CJN, AKPATA AGREE ON JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM C’TE

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata have agreed to set up a five-member committee “to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Justice Sector recommendation.” This was a fallout of the courtesy visit to Justice Muhammad by an NBA delegation led by Akpata.

During the visit, the NBA President also assured that the Bar would continue to defend the Bench in the task of delivering justice without fear or favour.

Below is a press statement on the visit made available to CITY LAWYER.

NBA LEADERSHIP PAYS COURTESY VISIT ON THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA: REVIEWS THE OUTCOME OF THE JUSTICE SECTOR SUMMIT, SECURES COMMITMENT OF THE JUDICIARY IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND PLEDGES TO KEEP SPEAKING UP FOR THE BENCH.

Dear Colleagues,

In continuation of the efforts of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) to engender a more cordial relationship between the Bar and the Bench, the President of the NBA – Mr. Olumide Akpata, on Thursday 24th March 2022 led some members of the National Executive and senior members of the Bar, on a courtesy visit to the Chief Justice of the Federation.

During the visit, a review of the outcome of the 2022 Justice Sector summit was done, regarding the appointment/selection and discipline of Judges, independence and financial autonomy of our Courts in dispensing justice without fear, favour, affection or ill-will, and the efficiency and efficacy of the system to ensure that our courts perform optimally, with considerable speed and accuracy.

Thereafter, The Chief Justice of Nigeria – Hon. Justice Dr. Ibrahim Tanko pointed out that most of the recommendations stemming from the Justice Sector Summit are already part of the National Judicial Council (NJC) Policy of 2016, which unfortunately are not yet being implemented.

Consequently, it was agreed that a Five member committee of the Bar and Bench will be set in motion to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Justice Sector recommendation.

Furthermore, the NBA President  on behalf of the delegation, pledged to continue speaking up for the Bench since the code guiding members of the Bench bars them from responding to attacks meted on its members.

The CJN thanked the NBA President for the thoughtful visit and reminded the delegation that the Bar and Bench are different sides to a coin which must work in symphony. He further pledged by way of conclusion, that more steps will be taken to ensure a more efficient dispensation of justice, and implementation of the decisions reached at the Justice Sector Summit.

Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association

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TAIDI CONDOLES NBA OVER TRAIN ATTACK, ASKS FG TO ACT

The immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi has condoled the NBA leadership on the death of some lawyers in the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.

Extending his condolence message to the Chairman and members of NBA Kaduna Branch in particular over the loss of three of its members, Taidi said: “My deepest sympathy is with all the families who lost their loved ones on board the train as I join my voice to those who demand that the government immediately accounts for those whose whereabouts are still unknown.”

He urged the Federal Government to act fast to arrest the spate of attacks across the country, adding: “I hereby call on the Federal Government to stop the foot dragging, the feckless reassurances, and the crocodile tears, and actually make drastic changes to the current methodology of crime fighting. It is obvious that whatever it has done till now has not worked and had instead emboldened the bandits to perpetuate even worse atrocities.”

Below is the full text of the statement made available to CITY LAWYER.

TIME TO OVERHAUL NIGERIA’S SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

INCESSANT INSECURITY: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACT NOW TO END THESE SENSELESS KILLINGS

The recent twin-attack on the popular Abuja – Kaduna rail line which killed a score of passengers, and left many more wounded or unaccounted for is proof that the Federal Government of Nigeria is sleeping on duty. The second attack actually came within 24 hours of the first and both came only a year after a similar attack was launched on the railway last year shortly after the route became popular as a result of the incessant kidnappings and killings along the Abuja- Kaduna road which made the rail a safer alternative.

Now the bandits have taken away that alternative and we are forced to live like people under permanent siege.

It is impossible to excuse the kind of incompetence that is at work here. At every election we see a massive deployment of security personnel, in their tens of thousands, outside their places of primary assignment, drafted to police the polls, so the question is: why are we not seeing the same kind of commitment now when there is a clear and present danger to the lives of our people traveling this route?

It seems that as far as the government is concerned, winning elections takes precedence over the sacred duty of protecting the lives and property of the people, which is universally acknowledged as the first function of government.

For how long shall we continue to mourn and grieve the loss of our loved ones, colleagues and compatriots while also living in fear for our lives because we know that no one is safe anymore in this country?

I hereby call on the Federal Government to stop the foot dragging, the feckless reassurances, and the crocodile tears, and actually make drastic changes to the current methodology of crime fighting. It is obvious that whatever it has done till now has not worked and had instead emboldened the bandits to perpetuate even worse atrocities.

May I use this medium to commiserate with the president and members of the Nigerian Bar Association in general and the Chairman and Members of NBA Kaduna Branch in particular over the loss of three of its members. My deepest sympathy is with all the families who lost their loved ones on board the train as I join my voice to those who demand that the government immediately accounts for those whose whereabouts are still unknown.

This Government Must Act Now!

Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Esq.
NBA General Secretary (2018 -2020)

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GADZAMA LAUDS NBA WOMEN FORUM, UYO, YENAGOA BRANCHES

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Relations Committee, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN has felicitated with the NBA Women Forum on its 2nd Annual Conference.

Similar felicitations were delivered to the forum by the J-K Gadzama LLP Women’s Group and Young Lawyers Group of J-K Gadzama LLP.

The leading arbitrator has also hailed NBA Uyo and Yenagoa branches on their Annual Law Week programmes.

Below are the Goodwill Messages.

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‘THE FUTURE OF LAWYERS AND LEGAL EDUCATION,’ BY EMEKA NGIGE

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently organised a “Legal Education Summit” in collaboration with the Afe Babalola University. In a Goodwill Message to the Summit, Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), CHIEF EMEKA NGIGE SAN embarks on a tour de force on efforts to rejig legal education in Nigeria and warns that scrapping the entire edifice in pointing to the future is not an option

A Goodwill Message By Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, Chairman, Council of Legal Education to Legal Education Summit 2022, Organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. 29 -30 March 2022

Theme: Re-Imagining Legal Education In Nigeria

✓ The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
✓ State Governors Here Present particularly Governor of Ekiti State;
✓ The Hon Chief Justice of Nigeria;
✓ Hon Chief Judges of States in Nigeria Here present;
✓ Hon Justices and Judges of Superior Courts in Nigeria;
✓ The Hon Attorney-General & Minister of Justice;
✓ Hon Attorneys-General of States Here Present;
✓ The President, NBA;
✓ Hon Benchers Present;
✓ Senior Advocates of Nigeria Present;
✓ The Chairman, Legal Education Summit 2022;
✓ Distinguished members of the Council of legal Education Here present;
✓ The Director-General, Nigeria Law School;
✓ Vice Chancellors of Federal, State and Private Universities in Nigeria;
✓ Resource Resource Persons, Panelists and Facilitators of this Summit;
✓ Members, Nigerian Bar Association Here Present;
✓ All Invited Guests:
✓ Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to have been invited to be a part of this Summit. I thank the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, for inviting me, and the Proprietor of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN, and the entire Management of Afe Babalola University, for collaborating with the NBA to deliver this great Summit, and for hosting the Summit.

I especially commend the leadership and membership of the Nigerian Bar Association for putting together a summit of this nature at such an auspicious time, aimed to assist in advancing legal education in Nigeria. As we all are aware, the NBA is a major stakeholder in the legal education project in Nigeria. First, and pursuant to the provisions of section 2(1) (e) and (f) of Legal Education (Consolidation) Act, Cap L10 LFN 2004, the NBA President and 15 other NBA representatives are members of Council of Legal Education. Second, by virtue of Article 3 of the NBA Constitution, 2015, among the major objectives of the Nigerian Bar Association are promotion and advancement of Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education, Advocacy and Jurisprudence, and Promotion of co-operation between the NBA and other National Institutions. Such national institutions include the Council of Legal Education/Nigerian Law School, Universities and institutions engaged in legal education of aspirants to the Nigerian Bar. Third, most, if not all, law students in Nigeria will end up as Legal Practitioners and as such members of the NBA and of the legal profession in Nigeria; all members of the Bar and the Bench were at one time or another law students. By virtue of section 4(1)(a) of the NBA Constitution, all persons called to the Nigerian Bar and duly enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as legal practitioners are members of the NBA. Accordingly, progress or otherwise in legal education directly impacts the legal profession. Whatever happens in the legal education sector should be of serious interest to the NBA because failure in the former would seriously hinder progress, effectiveness and continued relevance of the latter in the country.

Furthermore, under Rule 11 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners in Nigeria, the NBA has some roles to play in the requirement of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education in the profession. Continuing Legal Education is an offshoot of the legal training of aspirants to the bar. Moreover, the NBA President is next to the Attorney-General of the Federation in the leader ship hierarchy of the Nigerian Bar, which comprises former law students, all Law Teachers, heads of the Council of Legal education, the Nigerian law School, the various Law Faculties in Nigeria, the heads of other law legal education training institutions in Nigeria. Finally, the NBA President, in the absence of a substantive Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, acts as the Acting Chairman. There is therefore no doubt that the NBA being s critical stakeholder in the legal education project in Nigeria, has the locus to organise a summit of this nature.

Legal education which comprises in the education of individuals in the principles, practices, and theory of law, is dynamic and all-encompassing, cutting across several jurisdictions, concepts, processes and stages, the overall aim being that of serving society liberally by imparting general and cultural education to law students to make them good law-abiding citizens, as well as instilling in them the significance and relevance of constitutional democratic culture. According to Harvard Law School’s Committee of Legal Education, legal education lays emphasis on training men for the legal profession, and providing centers where scholars might contribute to an understanding of law and government and participate creatively in growth and improvement of law, ethics and governance. To this end, legal education in the 21st century must be one that effectively responds to the economical, technological, and societal shifts that happen at an ever-increasing pace. It must be an education that sets children up to succeed in a world where more than half of the jobs they will have over their careers do not even exist yet (Sara Hallerman, Colon Lewis, and Brad Dresbach). Finally, as recommended by the New Teaching Curriculum in the Nigerian Law School, 21st century legal education in Nigeria is also aimed at producing lawyers who would be in a position to measure up to contemporary benchmarks and international best practices in the legal profession.

I am aware of the efforts so far made by the Council of Legal Education, and the Management and Teachers of the Nigerian Law School, as well as by past and current NBA leaderships towards encouraging a strong partnership between the Bar and the Council of Legal Education/Nigerian Law School in the practical training of aspirants to the Nigerian Bar with a view to meeting the needs of the 21st century. I recognize that a lot of progress has been made in this respect. I salute Law Teachers in the Law School, in the various law faculties and other other institutions that offer legal education in Nigeria. In their individual and collective capacities, Law Teachers in Nigeria have contributed towards the academic, professional and personal development of lawyers and law practice in Nigeria. However, a lot still needs to be done. Legal education needs to continually and consistently develop in order to remain relevant to the needs of a dynamic society. There is need for continuous and concerted efforts by all stakeholders at strengthening existing partnerships and collaboration with a view to improving on the quality of legal education. There is also a need for reorientation in our profession and there is no better place for this to start, than from the foundation, which is our legal education. This is why I consider this summit timely and the theme apt: “Re-Imagining Legal Education In Nigeria”.

Further, with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and following the devastating and dislocating aftermaths of the pandemic, diverse opinions on the concept of legal education have emerged. The pandemic stretched its tentacles into diverse facets of life; the educational sector (including legal education) being among the worst-hard-hit; the pandemic exposed many weaknesses of existing systems, processes and procedures in legal education, especially in developing segments of the worlds, of which Nigeria is a part. As a form of response to the upshots of the pandemic, stakeholders in education began to explore new, alternative, and dynamic means of teaching and learning to avoid a repeat of the quagmire the restriction occasioned by Covid-19 had caused the world. The legal education sector, managers and stakeholders have no choice than to begin to explore new concepts, more dynamic, pragmatic and responsive teaching and learning methods and systems, In summary, reform, reinvention and re-imagining has become necessary to enable legal education in Nigeria key fully into what is now regarded all over the world as the “new normal”. In November 2021, the Federal Republic of Ghana held a summit of this nature under the them: “The Future of Legal Education in Ghana” and came up with a communique, which is expected to be followed up with necessary reforms to realise the objectives of the summit.

The above said, a very critical development in the legal education sector which this summit should pay serious and elaborate attention to is the recent development in respect of the Nigerian Law School. It should be noted that the Nigerian Law school currently has seven campuses. However, in an unprecedented move, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently passed a Bill to establish six additional Campuses of Nigerian Law School. The decision of the Senate completely brushed aside opposing/contrary advice and views by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, the Nigerian Bar Association and other major stakeholders in the legal education sector in Nigeria. The extant law, the Legal Education (Consolidation) Act, in its section 1(2) and section 3 respectively confers on the Council of Lgal Education the “responsibility for the legal education of persons seeking to become members of the legal profession” and for “Continuing Legal Education”. By the combined effect section 2(5) and section 4 of the Act, the Council may “do such things as it considers expedient for the purpose of performing its functions” subject to general directions by the Hon Attorney-General of the Federation. Thus, the dissenting advice and views of the Council, of the Hon AGF, of the NBA and of some other stakeholders were based mainly on the reasonable realisation that establishment of additional Campuses for the Nigerian Law School are better left in the hands of the Council in collaboration with the NLS as administrative matters to be guided by expediency and need, among other factors. The Council of Legal Education, the Management of the Nigerian Law School, among other stakeholders are better -placed to make/take decisions in this respect. There is an adage that “he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches”. Besides, most of the existing seven Campuses of the Law School are in dire need of urgent infrastructure upgrade which on its part requires greater funding from government and stakeholders. It is hoped that these should be principal among what occupies the attention of stakeholders, rather suggestions for establishment of too many additional Campuses (at the same time), some of which may end up being not viable, as a result of paucity of funds and dearth of basic infrastructure. Finally, the Council’s views were guided partly by its belief that increased funding for the Nigerian Law School would bring about the needed upgrade in the Campuses, to adequately serve the need of growing number of aspirants to the Bar seeking admission to the Law School. It is hoped also that this Summit should subject the recent Bill passed by the Senate, among other issues, to rigorous discussions in order to come up with recommendations that would best serve the best interest of legal education, the legal profession, and the Nigerian nation.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to recall that in an effort to improve legal education, especially the practical training of aspirants to the Bar, the Council of Legal Education under the Chairmanship of Hon Justice M.O Onalaja (of blessed memory), had in 2008 constituted a Legal Education Review Committee, headed by Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN. Other members of the Committee included Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN (as he then was); Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Prof Fidelis Oditah, SAN, QC; Mr. AB. Mahmoud, SAN; Mr. Ernest Ojukwu (then DDG and Head, NLS, Enugu Campus); Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko (then DDG and Head, NLS, Lagos Campus); Mr. Nasiru Usman (then DDG and Head, NLS, Kano Campus); Prof. I.O Smith (Faculty of Law, UNILAG); Dr. Isa H. Chiroma (then, Dean Law Faculty, UNIMAID) and Mrs. Roli Hariman (then lecturer, Nigerian Law School).

The Committee had called for memoranda from all stakeholders in the legal education project in Nigeria. The Committee considered all memoranda received as well as all presentations made at the Legal Education Summit 2006 which had held in Abuja on March 03, 2006 under the theme:“The Future of Legal Education in Nigeria”. Also considered were reports and recommendations of the “National Committee on the Reform of Legal Education in Nigeria”. The Committee paid a visit several institutions, including the College of Law and the BPP Law School both in London England and the findings aided the work of the Committee (see: Ernest Ojukwu, Legal Education In Nigeria: A Chronicle Of Reforms And Transformation Under Tahir Mamman).

The result of the Committee’s work was positive; the Committee made far-reaching recommendations on reform and improvement of legal education in Nigeria. I am aware that the Committee’s recommendations had led to, among others, the birth in 2008, of a “New Teaching Curriculum” for the Nigerian Law School, a curriculum, which I am told, has been reviewed more than five times, to keep it in tune with developments in law, the legal profession, the legal education sector in Nigeria and across the globe. Thus, tremendous efforts have been made in the past. It is time to build on past and current efforts in order to move legal education to the next level. This Summit present a great opportunity in this respect.

Moreover, the law setting up Council Legal Education needs to be reviewed to reflect current realities and needs of the profession and the sector. To this end, the NBA has presented before the Body of Benchers, a draft Bill on Legal Education in Nigeria in Nigeria, which Bill seeks, inter alia, to create a Council of Legal Education that will be separate from Nigerian Law School and other private Law Schools to be established. It is hoped that this development will be among the matters that will be subjected to thorough and dispassionate examination and debates at this Summit, with a view to proffering recommendations on what is the best-suited for the profession, the sector and the nation, without destroying past and present efforts and achievements, without lowering standards, and without dislocating the fabrics and core values of the profession/sector. It is therefore my hope that deliberations and recommendations of this Summit should proceed on the notion that proposed improvements or reform or re-imaging of legal education in Nigeria can only yield more effective results and quickly if those proposed improvements acknowledge and are founded on past and existing efforts and achievements. Existing structures and achievements will provide a solid foundation to future improvements. We may not have not got to where should be. But, no doubt, we have left where we used to be. However, without continual continual collaboration, sand improvement, such things as growth and progress, achievement, and success have no meaning. I recall the counsel by Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

In conclusion, let me assure this Summit and all participants that the Council of Legal Education will seriously consider any communique/recommendations emanating from this summit, to ensure that this effort is not in vain.

Thank you, and God bless you abundantly

Signed:
Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN,
Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Nigeria

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OSINBAJO, AKPATA, AFE BABALOLA SEEK LEGAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM OVERHAUL

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Nigerian Bar Association President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, have canvassed an overhaul of the curriculum for legal education to reflect contemporary reality.

The legal giants and senior advocates identified an obsolete curriculum as one of the biggest challenges confronting the development of legal education in Nigeria.

Osinbajo and Babalola spoke during the 2022 Legal Education Summit organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with ABUAD with the theme, ‘Reimagining legal education in Nigeria’ holding at ABUAD. While Babalola spoke in Ado Ekiti, the vice president addressed the gathering through virtual mode.

Osinbajo, who said the Nigerian law schools were producing lawyers who could not measure up to contemporary benchmarks and the global best practices in the legal profession, said that a well-articulated review of the obsolete curriculum would ensure the Nigerian Law graduates acquired qualitative legal education and compete favorably with their contemporaries.

He stressed the need for law graduates to be subjected to intense practical training rather than theoretical aspects with a view to exposing them to the mastery of intricacies of the legal profession.

In the keynote address, Babalola, who said the proliferation of law school campuses would not solve the problem of access to legal education, said, “It is common knowledge today that there is not a single one of all the existing law school campuses in the country that has modern equipment, libraries, internet facilities, E- libraries and modern ICT infrastructures.

“For me, what we need is a central law school. The law school, which should be a regulatory body will provide curricula for training for law graduates, supervise the university which will train graduates for the law school examination, set final examinations for students who would be called to the Bar.

“It would also accredit universities which have law colleges to train the graduate lawyers for 12 months after which they will take a common examination which would be moderated by the central law school.

“So, with these proposed arrangements, the law graduates will proceed to these reputable colleges/faculties of law with up-to-date facilities and faculty members of international repute for their post-LL.B training and only to write their ‘Call to the Bar Examinations’ without having to be a residential student in any law school as is currently the case.

“This way, the hydra-headed problems of the paucity of funding, derelict facilities and inadequate accommodations space would have been solved”, he said.

The NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, who corroborated Osinbajo and Babalola on the need to review the curriculum, said experience with fresh law graduates had shown that they lacked the requisite knowledge to fit into today’s law practice.

Akata, who said the curriculum being used in the universities and the Nigerian Law School had hardly changed over the years, said there was an urgent need to revise the present curriculum to meet the global developmental challenge.

“It is a truism that quality legal education is an essential element and ingredient to legal professionals who are competently representing clients and contribute to the establishment of the rule of law. But, our country’s legal standard has declined in all its measure.

“This is as a result of the general decline in Nigeria’s educational standard which has played role in undermining our ailing system of legal education and training of law graduates that can compete with their contemporaries,” a PUNCH newspaper report quoted Akpata as saying.

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OLANIPEKUN EMERGES 50TH CHAIR OF BODY OF BENCHERS

Leading litigator and senior lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN has emerged the new Chairman of the embattled Body of Benchers, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

Olanipekun assumed leadership of the august body following the completion of tour of duty by the immediate past chairman, retired Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

In an acceptance speech obtained by CITY LAWYER , Olanipekun said that “it will be an understatement to posit that I am humbled, honoured and ecstatic at the matchless and remarkable opportunity afforded me to lead and pilot the affairs of the Body of Benchers for the next one year, having been elected as the Vice-Chairman on 25th March, 2021.”

The fiery litigator noted that since November 27, 1971 when the body was inaugurated, “the transition to either the office of the Vice-Chairman or Chairman has always been smooth, seamless, straightforward, rancour-free and unwrinked,” adding that “Here, we do not mount the soap box or campaign for elections.”

Perhaps in a veiled reference to the controversy that has dogged the body over its alleged meddlesomeness in the affairs of one of its committees, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) leading to the resignation of its chairman and two other members, Olanipekun said: “Without being immodest, but for the sake of emphasis and record purposes, as well as the present exigencies, I have always given my all to the legal profession, whether as a practicing lawyer in court rooms across the length and breadth of the country; or as Secretary and later Chairman of a branch of the NBA; or as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the old Ondo State ….” He reeled out more positions held by him in the legal profession.

He pledged “to continue to give my all to the services of the Body of Benchers as Chairman for the next year and, in doing so, I will be calling upon you all for your cooperation, understanding, assistance, advice and counsel.”

Saying that the legal profession “is under aggression and attack, both from within and without,” Olanipekun stated that it behoves the members “to rejig, redefine and reorientate our profession in order to restore its cherished nobility and glory.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that leading oil and gas lawyer, Mr. Lucius Nwosu SAN had in a February 17, 2022 petition asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to restrain Olanipekun, himself a former NBA president, from bidding for the chairmanship of the Body of Benchers.

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BOMA ALABI, ANOTHER LPDC MEMBER RESIGNS

Another member of the troubled Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has resigned, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

In a resignation letter obtained by CITY LAWYER and dated March 29, 2022, Boma Ayomide Alabi SAN stated that she has resigned from the LPDC “effective immediately.”

Alabi said that she was “utterly dismayed” by the outcome of the November 22, 2021 meeting of the Body of Benchers where the body directed that the LPDC “suspends sitting” while a petition to the body was being “investigated.”

Saying that she awaited the outcome of the investigation initiated by the Body of Benchers, Alabi noted that a report was circulated at the last meeting of the body titled, “Report of the meeting of the Elders Committee held on the 25th of January 2022.”

Her words: “After some debate, the recommendations contained therein appear to have been adopted in totality, much to my consternation.”

She noted that the report recommended that “The matter before the LPDC should be terminated on the ground that no prima facie case has been made. If the complainant feels strongly about his claims, he should go to a formal court and pursue him (sic) claims.”

The former LPDC member stated that she “made enquiries with the LPDC Registry and confirmed that the Elders Committee did not request the case file in question from the Registry, neither did the Secretariat of this august Body.” Querying the mode of investigation done by the Body of Benchers, Alabi said: “It begs the question – does this mean that the Elders Committee, acting in an overtly appellate capacity in reviewing and rejecting the finding of a prima facie case by the LPDC, as set out in paragraph 5.3 of their report and quoted above, did so, without the benefit of a review of the casefile?”

Noting that the Elders Committee may have held that Section 12(7) of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) did not apply to the case it investigated, Alabi said: “I humbly and respectfully beg to dissent from the wisdom of the Elders on this occasion. Section 12(7) of the LPA provides, quite unambiguously, that appeals in respect of decisions of the LPDC can only be entertained by the Supreme Court.”

Alabi stated that the decision of the Body has compelled her to resign her position as LPDC member. The letter was addressed the “The Body of Benchers” and “Attention” to the chairman of the body, past chairmen, Life Benchers and Benchers.

It is recalled that CITY LAWYER had exclusively reported the resignation of Chief Ferdinand Orbih SAN as an LPDC member. This came on the heels of the resignation of the LPDC Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala SAN.

Other members of the committee are Daniel M. Tela (Secretary); Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem; Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, Esq., Eyitayo Jegede, SAN; Ebenezer Obeya, Esq.; Justice Marshal Umokoro, Chief Judge of Delta State; Justice Hussein Mukhtar, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna; Justice Rabi Umar, Chief Judge, Bauchi State; Uju Nwogu, Hon. Attorney General, Anambra State; Suleiman Usman, SAN, Hon. Attorney General, Sokoto State, and H. A. Turaki.

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EASTERN BAR FORUM CHIEFTAIN HAILS GADZAMA AT YLF PARLEY

Former Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) Governor, Mr. Soseipriye Long Williams has commended the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN on his role as Keynote Speaker at the just concluded Annual Summit of NBA Port Harcourt Branch Young Lawyers Forum (YLF).

Reviewing Gadzama’s speech at the summit, Williams said it was not only in tune with the times but had nuggets that especially young lawyers can deploy to foster their practice. Aligning with the speech, the former EBF helmsman said: “Chief J-K Gadzama has said it all.”

Speaking earlier on the theme, “The New Age: Governance, Technology and Law,” Gadzama admonished young lawyers to embrace the positive impact of science and technology in legal practice. He stated that although the legal industry is faced with challenges of transitioning from analogue to a digitized legal practice, “the future is bright for the Nigerian legal system due to the embrace of legal technology to solve a wide range of legal problems occasioned by globalization.”

The leading litigator challenged young lawyers, who he referred to as the future of the legal profession, to brace up to modern trends across the world as they venture into their legal careers. He hinted that the industry has vast opportunities both in the legal service market and the legal talent market, and urged young lawyers and law students to embrace science and technology in order not to be left behind.

The panel session was chaired by a renowned jurist, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the High Court of Rivers State while the panelists included Mr. George Etomi, a leading commercial lawyer; Hon. Justice E. N. Thompson of the High Court of Rivers State and Chairman, Rivers State Judiciary ICT Committee; Professor O. W. Igwe of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt; Mrs. Inemesit Dike, Founder, Legal X App and CEO Legal Concierge, and Hon. Justice Gbasam Okogbule.

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simon Chibuzor Amadi delivered the opening remarks. He was represented by Hon. Justice E. Teetitho of the High Court of Rivers State.

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MAIKYAU, TAIDI’S FATE SEALED, AS ECNBA ISSUES ELECTION GUIDELINES

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has issued guidelines for conduct of the 2022 NBA National Election as well as election into the General Council of the Bar.

According to the Guidelines obtained by CITY LAWYER and dated March 24, 2022 there are strong indications that the committee may have foreclosed the controversy surrounding micro-zoning of national offices. This may brighten the chances of senior lawyer and Chairman of NBA Welfare Committee, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN and former NBA General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi who are believed to be eyeing the post of NBA President.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Mr. Olasupo Ojo had in a letter to ECNBA faulted the Preliminary Notice of Election issued by the committee, arguing that it did not provide for “micro-zoning” of national offices as mandated by the National Executive Council (NBA-NEC). The letter was titled “RE: ECNBA PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF ELECTION” and dated March 21, 2022. Given that the ECNBA Guidelines were released early today, it was unclear at press time whether it was a veiled response to Ojo’s complaint.

Watchers of NBA politics believe that if implemented, the micro-zoning formula would have shut out Maikyau and Taidi, handing the initiative to leading arbitrator and Chairman of NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN who is from the North East.

In the Guidelines titled “GUIDELINES FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS OF NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE NBA AND NBA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE BAR,” ECNBA merely restated the zoning formula as contained in its Preliminary Notice of Election where it allotted the positions of NBA President and First Vice President to “Northern Zone.”

The committee listed the States under “Northern Zone” to include Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and FCT-Abuja. This means that aspirants from the North East, North West and North Central can vie for the positions.

The Guidelines also dealt with issues ranging from offices to be contested for in the elections, zoning of offices, qualifications to hold national office, qualifications to hold office as NBA Representative to the General Council of the Bar to issues relating to disqualification of candidates, nomination of candidates, appeals by disqualified candidates, campaign rules and regulations and electronic voting.

On announcement of results of election, the committee said: “At the close of the poll, the ECNBA shall in the presence of the candidates, or their representatives/agents collate and verify the votes before the announcement of results.”

It added that “Pursuant to Part X (1), Second Schedule of the Constitution, the results of the election shall be announced within twenty-four (24) hours of the conduct of elections upon collation and verification of the votes.”

The ECNBA Chairman, Mr. Richard Akintunde SAN had told CITY LAWYER that the committee had received the complaint from Ojo, adding that it would respond “as soon as possible.”

ECNBA Election Guidelines 24 March 2022

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ANXIETY, AS OJO FAULTS ECNBA, DEMANDS ZONING OF PRESIDENCY, OTHERS

  • WE WILL RESPOND SOONEST – ECNBA CHAIR

Fiery Bar Leader and former Secretary of the NBA Constitution Review Committee, Mr. Olasupo Ojo has faulted the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) over its recently released Preliminary Notice of Election.

The activist also demanded an amendment of the notice to reflect “micro zoning” of offices to geopolitical blocs. If implemented, the ECNBA may zone the contest for NBA Presidency to the North East Zone. This will leave the field wide open for the Chairman of the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN to clinch the coveted seat while shutting out the Chairman of the NBA Welfare Committee, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN and immediate past NBA General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi who are also believed to be eyeing the position.

In a letter to ECNBA obtained by CITY LAWYER, Ojo asked the ECNBA “to urgently fully give effect to the provisions of the NBA Constitution (including the binding micro zoning provisions) and administer the applicable rules fairly and firmly in line with the Commitment of the Committee as restated in your letter dated 1st February, 2022 to me.”

Meanwhile, the ECNBA Chairman, Mr. Richard Akintunde SAN told CITY LAWYER that the committee is already in receipt of the complaint, adding that it would respond “as soon as possible.”

The letter was titled “RE: ECNBA PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF ELECTION” and dated March 21, 2022. It was copied to NBA President and all national officers, the Chairman and all members of the Body of Benchers as well as the Chairman and all members of the NBA Board of Trustees.

According to Ojo, the Electoral Reform and Audit Committee “had recommended that the micro zoning provision in the NBA Constitution should be strictly adhered to in order to ensure that no group and/or section in a geographical zone is marginalized and the unity of the bar is preserved.”

He stated that “This recommendation was approved, adopted and endorsed by the National Executive Council as reflected in the communiqué issued by the President and General Secretary of the Association on 18th March, 2021.There was no contrary decision and/or resolution reached at the 2021 Annual General Meeting in Port-Harcourt on this adopted recommendation.”

He argued that while the different sections/groups that make up each geographical zone are the geopolitical zones/blocs, “the legitimate expectation from the ECNBA was for the preliminary notice of election to specifically indicate the particular sections/groups in the zones and the component states for each of the zoned positions.”

Ojo stated that he was “taken aback when I read the preliminary notice of election which did not specify the sections/groups and the component states in line with the mandatory micro zoning provision of the NBA Constitution. For the sake of emphasis, I hereby reproduce the provision of paragraph 4 of Part IV of the second schedule to the NBA Constitution thus: “Where a position is zoned to any particular geographical zone, the position shall be rotated and held in turn by the different groups and/or sections in the geographical zone.”

“There is no doubt that the office of the President, Second Vice President and General Secretary are zoned to the Northern, Eastern and Western Zones respectively. All that it left to be done is the reflection of the specific groups and/or sections within each of the Zones that should contest and hold the zoned officers in line with the micro zoning arrangement. This has not been done up till this moment although the guidelines are yet to be released.”

Berating the association for allegedly side-stepping its rules, Ojo said: “The NBA, as a professional body of lawyers, cannot continue to break its own rules and/or disregard the rule of law. You may recall that I had earlier instituted an action in Suit No FHC/CS/545/2016 (Olasupo Ojo v. Registered Trustees of Nigerian Bar Association) before the Federal High Court against the NBA Trustees in 2016 which was decided in my favour. The said Judgment invalidated the 2015 NBA Constitution under which the then NBA national leadership assumed office. Unfortunately, the Judgment of the Court was swept under the carpet and not complied with. It is that same invalidated Constitution that was amended in 2019 and further amended in 2021.”

The Bar Leader noted that he had also “objected to the registration of the NBA Constitution (as amended in 2021) by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in the manner in which it was presented by NBA on the ground that it was wrongly titled “NBA Constitution 2021” and contained sections 28 and 29 which purported to repeal the extant constitution all contrary to the resolution duly adopted and passed in 2021 at the Annual General Meeting in Port-Harcourt. CAC upheld my objection and following the success, the Constitution was corrected to properly read “The Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021)” and the amendments were correctly reflected by the NBA as pointed out by me.”

His words: “As lawyers, we must always be seen to uphold the rule of law both in our words and actions. It is based on this same philosophy of upholding the rule of law that I deem it necessary to write to the ECNBA again in respect of the issues raised herein. I am finding it increasingly difficult to understand why an Association like NBA should find it difficult to obey its own rules. It is getting tiresome.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that the ECNBA recently issued the Preliminary Notice of Election and zoned the NBA Presidency and First Vice President to the “Northern Zone” while the Second Vice President went to the “Eastern Zone.” The post of Third Vice President and General Secretary were reserved for the “Western Zone while the other posts were not zoned to any bloc.

OLASUPO OJO_ECNBA++

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LAWYER-ACTIVIST ASK EFCC TO CHECK FLEEING OFFICE HOLDERS

Fiery lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Maxwell Opara has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to issue new practice directions directing former public office holders to obtain clearance before travelling overseas.

In a letter to EFCC Chairman dated March 22, 2022 and made available to CITY LAWYER, Opara stated that “a more critical process should be put in place, through another practice direction or policy,” adding that the new directive would “serve as a deterrent against involvement in financial crimes.”

According to him, “The said policy would establish a framework whereby any elected/appointed public officer, whether enjoying immunity or not, would be required to obtain a letter of clearance from your commission upon the expiration of their tenure in order to travel abroad. This will forestall a situation where those who may be elected or appointed as such, would at the end of their tenure attempt to surreptitiously escape from the country, maybe through the borders, just to evade your commission’s watchful eyes or undermine the use of the watch list afore mentioned.”

March 22, 2022.

The Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
301/3012 Research and Institution Cadastral
District, Jabi, Abuja.

Sir,

RE: URGENT NEED FOR YOUR COMMISSION TO ISSUE A PRACTICE DIRECTION REQUIRING EVERY ELECTED OR APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICER TO PROCURE A LETTER OF CLEARANCE FROM YOUR COMMISSION BEFORE TRAVELLING OUT OF THE COUNTRY AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE SAID PUBLIC OFFICER’S TENURE.

My name is Maxwell Opara, Esq. I am a Senior Legal Practitioner and a Human Rights Activist. I have over the years used the instrumentality of the Non-governmental organizations that I am associated with to campaign against corruption and bad governance in Nigeria.

Sir, I write in the afore stated capacity to first and foremost express my appreciation to the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, under your able leadership, for the way and manner the commission’s fight against corruption and financial misappropriation has recorded tremendous successes, more especially in the area of conviction of suspects e.g corrupt political office holders.

However, I understand that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to substantially nip financial misappropriation and corruption in the board. More especially, in the facet of creating discouraging deterrents against elected/appointed public office holders who see the occupation of various public offices as a tool to embezzling public funds for their personal aggrandizement.

I am aware that your commission had devised a practice direction, wherefore elected/appointed public office holders are put on a watch list and incessantly monitored to ensure that as soon as they leave office, more so, the elected office holders that enjoy immunity, the commission can swiftly deploy the charges waiting for them and use same to facilitate their arrest and prosecution for their assorted financial crimes.

The forgoing use of watch list is commendable and has produced tremendous results for the commission in the fight against financial crimes and corruption, nevertheless, I think that a more critical process should be put in place, through another practice direction or policy, which would be made by your humble self, pursuant to your powers under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, to serve as a deterrent against involvement in financial crimes.

The said policy would establish a framework whereby any elected/appointed public officer, whether enjoying immunity or not, would be required to obtain a letter of clearance from your commission upon the expiration of their tenure in order to travel abroad. This will forestall a situation where those who may be elected or appointed as such, would at the end of their tenure attempt to surreptitiously escape from the country, maybe through the borders, just to evade your commission’s watchful eyes or undermine the use of the watch list afore mentioned.

Sir, the above recommendation is for your kind consideration and I am very ready and available to explain further on my thoughts in respect of same if the arises.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully.

…………………………………….
Maxwell C. Opara Esq. LL.M, Chrt.MC, Notary Public.

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‘NIGERIA’S LEGAL PROFESSION AT CROSS-ROADS,’ SAYS OYEBODE

World acclaimed quondam Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Lagos, PROFESSOR AKIN OYEBODE warns that Nigeria’s legal profession is at the cross-roads. In this Keynote Address presented at the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch Law Week, the pre-eminent jurist says lawyers must be ready, willing and able to be at the vanguard of the struggle for a better society

                                                 

                                                    DEMOCRACY AND THE LEGAL ORDER: Shaping the Future
                                                                                                       By
                                                                                         AKIN OYEBODE
Introduction
The lesson of inevitability of democratic values within the legal order is not lost on any serious legal practitioner or even casual observer of goings-on in society and indeed the human destiny. Of the multifarious problems afflicting the country currently hardly is anything more benumbing than the crises and contradictions inherent in our practice of democracy vis-à-vis the legal order. The situation would have been laughable if it was not so tragic. That a country so blessed with human talents and incredible natural resources has continued to walk on its head is totally stupefying and inexplicable. However, it is appurtenant to interrogate the historical antecedents of Nigeria in order to lay bare the characteristics of the contemporary legal order and difficulty to grapple with the desiderata of modernity and progress.

The Precursors of the Nigerian State
Nigeria owes its creation to the antics of British imperialism. What is important to bear in mind is that when the British arrived in these parts, they carried along in their knapsacks English law and instrumentalities of conquest and subjugation of the restless natives. Nigeria, being one of the last territories to be colonized by the perfidious Albion, was subjected to the most distasteful aspects of race supremacist ideology of disdain and disrespect for the traditions and mores of the indigenous population. This attitude had been practiced and perfected by the British in relation to the native peoples of America and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, India, etc. This superiority complex among the English was so deeply ingrained in their psyche as the writings of Shakespeare reveal, Tempest and Othello, being notable examples. As recently as 1857, the US Supreme Court in the Dred Scot case still had the temerity to declare that the black man had no rights that the whites needed respect, more so that he was only four-fifths of a man!

Wherever the English went, he could relish in the thought, as Palmerston had intoned, that the long arm of the English law would always protect him. Indeed they refused to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of the native courts which were thought to be infra dignitatem to English law which they had transported to far-flung colonial territories as instruments of colonial hegemony and control. In Nigeria as elsewhere, they had created their own special courts applying English law and rejecting all native laws and customs as being “repugnant to natural law, equity and good conscience”, a code phrase for English law. It took the genius and courage of judges such as J.I.C. Taylor and other like-minded jurists to wean themselves off slavish adherence to English law and practice by striking blows for authenticity and independence of the Nigerian legal order, be it in relation to the rights of children born out of wedlock or the recognition of polygamy and the right to inherit as guaranteed under native law and customs. By the time Nigeria became politically independent, it had become cognizable to enlightened legal opinion that the repugnancy doctrine advocated by the British was indeed repugnant to our sense of values, propriety and cultural wholesomeness.

Democracy, Nigeria Style
It is no exaggeration to aver that in Nigeria, democracy is very much a work in progress. Having endured nearly 400 years of the slave trade and 100 years of British colonial exploitation and oppression, the Nigerian people had not been properly sensitized into the norms and practices of democratic governance. However, this is not totally unexpected of a people reared in unquestioning obedience to the whims and caprices of the traditional rulers, unelected elders and undemocratic belief systems stamped on the consciousness of the people after centuries of social conditioning and cultural manipulation.

Needless to say, the first few years of the practice of majoritarian democracy in Nigeria were marred by different military junta which had hijacked political power and held the country hostage for decades. Since militarism and democracy are odd bed-fellows, it was hardly surprising that the Nigerian militariat succeeded in arresting the country’s progress towards democracy and sought to entrench undemocratic elements within Nigeria’s political firmament. The most galling bequest of the military dictators was Decree No 24 of 1999 which it sought to pass off as the constitution of the country after its departure from the country’s political stage.

Regrettably, rather than jettisoning that evil and unbecoming instrument, the incoming civilian rulers continue to live the lie that Nigeria was operating under an autochthonous fundamental law with fraudulent claims to the effect that it originated and had the consent of the people. The ringing statement by the Patriots that the 1999 Constitution lied against itself is one not to be forgotten in a hurry. Nigerians bought for themselves a pig in poke and for as long as we refuse to consign the despicable instrument to limbo for that long would the legitimacy of the country’s highest law be a rude joke and an unacceptable assault on international best practices.

Nevertheless, the lack of a universally agreed definition of democracy may avail our unrepentant defenders of the status quo in justifying the 1999 Constitution. Yet, truth be told, the illegitimacy of the Constitution puts a big question mark on nearly everything that has happened in this country since the people in agbada replaced those wearing starched khaki uniforms. To borrow the words of Mr Justice Jackson of the US Supreme Court in describing pornography, although we might be unable to define democracy, we all know it when we see it.

Accordingly, the essential ingredients of democracy include supremacy of the law, separation of powers, checks and balances, sanctity of the ballot-box, presumption of innocence, freedom of expression, due process of law, independence of the judiciary, etc. In other words, democracy presupposes the finer elements of western liberal democracy.

So, can we really be said to be practicing democracy? Many have averred that what we actually have is a civilian dispensation while democracy would seem to be a never-never land. Except and only to the extent that we cannot practice democracy without democrats, Nigeria still has a long way to go in order to arrive at the Eldorado of democracy.

The Nature of the Nigerian Legal Order
Undoubtedly, Nigerian law and legal order are yet to shed their British complexion. As I had observed a few years ago the “anglo-Saxons,” to borrow Ayandele’s colorful expression, are in no hurry to do away with their colonial antecedents, white wigs, black gowns, quaint mannerisms, strange forms of address and all in a bid to retain the alien character and appearance of lawyers of a bygone colonial era. Unlike some erstwhile colonial territories such as the United States and Canada which had admitted novelty and reforms into their legal systems, Nigeria has stubbornly refused to alter the modalities of both its law and practice.

Yet, the efficacy of a legal order stems very much from the extent to which it has captured and reflects the mores, values and idiosyncracy of its addressees. So much we have learnt from advocates of the Historical School and lately from Thomas Friedman’s concept of legal culture. As underscored by Omoniyi Adewoye, Nigeria’s leading legal historian, the imposed British colonial law bore all the imprint of alien domination and oppression.

It is for this reason that any discussion of the Nigerian legal order must begin with a recognition of its colonial heritage and continued dependency on an alien power. Whether we speak of the legal system or legal order, we must realize that legalism bereft of a nexus with the thought processes and attitudinal chemistry of the people is of little relevance in coming to grips with the existential reality of a peripheral, dependent capitalist enclave such as ours.

If indeed we go by the dictum of a government of laws and not one of men as propounded by Chief Justice Marshall in Marbury v.Madison (1803), it would be straining logic too far to aver that Nigeria’s legal order was indeed one founded on law and due process. In a situation of an illegitimate Constitution, rancorous law-making, conflicting judicial orders, widespread disrespect for law and order, rising incidence of self-help, inability or refusal by the law-enforcement agencies to perform their duties and lack of trust and confidence by sections of the population in the state apparatus, it becomes highly problematic to envisage fidelity to law as an instrument of peace, order and good government.

In view of the foregoing, it would seem apposite to pose the question as to the potential of the legal order to shape and aid the evolution of a true democracy in Nigeria. Law being an instrument of social change, it would simply be futile to contemplate the inter-relationship of democracy and the legal order, more so in a setting as fractious as Nigeria.

The beginning of wisdom about contemporary Nigeria is that we are not yet a democracy but merely a civilian arrangement. Accordingly, we need to embark on a transition from civil rule to a full-fledged democratic society in order to take full advantage of government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is only by so doing that we can conceive an effective role for the legal order. To the extent that a legal order presupposes concomitants of democracy, to that extent would it be illusory to attempt to move Nigeria to another level through the instrumentality of the legal order. The coterminous nature of both democracy and the legal order is such that one cannot be pursued without the other. Legalism unaccompanied by the benefits and allure of democratic values is apt to result in outright fascism and blind adherence to the wiles of dictators and undemocratic forces. Therefore, a way has to be found to convince Nigerians on the desideratum of democracy as an integral part of the quest for an effective legal order.

Pursuant to this, lawyers must be ready, willing and able to be at the vanguard of the struggle for a better society. We should always remember that V. I. Lenin, Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela were lawyers who stood on the barricade of the liberation struggle of their people. Our lawyers should, therefore, make a conscious choice to depart from self-seeking, self-serving and self-conceited motives in favour of ideals that would ensure life more abundant for the preponderant majority of our people. Only thus can the profession attract greater understanding, relevance and empathy among compatriots.

The legal profession is today at a cross-roads. With a multiplicity of problems afflicting law and the legal order, lawyers must rise up to the occasion by bringing to bear their special and unique knowledge of the workings of the legal system on ways and means of restoring hope, trust and confidence among the people generally. Since popular acceptability appears to be the touchstone of democracy and good governance, no effort should be spared toward being harnessed in steering the legal order along the path of consolidating democratic values, otherwise, yearnings for a better society might end up being really little more than a pie in the sky.

Concluding Remarks
We are living in a world earnestly yearning for a better society. How this is to be achieved presents some difficulty. To many, democracy presents a most viable mechanism for attaining this objective. The situation in Nigeria is complicated somewhat by the deformed state of its democracy as well as the overarching colonial coloration of its legal order.
The task of shedding its colonial heritage is no less daunting than that of the legal system as focus for widening the democratic impetus in Nigeria’s trajectory to a higher level of social organization. Since democracy is irretrievably intertwined with a functioning legal order, it stands to reason that creating a viable society is a laudable goal worth pursuing.
It remains for me to express sincere appreciation to the Lagos Branch of the NBA for enabling me to share with you my thoughts on democracy and the legal order and to wish you all a successful annual law week.

LAW WEEK/SUMMIT: TAIDI HAILS NBA LAGOS, PH YOUNG LAWYERS

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi has lauded NBA Lagos Branch on its 2022 Law Week.

Saying that the Law Week “is coming at a critical period in our nation’s history when law and order have become anathema and lawlessness threatens our very existence, with no hope in sight,” the Bar Leader stated that “the choice of the theme and the timing of discussions around it is inspired and commendable and it is my fervent hope that these discussions around legal order by the NBA Lagos Branch will in no small measure reorient our attitude concerning the preservation of our hard earned democracy.”

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, Taidi, who is believed to be eyeing the NBA Presidency, stated that the Law Week “is particularly remarkable for the extraordinary contribution it promises not only to the legal community, but the nation at large.

“As a people thirsty for an enduring solution to the challenges bedevelling our democracy, we anxiously await the outcome of this discourse even as I congratulate the executives and the Law Week Planning Committee in advance for a law week like no other.”

In a similar goodwill message to NBA Port Harcourt Branch Young Lawyers Forum on the occasion of its 2022 Summit, Taidi stated that “The choice of the theme is a demonstration of the commitment of the executives and the Summit Planning Committee to the vital role of technology and law in bringing about good governance which has eluded our nation for so long.

“I therefore charge all participants at this epoch and historic event to critically examine the impediments to our efforts at achieving good governance – which is our only guarantee for a bright future.”

The theme of the summit is “Governance, Technology and Law”.

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GADZAMA LAUDS NBA LAGOS, KANO, YOUNG LAWYERS ON LAW WEEK, SUMMIT

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN has felicitated with NBA Lagos and Kano branches on their Law Week programmes. The chartered arbitrator also commended Young Lawyers Forum Owerri Branch on their 2022 Summit which held between March 17 and March 19, 2022.

The leading litigator said of his sojourn in Lagos: “Nostalgically, I recall how I started my Lagos office as far back as 1996 at No. 10, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi which eventually gave birth to the Abuja Office in the year 2000 where I was elected chairman of the Unity Bar in 2004 and grew up to be the Pioneer Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL in 2006.”

He added: “I remain eternally grateful to the Premier Branch of Nigeria’s Commercial Headquarters for grooming me to be their Ambassador at the administrative Headquarters of our beloved country.”
Below are the texts of the goodwill messages.

GOODWILL MESSAGE TO NBA LAGOS BRANCH

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the executives and members of the Nigerian Bar Association Lagos Branch as she holds her 2022 Law Week Celebration from Friday, 18th March to Friday, 25th March, 2022.

Nostalgically, I recall how I started my Lagos office as far back as 1996 at no 10, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi which eventually gave birth to the Abuja Office in the year 2000 where I was elected chairman of the Unity Bar in 2004 and grew up to be the Pioneer Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL in 2006. I remain eternally grateful to the Premier Branch of Nigeria’s Commercial Headquarters for grooming me to be their Ambassador at the administrative Headquarters of our beloved country.

I must sincerely commend the initiative of the organizers of this event for the choice of theme: “Democracy and Legal Order: Shaping the Future” which I consider apt. The need for a true democracy is an issue that remains perpetually centric to the growth of any given society. The judiciary should be independent of the other arms of government to effectively deliver its delicate task of administering justice. Indeed, the preservation of our democracy is fundamental to the sustenance of our legal profession and the Nation, Nigeria. What better way can the future be shaped? I believe that as a united front, we can secure the future of our legal practice and Nigeria by advocating for the supremacy of our laws and the equality of all men before the law.

I urge my colleagues to participate effectively, cross-fertilize ideas whilst addressing issues that affect distinguished members of this great branch by contributing your quota to the promotion and development of your branch, legal practice and Nigeria as a whole. Whilst wishing you a fruitful weeklong celebration, please be assured of my best wishes and support, always.

Thank you and God bless.

GOODWILL MESSAGE TO NBA KANO BRANCH

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the executives and members of the Nigerian Bar Association Kano Branch as she holds her Law Week scheduled to hold from Saturday, 19th March to Tuesday, 22nd March, 2022.

I must sincerely commend the initiative of the organizers of this auspicious event for the choice of theme: “LEGAL PRACTICE AT CROSSROADS: CHALLENGES OF LAWYERING IN THE FACE OF NIGERIA’S CURRENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CLIMATE” which I consider apt as the impact of our noble profession in the political and economical spheres of our great Country, Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

To the awardees on the Dinner, I say a big Congratulations! to you on your meritorious award for your ceaseless support and contribution towards the development and promotion of your admirable branch. I implore you to keep it up and remain true ambassadors of your branch and the legal profession.

Whilst wishing you a wonderful celebration at your programmes and a splendid dinner, please be assured of my best wishes and support, always.

Thank you and God bless.

GOODWILL MESSAGE TO NBA-YLF OWERRI BRANCH

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the executives and members of the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum Owerri Branch as she holds her 2022 Summit scheduled to hold from Thursday, March 17 to Saturday, March 19, 2022.

It is worrisome and my heart bleeds that many of our young lawyers are not breaking even today as opportunities at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Courts, and Land Registries, to mention but a few, are no longer available like in the past. We must as a matter of urgency address these critical issues if we desire a robust practice and better future for our young lawyers and mentees.

I must sincerely commend the initiative of the organizers of this auspicious event for the choice of theme: “Yesterday, Today and the Future of the Legal Profession in Nigeria” which I consider apt as the future of the legal profession very much rests in the hand of the Young lawyers.

To the awardees of the Dinner, I say a big Congratulations! to you on your meritorious award for your ceaseless support and contribution towards the development and promotion of young lawyers in the branch. I implore you to keep it up and remain true ambassadors of your branch and the legal profession.

Whilst wishing you a successful programme and a splendid dinner, please be assured of my best wishes and support, always.

Thank you and God bless.

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JUSTICE OGUNTADE JOINS ‘SOLAR FOR ALL’ LEAGUE

FEATURED

NBA Lagos Partnership: Oguntade JSC (Rtrd) joins the Elite list of beneficiaries, in the “Solar For All” Promo; (in Partnership with NBA BRANCHES, BOSAN Abuja, Otu Oka-iwu Abuja, Medical Doctors at FMC Cooperative, F.C.T Pharmacies, NFIU Cooperative Society, Unilag College of Medicine Alumni e.t.c)

“To get an efficient Solar/Inverter system for 24hours Light, save at least half of your current power cost, while you “Pay Small small” for up to Six Months; Call Bricks and Castles Energy-Tech Ltd: 08050489622, whatsapp:08060266163

Visit: (Abuja) Suite A8, Kenuj O2 Mall, Kaura District (Behind Games Village).
(Lagos) No 113A, Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi.

As power situation Nationwide continues to be a matter of concern and price of Diesel keeps skyrocketing, efficient Solar Systems have proven a big relief for many homes/offices.

The Company was at the Lagos home of one of Nigeria’s foremost Supreme Court Jurist where it installed a Giant 5KVA Inverter System, with 8 biggest size Tubular Batteries, 16 German Solar Panels (300watts), 96v MPPT CHARGE CONTROLLER and other accessories to power all other essentials in the home.

This ensures 24 Hours Power supply and a reduced power cost by at least 50%.

The Oguntade family expressed a great pleasure in the services of the company, while urging everyone to embrace solar to save huge costs.

Other beneficiaries from whom the efficiency of delivery can be verified include: High Chief Emeka J-P Obegolu SAN, Chief J-K Gadzama SAN; Mr.Chinedu Obienu Esq, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN; Chief Mutalubi ADEBAYO Ojo Esq; Mrs Stella Ofokansi Esq, Chief Mrs Lydia Udowa, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN; Prince Adetosoye Adebiyi Esq; Mr.Paul Daudu Esq of J.B Daudu SAN & Co; Mr. Benedict Daudu Esq his brother; Chief Peter ILEGOGIE ESQ; Chief Peter Ozoagu Esq, Aare Muyiwa Akinboro SAN, Aare Isiaka Olagunju SAN, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN of S.P.A Ajibade SAN & Co; FIDA Nigeria (FIDA House Abuja) Prince Adetokumbo Kayode SAN; Mrs. Amina Agbaje Esq (FIDA Nigeria CVP); Dr. Mrs Ayorinde of Ayorinde SAN & Co; Mrs. Mariam Agbabokha; Barr. Mrs Rachel Ebun Akerele; Mr Anthony Malik SAN; Chief Tawo E.Tawo SAN; Chief Kemi Pinheiro SAN; Mr. I.M Dikko SAN of Liman, Liman SAN & Co; Hon. Justice Emeka Nriezedi of the Anambra State Judiciary; Dr.Hassan Liman SAN; Chief J.U.K Igwe SAN; Mr. Chike Ekeocha, Esq. of Alex Izinyon SAN & Co/SUEX Nig. Ltd; Mummy Sylvia Okoregbe Esq; John Ochogwu, Esq; Hon. Rodrich UgwuEsq; Prof. Godson Ogbonna of Abia State University Uturu; Sir Austin Mwana Esq; Mr.Thony Lyiod Onyemaizu Esq, Dr. Agada Elachi Esq; Mr. Zach Akubo of S.I Ameh SAN & Co; Mr. Ime Edem-nse Esq; Mr. Edafe Mrakpor Esq; the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ebedebiri Cottage Hospital, Sagbama L.G.A Bayelsa State; the Federal College of Education Warri; the Nigerian Agricultural Seeds Council, the Institute Of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators of Nigeria[ICMC, Chief R.N Okeke and sons Ltd Wukari, Taraba State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu of the Trademoore Estate; among many others.

Some of the benefits of Solar/Inverters include:
*Solar is cheaper at long-run!

*24hours Power Supply for homes/offices

* Your current Power cost will drop by at least 50% after we install.

*No noise!

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*No fueling

*25years warranty on the German Solar panels.

* In case of any issue with the Inverter Machine, another Inverter is deployed before we take the one that needs attention for troubleshooting/repairs.

“To get an efficient Solar/Inverter system for 24hours Light, while you “Pay Small small” for up to Six Months; Call Bricks and Castles Energy-Tech Ltd: 08050489622, 08060266163

Visit: (Abuja) Suit A8 Kenuj O2 Mall Kaura District Abuja (Behind Games Village).
(Lagos) No 113A, Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi.
[5/18, 8:47 AM] Emeka Silas Agbara Esq: NBA Abuja Partnership: Chief Okey Ajunwa Esq joins the Elite list of beneficiaries, in the “Solar For All” Promo; (in Partnership with NBA BRANCHES, BOSAN Abuja, Otu Oka-iwu Abuja, Medical Doctors at FMC Cooperative, F.C.T Pharmacies, NFIU Cooperative Society, Unilag College of Medicine Alumni e.t.c)

As power situation Nationwide continues to be a matter of concern and price of Diesel keeps skyrocketing, efficient Solar Systems have proven a big relief for many homes/offices.

To get an efficient Solar/Inverter system for 24hours Light, save up to 50% Power cost; while you “Pay Small small” for up to Six Months; Call Bricks and Castles Energy-Tech Ltd: 08050489622, 08060266163
Visit: (Abuja) Suit A8 Kenuj O2 Mall Kaura District Abuja (Behind Games Village).
(Lagos) No 113A, Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi https://barristerng.com/nba-abuja-partnership-chief-okey-ajunwa-esq-joins-the-elite-list-of-beneficiaries-in-the-solar-for-all-promo/

NBA Abuja Partnership: Chief Okey Ajunwa Esq joins the Elite list of beneficiaries, in the “Solar For All” Promo – BarristerNG.com

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JUSTICE ODILI: ‘WHY I DID NOT INDICT MALAMI,’ BY UBANI

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Chairman, Dr. Monday Ubani has revealed why he did not indict Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN over the invasion of Supreme Court jurist, Justice Mary Odili’s residence.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Ubani was appointed by NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata as a “Special Investigator” to unravel the circumstances surrounding the invasion of Odili’s premises by persons suspected to be security operatives.

In his report to an Emergency Meeting of NBA National Executive Council (NBA-NEC), Ubani narrated how he grilled the justice minister over the matter, adding however that he could not use “tainted” evidence to indict the nation’s chief law officer.

His words: “The truth of the matter is that all accusing fingers initially pointed at the Minister when the invasion occurred, moreso as the news media reported that the culprits were from the Federal Ministry of Justice. This notion becomes more compelling when it is realized that the Honourable Attorney General admitted that he authorized the invasion of judges’ homes in 2016. It was argued that if he authorised the invasion of 2016, then he must have authorised this latest raid by persons allegedly linked to the Ministry of Justice which he heads. The Minister therefore needed to offer elaborate explanation to exculpate himself and his office from the latest invasion.

“The Honourable Attorney General started by stating that there is a unit in his ministry called Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Committee established sometime in 2019 pursuant to the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Committee Regulation 2019. It is an inter-ministerial committee comprising of representatives from ministries, departments and agencies of Government. The committee coordinates the asset recovery and management system on properties of the Federal Government of Nigeria both locally and internationally. If the committee receives any information about illicit property or money of the Federal Government hidden anywhere, the Ministry will forward the information to the appropriate security agencies or law firms to handle. The committee, according to him, does not on its own handle any sting operation. He therefore disassociated the Ministry from any alleged Ghost Account, Local Whistle-blower, Joint Panel Recovery Unit or similar name the perpetrators may have called themselves.

“Mr. Malami also denied signing the Identity card of the said CSP Lawrence Ajodo. He stated that the Identity cards of those who work in the Ministry of Justice are signed by the Director of Human Resources or his delegate and not by him. He denied that any unit in his ministry work with the Nigerian Police officers especially in the way and manner the present invasion took place. He denied knowing Lawrence Ajodo or having any private or official dealings with him. He challenged Lawrence Ajodo to produce any letter given to him officially either by himself or any of his subordinates to carry out any official duty on the Ministry’s behalf.”

Passing his verdict, the NBA-SPIDEL helmsman said that Ajodo’s testimony was unreliable in many respects, adding: “Having arrived at this conclusion, it will be untenable to use his tainted and mostly oral evidence to implicate anyone without any corresponding documentary evidence.”

Ubani also exonerated the under-fire Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna who signed the controversial search warrant, adding that the jurist took rigorous steps to document the procedures leading to the grant of the warrant, aside from immediately annulling it when Ajodo failed to return to regularize the documents.

His words: “There is perhaps no way the learned Chief Magistrate could have deciphered the alleged criminal intent of the deponent, same having been concealed from him. When the Chief Magistrate’s eyes were opened to the nefarious intent of the invaders, they refused to honour his invitation to clarify the issue of conflicting addresses. They proceeded to carry out their intended action even when the search warrant had been revoked. The revocation on record was done the same day, signifying promptness in addressing the grave error His Honour committed in signing a search warrant with vague details.

“The legal implication of executing a revoked search warrant and a search warrant on a property different from the address on record should be a culpability attributable to those who executed it and not to the person that issued and signed it, moreso when the issuer discovered his own mistake and took immediate steps to correct it.”

Ubani therefore recommended that “The Chief Magistrate should be cautioned to be more circumspect whenever signing processes that may be subjected to abuse. There were red flags inherent in the affidavit and inconsistencies that should have put him on enquiry and made him to be a bit more careful before signing the Search Warrant.”

The senior lawyer stated that “pure greed” was at the heart of the invasion, noting that “Mr. Lawrence Ajodo got an unverified information that large sums of money – perhaps in billions of Naira – were at No. 9 Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja. To make the story palatable, they informed Mr. Ajodo that the whistle-blower had gotten an affidavit backed with EFCC, sworn to at the High Court of FCT, Abuja. Mr. Umar Ibrahim was introduced to Mr. Lawrence Ajodo, the ‘hitman’ who obviously was known in the circle of whistle-blowers. He took over from there and became the kingpin.”

The Nigeria Police has charged several suspects to court over the invasion.

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NBA LAGOS LAW WEEK: OYEBODE DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS TODAY

Renowned professor of jurisprudence and international law, Professor Akin Oyebode will today deliver the keynote address at the eagerly awaited Opening Ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch Law Week.

The Law Week kicked off last Friday with a jumat service for Muslim faithful as well as a Thanksgiving Service at Good News Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos, setting the stage for today’s opening ceremony. This year’s Law Week has as its theme, “Democracy and Legal Order: Shaping the Future.”

Speaking at a press conference to herald the Law Week, the Chairman of the Law Week Committee, Mr. Wale Adesokan (SAN) said the programme would explore the need for deliberate action in utilising Nigeria’s democracy and the law in shaping the future that Nigerians desire. He added that the event would emphasize the consequences of inaction in the face of ills plaguing the polity.

His words: “This year’s Lagos Law Week comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s multifaceted crisis and the resulting mounting pressure that threatens the future of the country. By leading this discourse, NBA Lagos Branch seeks to chart a new course for the redemption of the nation’s legal system and the freedom that citizens should enjoy in a democratic nation.

“It is a chance to listen, contribute, learn, unlearn and relearn, as we all work towards building a working system and a free world, in the most relaxing and comfortable environments.”

Speaking on the eight plenary sessions slated for the Law Week, the Branch Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna said: “To set the tone for the most important event of our legal year is the unveiling of our plenary sessions. Spread out over a period of two days, March 21 and 22, our plenary sessions will explore the role of good governance and legal order in curbing societal ills that threaten to define and shape the future of our country, explore the role of the private sector in ensuring accountability in governance and contributing to good governance, touch on the adequacy of the current fiscal arrangement within Nigeria and examine impediments to the actualisation of Nigeria’s full potential as an investment destination.

“It would also examine the introduction of more practical aspects to the study of Law in tertiary institutions, discuss the alternative business rescue options introduced by the 2020 CAMA and the challenges being faced in implementing them; explore the leveraging of technology to increase efficiency in case scheduling and management; and most importantly, the role of the judiciary, legislature, and the executive in the forthcoming 2023 elections.”

The plenary session will feature NBA Trustee, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba and the Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane. They will speak on the “Role of the Private Sector in National Development.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that Goodwill Messages will be received from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata.

Scheduled to run from March 18 to 25, 2022 the Law Week will also witness visits to Ikoyi Correctional Centre and the Macy Children Centre, Lagos where donations would be made to the facilities. A Health Walk is also billed as part of the Law Week.

Before his retirement, Professor Oyebode served as an erudite Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

In 1967, he left Nigeria to study International Law at Kiev State University, Ukraine where he secured an LLB and an LLM with the highest distinction. He returned to Nigeria in 1973 to begin his career as a Graduate Assistant Lecturer at UNILAG. 1n 1975, he obtained another LLM from Harvard Law School, Cambridge.

He subsequently enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada, the largest and leading law school in Canada, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence (D.Jur.) in 1988, having specialised on the Law of Treaties.

In 1991, Professor Oyebode was appointed Professor of Law and founding Dean of the Faculty of Law of then Ondo State University, a position he held until 1997 when he returned to the University of Lagos.

Two years later, he was invited back to be pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti. Upon completion of his term in 2004, he once again returned to the University of Lagos, where he occupied the Chair of International Law and Jurisprudence. It was from there that he retired with an unblemished record.

Oyebode has 7 books and over 200 learned papers to his credit. He has been an assessor for professorial appointments and external examiner to many universities at home and abroad. He is a member of numerous notable organisations.

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NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL PORT HARCOURT GETS DDG

The Council of Legal Education (CLE), the proprietor of the Nigeria Law School, has appointed a Deputy Director-General (DDG) to head its newly created campus at Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The new appointee is Mr.  Chinonso Uzodinma  Mmuozoba, a renowned author, teacher and current Director of Academics at Bwari campus of the institution.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the Council at its recent meeting presided over by its Chairman and respected Bar Leader, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) “unanimously approved the recommendation of Prof.  Isa Chiroma led management that Mr. Mmuozoba be appointed as a DDG and posted to Graham Douglas campus.”

The multi-billion naira Port Harcourt campus with state-of-the-art facilities is named after late Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas (SAN) and is being constructed by Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike, a Life Bencher. The commissioning of the campus is projected to hold in June.

CITY LAWYER gathered that construction work at the campus is ongoing on a 24-hourly basis and has reached advanced stage. When commissioned, about 1500 Bar Part II students for the 2022/2023 academic session  would be posted to the brand new campus.

Mmuozoba, reputed as a Bar-man par excellence, was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1995. He was a member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Awka Branch. He joined the Nigeria Law School in 2001 and has held the positions of Director and Head of Academics, Dr. Augustine Nnamani Campus, Enugu as well as Head, Department of Civil Litigation, Professional Ethics & Legal Skills, Corporate Law Practice respectively.

The erudite law teacher popularly called ‘Onyenkuzi Mmuozoba’ is married with children.

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NBA ELECTION 2022 TO GULP N35 MILLION

The Nigerian Bar Association National Executive Council (NBA-NEC) has approved about N34.878 million for the conduct of this year’s National Officers Election.

This is a fallout of a painstaking review of the proposed interim budget submitted by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) led by respected senior lawyer, Mr. Richard Akintunde SAN.

The NBA-NEC had deferred the budget review from its quarterly meeting held on February 23, 2022 to yesterday’s Emergency Meeting to enable a thorough review of the proposed budget by members.

CITY LAWYER gathered that a constitutional crisis may have been averted by the passage of the budget, as today was the last day for the electoral umpire to issue the Preliminary Notice of Election in accordance with the amended constitution.

A source who is familiar with the matter told CITY LAWYER that N4 million was shaved off the proposed budget as the electoral committee had secured a temporary office for N1 million at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry as against the earlier N5 million proposed for that purpose. The source also said that the NBA leadership is rehabilitating its old secretariat where the ECNBA will use as its permanent operational base.

While N4,044,000 was approved as office and administrative expenses, N2,760,000 was approved for ECNBA’s voter education/sensitization outreach. CITY LAWYER gathered that this will be held in clusters in the three zones, with branches invited to the clusters nearest to them for the exercise.

N17,978,000 and $15,000 were approved for the all-important “Technical/ICT” component of the assignment, while N3,871,300 was approved for office equipment such as laptops, photocopying machines, printers and projectors.

CITY LAWYER gathered from an unimpeachable source that the current framework is a departure from the last election when the electoral umpire did not have control of its budget and expenditure.

Asked about the total cost of the previous exercise, a key member of that committee said: “That is something I cannot confirm. The NBA paid directly for everything that was done during the elections. ECNBA members did not sign any cheques but only received individually what they required to carry out their duties and their approved allowances.

“Service providers were all paid by the NBA. As such, it is the NBA that can answer questions as to expenditure for the elections, not the ECNBA. The sums we received individually are on record, so it is only for those we can individually account.”

While a source told CITY LAWYER that NBA will continue to pay vendors as ECNBA does not have legal personality,  analysts believe that the arm’s length relationship between the ECNBA and the NBA leadership will foster greater independence for the electoral umpire and promote free and fair election come July 2022.

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ELECTION: ECNBA CLEARS AIR ON ZONING, TAIDI HAILS UMPIRE

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has laid to rest the controversy on the zoning arrangement for this year’s National Officers Election.

Meanwhile, former NBA General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Gunu Taidi who is believed to be eyeing the post of NBA President has hailed the electoral body for striving to abide by the constitutional timelines set for the election.

Taidi told CITY LAWYER that “The ECNBA Chairman informed NBA Emergency NEC (meeting) that today was the final day to issue this notice. It is a welcome development that the ECNBA promised to keep to timeliness which is part of the integrity of the electoral process.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that former Secretary of the NBA Constitution Review Committee, Mr. Olasupo Ojo had petitioned the committee, seeking clarification on the zoning formula to be adopted for the election. Specifically, he sought an interpretation of the import of section 9(3) of the NBA Constitution and paragraphs 2.2(b) & 2.2(d) of the Second Schedule on the election.

The ECNBA had side stepped the enquiry, noting that “The duties of the ECNBA are governed by the statutory instruments of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and does not, regrettably at the moment, extend to providing advisory opinions.”

But the ECNBA has now put the matter to rest, especially as it concerns the NBA presidential election. While some pro Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN persons had canvassed that the presidential slot should be restricted to candidates from the North East, the ECNBA has declared that all aspirants from the Northern Zone are eligible to gun for the coveted seat. This has given a fillip to the alleged quest by NBA Welfare Committee Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN and former NBA General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi to clinch the post.

In a Preliminary Notice of Election dated March 17, 2020 and signed by the committee Chairman, Mr. Richard Akintunde SAN and Secretary, Ms. Mabel Ekeke, the ECNBA listed the “offices for which eligible members or candidates may contest on the basis of rotation among the three (3) geographical zones stipulated in Part IV (1),(2),(3),(4) &(5), Second Schedule of the Constitution of the NBA, 2015 as amended in 2021, (the Constitution), as well as the qualifications for the offices listed at Section 9(3) of the Constitution.”

Stating that the zone to produce the President is the “Northern Zone,” the committee also stated that the aspirant must be “A full member of the Association in private legal practice; with not less than 15 years post-call and not less than 2 years as a member of the National Executive Council (previously known as the National Executive Committee) (“NEC”) at the time of nomination.”

While the post of First Vice President was also zoned to the Northern Zone, the posts of Second Vice President and Third Vice President were zoned to Eastern Zone and Western Zone respectively. The post of General Secretary also went to Western Zone.

However, the posts of Treasurer, Welfare Secretary, Publicity Secretary as well as Assistant General Secretary and Assistant Publicity Secretary were not restricted to any zone.

Meanwhile, election of NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar will run alongside the National Officers Election, even as the ECNBA has stated that “Pursuant to Part V (2), Second Schedule of the Constitution, the zoning principle contained in the Constitution shall apply in the election of NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar, such that each zone shall produce not less than six (6) Representatives to the Council.”

According to ECNBA, “Nomination Forms for election of National Officers of the NBA and/or election of NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar, shall be available for collection at the ECNBA Secretariat, 1st Floor, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abuja Trade & Convention Centre, KM 8 Umaru Musa Yar’adua Express Way, (Airport Road), Abuja. The forms can also be downloaded online from the NBA website: www.nigerianbar.org.ng or the ECNBA website: www.ecnba.ng from 08:00 hours, Monday, 21 March 2022. Submission of completed Nomination Forms and accompanying documents shall CLOSE at 16:00 hours on Friday, 15 April 2022.”

ECNBA Preliminary Notice

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DETAINED LAWYER WRITES NBA, DEMANDS WRITTEN APOLOGY FROM POLICE CHIEF

Hapless senior lawyer who was detained by a senior police officer for ‘coming late to an appointment’ has demanded a written apology from the police chief.

CITY LAWYER had reported that under-fire Commissioner of Police in-charge of Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Annex, Lagos, Mr. Salisu Gyadi Gyadi had apologized to Odukale for his detention alongside his client.

But in a letter Odukale made available to CITY LAWYER addressed to Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Odukale stated that only a written apology will fully assuage his hurt.

While thanking the committee “for its timely intervention and solid support over this unfortunate incident within hours of receiving the complaint,” Odukale noted that “The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salisu GyadiGyadi has personally reached out and apologized to me. I accept this gesture in this spirit of peace and reconciliation.”

In the letter dated March 16, 2022 and titled “RE: MY ILLEGAL DETENTION,” Odukale warned that “to avert a recurrence and for the protection of lawyers, I would also like a written apology from the Commissioner of Police to me, my client and all lawyers and the Association. Injury to one is injury to all.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that Odukale was detained on the orders of Gyadi for allegedly coming late to a scheduled meeting to resolve a charge of “threat to life” arising from a matrimonial dispute.

The 57-year-old senior lawyer, who was admitted to the Bar 31 years ago, stated that following former DIG Taiwo Lakanu’s intervention, Gyadi had called him severally to apologize for the debacle, saying that he was “surprised and worried when I heard about your detention by my officers.”

The police chief stated that he came to grip with the full picture of the matter during a “marathon party interview,” adding that “our main aim is to see that the parties settled.” He expressed a desire to meet with the senior lawyer “one on one” to “dialogue” with him and personally apologize over the debacle.

Odukale had thanked CITY LAWYER for putting a spotlight on his plight, saying that many lawyers and non-lawyers had called to sympathize with him. “I am happy that as a result of the report, NBA finally rose to the occasion,” said Odukale.

Odukale had told CITY LAWYER that his ordeal started when he accompanied his client to a meeting with Gyadi, adding that immediately the duo entered the meeting room, Gyadi said he would “personally sign” their detention order for coming late to the meeting.

He said that the matter revolved around a domestic violence complaint incidented by his client at the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), adding that the team referred the matter to the Adeniji Adele Police Station. He stated that a police team from the station visited the suspect, and that the suspect turned around to levy a charge that he and his client brought “thugs” to threaten him. Odukale added that “threat to life” is not an offence known to Nigeria’s jurisprudence.

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RPC: MALAMI ASKS COURT TO DISMISS NBA’S SUIT

• SAYS BAR COUNCIL RATIFIED RPC

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN has asked the Federal High Court to dismiss a suit brought by the Nigerian Bar Association to annul the amended Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC).

Malami has also told the court that the Bar Council held a meeting to ratify the controversial RPC, CITY LAWYER can exclusively report.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the Nigerian Bar Association had through the Chief Ferdinand Orbih SAN-led NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), dragged the Attorney General to court via an originating summons dated 17th January, 2022 and filed on 24th January, 2022 alleging that Malami unilaterally amended the RPC without due process of law.

The Attorney-General argued that the NBA lacked the locus standi to institute the action, urging the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim “for failure to comply with the Evidence act and lacks (sic) locus standi to institute it.”

In a counter-affidavit obtained by CITY LAWYER and deposed by one Oni Michael, a Litigation Officer in the Civil Litigation and Public Law Department, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, he stated “That members of the General Council of the Bar were invited for the meeting which was held.”

Restating this point in the written address, the defendant said: “My Lord, we submit that an invitation has (sic) been sent to all members of the General Council of the Bar and some have (sic) attended the meeting. Subsequently any decision arrived at the meeting where a member is voluntarily absent is binding on all members as the quorum was provided in subsection 4 of section 1 of the LPA. We urge my lord to so hold.”

Continuing, the deponent stated that Malami “did that which he is statutorily empowered to do strictly within the confines of the Law as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and the President of the General Council of the Bar.”

He restated that “a meeting (of the Bar Council) was called and members of the Council were duly notified and present in same.”

Malami argued that he is “statutorily empowered to improve the professionalism of legal practice in Nigeria,” adding that “The Plaintiff is bringing this action based on mere speculation and hearsay as he (NBA) is not a member of the General Council of the Bar.”

In the written address in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Malami argued that “The plaintiff commences this suit without averting his mind to the fact that he is not a member of the General Council of the Bar and as such cannot challenge what they deliberate on in their meetings and whatsoever he said amounts to hearsay and the Plaintiff has no Locus to institute this action.”

The matter, INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE NBA VS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION has also been assigned Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/77/2022 and slated for March 24 by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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UMAHI: COURT SHOULD DECLARE ME EBONYI GOVERNOR – SENATOR OGBUOJI

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the last Ebonyi State Governorship Election, Senator Sunday Ogbuoji has declared his intention to head to court to challenge the court’s verdict that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should nominate a replacement for embattled Governor Dave Umahi.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court had sacked Umahi on the basis that he decamped to the APC from the platform upon which he won the election.

But Ogbuoji argues that he is the rightful person to take the mantle of leadership in Ebonyi State as the runner-up in the gubernatorial election.

In a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the former senator stated that he “had expected that, in line with our laws, only persons who participated in the said 2019 Governorship election in Ebonyi State are capable of being declared substitutes in a case as the one at hand.”

According to him, “The order that PDP should whimsically nominate ‘anyone’ to replace Governor Umahi who left the PDP was one that I am not in agreement with. My reason is simple – Hon. Iduma Igariwey never participated in the gubernatorial election in 2019. He vied for and won election for the House of Representatives to represent Afikpo North and Afikpo South Federal constituency. Therefore, he is incapable of being nominated to replace a Governor.”

Ogbuoji noted that he had instituted a similar action at the Ebonyi State High Court “but was, unfortunately, unable to get a favorable outcome thereat. However, with the turn of event to my favour at the Federal High Court Abuja, I was, once again, surprised at the consequential order made by my Lord of the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

According to the former gubernatorial candidate, “Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2022 is the nearest law that draws our attention to what should be done in a situation where the General Election is yet to be held. The section requires that a political party can substitute its candidate in cases of death or withdrawal by holden a fresh primary election within 14 days from the date of such death or withdrawal.”

He stated that “in this case, the general election had been concluded with a winner and the first runner up. I emerged the runner up in that election. Therefore, if for any reason the PDP or its candidate Gov. Umahi are incapable of continuing in the office of Governor and a need to replace them arises, it is only proper that the first runner up in the election is the most legally qualified person to be named as a replacement. I hold this strong view because it is the people’s votes for both the party and its candidate that confers the authority to govern and if the votes of a particular party and candidate is no longer reliable, then the next legitimate votes are those of the first runner up.”

He vowed to approach the Court of Appeal to claim his mandate, saying: “In the light of the above brief statement, I am notifying the nation that I have instructed my lawyer to file application before the Court of Appeal in Abuja and the FHC (where a motion for stay of execution is pending) to be joined in the suits so as to ensure that all the issues are resolved adequately in line with our laws.

“My most earnest desire is the good of Ebonyi State and our people. I will continue to stand for justice and fairness to all.”

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POWER OUTAGE: SOLAR COMPANY TO THE RESCUE

A leading solar company, Bricks and Castles Energy-Tech Limited has urged Nigerians to embrace solar as an electricity source especially in light of continued collapse of the national grid.

Worried that many households have been thrown into darkness due to the persisting outage, the solar company stated that solar power “is a veritable and efficient power source that also aligns with clean energy.”

Said the company: “To get an efficient Solar/Inverter system for 24 hours Light, save at least half of your current power cost, while you ‘Pay Small small’ for up to Six Months, call Bricks and Castles Energy-Tech Ltd: 08050489622, 08060266163.

Among the elite list of Partners of the “Solar For All” Promo are the Alumni Association of UNILAG COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (CLASS 76 & 79), NBA Lagos Branch,  BOSAN Abuja, Otu Oka-iwu Abuja, NBA Kano Branch, NBA Gwagwalada Branch,  Medical Doctors at FMC Cooperative, and F. C. T. Pharmacies among others.

According to the company, among the leading lawyers already enjoying the services of the company are Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, Chief Tawo Tawo SAN, Chief Emeka Obegolu SAN, Sir Chike Ekeocha of Alex Izinyon SAN & Co/SUEX Nig.Ltd, Hon. Rodrich Ugwu, Chief Nic Omeye, and Mr. Ken Ugwuanyi.

Other beneficiaries from whom the efficiency of delivery can be verified, according to Bricks and Castles, include Chief J-K Gadzama SAN, Prince Adetosoye Adebiyi, Mr. Paul Daudu, Chief Peter Ilegogie, Aare Muyiwa Akinboro SAN, Aare Isiaka Olagunju SAN, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN of SPA Ajibade SAN & Co, FIDA Nigeria (FIDA House Abuja), Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN, Mrs. Amina Agbaje (FIDA Nigeria CVP), Dr. Mrs Ayorinde of Ayorinde SAN & Co, Mrs. Mariam Agbabokha; Barr. Mrs. Rachel Ebun Akerele; Mr. Anthony Malik SAN, Chief Kemi Pinheiro SAN, Mr. I. M. Dikko SAN of Liman, Liman SAN & Co; Hon. Justice Emeka Nriezedi of the Anambra State Judiciary; Dr. Hassan Liman SAN, Chief J. U. K Igwe SAN, Mummy Sylvia Okoregbe, John Ochogwu Esq., Prof. Godson Ogbonna of Abia State University Uturu, Sir Austin Mwana, Mr. Thony Lyiod Onyemaizu, Dr. Agada Elachi, Mr. Zach Akubo of S. I. Ameh SAN & Co., Mr. Ime Edem-nse; Mr. Edafe Mrakpor, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ebedebiri Cottage Hospital of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State, Federal College of Education Warri, Nigerian Agricultural Seeds Council, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators of Nigeria (ICMC), Chief R. N. Okeke and Sons Ltd of Wukari in Taraba State, and Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu of the Trademoore Estate.

Other reputable organisations with whom the company has a thriving partnership include NBA Abuja, NBA Lagos, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) Abuja, Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja, NFIU Cooperative Society, NBA Kano Branch, NBA Gwagwalada Branch, Medical Doctors at FMC Cooperative, and FCT Pharmacies among others.

Said the company: “In case of any issue with the Inverter Machine, another Inverter is deployed before we take the one that needs attention for troubleshooting/repairs.”

Visit: (Abuja) Suit A8, Kenuj O2 Mall, Kaura District Abuja (behind Games Village). Lagos: No 113A, Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi.

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‘INTERIM ORDER AGAINST REMOVAL OF UMAHI CANNOT STAND’

In this article, AKINTAYO BALOGUN, an Abuja based lawyer, asserts that there are several issues plaguing the legality and/or sustainability of the order of an Abakaliki High Court directing that Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi and his deputy must not be removed from office

On 10th March 2022, we were greeted with an Order granted Ex-parte (without hearing the other side), by a High Court of Justice sitting in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State (curiously filed just on 9th March 2022), wherein the Honourable Court in Suit No. HAB/13/2022 and vide Motion No: HAB/135M/2022, granted the prayers of the Defendants/Applicant as follows:

An interim order of this Honourable Court for seven days (7 days) (subject to renewal) is hereby granted, in view of its judgment in Suit No. HAB/13/2022 delivered on 28th day of February, 2022, being a judgment in rem, and having precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment. The Applicants hereto, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe shall accordingly remain and not be removed from office as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State respectively

It is easily deducible that this Ex-parte Order was made by the Ebonyi State High Court, following the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which had on the 8th Of March, 2022, declared the seat of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and 17 members of the House of Assembly vacant, following their defection to the All progressive Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party, a party under which they had been sponsored and elected to fill the various political seats in Ebonyi State. The Governor had informed a crowd the day after the judgment was delivered that he had hired a team of 17 SANs to prosecute an Appeal against the Judgement of the Federal High Court. However, while the said Appeal is believed to have been commenced, the same Engr. David Nweze Umahi and Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, addressed as Defendants/Applicants went gone back to the Ebonyi State High Court which had earlier on delivered a divergent Judgement to that of the Federal High Court, to seek and obtain the above-quoted reliefs, vide an Ex-parte application. We note that it is the same Suit Number that is contained in the heading of the instant Ex-parte Order that is also contained in the Judgement that had been earlier delivered on the 28th Day of February 2022 as stated in the Order. This means that it is one and the same suit where judgment had been earlier delivered that this Ex-parte Order is also being made and granted.

Several issues as to the legality and/or sustainability of the said Order have reason among pundits. We shall discuss these issues under the following subheads/issues for determination.

  1. Whether or not the Court ordinarily has not become functus officio upon the delivery of the judgment.
  2. Whether the Order made by the court does not amount to sitting on Appeal on its own judgment.
  3. Whether the Order made does not amount to a stay of execution of the Judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
  4. Whether the declaration “An interim order of this Honourable Court for seven days (7 days) (subject to renewal ) is hereby granted, in view of its judgment in Suit No. HAB/13/2022 delivered on 28th day of February 2022, being a judgment in rem, and having precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment does not amount to an attempt to oust the jurisdiction of any other court including a higher court.
  1. Whether the Court ordinarily has not become functus officio upon the delivery of the judgment.

It is a notorious fact that once a judgment is delivered, the Court becomes functus officio (that is, it has no power whatsoever to say or do anything in respect of the decision already made). They ordinarily have no powers to do or say anything in respect of the case again except to entertain certain applications as applicable under the rules of the honourable court.

Functus Officio was defined in the case of Buhari Vs INEC & Ors (2008) LPELR – 814 SC, where the Supreme Court held that a task performed; having fulfilled the function, discharged the office, or accomplished the purpose, and therefore of no further or authority. In the case of Chief Ozo Nwankwo Alor & Anor. Vs Christopher Ngene & Ors (2007) LPELR – 431 (SC); (2007) 17 NWLR (Pt.1062) 163, the Supreme Court said of functus officio: “A final order envisages that it is a permanent order made by the Court and the parties in respect of whom or against whom the order is made, cannot go back to the same Court to challenge or change that order. That Court, by virtue of the order, is functus officio and the only option open to the parties is by way of appeal against the order. This means that the rights of the parties have been determined to finality, and they cannot go back to the same Court on those rights.

It is an undebatable fact that the State High Court in Ebonyi which had earlier delivered a judgment in the same suit with Suit No HAB/13/2022, constituting the same parties, have become functus Officio, immediately upon the delivery of its judgment on the 28th of February 2022. The court has no business whatsoever in respect of the suit except to conduct a garnishee proceeding in respect of the monetary aspect of the judgment or to hear an application for stay of execution of the judgment. It is respectfully submitted that whatever statement, Order, or instruction, given by the same court, which are not contained in the type as envisaged under the rules of the honourable court are to all intents and purposes invalid and the court should immediately set it aside when it has the opportunity to do so. In this instant case, the final judgment was delivered on 28th February 2022. The court had no business whatsoever hearing any application that seeks to reinforce its earlier judgment. The judgment is already in force. What then necessitated this fresh order from a court when nothing has arisen within its ranks to change its judgment is still a thing of concern? As a matter of fact, the Ex-parte Order which seeks to reinforce the judgment the Ebonyi High court had earlier delivered, has no place in law. It is strange and unknown to the practice of law. 

  1. Whether the Order made by the court does not amount to sitting on Appeal on its own judgement.

The decision of the Ebonyi State High Court to make an Order reinforcing its earlier decision or making any pronouncement whatsoever in respect of an already decided case is the same as a court sitting on appeal over its own decision, whether in making a contrary statement or in reinforcing its judgment. The new Order made by the court will now open a flood gate of applications and submissions and room for a fresh argument on an already decided action. This ought not to be. The Court of Appeal held in thus case of EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY & ORS v. AGBEBAKU CITATION: (2018) LPELR-45056(CA)

“The general position of the law is that a Court cannot set aside its decision or the decision of a Court of coordinate jurisdiction made on the merits. However the Court has inherent power to set aside its decision when same are later found to be a nullity, obtained by fraud or mistakenly given under the impression of parties’ consent. That power does not extend to a Court sitting on appeal over its own decisions.

The Order of the Ebonyi State High Court under review does not seek to nullify its judgment, nor does the issue of fraud or mistaken impression arise. There is no basis for the said Order. The Court most respectfully has taken a decision to sit on Appeal over its own decision. What business has a court that has delivered judgment in favour of a particular party have in delivering another Ex-parte Order to reinforce its judgment?

  1. Whether the Order made does not amount to a stay of execution of the Judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

As earlier stated, it is easily deducible that this Ex-parte Order was given since there is a divergent judgment coming from the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. Now the Court in Abakiliki held thus:

“The Applicants hereto, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe shall accordingly remain and not be removed from office as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State respectively”

This Order is a direct contrast and opposite to the Order of the Federal High Court in Abuja which had held that the as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State, having defected from the party on which platform they won the election, are deemed to have resigned their offices. The court in Abuja further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept from PDP names of its members to replace the governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State to serve out the remaining part of their tenure or, alternative, conduct a fresh election to replace the governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State. Until there is an Order for a stay of execution of this judgment, issued by the very court that delivered the judgment or by a higher court, this judgment remains the law that ought to be obeyed. In the practice of law in Nigeria, an application to stay the execution of a judgment, is usually made to the same court that had earlier delivered the judgment. This is why the application is made simply by filing a motion and not an Originating process. Another court with coordinate jurisdiction, cannot order parties to directly disobey a judgment of a court, and worst still after judgment had been delivered on both sides.  See Order 31 Rule of the Federal High Court Civil procedure Rules 2019. See also Order 54 Rule 1 of the Ebonyi State High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2008.

A State High Court, making an order that technically stays the execution of the judgment of a Federal High Court is a strange practice, unknown to law and unpracticable. 

  1. Whether the declaration “An interim order of this Honourable Court for seven days (7 days) (subject to renewal ) is hereby granted, in view of its judgment in Suit No. HAB/13/2022 delivered on 28th day of February, 2022, being a judgment in rem, and having precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment” does not amount to an attempt to oust the jurisdiction of any other court including a higher court.

We respectfully submit that simply stating that the Ex-parte order of this Ebonyi State High Court has precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment” without specifically stating which court it has precedence over is an attempt by the court to oust the jurisdiction of any other court, INCLUDING a superior court. Ordinarily, the only court that can set aside this instant order, is the Court that granted it based on certain grounds or a higher court. However, stating plainly that this Ex-parte Order of the Ebonyi State High Court has precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment automatically means that whoever gives a contrary judgment, ruling or opinion, whether a lower court, court of coordinate jurisdiction or a higher court, same is invalid and should be discountenanced. This we most respectfully submit is an enormous gaffe from the State High Court. How do you use such an Order to oust any other subsequent Order or judgment, without specifying or limiting who the subsequent Order is coming from? What makes the judgment have precedence over any subsequent contrary judgment? The use of the phrase “any other subsequent Order” is too wide, too lose, and dangerous.

Conclusion

We must state with the utmost respect to the Counsel and to the court that the processes filed before the Ebonyi State High Court that had earlier delivered a judgment, amounts to an abuse of court process and same must be disconnected from the practice of law in Nigeria. The Court cannot afford to continually receive, produce or argue documents that are unknown to the practice of law in Nigeria.

The courts must do all that is necessary to protect its integrity and appellation with jealousy. The courts cannot allow themselves to be tossed around like a game of chess or allow themselves to be controlled by the winds of time. It is popularly said that whenever a matter is brought before a court of competent jurisdiction for determination, it is not the parties that are on trial but the judiciary. The judiciary must always come out with its head up high. Additionally, legal practitioners should endeavour to advise their clients appropriately and not to allow the desperation of litigants and especially politicians to determine their line and style of practice. Within a few years, the politicians you see today will be gone or would have lost political relevance, but the legal profession spans an entire lifetime. The few pleasures and earnings of the moment should not be allowed to put an indelible stain on the profession. I hope the judiciary can retrace its steps on this issue.

Akintayo Balogun Esq., LL.B (Hons), BL, LL.M, is a legal practitioner based in Abuja, FCT. akinson6@gmail.com.

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WHY FEDERAL HIGH COURT LACKS POWER TO REMOVE UMAHI

MR. JOHN COLLINS NWOBODO, an Enugu based lawyer, argues in this piece that while the Federal High Court by section 272 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) has jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant, that jurisdiction is not at large but only relates to the recognized grounds for their removal 

LEGAL EXPLORATION OF THE UNTENABILITY OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT JUDGMENT REMOVING THE GOVERNOR AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE FROM OFFICE

Introduction
On Tuesday, 8 March 2022, the Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo while delivering judgment in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2022 instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party ordered the sack of the Engineer David Nweze Umahi and Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

The reason for the court’s decision is premised on the court’s understanding that votes garnered during elections belong to the Political Party that sponsored the candidate citing section 221 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). In the court’s view, since the Governor and his Deputy had defected from the Political Party through which they came into office, they cannot lawfully transfer the votes obtained under the platform of the PDP to the APC, their new political abode. The said provision of section 221 of the Constitution cannot by any stretch of imagination be interpreted to mean that votes scored in an election belong to Political Parties. The section merely states that only Political Parties can canvass for votes for any candidate in an election. To canvass simply means to ask for or seek support. The language of the Constitution is so clear and unmistaken that the role of the Political Party is to ask for votes on behalf of its candidate. A benefit obtained on behalf of someone indeed belongs to the person on whose behalf it is solicited and not otherwise.

Germane to the issue under discourse is the question whether the office of Governor or Deputy Governor of a State becomes vacant upon the defection of the holder of the office from the Political Party on whose platform he was elected. Put differently, can the Governor or Deputy Governor be removed from office on the ground of defection?

The above formulated question will be answered by an exploration of the law on how, when and circumstances under which an elected executive political office holder- President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor can be removed or may cease to hold office.

Grounds for vacation of office or cessation of office under the Constitution
Under the Constitution, the office of the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor will become vacant under the following circumstances:

(a) Succession
(b) Death
(c) Resignation
(d) Impeachment
(e) Permanent incapacity
(See generally, sections 135, 143, 144 in respect of President and Vice President; 180, 188, 189 in respect of Governor and Deputy Governor).

From the above provision, defection is not one of the grounds for the Governor or his Deputy to vacate office. This issue came up for determination in the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney General of the Federation & 2 Ors. v Atiku Abubakar & 3 Ors (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt 1041) 1 wherein the Supreme Court categorically stated: “The power to remove the President and Vice President is provided for in section 143 of the Constitution. The provision clearly gives the role of removing the two public officers to the National Assembly….The Constitution has not conferred on the court the power to declare the office of the holder of the two offices vacant for whatever reason. Section 146 of the Constitution relied on does not confer such power on the Court….What section 146(3)(c) provides for is that where the office of the Vice President becomes vacant ‘for any reason’, the President shall nominate a new person, with the approval of each House of the National Assembly to fill the vacancy. The subsection does not confer any role on the Court in the process.” Section 191 (3) is the equivalent provision to section 146 in relation to the office of the Governor and Deputy Governor and the interpretation given to section 146(3)(c) applies mutatis mutanda to section 191(3).

Defection not a ground for a Governor or Deputy Governor to vacate office
Under the Constitution, defection as a ground to lose an elective political office applies only to members of legislative houses- Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly of a State. See section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution in the case of a member of the National Assembly and section 109(1)(g) in the case of member of the House of Assembly. In Abegunde v Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors (2015 8 NWLR (Pt 1461) 314 at 320 ratio 1, the Supreme Court held under section 68(1) of the 1999, where a person whose election to the legislative house was sponsored by a political party, becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that house was elected, he would have to lose his seat in that house. But under the proviso to the said section, if his membership of the new political party occurred because there was division in the political party which sponsored him and as a result he joined the new political party he does not lose his seat.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the Constitution did not intend that an elected executive political office holder will lose his position on the ground of defection. The Supreme Court in Jev v Iyortom (2015) 15 NWLR (Pt 1483) 484 at 497 ratio 8 stated that the express and unambiguous mention of one thing in a statutory provision automatically excludes any other which otherwise would have applied by implication with regard to the same subject matter. Had the framers of the Constitution intended that defection shall be a ground for vacation of office by elected executive political holders they would have provided so in clear terms.

The legal proposition that votes belong to Political Party no longer the law
Again, let us re-examine the reason, on which the Court’s decision was based, that is, that votes garnered during election belong to political parties and not the candidate. This is in fact no longer the law. The often quoted case of Amaechi v INEC (2008) 5 NWLR (Pt 1080) in support of the proposition that votes belong to the political parties no longer stands. In Ozomgbachi v Amadi (2018) 17 NWLR (Pt 1647 171 at 174 ratio 6, the Supreme Court emphatically held that it is individuals, as candidates, who contest and win elections. Also, in CPC v Ombugadu (2013) 18 NWLR (Pt 1385) 66 at 78, 79 ratio 6, the Supreme Court held: “…While a candidate at an election must be sponsored by a Political Party, the candidate who stands to win or lose the election is the candidate and not the political party that sponsored him. In other words, political parties do not contest, win or lose election directly; they do so by the candidates they sponsored…”

Two other instances in addition to the ones earlier mentioned which may give rise to the removal of an elected executive political office holder are:

(1) Through a pre-election case instituted within 14 days of the occurrence of the event. See section 285 (9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). However, the question may be asked did the suit which culminated in the orders made by the court a pre-election matter as defined by section 285 (14) of the Constitution (as amended). It is obviously not.

(2) Through an election petition complaining of an undue election or undue return. This is also not the case here.

Granted that the Federal High Court by section 272 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) has jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of…a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant, that jurisdiction is only in relation to the recognized grounds as already highlighted and does not extend to defection.

Impropriety of the Order Made
Another major flaw in the decision of the Court relates to the nature of order(s) granted. Assuming that defection is a ground to vacate office which is not though, the court lacked the jurisdiction to order the Peoples Democratic Party to submit a name of its candidate to INEC. In the circumstance where the offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor are vacant at the same time, the Speaker of the House of Assembly is the appropriate person to hold the office pending the conduct of fresh election. See section 191(2) of the Constitution (as amended).

Immunity not a bar when the issue touches on whether the office of a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant
One other point worth addressing before I end this discourse is the issue of whether the Governor can be sued in the context of the question of whether his office has become vacant. Learned Senior Advocate, Chief Mike Ozekhome, in his commentary titled, “Neither A Governor Nor Deputy Governor Can Be Removed From Office By A Court of Law For Defecting From His Political Party To Another” raised the question “Could the Governor and His Deputy Have Been Sued in the First Case?” and surmised that no civil or criminal proceedings could ever sustain against the Governor and Deputy Governor while still holding office citing in support the cases of Tinubu v IMB Securities PLC (2001) LPELR-3248 (SC); I.C.S (Nig.) Ltd v Balton B.V. (2003) 8 NWLR (Pt 822) 223; Fabunmi v IGP & Anor (no citation supplied) and Global Excellence Communications Ltd & ors v Donald Duke (2007) LPELR-1323 (SC). I strongly disagree with the Learned Senior Advocate’s viewpoint. The defence of immunity does not avail a Governor or Deputy Governor when the question borders on whether the term of office of a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant. This is because the Federal High Court is imbued or clothed with jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of…a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant by virtue of section 272 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

John Collins Nwobodo Esq. LL.B, BL, LL.M
Enugu based Legal Practitioner

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DETENTION: POLICE CHIEF BEGS LAWYER, GADZAMA C’TE INTERVENES

Under-fire Commissioner of Police in-charge of Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Annex, Lagos, Mr. Salisu Gyadi Gyadi has apologized to senior lawyer, Mr. Ayodeji Odukale for his detention alongside his client.

CITY LAWYER had yesterday reported that Odukale was detained on the orders of Gyadi for allegedly coming late to a scheduled meeting to resolve a charge of “threat to life” arising from a matrimonial dispute.

Following the CITY LAWYER report, the Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN-led Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) has waded into the matter.

Odukale told CITY LAWYER that Gadzama had telephoned him and asked him to write formally to the committee stating his grievances and demands, adding that the NBA-SARC also dispatched respected former Deputy Inspector General of Police Taiwo Lakanu to investigate the matter.

The senior lawyer, who was admitted to the Bar 31 years ago, stated that following Lakanu’s intervention, Gyadi had called him severally to apologize for the debacle, saying that he was “surprised and worried when I heard about your detention by my officers.”

The police chief stated that he came to grip with the full picture of the matter during a “marathon party interview,” adding that “our main aim is to see that the parties settled.” He expressed a desire to meet with the senior lawyer “one on one” to “dialogue” with him and personally apologize over the debacle.

Odukale thanked CITY LAWYER for putting a spotlight on his plight, saying that many lawyers and non-lawyers had called to sympathize with him. “I am happy that as a result of the report, NBA finally rose to the occasion,” said Odukale.

He stated that while he had acknowledged Gyadi’s remorseful posture, he was in the process of writing formally to NBA “to ensure that the apology is formalized and secure assurances that no lawyer or citizen for that matter will suffer the same fate that befell me and my client.”

Odukale had told CITY LAWYER that his ordeal started when he accompanied his client to a meeting with Gyadi, adding that immediately the duo entered the meeting room, Gyadi said he would “personally sign” their detention order for coming late to the meeting.

In a post he made on a lawyers’ platform, the senior lawyer said: “Good evening colleagues, I want to bring an unfortunate incident to our attention especially as there is a meeting tomorrow (today). I went for a meeting with a victim of domestic violence to meet with the commissioner of Police Force Intelligence Bureau, Kam Salem building, Obalende on Wednesday. The commissioner said we came late for the meeting and ordered that we be detained at Alagbon. Because you normally drop your phone before entering, l left my phone in the car. As a result, I could not communicate with the outside world. Somehow, I managed to get information across to my wife who tweeted NBA Lagos and NBA National. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, till today there has been no response from the NBA. It seems the NBA cares little about members in distress and this arbitrary use of power. What if we had a medical situation warranting administration of medicine every hour? So NBA would now rush and come and pay condolence visit?”

He said that the matter revolved around a domestic violence complaint incidented by his client at the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), adding that the team referred the matter to the Adeniji Adele Police Station. He stated that a police team from the station visited the suspect, and that the suspect turned around to levy a charge that he and his client brought “thugs” to threaten him. Odukale added that “threat to life” is not an offence known to Nigeria’s jurisprudence.

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LAGOS LAW FIRM NEEDS LITIGATION LAWYER

A reputable law firm based in central Lagos requires urgently the services of a legal practitioner with 4-8 years post-call experience.

The ideal candidate must possess litigation experience and should be able to work without supervision.

The salary is competitive and in accordance with industry standards.

Interested candidates should email legaljobs77@gmail.com.

CLOSING DATE: Friday, March 18, 2022.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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POLICE DETAIN SENIOR LAWYER FOR ‘LATENESS’, GADZAMA VOWS TO WADE IN

A 57-year-old senior lawyer, Mr. Ayodeji Odukale has been detained at Force Criminal Investigation Bureau, Alagbon, Lagos for allegedly coming late to an appointment with the police.

Odukale, who was admitted to the Nigerian Bar 31 years ago, told CITY LAWYER that he was detained overnight in a cell without food or medical attention on the order of Mr. Salisu Gyadi Gyadi, Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Annex, Lagos.

According to Odukale, Gyadi ordered his detention alongside his client on the ground that they “kept him waiting” and came late to a meeting over an allegation of threat to life brought by a complainant.

He told CITY LAWYER that his ordeal started when he accompanied his client to the meeting, adding that immediately the duo entered the meeting room, Gyadi said he would “personally sign” their detention order for coming late to the meeting. He said that the police chief did not allow them to speak.

In a post he made on a lawyers’ platform, the senior lawyer said: “Good evening colleagues, I want to bring an unfortunate incident to our attention especially as there is a meeting tomorrow (today). I went for a meeting with a victim of domestic violence to meet with the commissioner of Police Force Intelligence Bureau, Kam Salem building, Obalende on Wednesday. The commissioner said we came late for the meeting and ordered that we be detained at Alagbon. Because you normally drop your phone before entering, l left my phone in the car. As a result, I could not communicate with the outside world. Somehow, I managed to get information across to my wife who tweeted NBA Lagos and NBA National. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, till today there has been no response from the NBA. It seems the NBA cares little about members in distress and this arbitrary use of power. What if we had a medical situation warranting administration of medicine every hour? So NBA would now rush and come and pay condolence visit?”

He said that the matter turned on a domestic violence complaint incidented by his client at the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), adding that the team referred the matter to the Adeniji Adele Police Station. He stated that a police team from the station visited the suspect, and that the suspect turned around to levy a charge that he and his client brought “thugs” to threaten him. Odukale added that “threat to life” is not an offence known to Nigeria’s jurisprudence.

Odukale told CITY LAWYER that he and his client were detained at Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon from Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon when his family made frantic efforts to secure his release.

Asked whether he posted bail before his release, he said: “No; nothing like that. The CP just ordered our release, saying that it was a civil matter between husband and wife! It means I was detained for nothing. That is why NBA absolutely needs to make a statement on this matter to say that you do not detain people for nothing. That they invested an officer with power to detain citizens does not mean it should be deployed arbitrarily. What is more, I came innocently to the station even without an invitation. I was not aware of any time set for the meeting. I could have died from the shock of my detention or had a stroke. I was dumped there without anyone even bothering to know whether I was dead or alive. In fact, the operatives at Alagbon told me that the detention order was signed in red ink, saying that it was an indication that the signatory wanted us to be dumped in the worst of the dungeons!”

Responding to the charge of neglect by NBA, the Chairman of the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN told CITY LAWYER that he was not aware of the matter. His words: “I have been away to Katsina and unreachable because of bad weather and network. I’m on transit now. We have all shared responsibility as (NBA-SARC) committee members. I can’t remember seeing his message. Text me his number and one of our committee members will get across to him.”

Though CITY LAWYER contacted Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on the matter, he was yet to respond at press time.

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AKPATA IMPLEMENTS NEW CONSTITUTION, SETS UP DIASPORA FORUM

Barely 48 hours after CITY LAWYER broke the news of approval of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) amended Constitution by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the NBA leadership under Mr. Olumide Akpata has commenced implementation of the new constitution.

In a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER by NBA Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, the association stated that “The forum is to serve as a platform to connect and provide a voice for all persons qualified to practice law in Nigeria, but resident outside Nigeria.”

The statement added that “This forum will also serve as a structured platform through which all lawyers in the diaspora may contribute their quota – individually and collectively – to the development of the Nigerian Bar, the Nigerian legal system, and the practice of law in Nigeria.”

Section 4 of the amended constitution provides that “There shall be three categories of membership: Full Membership, Honorary Membership, and International Membership.” Section 4(3) further provides that “Any person who is called to the bar or qualified to practice as a lawyer in any jurisdiction other than Nigeria may apply to be admitted as an international member of the Association upon the payment of a prescribed subscription fee.”

The full text of the press statement reads:

NBA ESTABLISHES LAWYERS IN DIASPORA FORUM (LDF)

Dear Colleague,

Recall that one of the innovations in the recently amended NBA Constitution 2021, is the establishment of a Lawyers in Diaspora Forum (LDF). The forum is to serve as a platform to connect and provide a voice for all persons qualified to practice law in Nigeria, but resident outside Nigeria. This forum will also serve as a structured platform through which all lawyers in the diaspora may contribute their quota – individually and collectively – to the development of the Nigerian Bar, the Nigerian legal system, and the practice of law in Nigeria.

To join this forum, a prospective member must (i) be qualified to practice law in Nigeria; (ii) belong to a branch of the NBA; (iii) have paid his/her Bar Practice Fees; and (iv) be resident outside Nigeria. Anyone who meets these requirements is urged to kindly complete the attached form –
https://forms.gle/FduB6ACviQCRcYz76

Kindly note that the personal data provided while completing this form will be used strictly by the NBA to maintain a central register for NBA lawyers in the diaspora and for communicating directly with its members on matters relating to the NBA generally, or to the forum specifically.

Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association

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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.”

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ADEKOYA RETIRES FROM AELEX, NGIGE HAILS LEGAL ICON

BY EMEKA NWADIOKE

Pre-eminent senior lawyer and Bar Leader, Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN is set to retire from AELEX, a leading Tier-1 law firm she co-founded with four partners almost 18 years ago. This is coming against the backdrop of her attainment of the age of 70 years.

Perhaps pre-empting her retirement, Adekoya wrote in July 2020 on Twitter: “Time flies when you’re having fun! Glad to have been a part of this dream. Looking forward (with some trepidation I must confess) to the next step in the strategy plan – retirement! Many more mountains to climb!! #Lawfirmmanagement. #Strategy. https://lnkd.in/eNhQybh.”

Meanwhile, the legal industry has been agog with effusive encomiums on the respected legal amazon and globally acclaimed arbitrator. Extolling the virtues of the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First Vice President, the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) described her as “a great Amazon at the Bar.”

According to Ngige, “I took interest in Mrs. Adekoya when she contested and was re-elected as the National Treasurer of NBA at the 1991 NBA Annual General Conference held at Owerri. Her Treasurer’s report shook the conference to its foundations. Since then Mrs. Adekoya has remained a beacon of conscience and integrity at the Bar.”

Not done with his lavish praise, Ngige said: “As the 1st Vice President under Chief Wole Olanipekun’s able leadership she proposed the introduction of Stamp and Seal by the NBA to check the activities of fake lawyers. She has also contributed immensely to the improvement in the standard of legal education when she served as a member of the Council of Legal Education. She did her utmost best to raise the Bar in the legal profession with the setting up of one of the best law firms in Africa.”

Concluding, the CLE Chairman and former NBA presidential candidate said: “As Madam Funke clocks 70 and retires from active legal practice, I join her numerous well wishers and brothers in wishing her a joyful birthday, many happier returns, sound health, greater heights and peace of mind! I am very proud to be associated with her.”

Adekoya is a founding Partner at the firm and heads the Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Appointed Notary Public in 1986 and elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001, Adekoya has almost 50 years experience in Litigation and Arbitration. As a Litigator, she represents clients regularly before the Nigerian courts at all levels. She also provides expert opinions and has appeared as an expert witness on Nigerian law issues before the courts of England, United States and Turkey.

In the field of arbitration, she represents both local and transnational parties as counsel in domestic and international arbitration proceedings within Nigeria and abroad and has acted in numerous disputes as either party appointed Arbitrator, Sole Arbitrator or Presiding Arbitrator. She lectures regularly on arbitration law and procedure and has been approved by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as a Tutor at the Associate to Fellowship Course level.

A LLM graduate of the prestigious Harvard Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, Adekoya is regularly listed by leading global ranking entities as a go-to lawyer, especially in litigation and arbitration. She is ranked Band 1 (Dispute Resolution) by Chambers and Partners; Thought Leader (Arbitration) by Who’s Who Legal; “Most Outstanding Female Legal Practitioner” by Financial Standard Newspaper of the Year 2007, and “Most Outstanding Female Legal Practitioner” by Women Entrepreneurs African of the Year 2007 Network.

Reflecting on her service to the Sanctions Board of The World Bank Group, the board wrote that she “brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Sanctions Board in the past years, ”adding that she “made deep contributions to the jurisprudence of the Sanctions Board and the World Bank Group’s anti-corruption agenda.”

Aside from being a former Chair of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), CITY LAWYER recalls that it was Adekoya – as Chair of an NBA Lagos Branch committee – who recommended litigation against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Attorney General of the Federation when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought to compel lawyers to make reports on their clients to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML). The recommendation was unanimously endorsed by NBA-NEC. Both the trial court and Court of Appeal gave judgement in favour of NBA. It is not clear whether any further appeal is pending on the matter.

Adekoya who is the President of International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) is frequently appointed to arbitral tribunals, either as sole or party-appointed arbitrator conducting proceedings under the rules of the ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL and LMAA. Arbitrations in which she has been involved range from disputes arising from gas sales agreements, oil rig supply contracts to joint ventures in construction and real estate.

Her recent appointments have been in disputes brought under the ambit of either a BIT or an investment agreement. She was most recently appointed by the State party as arbitrator in an investment dispute between the purchasers of a monopoly electricity producer and the State in one case and in another case, the dispute was between an investor alleging breach of a mining contract by a State and the subsequent cancellation of the investor’s mining licence. She also advises clients on award enforcement issues within Nigeria and leads the counsel team in arbitration-related litigation.

Adekoya is a Fellow and has achieved chartered arbitrator status at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and has served as the Chair of its Nigerian Branch. She was a founding Board Member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) and a former member and a past Vice President of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris.

Her other memberships include the London Court of International Arbitration African Users Council and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration where she sits on the Board of Trustees. She is also a member and past Vice President of the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, in addition to being a member of the African Users Council of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. She is a member of the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa’s International Arbitration Rules Drafting Committee’s Advisory Board and the International Appointments Committee of the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

A Life Bencher, Adekoya is listed on various panels, including the ICSID Chairman’s Panel of Arbitrators; those of CIETAC, the Kigali International Arbitration Centre, the Lagos Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and the Panel of Neutrals of both the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

She has been invited to conduct arbitration training courses in Accra, Ghana and Kigali, Rwanda and is a regular speaker on arbitration law and practice both within and outside Nigeria.

Adekoya holds both Nigerian and British nationality and in addition to her being called to the Nigerian bar, she is qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association (IBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and LCIA African Users Council.

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BREAKING: CAC APPROVES NBA AMENDED CONSTITUTION

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) amended Constitution has been approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

CITY LAWYER had yesterday reported serious disquiet within legal circles regarding the delay in registration of the amended constitution with the CAC.

NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata had however told CITY LAWYER that there was no cause for concern, assuring that the amended constitution would be approved in a matter of days.

Asked by CITY LAWYER to confirm feelers from unimpeachable sources that the amended constitution has now been approved by the CAC, Akpata said: “Confirmed.”

A copy of the approved constitution sighted by CITY LAWYER showed that it was adjusted to reflect the petition by former Secretary to the NBA Constitution Review Committee, Mr. Olasupo Ojo who urged the CAC to refuse registration of the amended constitution.

The 92-page approved amended constitution is now titled, “The Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association 2015 (as amended in 2021.”

NBA political watchers believe that the CAC approval now gives the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) a clear roadmap to go full blast with its preparations for the forthcoming National Officers Election, thus clearing the haze over the legal regime for the all-important election.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Ojo had petitioned the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), urging it to decline registration of the amended NBA Constitution. In the letter titled “NOTICE OF OBJECTION TO REPEAL OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION, 2015 (AS AMENDED IN 2019), Ojo argued that the NBA “duly adopted and passed the resolution to amend the Extant Constitution at the 2021 Annual General Meeting,” adding that “Contrary to the foregoing state of fact and resolutions of the AGM, it now appears that the NBA had inadvertently inserted the following into the proposed NBA Constitution 2021 which purports to now repeal the extant Constitution:

i. Insertion of Sections 28 and 29 which purports to Repeal the Extant Constitution.

ii. Insertion of a Cover which reads: Nigeria Bar Association Constitution 2021.” 

Ojo could not be reached at press time for comments.

NBA Constitution as Amended

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UNCERTAINTY OVER NBA ELECTION, AS AMENDED CONSTITUTION REGISTRATION STALLS

The delay in registration of the amended Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Constitution is posing a serious threat to the planned National Officers Election slated for July 16, 2022, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

Sources who are familiar with the matter told CITY LAWYER that the uncertainty over the legal regime that will underpin the eagerly awaited Election has thrown the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) into confusion.

According to one of the sources, “Without clarity on the constitutional framework applicable, ECNBA cannot move on elections.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that former Secretary to the NBA Constitution Review Committee, Mr. Olasupo Ojo had petitioned the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), urging it to decline registration of the amended NBA Constitution. In the letter titled “NOTICE OF OBJECTION TO REPEAL OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION, 2015 (AS AMENDED IN 2019), Ojo argued that the NBA “duly adopted and passed the resolution to amend the Extant Constitution at the 2021 Annual General Meeting,” adding that “Contrary to the foregoing state of fact and resolutions of the AGM, it now appears that the NBA had inadvertently inserted the following into the proposed NBA Constitution 2021 which purports to now repeal the extant Constitution:

i. Insertion of Sections 28 and 29 which purports to Repeal the Extant Constitution.

ii. Insertion of a Cover which reads: Nigeria Bar Association Constitution 2021.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that the CAC may have referred the petition to the NBA leadership for its response.

Another ranking source told CITY LAWYER that if the uncertainty is not quickly resolved, several constitutional deadlines may be missed or the ECNBA may be forced to compress timelines, posing challenges.

Painting a grave picture of the magnitude of the crisis, a key stakeholder told CITY LAWYER that the uncertainty over the legal regime has a “chilling” effect on the entire electoral process.

Watchers of NBA politics observe that if the ECNBA has to fall back on the 2015 NBA Constitution, this may pose additional challenges to the electoral process, especially as it relates to payment of branch dues and attendant challenges as to compilation of voters’ register.

Efforts by CITY LAWYER to get an update from the CAC on the registration proved abortive, as the Registrar General, Mr. Garba Abubakar did not respond to our telephone call or to SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to his verified telephone number.

However, NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata told CITY LAWYER that there is no cause for concern, saying: “The process should be completed this week or early next week at the latest.”

It is recalled that the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) had approved Saturday, 16th of July, 2022 for the conduct of the election of new National Executive Committee members.

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BRT DEATH: LAWYER CHIDES SANWO-OLU, POLICE, OPERATOR

The lawyer representing the family of Late Bamishe Ayanwola has berated Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his handling of the demise of the BRT passenger.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi noted that “As we write, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu has not deemed it fit to pay a condolence visit to the deceased’s family.”

He also stated that while the world was still in shock about her death, “Governor Sanwo-olu was seen dancing at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

“Despite the death of a young Nigerian woman and the revelation of her unfortunate death on the eve of the International Women’s Day, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Sanwo-olu was still eager to CELEBRATE (?) the International Women’s Day. Despite protest by a young lady at the occasion in a viral video, it was still CELEBRATION galore (?).”

He decried the treatment meted to the family of the deceased by the Nigeria Police Force, adding that “Despite putting forward the viral video evidence produced by the deceased herself and sent to her friend, the family was shabbily treated by various Police Stations they turned to in Lagos State.”

According to Ademiluyi, a similar treatment was received by the deceased’s family at Lagos Bus Services Limited, the BRT franchisee, adding that “they were not only ignored but a team of combat -ready Mobile Policemen were set upon them.”

Below is a full text of the statement.

10TH MARCH, 2022

GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU DANCING ON THE CORPSE OF LATE BAMISHE AYANWOLA

We remain Counsel to the family of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA, who was found dead after a long search lasting many days when she became missing after sending videos to her friend after boarding a Bus Rapid Transport at Chevron Bus Stop headed for Oshodi Bus Terminus.

UNPROFESSIONALISM OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE
After all forms of assurances that the Nigeria Police Force has been completely reformed following the iconic #EndSARS mass protests, two years ago in 2020, the ordeal that the family of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA encountered in the hands of different Police Stations in Lagos State confirm that nothing fundamentally has changed.

Despite putting forward the viral video evidence produced by the deceased herself and sent to her friend, the family was shabbily treated by various Police Stations they turned to in Lagos State.

Apart from total absence of forensic investigation facilities in many of these Police Stations, the insensitive attitude of Police officers on duty to the plight of family members of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA portray low morale among rank and file of the Police given poor pay and inexistent working equipment.

LAGOS BUS SERVICES LIMITED, FRANCHISE OPERATOR OF BRT IN LAGOS HAS A CASE OF CORPORATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY TO ANSWER
They experienced their worst treatment at the Corporate Headquarters of the Lagos Bus Services Limited, the franchise operators of the Bus Rapid Transport in Lagos State. Despite putting forward an heart rendering story of their search for the deceased, they were not only ignored but a team of combat -ready Mobile Policemen were set upon them.

It was when the corpse of the deceased was discovered that the Managing Director of Lagos Bus Service Limited began to make frantic calls.

There are innumerous (sic) questions for Lagos State Bus Services Limited but some are:

a. Why was the details of the “Relief Driver” who drove the BRT bus not with LBSL?

b. Why was the particular bus in question kept from public view and plying the roads?

c. Why was it that it was when the corpse of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA discovered that the operations of BRT shut down in Lagos? Is there priority of profits above lives of Lagosians?

We submit that the LAGOS BUS SERVICES LIMITED has a case of CORPORATE LIMITED LIABILITY to answer. We call for immediate arrest of the Managing Director of LBSL within 24 hours by the Nigerian Police Force.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT LOOKS THE OTHER WAY: A CASE OF VICARIOUS LIABILITY
It is saddening that when the family reached out to the Special Adviser on Transport to the Commissioner for Transport of Lagos State Government, the laconic answer that they got was that the Lagos State Government has handed over the operations of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) to private operators, to wit, the Lagos Bus Services Limited.

As innocent as the answer may seem, it totally begs the question of who is the francishor of Lagos Bus Service Limited. It also begs the question of why the BRT buses ply a specially demarcated lane on both Trunk A and Trunk B Roads in Lagos State.

It was soon to become clearer that his response is a tip of the iceberg of the lackadaisical response of Lagos State Government. As we write, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu has not deemed it fit to pay a condolence visit to the deceased’s family.

On March 8, 2022, the day after discovering the corpse of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA, while the world was still in shock about her death, Governor Sanwo-olu was seen dancing at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

Despite the death of a young Nigerian woman and the revelation of her unfortunate death on the eve of the International Women’s Day, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Sanwo-olu was still eager to CELEBRATE (?) the International Women’s Day. Despite protest by a young lady at the occasion in a viral video, it was still CELEBRATION galore (?)

We are of the view that Lagos State Government’s resort to side comments reflect the disposition of “sitting out” this matter.

IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND FOR JUSTICE.

AYO ADEMILUYI ESQ.
Lead Counsel to family of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA and Lead Partner, Newworth LLP

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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

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FEMI FANI-KAYODE AND EFCC’S PROSECUTORIAL POWERS

In this article, AKINTAYO BALOGUN reviews the prosecution of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode on allegation of forgery of medical records and argues that the prosecutorial powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not at large

On the 17th of December, 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode before Honourable Justice Abike-Fadipe following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which had been earlier tendered before Honourable Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where Mr. Fani is being prosecuted by the EFCC for an alleged N4.9 billion fraud. Mr. Fani-Kayode appeared before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on a 12-count charge which includes procuring the execution of documents by false pretenses, use of false documents, fabricating evidence, and use of fabricated evidence, which is contrary to Section 88(1), 365(3), 366 and 369 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. According to the EFCC, the former aviation minister, through one Ogieva Oziegbe, procured fake medical reports on various occasions to avoid attending his trial at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court. It was alleged that the former minister had procured the false medical reports on January 31, 2018; May 30, 2019; November 24, 2020; March 23 and October 11, 2021. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has since commenced trial on the charges as brought before the court and has called witnesses to prove its case against the former minister.

However, a point of curiosity is as to whether the EFCC is the right organ of government to prosecute a charge that borders on the forgery of medical reports. EFCC probably has successfully done it in the past but the EFCC should understand that their prosecutory powers are not at large. The Supreme Court has made pronouncements on this issue and it is of importance and necessity that the institution abides by the decision of the Supreme Court to avoid an effort that would most likely end in futility if it progresses as it is. This write-up piece does not concern itself as to the propriety of the charge but as to whether the EFCC is the right organ of government to proceed with the prosecution of the charge.

In discussing this issue, heavy reliance is placed on the recent decision of the Supreme Court, delivered on Monday the 20th day of December 2021 in SC/CR/161/2020 between Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This judgment in my view should have been a guide in the prosecution of any further charge by the EFCC. In that decision, the Appellant’s Counsel had submitted that the Counts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, and 17 contained in the charge, which bordered on an attempt to pervert the course of justice, relates to a non-financial crime, for which the EFCC has no power to investigate and prosecute. The Appellant’s Counsel also referred to Sections 6, 7, 14 – 18, and 46 of the EFCC Establishment Act which specifically enumerates the extent of powers of the EFCC. The Appellant contended that where a statutory body acts outside the law setting it up or conferring powers on it, such act, irrespective of the objective, will amount to a nullity, relying on the authorities of Knight Frank & Rutley (Nig.) Limited & Anor. V. A.G. Kano State [1998] 4 SC. 251 at 261 – 262 and Nyame V. FRN [2010] 7 NWLR (Pt. 1193) 344 at 403.

Furthermore, the Appellant’s Counsel argued while relying on Emmanuel Ahmed V. FRN [2009] 13 NWLR (Pt. 1159) 536 at 551 – 552, to emphasize the point that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission can only investigate and prosecute offences relating to economic and financial crimes.

In agreeing in toto with the submission of Appellant’s Counsel, the Supreme Court held thus:

The result, in my view, therefore, is that the Appellant has discharged the burden of showing that the definition of “economic and financial crime” in section 46 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act admits of intention to apply the ejusdem generis rule, as only by so doing can we give effect to the meaning of “any form of corrupt malpractices” in the context of economic and financial crime. Accordingly, I am unable to accept, the submissions of learned Counsel for the Respondent that the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice under section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No.11 of 2011 is an economic and financial crime, which the EFCC is empowered to investigate and prosecute. Consequently, Counts 7 – 11, 13, 15 – 17 of the Amended Information have no foundation, and since the aforesaid counts are the only ones upon which the Appellant was convicted and sentenced, it follows therefore that the case of the prosecution was not erected on any pedestal whatsoever, it did not come before the Court initiated by due process of law; the trial court therefore lacked jurisdiction and ought to have declined jurisdiction. The law is well settled that, where a Court of law deals with a matter without jurisdiction, so doing amounts to embarking on a worthless exercise because no matter how brilliantly well the case is conducted it will be a complete nullity. It is the law that an order of Court made without jurisdiction is a nullity. See: ODOFIN VS AGU (1992) NWLR (Pt.229) 350: NIDOCCO LTD. VS GBAJABIAMILA (2013) 14 NWLR (Pt.1374) 350; EKPENYONG VS NYONG (1972) 2 SC (REPRINT) 65 @ 73 – 74 Lines 40 – 45. In the circumstance therefore, this issue is resolved in favor of the Appellant against the Respondent.

It was on this holding that the conviction which had been earlier delivered by the trial court and upheld by the Appeal court was upturned in favour of the Appellant. Note that the Supreme Court didn’t find the Appellant guilty or not guilty of the act he was convicted of, but because the prosecution of the charge against the Appellant was done by the wrong institution, the entire process leading to the conviction of the Appellant was declared a nullity.

Now relating this position to the case currently being prosecuted by the EFCC against Mr. Fani Kayode. The questions begging for answers are; does the EFCC have the power to prosecute the forgery of medical reports? Does forgery of medical reports fall under financial crime? Definitely not in both cases. They are offences that do not relate directly to any economic and financial crimes no matter how you try to connect them to other facts.

With a judgment still fresh at hand like this, I am still wondering why the EFCC is still proceeding with the prosecution of Mr. Fani Kayode by themselves. The EFCC, most respectfully, are towing the same path and might collide with the same doom if they do not take the right steps at this nascent stage. The action might succeed all the way to the Supreme Court, but with the utmost respect, the Supreme Court of late seems to look for the slightest procedural flaw in an Appeal to nullify an entire proceeding. I still do not understand the principle that the era of technical justice has long gone. It appears to my mind that we are very much at the heart of these technicalities in the dispensation of justice. This instant charge may also fall victim to this procedural flaw and render the entire charge a nullity if the right thing is not done now and immediately. It is a jurisdictional issue that can be raised at any time even at the Supreme Court for the first time as was done in the case referred to above.

To save itself the trouble of trying to justify an encompassing Section 46 of the EFCC Act, like it did try to do in the case of Nwobike v FRN, the prosecution of the charge can be carried out by the right organ of government empowered to do such, but as long as a particular organ of prosecution believes it can veto its way through every criminal charge, we will continue to see ourselves losing justice on the altar of such avoidable and unfortunate technicalities. There is nothing conferring powers on the EFCC to prosecute an offence that relates to forgery of medical records, most especially as it does not directly constitute a financial crime. The alleged forgery was not done in an attempt to swindle or get financial gains. It was allegedly done by an accused person who was avoiding an appearance in court.

The EFCC should have just concentrated on their prosecution of the alleged N4.9 billion fraud and left out the prosecution of the charge to the office of the Attorney General or the Police or any other relevant agency. If it continues with this, in the nearest future, the commission will find itself dissipating energy on defending whether or not it has the powers to prosecute this charge against an accused person rather than dissipating energy into defending the substance of the charge and getting justice. It would merely be another case of justice sacrificed on the altar of procedural or technical flaw.

Akintayo Balogun is an Abuja based legal practitioner. akinson6@gmail.com.

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. The assertions and opinions expressed in articles, announcements and/or news on this website reflect the views of the author(s) and do not (necessarily) reflect the views of the webmaster, the internet provider or CITY LAWYER. CITY LAWYER can in no way whatsoever be held responsible for the content of such views nor can it be held liable for any direct or indirect damage that may arise from such views. CITY LAWYER neither guarantees nor supports any product or service mentioned on this website, nor does it warrant any assertions made by the manufacturers or promoters of such products or services. Users of this website are always recommended to obtain independent information and/or to perform independent research before using the information acquired via this website.

 

FHC LACKS JURISDICTION TO REMOVE UMAHI, SAYS OKUTEPA

In this opinion article which he posted today on the CITY LAWYER WhatsApp platform, fiery Bar Leader and Election Petition lawyer, MR. JIBRIN OKUTEPA SAN argues that the Federal High Court lacks the constitutional power to unseat Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi

Today the a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered the Governor Ebonyi State Chief Dave Umahi and his Deputy Chief Eric Kelechi Igwe to vacate their offices on account of their defections from PDP to APC. The plaintiff in the matter was PDP. The learned trial judge based his judgment, from what I gathered from the news making rounds that the votes that brought the Governor and his Deputy to power were votes of PDP and not personal votes of the duo, and therefore the duo were not capable of transferring the votes to APC. Before I make further comments let me be clear. I am not a member of any of the Nigerian Political parties and I have no political affinity with any. My comments are purely to interrogate the constitutional validity of the decision and the jurisdiction of the court to make the orders and declarations it made.

This judgment on the superficial level seems very attractive and well intentioned to instill political sanity in our otherwise reckless political terrains. But beyond this and also scoring political debates, is there jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to make the orders it made, in the light of, and upon a dispassionate construction and interpretation of Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended. I do not think so. I will therefore endeavor to draw our attention to the procedures for removal of governor and his deputy and the authority or institution that has jurisdiction to do so as provided in our constitution.

There is no dispute that the Nigerian Constitution provides that there shall be a governor and a deputy governor for each states of the Federation. See section 186 of the 1999 constitution. There is equally no doubt that for purposes of election to the office of the governor and deputy governor they do so on the platforms of political parties. This very much is conceded. But after elections, declaration and swearing in of the Governor and Deputy Governor, the Constitution has set out how they duo can be removed from office, who has the powers to remove them and which court can decide if their term of office has come to an end.

Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution deals with who can remove a Governor or Deputy Governor from office. It is the House of Assembly after following the due processes set out in the constitution. No matter the political iniquities committed by the Governor and his Deputy there is no jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to remove them from office or ordered their removal from office.

There is no power and jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to determine and declare that by constitutional misconduct of defecting to another political party other that the party upon which the Governor and the Deputy Governor were elected their seats had become vacant and to order the conduct of election to their offices. Jurisdiction to made post election declarations and orders as made by the Federal High Court is not in our constitution. Section 251 of the 1999 constitution as amended in subsection 4 limited the jurisdiction of Federal High Court to determine whether the seat of a member of House of Representatives has become vacant or that of members of senate.

It appears that the draftsman of our constitution did not contemplate that when a governor defects or his deputy then he or she must vacate the office. If that were to be the case, the constitution would have said so. See section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution. When there is a dispute whether the term of office of a member of House of Assembly, Governor or Deputy Governor has become vacant or that they have ceased to hold their respective offices by whatever allegations, only the state High Court has jurisdiction to entertain such complaints. See section 272 (3) of the Constitution.

Clearly from the reading of the entire Nigerian Constitution, it is submitted with respect that while one must celebrate the jurisprudential logic and reasoning in the judgment under review, which is thought provoking and accord with moral demands to see that our democracy is well nurtured and follow best international practices and standards, such logic and reasoning cannot be situated within any of the well known cannons of interpretations.

The Supreme Court set the cardinal principles governing the interpretation of constitutional provisions as enunciated in the case of Rabiu vs The State (1980) 8-11 SC 130, that Courts should whenever possible and in the interest of justice lean to the broader interpretation unless there is something in the text or the rest of the constitution indicating that the narrower interpretation will best carry out the objects and purposes of the Constitution. This very much his lordship Adekeye, JSC as he then was said in the case of the Attorney General of Nasarawa State vs. Attorney General Of Plateau State(2012) LPELR-9730(SC) at 62, paras. B-C) when his lordship said Constitution must be read as a whole to determine the object of particular provisions.

This is what the Supreme Court said: It is a settled principle of interpretation that whenever a Court is faced with the interpretation of a Constitutional provision, the Constitution must be read as a whole in determining the object of the particular provision. This requirement places a duty on the Court to interpret related Sections of the Constitution together. See Nafiu Rabiu v. The State (1980) 8 – 11 SC 130 at 148; (1980) 8 – 11 SC (Reprint) 85 and Bronik Motors & Anor v. Wema Bank Ltd (Supra). In Hon. Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb (Chief Judge of Kwara State) v. AG Federation & 2 Ors (2012) 2 SC (Pt.1) 145, this Court stated thus:- “The duty of the Court when interpreting a provision of the Constitution is to read and construe together all provisions of the Constitution unless there is a very clear reason that a particular provision of the Constitution should not be read together. It is germane to bear it in mind the objective of the Constitution in enacting the provisions contained therein. A Section must be read against the background of other Sections of the Constitution to achieve a harmonious whole. This principle of whole statute construction is important and indispensable in the construction of the Constitution so as to give effect to it.

Guided by the above decisions and other decisions of our superior courts of record, it is my submission that the decision of the Federal High Court in this case suffers seriously from jurisdictional fatalities and may not stand when challenged. The question of independent candidate does not arise in this case.

Clearly the constitution has set out how a Governor and Deputy can be removed from office after they had assumed duties. The law is that where the law has set out how a thing is to be done and in this case the Nigerian Constitution has set out how to remove Governor and Deputy only that procedures must be followed. This much the Supreme Court has said per Garba JSC. Hear Garba JSC.

“In IAL 361 Inc. v. Mobil Nig. Plc (supra), the law was restated at page 2 that:- “And the law is sacrosanct that where there is a non-compliance with a stipulated precondition for setting a legal process in motion, any suit instituted in contravention of the pre-condition provision of the relevant law, is incompetent and a Court of law, is for that reason, lacking in jurisdiction/power to entertain it.” The cases of Western Steel Works Ltd. v. Iron & Steel Workers Union of Nigeria (1986) 3 NWLR (pt. 30) 617, Ajanaktl v. C.O.P. (1979) 3 & 4 SC, 28, and Gambari v. Gambari (1990) 5 NWLR (pt. 152) 572 are cited and relied on for that position of the law. This Court, per Musdapher, JSC, (former CJN) in the case of Owoseni v. Faloye (2005) 14 N WLR (pt. 496) 719 at 740 had stated in the lead judgment, that:- “Now, in my view, the Court of Appeal is perfectly right in the statement of the law to the effect that where a statute prescribes a legal line of action for the determination of an issue, be it an administrative matter, Chieftaincy matter, or a matter for taxation, before going to Court.” Oguntade, JSC, in his concurrent decision emphasized at page 757, that: “It is important to stress that laws which prescribed that some procedural steps to be taken to resolve a dispute before embarking on actual litigation are not and cannot be treated or categorized as ousting of the jurisdiction of the Court. Indeed, if such laws do so, they would be in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution. Such laws, only afford the body to which such disputes must be referred to in the first instance an opportunity to resolve the dispute if it can before recourse to the Court. In other words, they serve the purpose of preventing actual litigation in Court where it is possible or desirable to resolve the dispute.” Then in Ogologo v. Uche (2005) 14 NWLR (pt. 945) 226 at 245, Belgore JSC (former CJN) restated, emphatically, that:- “Where a law has given exclusive power to a body to decide, the Court cannot come in before that body has exercised that power. Court can come in only where there is exhaustion of all remedies before that body and Court will then be able to decide whether that power had been exercised lawfully.” See also Okomalu v. Akinbode (2006) 9 NWLR (pt. 985) 338 (SC). From these authorities, it is clearly incontestable, legally, that where the provisions of a statute or law prescribe some internal mechanisms by which, remedies or reliefs for some grievance/s could be sought and to be followed or complied with by a party before instituting a legal action in a Court of law over the same grievance/s, the party has no discretion or option, but to exhaust all the remedies provided for by the statute or law first, before going to Court as the Court’s jurisdiction in such circumstance, will be put in abeyance pending the completion of the internal mechanisms for the remedies. I refer to ORAKUL RESOURCES LIMITED & ANOR V. NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION & ORS (2022) LPELR-56602(SC) Per GARBA, JSC at PP. 26-29, paras. D-A

Clearly the procedures adopted by the PDP in seeking the removal appears with respect outside of the contemplation of our constitution.

But let us wait and see what the other higher courts in the land will say, but until then it does not lie in the mouth of the Governor or his Deputy to say they will not obey the orders. Their remedies are not in acting contemptuously but in ventilating their dissatisfactions by due process.

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WOMEN’S DAY: GADZAMA, MAIKYAU, TAIDI HAIL WOMEN

Bar Leaders, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN and Mr. Jonathan Taidi have felicitated with women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

In separate goodwill messages to mark the day, the Bar Leaders, who are believed to be eyeing the coveted seat of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, highlighted the challenges being faced by women and girls and urged them not to relent in their struggles.

Below are the statements by the gladiators.

JOE-KYARI GADZAMA SAN
Today, on International Women’s Day, I heartily celebrate and salute all the phenomenal women who have, despite all odds, persisted in forging ahead and breaking all barriers.

My ardent support for women is attested to by the fact that women of diverse attributes and backgrounds constitute over 60% of our lawyers at J-K Gadzama LLP.

These women have proved to be resourceful over the years and this inspired me to set up the in-house Women’s Group of J-K Gadzama LLP as a show of motivation to become global trailblazers.

On this day, I implore us all, to continue to support women towards the attainment of an equitable and sustainable society.

YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU SAN
BREAKING THE BIAS: Gender Equality Today for A Sustainable Tomorrow 

The 8th day of March is set aside as International Women’s Day; a day to commemorate the cultural, political and socio-economic achievements of women. We celebrate the giant strides that women have made in the pursuit of gender equality, the elimination of all forms of discrimination and gender based violence. Regrettably and to the detriment of sustainable development in most societies, there have been drawbacks that have withstood the realisation of the full potentials of women and girls all over the world. This year’s theme, “Break the Bias”, aptly exposes bias as a catalyst for gender-based discrimination. It also instructs us to put an end to it, so that we can pull down the obstacles to gender equality and indeed the progressive evolution of our society.

In Nigeria, the contribution of women to the development of the legal profession is undeniable. We therefore must continue to ensure that female lawyers are afforded the enabling environment to thrive and attain the greatest height in whatever area professional expertise of their choice. We must begin to embrace institutional policies that de-emphasise cultural, social and religious stereotypes which undermine professionalism and achievements of women in the legal profession – stereotypes that have not only stalled the development of the legal profession, but also have hampered the productivity and well-being of women in the profession. We must also adopt reward systems that promote gender equality and assure the empowerment of our female colleagues. The leadership of the profession must take practical steps in support of gender equality and the time to act is now!

The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act/Laws of various states are radical pieces of legislations that have bolstered the fight against sexual offences and other ills militating especially against women. However, they are only foundational steps in our nation’s journey towards gender equality across all spectra. There is so much more work to be done.

The recent events at the National Assembly, such as the non-passage of the Bills seeking to confer citizenship to foreign born husbands of Nigerian women; seeking specific seats for women in the National Assembly; seeking 35% affirmative action for women in appointed positions and political party administration and; for women to enjoy the latitude to become indigenes of their husbands’ states after five years of marriage, may not have gone down well with the proponents of these rights, but that notwithstanding, it is not time to lose steam and drop out of the fight. Gender equality is too crucial for the growth of any society, not the least the Nigerian State, and it is a pursuit that cannot be abandoned. Aggressive legislative advocacy for both domestic laws and international instruments need to be reinforced and sustained. Laws ensuring that the concerns of women are considered and given due attention in all facets of our national life should be our focus, and with persistence and resilience it is hoped that we will steadily dismantle the hampering biases against women. It is also expected that wise counsel will eventually prevail. The need to better appreciate, cement and embrace women’s place in the society cannot be overemphasised. Educate a woman, and you educate a nation; empower a woman and you empower a nation; liberate a woman and the entire nation is liberated.

JONATHAN TAIDI
No nation can reach its full potentials by undermining the potentials of its women.

The 8th of March is set aside to commemorate the International Women’s Day by appraising and appreciating the contributions of women to global progress.

The theme for this year: “BREAK THE BIAS: GENDER EQUALITY TODAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW” is well thought out as it affords us the opportunity to critically assess those barriers militating against the realisation of the potentials of women around the globe.

The world will be incomplete without women, but more striking is the fact that women are now taking up the gauntlet in surmounting contemporary challenges.

Today, we can find women at top leadership positions in virtually all areas including business and politics.

As we mark this year’s International Women’s Day, it is my sincere expectation that women would be given adequate considerations in legislation, policies and appointments while also encouraging them to stop being mere spectators but active participants in critical events especially during elections.

I also use the opportunity to call on the National Assembly to reconsider the Affirmative Action Bill as it will help break the bias against Women by encouraging more participation of women in politics while also working to end all gender based violence.

Happy International Women’s Day.

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IWD: AKPATA VOWS TO DEFEND WOMEN’S RIGHTS

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olumide Akpata has assured that the association will deploy both legislative advocacy and public interest litigation to secure the rights of women and children.

In a Press Statement he personally signed to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), Akpata said that “NBA will continue to play its role through focused legislative advocacy and, where necessary, public interest litigation with a view to achieving an egalitarian society that accommodates all and sundry, particularly women and girls.”

He decried the plight of women and girls as a “akin to a global pandemic,” adding that “All over the world, women are at the receiving end of policies, oftentimes conveniently anchored on culture and religion, which leave them short-changed. Also, in various theatres of conflict, women have continued to bear the heavier brunt of crises that are literally man-made. The recent events in Afghanistan and Ukraine are an eloquent albeit harrowing testament to this fact.”

Though he acknowledged “that we have in recent times recorded some measure of success in our efforts at fixing this anomaly,” he noted that “it is also true that there is still a lot of work to be done. In this regard, let me commend all women in civil society, the professions, academia and other segments of society who continue to sustain the tempo of this noble cause.”

Below is the full text of the statement made available to CITY LAWYER.

On our part, the NBA will continue to play its role through focused legislative advocacy and, where necessary, public interest litigation with a view to achieving an egalitarian society that accommodates all and sundry, particularly women and girls.

STATEMENT OF THE NBA PRESIDENT OLUMIDE AKPATA ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), I join the global community in commemorating the International Women’s Day (IWD), 2022. The IWD is a day set aside by the United Nations to draw global attention to the plight of women and girls and to strive towards the attainment of an egalitarian society where circumstances of birth such as gender, will play no role in the socio-political relations of society.

The theme of this year’s IWD: Break The Bias, is very apt as it speaks to the need to dismantle the limiting barriers of patriarchy and other biases that have kept girls and women at the back seat of our national life. The recent events at the National Assembly, where syndicated Bills targeted at a more inclusive representation of women in politics and governance was opposed by a male dominated parliament, speaks volumes of the structural ramifications of this social menace.

With women and girls comprising almost half of our national population, ideas and policies that tend to limit their inclusion in our national life tantamounts to shooting ourselves in the foot, as a nation is only as good as the wealth of human resources it can leverage from its population irrespective of gender. Indeed, it is not for nothing that the framers of our Constitution have guarded against discrimination on grounds of gender, amongst other considerations, in Section 42(2) thereof. I daresay that this Section provides the moral and legal justifications for a gender balanced and inclusive society.

Whilst I have spoken to the plight of women and girls in the context of Nigeria, it is a fact of our existence that the situation we are confronted with is akin to a global pandemic. All over the world, women are at the receiving end of policies, oftentimes conveniently anchored on culture and religion, which leave them short-changed. Also, in various theatres of conflict, women have continued to bear the heavier brunt of crises that are literally man-made. The recent events in Afghanistan and Ukraine are an eloquent albeit harrowing testament to this fact.

Even as I acknowledge that we have in recent times recorded some measure of success in our efforts at fixing this anomaly, it is also true that there is still a lot of work to be done. In this regard, let me commend all women in civil society, the professions, academia and other segments of society who continue to sustain the tempo of this noble cause.

On our part, the NBA will continue to play its role through focused legislative advocacy and, where necessary, public interest litigation with a view to achieving an egalitarian society that accommodates all and sundry, particularly women and girls.

Finally, I congratulate all women and girls on this momentous occasion even as we continue in our struggle to dismantle the walls and prejudices of patriarchy and other biases that limit and short-change them.

Happy International Women’s Day!

OLUMIDE AKPATA
President
8th March, 2022

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ELECTORAL ACT 2022: LOCUS STANDI ON QUALIFYING ASPIRANTS AN ABERRATION

In this article by DR. KAYODE AJULO, he x-rays Section 29(5) and Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and argues that limiting the persons who can challenge the submission of false information to INEC to only an Aspirant who participated in the primary election amounts to giving a carte blanche to political parties to indulge in impunity and continued violation of the Constitution to the detriment of electorate

LIMITATION OF LOCUS STANDI OF PERSONS WHO CAN CHALLENGE QUALIFICATION OF A CANDIDATE TO ONLY AN ASPIRANT BY SECTION 29(5) OF THE ELECTORAL ACT IS AN ABERRATION AND INIMICAL TO EFFECTIVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.

Introduction
It is no more news that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 25th February, 2022 signed the Electoral Act, 2022 into law. It suffices to recall that the said Bill was signed into law after it has suffered protracted delay and setbacks both from the Presidency and the National Assembly, particularly on the provision of the Bill which relates to mandatory direct primaries.

While commending the drafters of the Act for the wealth of industry and Mr. President for leaving behind a great legacy in our electoral process, it is pertinent to draw attention to the provision of Section 29(5) of the Act which limits the power to challenge the Constitutional qualification of a candidate for an election to only an Aspirant.

Exclusive right of a Political Party to field in candidate of its choice
Before delving into the probity or otherwise of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, it is pertinent to state as a prefatory that the choice of candidates by political parties for elective office being a political issue is governed by the rules, guidelines and constitution of the political party concerned and is a matter of internal affairs of the political party concerned. It is not to be questioned before any Court as it is non-justiciable. See the case of DALHATU V. TURAKI (2003) 15 NWLR (PT 843)

Furthermore, as a legal proposition, no member of a political patty has the locus standi to question the party’s prerogative right on the issue of its choice of candidates for elective office not even in the face of breaching of its rules and regulations.
The Supreme Court in the case of PDP & ORS v. EZEONWUKA & ANOR (2017) LPELR-42563(SC) held as follows:
“I dare say, The redress available to such a member who is aggrieved and who has suffered any damage as a result of refusing him nomination and sponsorship lies in damages against the political party and subject to the provision of the party constitution, rules and regulations.”

Redress available under the Electoral Act

However, the Electoral Act has made provision for instances where persons can challenge the qualification of a candidate fielded for election by a political party on the one hand and the failure of the political party to comply with its Constitution, guidelines and the provision of the Electoral Act in the conduct of primary election.

This rights were conferred by the provision of Section 31(5) and Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) both on “any person” in the first instance and on an “Aspirant” in the second instance.

The rationale for ensuring rights of redress and access to court have been given judicial imprimatur by the Supreme Court.

In the case of Ugwu v. Ararume (2007) FWLR (Pt.1048) 367 at 449 Noki-Tobi, J.S.C held that
“…It is certainly not the intention of the Act (Electoral Act of 2006) to gamble with an important aspect of the electoral process, such as primaries in the hands of a political party to dictate the pace in any way it likes, without any corresponding exercise of due process on the part of the aggrieved person.”

Similarly, at page 461 of the judgment Oguntade, J.S.C held as follows:
An observer of the Nigerian political scene today easily discovers that the failure of the parties to ensure intra-party democracy and live by the provisions of their Constitutions as to the emergence of candidates for elections is one of the major causes of the serious problems hindering the enthronement of a representative government in the country.

What does Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 provide?

Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act provides as follows:
“Any Aspirant who participated in the primaries of his political party who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by his political party’s candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate in relation to his constitutional requirements to contest the election is false, may file a suit at the Federal High Court against that candidate seeking that the information contained in the affidavit is false.”

A bird view of the above provision and a literal interpretation of the above section is to the effect that only an Aspirant who participated in the primaries of his political party and who has reasonable grounds to believe that a candidate of his political party submitted false information to INEC can challenge same.

Who is an Aspirant?

An aspirant is a person with a strong desire to achieve a position of importance or to win a competition. In the case of PDP & ANOR V. SYLVA & ORS (2012) LPELR-7814(SC) defined an Aspirant as follows:
An aspirant is a person with a strong desire to achieve a position of importance or to win a competition.

Indeed Section 87 (1) of the Electoral Act States that: “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective posts.”

From the above it is clear that an aspirant is aperson who contested the primaries. An aspirant is thus a candidate in the primaries.

Hence by parity of interpretation, it is only a person who contested at the primary election of a political party that can challenge the qualification of a candidate to contest election.

It therefore implies that by virtue of the provision of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, a concerned citizen, member of an opposition party, Non-Governmental Organization can no longer challenge the qualification of a candidate to contest election.

Comparison of Section 31(5) of the Electoral Act, 2015 and Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In proffering argument in support of the limitation placed by Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2015, it is imperative to consider a similar provision of Section 31(5) of the Electoral Act, 2015.

Section 31(5) provides as follows:
Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.

This provision of the Act has been adjudicated upon and interpreted by the tiers of Court, particularly the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In the case of LAWRENCE V. PDP & ORS(2017) LPELR-42610(SC) held as follows:
The operative words in Section 31(5) of the Electoral Act therefore are, a person”. The determination is a matter of interpretation.

I seek to state that in the interpretation of statutes, the law is trite and well entrenched that where the legislative words are clear and unambiguous, the Court must interpret and apply the words in their plain and ordinary meaning. This Court has held in a long line of cases that, it is not for the Court to re-draft a statute especially where the wordings are devoid of ambiguity or confusion. See Kotoye v. Saraki (1994) 7 NWLR (Pt.357) page 414…For all intents and purposes, the use of the words, a person” presupposes any person. It is also open ended to all and at the same time inclusive of all and without restriction or exclusion. The fact that one is a member of a particular political party or not, is of no relevance but is all embracing.
See also the case of PDP V. INEC & ORS (2014) LPELR-23808(SC).

It is opined that limiting the persons who can challenge the submission of false information to INEC under the provision of Section 66(i) of the 1999 Constitution and other relevant sections to only an Aspirant who participated in the primary election as done under Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 amounts to giving a carte blanche to political parties to indulge in impunity and continued violation of the provisions of the Constitution to the detriment of electorates and the Nigerian Citizens.

The Supreme Court while berating such acts of impunity in the case of SALEH V. ABAH & ORS held as follows:
“The culture of impunity exhibited by the 1st and 3rd Defendants continued unabated with 2nd Defendant, INEC declaring 3rd Defendant not only eligible but the winner of the said general elections 2015 (sic) and returned him unopposed as the Honorable member for the said Federal constituency on the platform of 1st Defendant, PDP, as other registered Political parties fielded no candidates at the general election 2015. The era of political parties presenting candidates holding public offices at Local, State and National levels with forged certificates which still persists in the polity needs to be addressed urgently by relevant law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders (and we add-including Courts) in this nascent democracy (Emphasis ours).”

The Apex Court further held as follows:
This Court must take the lead, in righting the wrongs in our society, if and when the opportunity presents itself as in this appeal. Allowing criminality and certificate forgery to continue to percolate into the streams, waters and oceans of our national polity would only mean our waters are and will remain dangerously contaminated. The purification efforts must start now, and be sustained as we seek, as a nation, to now ‘change’ from our old culture of reckless impunity.

The Nigerian Constitution is supreme. It desires that no one who had ever presented forged certificate to INEC should contest election into Nigeria’s National Assembly. This is clear and sacrosanct…

More compelling as a judicial determination had been taken by no less a technical panel sitting in, at least, a panel of three judges as Election Tribunal with constitutional mandate to determine such issues as they relate to elections and its outcomes, including eligibility. This has also been affirmed by the trial Court in this appeal. On these issues, our duty is to apply the Constitution and the law in its start, original form undiluted by colourated interpretations.

Flowing from the above, disempowering concerned citizens who has no political interest from challenging the qualification of a candidate who presented false information or forged certificate to INEC will only allow criminality and certificate forgery to continue to percolate into the streams, waters and oceans of our national polity and would only mean our waters are and will remain dangerously contaminated.

Presentation of false information or forged Certificate to INEC is a violation of the provisions of the Constitution and any person who believes that there is a violation of the Constitution ought to be allowed to approach the court to seek redress.

On this point, it is also imperative to draw attention to some salient questions:
a. What happens where there is only one Aspirant or where there is a consensus candidate and same has presented a forged certificate or false information to INEC?
b. What happens where an Aspirant has been bought over by the political party or its candidate?

It is also pertinent to add for the enlightenment of the unlearned that INEC cannot unilaterally disqualify a candidate from participating in an election even if same is aware of any anomaly perpetrated by the candidate or his political party.

It is therefore opined that the National Assembly must forthwith amend the provision of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act to allow any person who believes that a candidate has submitted false information or forged certificate to INEC to approach the Court to seek a declaration of same.

On Limiting jurisdiction to challenge the qualification of a candidate and conduct of primary election to only the Federal High Court.

A careful perusal of Section 29(5) and Section 84(14) of the New Electoral Act clearly shows that the only court with jurisdiction to entertain any pre-election matter and any suit challenging presentation of false information to INEC is the Federal High Court.

The implication of the above is that the Federal High Court is spooked with a lot of pre-election matters.

One must not forget that there are other civil and criminal cases pending before the Court.

One therefore tend to wonder what befalls these other cases during pre-election period, particularly considering the limited number of judges and the fact that all pre-election matter must be concluded within a period of 180 days from the date of filing.

The Supreme Court in the case of LAU V. PDP & ORS (2017) LPELR-42800(SC) while commending the drafters of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) for making more courts available for Aspirants held as follows:
“Obviously, the law is not static, particularly in election matters, and what the lawmakers have done with the enactment of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, is to make more Courts available to aspirants, who complain that provisions of the Electoral Act and Guidelines of a Political Party, has not been complied with in nominating candidates. To insist on the narrow and limited jurisdiction exclusive to the Federal High Court under Section 251 (1) (q) (r) and {s) of the 1999 Constitution when it comes to election and election related matters, is to close the doors that was opened to such dissatisfied aspirants to seek redress in the other High Courts other than Federal High Court. This I will not do; and this issue is resolved in favour of the Appellant.”

As could be gleaned from the decision of the Apex Court, limiting the court with jurisdiction to challenge the qualification of a candidate and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and guidelines of a political party as done in Section 29(5) and Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022 will clog the wheel of progress of politics in Nigeria, considering the large number of cases in the dockets of the Federal High Court and the limited number of Federal High Court judges.

Conclusion
On the backdrop of the above arguments and salient judicial authorities cited, it is therefore opined that to ensure free and fair election and sustenance of good governance in our polity, concerned members of the society, civil society organizations, members of the opposition party must be able to challenge the qualification of a candidate who has presented false information or forged certificate to INEC.

Similarly, the High Court of the States and the FCT should be donated with jurisdiction to entertain pre-election matters as same is time bound and requires expedite adjudication.

Ajulo, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), is the Managing Partner at Castle of Law, Nigeria.

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LEKKI, LAGOS LAW FIRM NOW HIRING

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LEGAL PRACTITIONER with minimum 4 (four) years post-call experience.

The ideal candidate must have 2:2 grade at the Nigerian Law School or University, possess core litigation experience, and should be able to work without supervision.Interested candidates should email legaljobs77@gmail.com.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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NBA-SPIDEL CHAIR, UBANI BURIES DAD APRIL 22

The father of fiery human rights activist and Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Dr. Monday Ubani will be buried on April 22, 2022 at Awomukwu in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.

Aged 101 years and popularly called “Egoro” by peers and friends, Late Pa Ubani Egbedubi Nwokocha died on January 3, 2022 in Lagos.

According to a funeral programme made available to CITY LAWYER, a Christian Wake-Keep will be held on Thursday, 21st April, 2022 at 6 pm for the deceased at his country home in Umuosoko Village, Awomukwu in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.

This will be followed by a funeral service on Friday, 22nd April, 2022 at 10 am at the same venue. Interment and reception will hold thereafter. All Tributes/Condolence messages should be sent to: paubani101@gmail.com on/or before 25th March, 2022.

According to the NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, “Egoro’s centennial longevity must be traced to the way he embraced life and living. He was friend to all and enemy to none. Like water, he had no enemy.

“Pa Ubani was proficient in many handiwork. He was a renowned gardener, farmer, electrical technician, drum maker, shoe maker and television repairer. He was loved by family, friends, neighbours and many for his meekness of heart, hard work, kind-heartedness and dedication in service to humanity.”

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MALABU OIL: LEDAP CONDEMNS PROSECUTION OF SURAJU, URGES PROBE

The Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP) has condemned in strong terms the prosecution of anti-corruption crusader, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju for allegations of corruption against former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke in the Malabu oil block allocation scam.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the Chino Obiagwu SAN-led organization noted that Suraju “has consistently made public massive bribery and abuse of power against Mr. Adoke and other foreign companies, for which some are currently facing criminal charges in Italy. Rather than investigate the allegations raised in Mr. Suraju’s many petitions, the Attorney General has elected to prosecute him, undermining the so-called anti-corruption agenda of the regime.”

Suraju was on Friday 18th February, 2022, arraigned on a two-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) before a Federal High Court at Abuja. He was accused of cyber-stalking Adoke.

LEDAP noted that “No mention was made of the veracity or otherwise of the corruption allegations by Mr. Suraju against Mr. Mohammed Adoke. Moreso, Mr. Suraju was charged under section 24 of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015, which the ECOWAS court of justice has earlier declared as contrary to Nigeria constitution because it infringes on the right to freedom of expression and the press.

“LEDAP is concerned that the prosecution of Mr. Suraju by the Attorney General of the Federation not only violates his right to freedom of expression as provided in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), but constitutes a blatant attack against human right defenders and anti-corruption crusaders in Nigeria. These are patriotic citizens who are fighting for the public interest of the country.”

Continuing, LEDAP urged the Federal Government “to investigate the allegations of corruption against the former AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke relating to the Malabu Oil scam, and withdraw all charges against Mr. Suraju.”

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SOWORE: GADZAMA COMMITTEE VOWS TO FREE DETAINED LAWYER

The Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN-led Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) has vowed to take urgent steps to ensure release of Mr. Abubakar Marshal, a lawyer remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre for allegedly standing as surety for firebrand human rights activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the committee frowned at the arrest and prosecution of the embattled lawyer, saying “that the Area Courts in the FCT cannot assume criminal jurisdiction” over a matter dealing with whether a suspect has jumped bail.

The committee assured that it is “presently taking urgent steps to ensure the immediate release of Mr. Marshal and that any defaulting party, be it the bench, the bar or any security agency alike, is appropriately sanctioned.”

It said that the arrest and remand of Mr. Marshal at the Kuje Correctional Centre “is a manifestation of gross impunity and conspicuous disdain for rule of law and the due process of law. Further to which we presently encourage anyone with useful information and/or evidence as regards all the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr. Marshal’s incarceration to urgently reach out to the NBA-SARC, to aid in the attainment of justice.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

STATEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION – SECURITY AGENCIES RELATIONS COMMITTEE (NBA-SARC) ON THE ARREST OF MR ABUBAKAR MARSHAL

Dear Colleagues,

1. In keeping with the mandates of the NBA-SARC, the Committee has taken cognizance of online media reports which inter-alia suggest that an Area Court sitting in Kabusa in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja has ordered that a legal practitioner, Mr. Abubakar Marshal, be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre till Tuesday, March 8, 2022, on the premise of filing a lawsuit on behalf of one Mr. Omoyele Sowore against one Mr. Ned Munir Nwoko.

2. Conversely, the NBA-SARC is further aware of contrary reports in some quarters that the police only arrested Mr. Marshal, who stood as Mr. Sowore’s surety for bail, when Mr. Sowore jumped bail. These contrary reports further claim that after Mr. Marshal on February 24, 2022, assured the Police of producing Mr. Sowore on the next date, being February 25, 2022, slated for continuation of investigation, neither Mr. Sowore nor Mr. Marshal was in attendance at the Police Station on the said date.

3. Assuming without conceding that Mr. Marshal stood surety for Mr. Sowore who allegedly jumped bail, the FCT High Court in the case of Gladys Chukwu v. Hon Gambo Garba FCT/HC/M/4499/19 and Barr. Anugo Ifeanyi Chuwu v. The Grand Khadi Sharia Court of Appeal & 2 Ors, FCT/HC/CV/2107/14 have held that the Area Courts in the FCT cannot assume criminal jurisdiction, and the instant circumstance is not any different.

4. We, therefore, unreservedly condemn this present illegality and are presently taking urgent steps to ensure the immediate release of Mr. Marshal and that any defaulting party, be it the bench, the bar or any security agency alike, is appropriately sanctioned. Indeed, the arrest and subsequent remand of Mr. Marshal at the Kuje Correctional Centre is a manifestation of gross impunity and conspicuous disdain for rule of law and the due process of law. Further to which we presently encourage anyone with useful information and/or evidence as regards all the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr. Marshal’s incarceration to urgently reach out to the NBA-SARC, to aid in the attainment of justice.

5. While we continue to call for collective support, please be reassured that all efforts are in top gear towards ensuring that justice prevails and that necessary sanctions are meted out to anyone found wanting in the present circumstances. It cannot be business as usual for injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.

Long live the Nigerian Bar Association.

Thank you.

DATED THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022

Signed:
Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, OFR, MFR, SAN
Chairman, NBA-SARC

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