GADZAMA VISITS LAGOS AG, VOWS BAR ACTIVISM

FEATURED

GADZAMA, SAN PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO AG OF LAGOS, PLEDGES LOYALTY TO NBA CONSTITUTION, RULE OF LAW AND YEARNINGS OF MEMBERS.

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Alausa Secretariat.

The visit of the foremost Senior Advocate to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice is one of his consultations and familiarizations tour to all stakeholders as NBA prepares for her general elections next month. Whilst making his remark, Chief Gadzama, SAN reiterated the need for the Bar to be alive to its duties as enshrined in the NBA Constitution, observe the tenets of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and see to the welfare of all members of the Bar. He stated that the Bar needs a leader who understands the challenges of the Bar and has the capacity, experience and will to tackle them headlong.

Whilst restating his vision to lift the Bar to a higher standard, Chief Gadzama, SAN said the visit is necessary for him to present himself as a candidate for the post of the NBA President and it is important to formally inform the Honourable Attorney General and the entire management of the Ministry of Justice. In his words, “I have the requisite experience to lead the Bar having served the NBA in various capacities; a pioneer Council Member of NBA Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) under the chairmanship of Mr. George Etomi, a pioneer vice-chairman of NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) under the chairmanship of Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN and a Pioneer Chairman of NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) now being ably led by Dr. Monday O. Ubani, a former Chairman of NBA Abuja (Unity) Branch and due to my passion for mentorship and professional training for young lawyers, I was appointed as the Chairman, Mentorship Committee of the Body of Benchers for Young Lawyers due to the annual mentorship programme I organize for young lawyers. I have a moot Courtroom in my head office in Abuja purposely built to expose Law School Externs and University undergraduates to Courtroom advocacy. I am a bridge builder between the older lawyers and young colleagues, I am physically fit, mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared for the task of leading the Bar.”

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, the Honourable Attorney General commended Chief Gadzama, SAN for all his contributions to the Bar and development of law in Nigeria, he assured him that it is customary for the Ministry to welcome all candidates vying for one position or the other in the NBA and the doors of the Ministry is open to Chief Gadzama, SAN. Present at the meeting include some top management members of staff including Mr. S. A Quadri, Mrs. Abiola Olayinka, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, Mrs. Folasade Tugbiyele, Kehinde Taiwo, Bose Fasinde and other State Counsel.

Chief Gadzama appreciated the AG for the audience and warm reception and promised, as the time permits, to reschedule his visit to address all lawyers in the Ministry. Members of Chief Gadzama’s entourage include Mr. Kunle Ogunba, SAN, Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala, Otunba Martins Ogunleye, (former Chairman of Lagos Branch) Mrs. Chioma Ferguson (former Chairman of Surulere Lawyers Forum), Mr. Moshood Abiola (immediate past secretary of NBA, Lagos Branch) and Mr. Oluniyi Adediji, Junior Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP.

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.

MAGODO EJECTION: LAGOS STATE VOWS TO PROSECUTE OFFENDERS

The Lagos State Government has vowed to prosecute anyone found culpable in the purported execution of the Supreme Court judgement in the case of Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. Vs. Adebayo Adeyiga & Ors in Appeal No: SC/112/2002.

In a statement by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onignajo SAN, the government recalled that the social media was awash on 21st December, 2021 with reports that the Shangisha Landlords Association “with stern-looking Policemen took over Magodo Area of Lagos State in purported execution of a Supreme Court judgment.”

Continuing, the government said it “is therefore dismayed by the action of Chief Adebayo Adeyiga (one of the Judgment Creditors) who misled the Nigeria Police in attempting execution of the Judgment notwithstanding the pending Appeal against the issuance of warrant of possession by the then Chief Judge of Lagos State on 16th March 2017.”

It added that “The State Government enjoins the general public to remain calm especially Residents of Magodo Residential Area, while investigation into the unwarranted incident is being carried out with a view to prosecuting any person found culpable. The Lagos State Government has the high regard for the rule of law and will protect the interests of all parties.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

ILLEGAL ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT BY SHANGISHA LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION INRE SC/112/2002 BETWEEN MILITARY GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ORS. V. CHIEF ADEBAYO ADEYIGA & ORS.

i. On the 21st of December, 2021, it was reported through social media platforms that the Shangisha Landlords Association with stern-looking Policemen took over Magodo Area of Lagos State in purported execution of a Supreme Court judgment.

ii. It is a known fact that judgment was delivered in 2012 by the Supreme Court in Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. Vs. Adebayo Adeyiga & Ors in Appeal No: SC/112/2002 wherein the Apex court affirmed the judgment of Court of Appeal and High Court delivered on the 31st December, 1993 in Suit No: ID/795/88 wherein the Court held as follows:

“I hereby enter judgment for the plaintiffs against the defendants as follows –

A declaration that members of the Shangisha Landlords Association whose lands and or buildings at Shangisha village were demolished by the Lagos State Government and/or its servants or agents during the period of June 1984 to May 1985 are entitled to the first choice preferential treatment by the Lagos State Government before any other person(s) in the allocation or re-allocation of plots in Shangisha village and I make the order against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants (particularly the Lagos State Government and Land Use and Allocation committee) as agreed in the meeting held on 16th October 1984 with the Ministry of Lands and Housing and Development Matters, Lagos State.

2. An order of Mandatory Injunction is hereby made that the said defendants shall forthwith allocate 549 (five hundred and forty-nine) plots to the plaintiffs in the said Shangisha village scheme in the Shangisha village aforesaid.”
iii. It is obvious from the declaratory judgment of the Supreme Court that the judgment only recognized the Judgment Creditors as being entitled to first choice preferential treatment in the “allocation and or re-allocation of plots in Shangisha Village”. The judgment only relates to allocation of 549 plots of land and not possession of any land.

iiii. Several attempts by the State Government to resolve the matter amicably have been on even before the judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered. It is therefore not surprising that the Supreme Court held on page 27 of the judgment thus;

“…… This Court appreciates the magnanimity of the Lagos State Government in the proposals to effect an amicable settlement of this matter. The ball is now in the court of the counsel to the respondents who has a statutory duty to advise them properly to give the government their maximum co-operation in the execution of this judgment.”

v. The State Government engaged the Judgment Creditors between 2012 – 2015 and made proposal to re-allocate land to the Judgment Creditors at Magotho Residential Scheme within Badagry Area which was rejected by Chief Adebayo Adeyiga but majority of the Judgment Creditors led by Yemi Ogunshola, Jelili Yaya and Adeleke Adefala accepted the offer. Due to division within the Judgment Creditors, another round of settlement was initiated in 2016 which culminated in the proposal to re-allocate the Judgment Creditors to Ibeju Lekki Coastal Scheme situate at Ibeju/Lekki which was also rejected by Chief Adebayo Adeyiga.

vi. Subsequent to the rejection, the State Government has been in dialogue with majority of the Judgment Creditors from 2019 with a view to reach a concession towards implementing the Judgment.

vii. Noteworthy also is the pending application for interlocutory injunction dated 1st December 2020 before the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/L/1005A/2018 seeking an order restraining Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and others (including their agents, servants privies or howsoever called, particularly the Police) from entering into, giving direction, taking possession or in any manner disturbing the quiet enjoyment of property owners in Magodo Residential Area Scheme.
viii. The Lagos State Government has equally observed that the execution was carried out by unknown Bailiffs as the Sherriff of the High Court of Lagos where the Judgment emanated were not responsible for the purported execution carried out on the 21st December 2021 at Magodo. The purported execution is therefore contrary to Order 8 Rule 17 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 and Section 37 of the Enforcement of Judgment and Orders Part iii of the Sherriff and Civil Process Act, LFN, 2004.

ix. The Judgment before the Supreme Court was not in respect of declaration of title and the Supreme Court did not in any way grant title to land to the Judgment Creditors. The Judgment Creditors had no claim for possession and none was granted as no survey plan was tendered before the Court. The judgment is not affixed to any land anywhere and only declared that the Judgment Creditors are entitled to allocation of land from the State Government.

x. The State Government is therefore dismayed by the action of Chief Adebayo Adeyiga (one of the Judgment Creditors) who misled the Nigeria Police in attempting execution of the Judgment notwithstanding the pending Appeal against the issuance of warrant of possession by the then Chief Judge of Lagos State on 16th March 2017.

xi. The State Government enjoins the general public to remain calm especially Residents of Magodo Residential Area, while investigation into the unwarranted incident is being carried out with a view to prosecuting any person found culpable. The Lagos State Government has the high regard for the rule of law and will protect the interests of all parties.

Signed

Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ministry of Justice, Lagos State

23rd December 2021

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.

SANWO-OLU SIGNS NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW

The Lagos State Government has amended its Administration of Criminal Justice Law in a bid to promote justice delivery.

Signed into law by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the new law aims to foster the fundamental rights of suspects and constitutional provisions.

According to a statement by Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, “The provisions include conducting criminal proceedings through audio and video conferencing platform, powers of Chief Magistrate to visit Police Stations, prohibition of media parade of suspects, compensation to victims of crime, protective measures for victims and witnesses as well as the Establishment of a Crime Data Register and the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee to monitor the implementation of this Law.”

The full text of the statement reads:

GOVERNOR BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU SIGNS ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (AMENDMENT) LAW OF LAGOS STATE,2021

Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on the 30th of September 2021 assented to the Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law [ACJL] of Lagos State, 2021. The ACJL was first passed in Lagos State in 2007 and amended in 2011 (more than ten (10) years ago) to ensure the Fundamental Rights of suspects and persons that come into contact with the justice system, as enshrined in the Constitution are protected.

In a bid to further strengthen the justice system, promote the rights of victims and suspects as well as address the issue of delay in the Administration of Criminal Justice in Lagos State, key innovative provisions have been introduced as amendments to the Law.

The provisions include conducting criminal proceedings through audio and video conferencing platform, powers of Chief Magistrate to visit Police Stations, prohibition of media parade of suspects, compensation to victims of crime, protective measures for victims and witnesses as well as the Establishment of a Crime Data Register and the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee to monitor the implementation of this Law.

This further reinforces the commitment of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the promotion of Law & Order, Protection of rights of Citizens, decongestion of our Correctional Facilities and ensure a crime-free society in Lagos State.

The Ministry of Justice through collaborative effort with Stakeholders in the Administration of Criminal Justice will ensure the provisions of this law are enforced.

Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
5th October 2021

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.