the Conventicle Act. In the same vein, it is a total violation of the right to religion guaranteed by Section 38 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other human rights instruments to merely conceive the idea, air it or even take any step to bully the General Overseers of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Deeper Life Bible Church or any religious body at all with threat of prosecution because they insist on continuing to use their Twitter handles to continue to propagate their faith and religious beliefs.

As already mentioned, freedom of speech has grown through the ages. Today, we now have what is termed commercial freedom of expression. This includes the rights to advertise your products etc and this also extends online. For example, virtually all the news media in Nigeria have Twitter handles with which they advance press freedoms and enhance their commercial viability. In the same vein, individual businesses do advertise their enterprise online including on Twitter, Facebook, Insagram, Linkedn. In fact, market has moved to the virtual space. So, when a President bans the entirety of his citizens both corporate and natural from the social media space or an online platform that has up to 40 million of its population, he has not just denied them their commercial freedom of expression, he has killed their rights to earn a living!

Yes, the law allows for moderate and legitimate censorship of free speech following the philosophical foundation laid by John Stuart Mills, in his On Liberty, where he propounded the harm to others test. Joel Feinberg also recently introduced the “offensive principle” as the harm to others test is generally seen as too tall a measure. The reasonable parameter of measuring the essence of censorship is to see whether the expression sought to be censored causes harm to others or is offensive to others. Thus, the law now intervenes in online expressions through legislations. The United States was the first to intervene with the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA). Since that time, several legislations have been passed in order to ensure that sanity reigns in online expressions and dissemination of information. In Nigeria, Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015 is a reaction to unbridled liberty on the net which caused harm to others or became offensive to members of the public.

Whilst there are permissible online censorships, it is also the policy of the law that public information is not unduly suppressed through censorship. Thus, the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 was passed to give the public some level of access to public information in order to enhance the quality of citizens’ opinion on the policies and programmes of government. By and large, censorship either in suppressing free speech or withholding needed information from the public must not cross the clear lines drawn by the Constitution and other human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory as that is the way to be right with this right!

Ige Asemudara is the convener of the Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria (MAIN).

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Mar 13, 2021
983
0
Comments Off on LAWYERS WITHOUT BORDERS LAUNCH POLICE SITUATION ROOM

LAWYERS WITHOUT BORDERS LAUNCH POLICE SITUATION ROOM

As part of its efforts in promoting the enjoyment of Human Rights in Nigeria, Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France or Lawyers Without Borders), in collaboration with its partners, the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up “The Police and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Situation Room” in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A statement made available to CITY LAWYER shows that the Situation Room was established under the “Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocation for Ending Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria project” (SAFE) funded by the European Union and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and is targeted at addressing human rights violations such as torture, extra-judicial killings and arbitrary detention.

In attendance at the maiden convening of the situation room were representatives of ASF France, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ), CAPIO, NBA, and key CSOs working on justice sector reform in Nigeria such as Amnesty International, CLEEN Foundation, Access to Justice. Others were representatives of CSOs from Lagos, Enugu and Kaduna States.

In line with ASF France’s objectives for establishing the situation room, insightful contributions were made by members of the situation room as follows:

Create a pool of possible reforms that are consistent with international best practices in respect of Police accountability and human rights;
Create a platform for CSO monitoring and collaboration with the Police on its operations towards human rights enforcements;
Develop strategies aimed at improving the respect of human rights by officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force; and
Boost the image of the Nigerian Police Force before the citizens.

The situation room also considered recommendations generated from State-level stakeholders roundtable meetings organised on the SAFE Project on Human Rights. The Head of Office of Avocats Sans Frontières France, Angela Uwandu, in her opening remarks said: “The work for the advancement of Human Rights in the country should be a collaborative effort between CSOs and the Government hence the dire need for the situation room”. She also called on CSOs to replicate this effort so as to sustain the gains of the engagement.

In his contribution, the representative of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, restated the commitment of the Police to the advancement of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law in the country.

The O/C of the Police Complaints Response Unit (P-CRU), ACP Martins Ishaku Basiran, during his presentation on the Police Internal Mechanism for Accountability for Human Rights Violations by Police Officers said “a total of 2,156 complaints were reported during the 2019 period, 1,617 (75%) complaints were resolved, 108 (5%) complaints were found to be false and 431 (20%) complaints are still under investigation. There is an urgent need to establish P-CRU Desk offices across various States of the country to ensure that complaints are reduced to the barest minimum”.

ASF France aims to build on a successful maiden convening of the situation room to ensure sustainability of this initiative. The situation room would continue to expand and operate remotely as it gears up for its next convening.

ASF France’s SAFE project is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the French Agency for Development (AFD) and is implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association and the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO).

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Mar 12, 2021
1.42k
0
0

PRAWA, GENEVA CENTRE TO TRAIN JOURNALISTS, CSOs ON VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES TODAY

The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) in partnership with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and other agencies will today at 9:30 am host a virtual training session for journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs) on the topic, “Promoting respect for human rights, drawing on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.”

Other partners for the training programme are the Nigeria Police Force, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and African Union Watch.

According to a statement by Dr. Uju Agomoh, Executive Director of PRAWA, the workshop objectives are to:
1. Create awareness on the nexus between Security, human rights, business/development amongst civil society organizations and the media.
2. Build the capacities of civil society organizations and the media towards promoting public awareness on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights as well as supporting other related initiatives on security, human rights and business.
3. Sensitize civil society organizations and the media on the Voluntary Principles App and encourage its utilization.

The forum will feature a Welcome Address by Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi (mni), NSCDC Commandant General; Remarks by Anna Maria Burdzy, Project Coordinator, Business and Security Division, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and Joel Bisina, Executive Director of Lite Africa & Co-Chair, National Working Group on Voluntary Principles.

Goodwill messages will also be delivered by Mr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and Dr. Feyi Ogunade, Executive Director, African Union Watch, while Dr. Agomoh will give her remarks about the project and an overview of the workshop.

The technical session will witness the following presentations:
“Understanding the nexus between security, Human rights and Development” by Mr. Honest Offor, Senior Programme Officer, PRAWA; “Introduction to Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights” by Linda Reuben, Asst. Program Officer, PRAWA, and “The International Code of conduct for private security services providers (ICOC) and the Montreux Document – Sharing of Experiences and Best Practices” by Chinwike Okereke Esq., Executive Director, Afrilaw Foundation.

Other papers are on “Gender Perspective in the provision of Security and human Rights – Impact on Extractive Industry” by Ogechi Ogu Esq., Deputy Director, PRAWA and “Promoting the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights – The Role of the Media & Civil Society Organizations” by Emeka Nwadioke Esq., Lead Partner, Emeka Nwadioke & Co. & President, City Lawyer Magazine.

The presentation on the Voluntary Principles App will be done by Mr. Tobia Adedokun, IT Consultant, PRAWA while Dr. Agomoh will draw the curtains on the workshop with a presentation on “Reflections, Recommendations & Next Steps.”

The programme will be anchored by Mr. Chris Okwui, Manager, Love FM, Umuahia and Mr. Dahiru Muhammed, Assistant Programme Officer, PRAWA (Kano).

The project is carried out under The Security and Human Rights Implementation Mechanism (SHRIM) “Enabling Multi-Stakeholder Action with the support of the United Kingdom.

To join the virtual workshop, please click on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/98076090388?pwd=ZGFXeTJNR2pNd3FHc2UxQzd4citVZz09. Other login details are: Webinar ID: 980 7609 0388 and Password: 772235. For enquiries and technical support during the webinar, please contact dmuhammed@prawa.org or call/whatsapp +2348062722311.

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Dec 18, 2020
1.41k
0
Comments Off on NIN: UBANI SUES FG, ASKS COURT TO HALT DEADLINE

NIN: UBANI SUES FG, ASKS COURT TO HALT DEADLINE

Fiery human rights activist and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President, Mr. Monday Ubani has dragged the Federal Government to court over its directive to telecom networks to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN)

According to the court papers made available to CITY LAWYER and filed at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, Ubani is seeking an order of the court “halting the said two weeks ultimatum given by the 1st, 3rd and 4th Respondents to telecommunication operators to block all SIM Cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN).”

He is also praying the court to direct the respondents to “extend the deadline for the registration of SIM Cards with NIN for at least 1 year or to such period of time as the court may consider reasonable for the Applicant (and millions of other Nigerians) to be able to register their SIM Cards safely without any rush that might result to avoidable loss of lives and injuries.”

Aside from the Federal Government of Nigeria, other respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation, Nigerian Communications Commission and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

The suit is brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 made by the Chief Justice of Nigeria pursuant to section 46(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Ubani is also praying the court for “A DECLARATION that the two weeks (16th December, 2020 to 30th December, 2020) ultimatum given to telecommunications operators by the 1st, 3rd and 4th Respondents to block all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) cards that are not registered with National Identity Number (NIN), is grossly inadequate and will not only work severe hardship, but will likely infringe on the fundamental rights of the Applicant (and millions of other Nigerians) to freedom of expression as guaranteed by section 39(1)(2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as violate section 44(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which prohibits the compulsory acquisition of right or interest over moveable property.”

The vocal public commentator is equally praying for a “DECLARATION that in view of the covid-19 pandemic and the rising cases in Nigeria presently, the two weeks deadline given by the 1st, 3rd and 4th Respondents to the Applicant and over 200 million Nigerians to register their SIM Cards with NIN, will lead to a rush, thereby resulting to clustering of the Applicant and other Nigerian citizens in a NIN registration centre, subjecting him to the possibility of easily contracting the covid-19 virus, and such will amount to a violation of his fundamental right to life as protected by section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

Among the grounds for the suit are:

“That the Applicant is a lawyer, activist and social commentator on national issues. He uses his MTN SIM Card for business communication, social communication and interaction with other Nigerians through phone and online through the social media. Like millions of other Nigerians, the Applicant’s SIM Card enables him to exercise his fundamental right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution, and blocking the Applicant’s SIM Card will violate his fundamental right over his SIM Card (moveable property) as guaranteed under section 44(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“That the short period of two weeks given for the Applicant and millions of other Nigerians to register their SIM cards with NIN (failing which their SIM cards will be blocked) is unreasonably too short and impracticable in view of the large population of Nigerians and the slow rate of registration by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“That the two weeks deadline will lead to a rush and clustering of the Applicant and other Nigerians in registration centre thereby subjecting him to possibility of Stamped and contracting COVID-19 virus, which will endanger his right to life as guaranteed by section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

In a 21-paragraph affidavit deposed by Ubani in support of the suit, he stated as follows:

“That I am a Nigerian citizen who uses MTN (one of the telecommunication operators) Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card for all my business communication and social interactions, including surfing the net, sending and receiving emails, attending online zoom meetings and conferences, and interact with family, friends and fellow Nigerians on all social media platforms.

“That like so many other Nigerians, I have till date not gotten my NIN despite several attempts as there are few NIN registration centres available, and most times the registration officials would complain of either network problem or lack of power supply to enable them function effectively.

“That the two weeks ultimatum given by the defendants for the telecommunication operators to block the SIM of all Subscribers (including myself) who have not registered their SIM with NIN is grossly inadequate, and will not only create unnecessary panic and inconveniences but will also cause severe hardship and suffering to me and millions of Nigerians who like me have not been able to get our NIN due to no fault of ours.

“That the Respondents’ directive to telecommunications operators to block the SIM of every person who has not registered their SIM with NIN after 30th December, 2020, is not a well thought out decision as same is too sudden, and will cut me and millions of Nigerians off from communication, and deny me the use of my SIM card which is my personal property, thereby infringing on my right to freedom of expression, and my entitlement to own a medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion, as guaranteed by sections 39(1)(2), and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“That the 1st Respondent who has been fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria since March 2020, and who has been advocating and enforcing social distancing did not avert her mind, when she and her agencies were taking such a decision, to the fact that COVID-19 is still present in Nigeria and cases of infected persons have been rising in recent time.

“That many prominent Nigerians have lost their precious lives as a result of not observing the social distancing, and other measures laid down by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to avoid contracting COVID-19.

“That the resolution/decision of the Respondents to the effect that December30, 2020 (two weeks) is the deadline for over 180 million Nigerians to register their SIM with NIN is reckless, inconsiderate and insensitive in view of the present reality in the country.

“That the Respondents before arriving at such resolution did not check to confirm the statistics of Nigerians that do not have NIN, which if they did, their resolution would have been different.

“That no doubt, trying to meet up with the said deadline will put me and millions of Nigerians in untold pressure, and same will lead to a rush and result to non observance of social distancing measures, consequent upon which contracting the COVID-19 virus will be inevitable, thereby endangering my right life and that of other Nigerians, which is guaranteed by section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“That it will be proper and reasonable for the Respondent to extend the deadline to at least 1 year, and within that period of extension make deliberate and conscious efforts towards properly sensitizing Nigerians, and putting in place massive registration outlets in every ward of the Federation with good working facilities to ensure that easy access to registration is made possible.

“That trying to enforce this policy in a period where I, as well as most Nigerians are gearing up for Christmas festivities may lead to stamped in the process of rushing to get registered, which could lead to unnecessary death and injuries, thereby violating section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That if the Court does not halt or order the Respondents to urgently halt their plans, this directive may result to unnecessary panic in the country which may lead to exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians, thereby causing more pain in an already pathetic situation.

“That I am aware that millions of other Nigerians are also uncomfortable, worried and complaining about the gross inadequacy of the two weeks ultimatum given by the Respondents to telecommunication operators to block all SIM not registered with NIN. As a matter of fact, the House of Representatives (that represent the people of Nigeria) has asked the 1st Respondent to extend the deadline for the provision of National Identification Number (NIN) by telecommunication service subscribers, describing the two weeks given to SIM card users by the 3rd Respondent to provide their NIN to service providers as grossly inadequate. This was reported by the Punchng.com, published on December 16, 2020. The said online report by Punch newspaper is attached herewith and marked Exhibit MOU2.”

According to CITY LAWYER sources, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Sep 19, 2020
1.14k
0
Comments Off on APPEAL COURT JURIST, FALANA, AKPATA, NGIGE, OTHERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK LAUNCH

APPEAL COURT JURIST, FALANA, AKPATA, NGIGE, OTHERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK LAUNCH

Leading jurists and human rights activists will on Thursday gather for the unveiling of a seminal book on human rights written by foremost human rights author and litigator, Chief Frank Agbedo.

Titled “Casebook on Human Rights Litigation in Nigeria: With Landmark Cases From Other Jurisdictions,” the event which will be held virtually is expected to be witnessed by the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed L. Garba and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Others expected at the book presentation are the Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN; Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olumide Akpata; fiery human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, and former President of Otu Oka-Iwu Lagos, Chief Chuks Ikokwu.

With renowned text writer, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu SAN as Book Presenter and The Guardian columnist, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi as Book Reviewer, others slated for the book presentation are Chief Babatunde Ogala and Mr. Yemi Akangbe (NBA Lagos Branch Chairman) as Guests of Honour; corporate and commercial law guru, Mr. Mbanugo Udenze as Host and popular Bar Leader, Mrs. Tolani Edu as the Moderator.

Available on AMAZON at https://www.amazon.com/Casebook-Human-Rights-Litigation-Nigeria/dp/6200313415, “This book painstakingly addresses the predicament of lawyers and judges in accessing relevant cases of interest, by providing and updating the practitioners with a comprehensive collection of (both current and locus classicus) reported cases mainly from decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, on all notable issues of law and procedure relating to human rights litigation in Nigeria.”

An announcement on the book presentation states as follows:

Team Nominees Limited is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Book Presentation of Case Book on Human Rights Litigation in Nigeria by Chief Frank Agbedo.

Date: Thursday 24th September, 2020 Time: 02:00 PM West Central Africa

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93183883288?pwd=NCthbFFzeTROckkzODE3SXJtRXczZz09

Meeting ID: 931 8388 3288

Passcode: 091502

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,93183883288#,,,,,,0#,,091502# US (Chicago)

+13462487799,,93183883288#,,,,,,0#,,091502# US (Houston)

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

Meeting ID: 931 8388 3288

Passcode: 091502

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abWda7Wbz

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Aug 05, 2020
2.74k
0
0

Leading human rights activist, MR. EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA SAN reviews the case of activist-lawyer Emperor Ogbonna and notes that his plight “highlights what the ordinary citizen goes through in the hands of agents of the State”

“Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure permitted by law.”
– Section 35 (1) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

After the right to life, the right to personal liberty is taken to be the most important of the all the rights granted under Chapter 4 of the Constitution. Without any shadow of doubt, the right to personal liberty is the one that is most abused, by those who are in power. Many suspects are languishing in various detention centres across the nation, without any hope for justice. It has been established that the majority of inmates in the various Correctional Centres in Nigeria are awaiting trial. It has become so easy for the law enforcement agencies, especially the police, to arrest and detain citizens at random, upon one alleged crime or the other. In some cases, they go beyond crime as the basis for arrest; cases involving civil financial obligations by the tenant are taken to the police by the landlord, and turned into a criminal complaint. Disputes over ownership of land also end up in the police station. In a particular case which I handled, the police officers were demanding for the survey plan of the land in order to determine the true owner thereof!

Gabriel Emperor Ogbonna is a Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist who has been in custody of the police and the DSS for months, despite court orders directing his release. He is based in Aba, Abia State. He has been in detention since March 24, 2020, having been arrested in his office by operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS and armed policemen. He was initially taken to the Abia State Police Command headquarters, where he was confronted with a petition written against him that he published falsehood against the Governor of Abia State to the effect that the latter swore an oath at the Ancient Harashima. He was eventually arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court and remanded in custody. The activist was later charged before the Federal High Court, Umuahia and was admitted to bail by the said court. Mr. Ogbonna perfected the conditions of his bail and was released from the Correctional Centre on April 28, 2020, but he was immediately arrested by the Abia State Director of DSS and thereafter transferred to Abuja. The story line is that the Abia State Government is allegedly behind his travails.

Mr Ogbonna was eventually tried at the Federal High Court, Umuahia in Abia State, wherein the said Court directed the production of Mr. Ogbonna but the order was flouted by the police and DSS, in Suit No. FHC/UM/CR/17/2020. Consequently, the Court, coram D.E. Osiagor, J., dismissed the charge against him and he was accordingly discharged, on June 26, 2020. Notwithstanding the said order, Mr. Ogbonna was not released. Mr. Ogbonna himself filed a civil suit, for the enforcement of his fundamental rights, in Suit No. FHC/UM/CS/40/2020, against the DSS. On June 29, 2020, the Court made the following orders, after taking arguments from counsel to the parties:

“1. That the 1st to 3rd Respondents are hereby ordered to immediately release the Applicant unconditionally or charge him only to a court of competent jurisdiction.
2. That the 1st-3rd Respondents are hereby restrained by themselves or through their agents, servants and privies from further harassing, re-arresting and detaining the Applicant over the facts of this matter.
3. That the 1st-3rd Respondents are hereby ordered to pay the sum of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N1,500,000:00) as damages for the two months detention of the Applicant without trial.”

From June 29, 2020 when this order was made by the Court, it is well over a month and Emperor Ogbonna is still in the unlawful custody of the DSS. We cannot continue to carry on in this fashion, as if the country has no laws governing its affairs. Government officials, especially members of the Executive arm of government, cannot become so lawless as to totally disregard the orders of a competent court of law, as that will be promoting anarchy and chaos. Section 287 (3) of the Constitution is so very clear on this matter:

“287 (3). The decisions of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and of all other Courts established by this Constitution shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by other Courts of law with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and those other Courts, respectively.”

There should be no further assurance required by the DSS for the release of Emperor Ogbonna other than the orders of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, reproduced above. Whereas it is proper and desirable for law enforcement agencies to do their best to investigate, detect and prosecute crimes, for the good of society, once the court has intervened however, by way of granting an order for the release of a citizen, then such an order must be respected and must not be subverted through devious means or by subterfuge. There is no other way to describe the conduct of the DSS in keeping Emperor Ogbonna in its custody after the Court has ordered his unconditional release other than plain dictatorship and executive brigandage. When we get to the stage whereby citizens beg the government to obey court orders and to respect the rule of law, then you know that lawlessness has taken its ugly root.

Not long ago, the President signed Executive Order No.10, wherein he granted autonomy to the judiciary. It is thus improper to claim to grant autonomy to the judiciary with one hand and then take it away with another through wilful disobedience of Court orders. I call upon the President to call the Director of DSS to order, in order to avoid another scenario of what happened in the case of Omoyele Sowore. Emperor Ogbonna’s attention is needed by his pregnant wife, he also has a precarious medical history, having suffered gunshot wounds from an attempted assassination upon his life in the past. With the health challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, this is not the time to embark upon indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens. Indeed, the government only recently directed that the Correctional Centres be decongested. The DSS must obey the order of court by releasing Emperor Ogbonna unconditionally and if there be any further allegations against him, he should be charged to court, in line with the requirements of the Constitution. Surely two wrongs cannot make anything right. There is no separate court established by law for the DSS and no trial can take place in the office of the Director of DSS. Thus, if the Court established by law says Emperor Ogbonna should be released, then he has to be released. This point cannot be negotiated at all.

All law enforcement agencies, including even the military, must willingly submit themselves to civilian authority, as we are not under military rule in Nigeria presently. The Courts were created under section 6 of the Constitution to adjudicate in disputes between persons and persons and between persons and the government. The criminal charge preferred against Emperor Ogbonna by the State has since been dismissed by the Court. In addition, the Court ordered that he should not be arrested or detained upon the same facts leading to his discharge. So, the question that the DSS must answer is whether whilst he has been in unlawful custody, Emperor Ogbonna has committed another offence to warrant his continued detention or even a fresh trial? The answer of course is a capital NO, which simply means that his current detention is illegal and a total disrespect to the authority and integrity of the court.

The plight of Emperor Ogbonna only highlights what the ordinary citizen goes through in the hands of agents of the State, as if a lawyer and an activist, who is well learned, conscious of his rights and privileges, is facing such persecution and hardship, then one can best imagine what the common man goes through, in all the police stations and other detention centres across Nigeria. This is why the struggle for the freedom of Emperor Ogbonna is one that must be undertaken by every lover of justice and human rights. The freedom and liberty of any individual should not be the subject of any oppressive negotiation with the State, in order to compel the citizen to abandon his avowed beliefs and principles.

Good enough that this is coming on the heels of the election of new national officers for the Nigerian Bar Association. It is a litmus test for the new NBA Exco to take the bull by the horn and mobilize lawyers and Nigerians to free Emperor Ogbonna. It will be a good baptism of fire, for the new NBA Exco to confront the DSS and insist on respect for the rule of law and obedience to the orders of the Courts in this and all other cases. It should not be possible ever again, for any lawyer or other citizen, to be kept in unlawful custody simply because he is considered to be in the opposition or has views which are intolerable to those who are in power. This has to stop.
The President cannot sit on the fence in this matter, as the DSS and indeed all other security agencies report directly to him. It is important that the President intervenes urgently to direct immediate compliance with the order of court for the release of Emperor Ogbonna. On a number of occasions the President has stated his preference for the rule of law, so this presents a good opportunity for him to put to practice, that which he preaches often. Let Ogbonna be released, immediately and unconditionally, as directed by the Court.

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jul 10, 2020
1.22k
0
Comments Off on COVID-19: LAGOS CJ, FALANA, ODINKALU, ADEGBORUWA, OJUKWU, OTHERS TO X-RAY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

COVID-19: LAGOS CJ, FALANA, ODINKALU, ADEGBORUWA, OJUKWU, OTHERS TO X-RAY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Leading human rights activists will on Monday dissect the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on Nigeria’s human rights landscape.

Organized by the Human Rights Committee of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, the virtual conference will especially spotlight human rights violations in the wake of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic while framing the roadmap for human rights protection in the COVID-19 era. The theme of the conference is “COVID-19, Access to Justice and Human Rights Violations.” Time is 3 pm.

Among the lawyers and jurists who have confirmed their participation as speakers are the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba; Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN; Mr. Femi Falana SAN who will deliver a Keynote Address; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu who will speak on “COVID-19, Access to Justice and Human Rights Violations: The Role of Nigerian Bar Association,” and the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu, who will speak on “COVID-19 and Human Rights Violations: Insights from the Field.”

Other confirmed speakers are Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN who will x-ray the topic, “How Fair is Virtual Hearing in the COVID-19 era?” and Dr. Uju Agomoh, Executive Director, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) who will tackle the topic, “Coronavirus, Correctional Centres and Rights of Awaiting Trial Inmates.” Renowned legal aid defence expert, Mr. Chino Obiagwu SAN will discuss “Coronavirus and Challenge of Legal Defence” while Mr. Muhammad Belgore SAN will contend with “Litigating Human Rights Cases in the COVID-19 Era.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu is expected to offer useful insights on the task of policing in the COVID-19 era as he discusses “Policing in the COVID -19 Era: Challenges and Prospects.”

The Host for the much anticipated virtual conference is NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr. Yemi Akangbe while the Moderator is the Branch Vice Chairman & Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Okey Ilofulunwa.

Facilitated by Messrs Olumide Babalola and Emeka Nwadioke, participants are expected to register for the virtual conference at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3RikvKB9SzGF-7fWpfdcYg or www.shorturl.at/fgo46.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 30, 2020
1.15k
0
Comments Off on CABLE TV PROFITEERING MUST CEASE NOW – ADEGBORUWA

CABLE TV PROFITEERING MUST CEASE NOW – ADEGBORUWA

By Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

In this article, leading human rights activist, By Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN argues that cable television service providers must change their billing system to a more humane model, urging the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to wake up to its regulatory duties.

It was like a movie, watching the proceedings of the Ad Hoc Committee set up by the House of Representatives, to probe the hike of subscription rates by cable television service providers. The Chairman of the said Committee, Hon Unyime Idem, took me back to my Aluta days at Obafemi Awolowo University (Great Ife), roaring like a lion and reeling out the will of the people of Nigeria with such vehemence, on these shylock entities called cable television companies. The Committee had summoned the lameduck Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, which has for years unleashed a monopoly upon Nigerians, to milk us dry, without effective statutory regulation. NBC was asked to explain why DSTV and other cable service providers have blatantly and arrogantly refused to introduce pay as you view to their customers. For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, let me restate the status quo of this broadcasting brouhaha.

The cable television service providers force their customers into a monthly regime of subscription, irrespective of the conditions of viewing, the quality of the service or even its availability. So, you pay for DSTV in your house for a whole month or a whole year, you pay for DSTV in your office, you pay for DSTV in your village, you pay for DSTV in your guest house in Abuja or anywhere else you have some presence. The cable television company keeps collecting money for dormant viewing or no viewing and keeps smiling to the bank everyday, upon the sweat and suffering of its customers. Not being God with the capacity to be omnipresent, a human being can only be at a single location at a given time. Whilst your television in the office is off at night or anytime you are not there, you keep paying for viewing nothing; when you travel outside Nigeria or you are away from your house or your office, you keep servicing the empty apartment through monthly or yearly payment. When you happen to pop in and you are ready to watch the television just may be once in a month, it would suddenly go off, due to bad weather, poor connection, thunderstorm or common rainfall, but you have paid to the company and you must keep paying. Thus, the situation with many Nigerians is that we are forced to subsidize the greed of the cable television service providers, which profit from services not rendered and they are not willing to change, taking this as some kind of windfall.

“All people of good conscience must commend the House of Representatives for this bold initiative, while we urge the Senate to join the crusade to free us from this commercial exploitation. How many more years does DSTV require to recoup capital since these many decades of extortion? This must not be another flash in the pan, or the usual noise-making gathering, that will be swept under the dirty Nigerian carpet.”

The National Broadcasting Commission Act is very clear, in terms of the powers vested upon the NBC to regulate the broadcasting industry in Nigeria, especially in section 2 thereof. The NBC is empowered to regulate and control the broadcasting industry, to investigate complaints regarding the contents of a broadcast and the conduct of broadcasting stations and upholding the principles of equity and fairness in broadcasting, etc. As you would well agree with me, the NBC has so far turned a blind eye to the exploitative tendencies of the cable television service providers, with scant regard for the onerous responsibility imposed upon it by law to ensure “strict adherence to the national laws, rules and regulations relating to the participation of foreign capital in relation to local capital in broadcasting”.Nigerians have before now protested, they have filed cases in court and they have written several complaints to the National Assembly, all to no avail, as the service providers have insisted on maximum profit, without regard for the satisfaction or plight of their customers. And the questions keep popping up all the time: why is there only one company in a country of about two hundred million people, providing cable television service? Why DSTV only? Why has NBC become so weak and dysfunctional to become totally incapable of protecting the people that it was set up to serve? When will the exploitation end? Why is it impossible to hold DSTV accountable to the same pay per view policy that the same company is implementing in its home country and indeed other African countries? So many questions indeed.

If your subscription to cable television expires, you are disconnected instantly and automatically, but when you renew it, you have to call customer service to get reconnected, going through all manner of manipulative regimes that may cause you days of inactive service despite payment which is already running. What has NBC done, to advocate for extension of viewing time to correspond to the period of inactive service after payment? How do you allow a company floated by private individuals for their own personal profit, to ride roughshod over a whole nation, rendering all of us helpless and exploited? During the initial life of GSM service providers in Nigeria, we heard all manner of stories and arguments why it was impossible to provide calls per second, until another network came on board and revolutionized GSM in Nigeria, thus freeing us from the commercial bondage. It is the same story with DSTV and other cable television service providers. Attempts have been made in the past to compete with DSTV and break its monopoly, through HITV and lately TSTV, all of which did not materialize. Why? Only NBC can answer that question successfully.

This was the scenario until June 25, 2020, when the House of Representatives through its Ad Hoc Committee gave a marching order to DSTV and other cable television service providers to begin the implementation of the pay per view policy immediately.There had been a debate on the floor of the House earlier, when Honourable Idem and other members took up this challenge. Let us go through the newsreport of the proceedings of the House:

“DSTV and other Direct-to-home service providers have deliberately refused to implement the pay as you go plan but rather charge users on a fixed monthly tariff plan, unlike what is obtained outside Nigeria.”

He also explained that Nigeria constitutes over 40% of the total subscribers of DSTV, adding that Nigerians do not get to use the monthly subscription due to one reason or another. Also speaking in support of the motion, Aminu Suleiman called for an end to the monopoly enjoyed by DSTV.

“I have attempted for over a year now to sponsor a motion on the inhuman treatment the DSTV is dishing out to TV watchers in Nigeria. I say that because it is not only in Kenya that DSTV is operating the Pay-As-You view. It is just an abuse and playing with the intelligence of Nigerians. And the monopoly they enjoy contributes to this fact. We will have to encourage NCC to unbundle the entire process and allow investors to come in. They are South African companies, and they don’t do this general viewing to the South African viewers.”

This was the background, when the cable television companies met with the Ad Hoc Committee of the House on June 25, 2020. The Committee did not mince words at all, as it thundered and roared, very loud and clear. The Committee Chairman, Honourable Idem, stated in no uncertain terms that there will be no way for the companies to maneuver the system this time around, as a decision had been taken already, to ensure pay per view. It is for the companies to go back and fine tune the process of implementation, he said. I was moved to tears watching the proceedings of the Committee. I mean this is why we elected them in the first place, or else why should we all become so helpless to continue to tolerate the insensitivity of just one company, for these many years? When there is a power outage and your television and cable network are not powered, you are still paying for viewing nothing! Come on DSTV, this profiteering must come to an end! It is sheer wickedness and economic witchcraft, to continue to insist on the regime of monthly subscription; indeed it is ungodly, especially when this is not the practice in the home country of your company, South Africa. How do we allow a foreign investor, in the name of recouping capital, to invade our land with a shylock policy that it would dare not implement in its own country? How do people take us for granted in this way, if not for the active collusion of our citizens who have been entrusted with power to regulate but have surrendered themselves to be regulated instead?

All people of good conscience must commend the House of Representatives for this bold initiative, while we urge the Senate to join the crusade to free us from this commercial exploitation. How many more years does DSTV require to recoup capital since these many decades of extortion? This must not be another flash in the pan, or the usual noise-making gathering, that will be swept under the dirty Nigerian carpet. No, we must follow up with this to ensure it is implemented to the letter. The NBC must wake up and assert its authority on behalf of the people of Nigeria, to implement the pay per view policy, by all means necessary. Our representatives in the National Assembly have spoken our minds and there is no further assurance than the words spoken at the proceedings of the Ad Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives. Enough is enough. Do I hear your loud voice in support, roaring like thunder!

Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 12, 2020
1.06k
0
Comments Off on DEMOCRACY DAY: ‘ELECTORAL BANDITRY FUELS INSECURITY, POVERTY’ – OJUKWU

DEMOCRACY DAY: ‘ELECTORAL BANDITRY FUELS INSECURITY, POVERTY’ – OJUKWU

Leading lawyer and former Deputy Director of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN has take a hard look at Nigeria’s democractic journey, warning that “We can only celebrate the 2020 democracy day as democracy aspirations, dreams and hopes for Nigeria.”

In a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER to mark this year’s Democracy Day, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential candidate observed that “electoral banditry has provided the impetus for seriously failed governance on human rights, damaged judiciary, poverty and insecurity,” adding that “What plays out especially at our State and local government levels are massive corruption and executive lawlessness.”

The full text of the statement is below:

We have not done well as a nation with regards to elections and rule of law. Our leaders and politicians have paid lip service to the tenets of democratic principles. There has not been any general elections that has not been hijacked by individuals and groups backed by governments through massive rigging, thuggery and brigandage. The same scenario plays out at party primaries. That culture of stealing and rigging elections has also permeated our other segments of society such as the Nigerian Bar Association at both the National and branch elections.

Many organisations and professional groups have also been enmeshed in rigging election as a way of life in Nigeria including elections of students unions. The Nation has not bled so much as it has in terms of failed democracy as we have witnessed especially since 2004 when we made the first effort to conduct a civilian to civilian transition elections. Our electoral umpire has largely colluded with our bandit political leaders and party men to foist on Nigeria a culture of dishonesty and fraud in the electoral process. We can hardly say that the leaders that emerge through these fraudulent elections were chosen by the people. And that is why they have hardly represented our interests. And because the electoral system and processes were stolen as a matter of course, it has been impossible to use democratic platforms provided in the constitution to check the excesses of mis-governance including recall of elected representatives at all levels.

This singular act of electoral banditry has provided the impetus for seriously failed governance on human rights, damaged judiciary, poverty and insecurity. What plays out especially at our State and local government levels are massive corruption and executive lawlessness. It is a shame that governance has not worked well in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule in 1999. We can only celebrate the 2020 democracy day as democracy aspirations, dreams and hopes for Nigeria.

Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Copyright 2018 CITY LAWYER. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Jun 09, 2020
1.2k
1
0

JUNE 12: ADEGBORUWA, FAGBOHUNLU, BALLASON HONOUR ODINKALU WITH HUMAN RIGHTS PARLEY

Leading human rights activists will on Friday hold a webinar in honour of foremost civil rights advocate and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu. The webinar is in commemoration of Odinkalu’s birthday anniversary.
Among those who are billed to speak at the webinar are fiery human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN); leading woman activist, Gloria Ballason; outspoken human rights campaigner, Mr. Inibehe Effiong; former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Young Lawyers’ Forum, Mr. Issa Adedokun and Cynthia Mbamalu of the ‘Not too young to run’ fame.

With Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Partner and Head of the Litigation, Arbitration and ADR Practice Group at Aluko & Oyebode as Chairman, the webinar has “The Future of Human Rights In Nigeria” as its theme.

With Mr. Orji Ama Chinedu as the arrow-head, Odinkalu said of the conveners: “A bunch of young people whom I have mentored are setting this up as annual event on 12 June. They had wanted to start in 2018 but I told them my mum was in terminal condition. Last year, I told them I was still in mourning. It begins next (this) week. Please feel free to join if you can.”

The webinar is scheduled to hold on Friday, June 12, 2020 at 11:00 am. Prospective participants can register at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuf-ypqDIjHtXjmd6dk-__2B3FSxxrhf5A. After registration, a confirmation email would be sent notifying the registrant on hot to join the conference.

Odinkalu is a Senior Team Manager at Open Society Foundations, a global charity that works with local communities to support justice and human rights, freedom of expression, and access to public health and education.

He received his PhD in law from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to joining Open Society Foundations, Odinkalu was Senior Legal Officer responsible for Africa and Middle East at the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights in London; Human Rights Advisor to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone, and Brandeis International Fellow at the Centre for Ethics, Justice and Public Life of the Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.

Odinkalu has extensive networks across Africa built up over several years of working for human rights and social justice on the continent. He is associated with several non-governmental and academic institutions within and outside Africa. He is frequently called upon to advise multilateral and bilateral institutions on Africa-related policy, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the World Economic Forum.
As well as acting as the Chair of IRRI’s Board, Odinkalu also serves on the Board of the Fund for Global Human Rights. In 2017 he was appointed Steering Committee Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section of Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) by the NBA President, leading to the resuscitation of the comatose entity.

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Dec 07, 2018
1.68k
0
0

NBA LAGOS SET TO MARK HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch has lined up several programmes to celebrate this year’s International Human Rights Day. Continue Reading

EMEKA NWADIOKE
Aug 27, 2018
1.73k
0
0

AGC: Human Rights Book Takes Centre-stage

A seminal human rights book written by celebrated human rights activist, Chief Frank Agbedo will be the cynosure of all eyes at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Annual General Conference due to its rich content.

Titled ‘Human Rights Litigation in Nigeria,’ the incisive treatise on human rights litigation is based on the provisions of the 2009 FREP Rules, with current case law.

It is available for sale at major book stands at the conference venue from 26th to 31st August, 2018.

Get your copies at special conference prices. Contact Wunmi on 08138544435 or 08029145314 for more information.

Send your Press Statement, Events, News Tips, Opinions or Informed Commentary to citylawyermag@gmail.com
Follow us on facebook at City-Lawyer-Magazine

Copyright 2018 CITY LAWYER. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

NewsPress

NewsPress

NBA LAGOS REPLIES AKINLADE, SAYS DINNER FUNDS WELFARE SCHEMES

AGOMOH, TOP RIGHTS ADVOCATE, BAGS UN C’TE MEMBERSHIP

LAWYER SEEKS COURT ORDER TO CARRY AK-47

OZEKHOME: THE ‘COMMANDER’ AS FIERY RIGHTS ADVOCATE

OBIDATTI23 RALLY: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ENDSARS BOSS, POLICE DISAGREE

‘MY AGENDA TO RAISE THE BAR,’ BY LIMAN SALIHU

ACTIVIST-LAWYER CAUSES STIR AT SUPREME COURT WITH ‘CROSS DRESSING’

‘I WILL ASSIST NBA PRESIDENT TO FOSTER RULE OF LAW,’ VOWS LIMAN SALIHU

HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER, BABATUNDE JINADU EXTOLS CLEMENT CHUKWUEMEKA

GADZAMA URGES POLICE TO RESPECT LAWYERS’ RIGHTS

FUNMI ADEOGUN BATTLES POLICE ZONAL COMMAND OVER BATTERED LAWYER

ASF FRANCE, PARTNERS HOST POLICE/CSO SITUATION ROOM

ASF FRANCE TRAINS SECURITY AGENCIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

‘ACJA IMPLEMENTATION GAPS HAMPER SAFEGUARDS,’ SAYS UN TORTURE C’TE

UN RUES NIGERIA’S FAILURE TO SUBMIT TORTURE REPORTS

ENDSARS: ASF FRANCE HOLDS PARLEY ON POLICE REFORMS

TORTURE: UN COMMITTEE URGES TRAINING FOR NIGERIA’S JUDGES, LAWYERS

COURT RESERVES JUDGMENT, AS GADZAMA ARGUES NBA’S CASE AGAINST POLICE

ODINKALU APPOINTED PROFESSOR BY TOP US VARSITY

TWITTER BAN, CENSORSHIP AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (1)

LAWYERS WITHOUT BORDERS LAUNCH POLICE SITUATION ROOM

PRAWA, GENEVA CENTRE TO TRAIN JOURNALISTS, CSOs ON VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES TODAY

NIN: UBANI SUES FG, ASKS COURT TO HALT DEADLINE

APPEAL COURT JURIST, FALANA, AKPATA, NGIGE, OTHERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK LAUNCH

COVID-19: LAGOS CJ, FALANA, ODINKALU, ADEGBORUWA, OJUKWU, OTHERS TO X-RAY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

CABLE TV PROFITEERING MUST CEASE NOW – ADEGBORUWA

DEMOCRACY DAY: ‘ELECTORAL BANDITRY FUELS INSECURITY, POVERTY’ – OJUKWU

JUNE 12: ADEGBORUWA, FAGBOHUNLU, BALLASON HONOUR ODINKALU WITH HUMAN RIGHTS PARLEY

NBA LAGOS SET TO MARK HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

AGC: Human Rights Book Takes Centre-stage