AFAM OSIGWE ASKS POLICE TO HUNT KILLERS OF ANAMBRA LAWYER

Call for Justice: Mourning the Tragic Assassination of Our Colleague, Chief Jude Oguejiofor Esq. in Nnewi

I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Chief Jude Oguejiofor, a respected lawyer and pillar of the Nnewi community. The heinous act of violence that led to his untimely demise is not only a profound loss to his family, friends, and colleagues but also a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges facing our society.

Chief Oguejiofor’s abduction and subsequent assassination by unknown gunmen have sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving many in disbelief and mourning. As the principal partner at Jude Oguejiofor & Co law firm in Nnewi, Chief Oguejiofor was not only a prominent legal figure but also a beacon of hope and inspiration to many.

The fact that such a brazen attack could occur in broad daylight underscores the urgent need for a thorough and swift investigation by law enforcement authorities. I urge the relevant agencies to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. Those responsible for this senseless act of violence must face the full force of the law.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Chief Jude Oguejiofor during this incredibly difficult time. I share in your grief and stand in solidarity with you as you navigate through this unimaginable loss. May you find strength and solace in the cherished memories of Chief Oguejiofor, whose legacy will continue to inspire us all.

May Chief Jude Oguejiofor’s soul rest in peace.

AFAM OSIGWE, SAN

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NBA-SPIDEL COUNCIL MEMBER, ENAMHE LOSES BROTHER

A Council member of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Mr. Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe has lost his brother to the cold hands of death.

The deceased, Mr. Emeka Peter Enamhe, was a staff of Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State before his demise. He is survived by his wife and three brothers who are all lawyers.

A statement made available to CITY LAWYER reads: 

UNICAL ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICER, DORN CKLAIMZ ENAMHE LOSES YOUNGER BROTHER

The death has been announced of Mr. Emeka Peter Enamhe, younger brother to University of Calabar, UNICAL Alumni Relations Officer, Dr. Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe.

Until his death, Peter Enamhe was a staff of Federal College of Education Obudu, Cross River State.

Late  Enamhe was born on the 19th January, 1971 to the family of late Sir and Noble Lady Dominic Okpashi Enamhe KSJI, of Atiambi-Gakem in Bekwarra Local Government Council of Cross River State.

He attended St. Benedict Primary School, Ogoja where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1983. Thereafter, he proceeded to the prestigious Mary Knoll College, Okuku where he passed the West African School Certificate in 1989.

On completing his Secondary School Education, he proceeded on further studies to the University of Calabar, Calabar where he graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) in Agricultural Science. He completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Kaduna State in 2000.

Due to Peter’s quest for further education, he enrolled and completed the Post- Graduate Diploma programme in Management (PGDM) in 2003 and Master in Business Administration (EMBA) in 2004.

After the NYSC, Peter had a stint with the Bekwarra Local Government Council as Agricultural Assistant until he secured a job with the Federal College of Education (FCE), Obudu where he started his working career as Administrative Officer 2 in 2009 and rose to the rank of Assistant Deputy Registrar in 2021, a position he held until his death on Thursday, 25th January, 2024. He was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)

Peter was a devout Christian of the Catholic faith. PENAM, as he was fondly called, was a sociable personality who valued friendship and fitted into many groups and social circles.

He is survived by his wife, Blessing and four children as well as his siblings. They include Dr. Dorn Claimz Enamhe, Bar Emma Enamhe (a former Permanent Secretary and Chief of protocol to former Gov. Donald Duke) and Hon. Bar Marc Enamhe, a former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly and former NBA National Fin Sec.

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ELECTION TRIBUNAL: NBA-SPIDEL TO PROBE KANO BRIBERY SCANDAL

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has set up a committee to unravel bribery allegations trailing the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge had stated that a staff of the tribunal is under probe for a financial transfer.

Below is the full text of the press statement.

RE: ALLEGATIONS OF ATTEMPT BY AN UN-NAMED SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA TO BRIBE THE CHAIRMAN OF KANO STATE ELECTION TRIBUNAL

Information that has gone viral in the social media indicates that Honourable Justice Flora Azinge, the Chairman of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Kano State in an unprecedented manner expressed displeasure and anger in the open court when she alleged that a Senior Advocate appearing before the tribunal attempted to bribe her to pervert the course of justice. The Honourable Chairman was quoted to have particularly stated thus “A Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has a pending case before me is attempting to bribe me. Money has been flying in this tribunal since yesterday. Whoever collects money on my behalf, God will punish that person and his generation yet unborn — to the fourth generation. They keep abusing judges, insulting us every day in the papers, in the media — that we are taking bribe. Let me repeat again that nobody should approach me.”

SPIDEL commends the Honourable. Chairman of the Kano State Election Tribunal for voicing out the fact that attempts have been made by a Senior Advocate to bribe and by extension compromise the tribunal; and more importantly, that money has been shamelessly flying around in the tribunal for some time.

SPIDEL strongly condemns these evil practices and attempts to compromise the integrity of the tribunal by unscrupulous legal practitioners. It must be stated that attempts to bribe judges and pervert justice are not only criminal in nature but also amounts to infractions of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Any lawyer who engages in attempts to compromise the integrity of the court or any of its officers is a disgrace and an embarrassment to the legal profession.

By the Rule 1 of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007, it is incumbent upon every lawyer to uphold and observe the rule of law, promote and foster the cause of justice, maintain a high standard of professional conduct and not engage in any conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner. Lawyers, as officers of the court, are obliged not to conduct themselves in any manner that may obstruct, delay, or adversely affect the due administration of justice.

SPIDEL is of the considered opinion, therefore, that it is not sufficient for the Hon. Chairman to cry out, as she has courageously done. The Honourable Chairman is obliged, therefore, as a member of the legal profession to give names of the shameless characters to substantiate her allegations. It is only in doing this that the Honourable Chairman would have fully discharged the moral and ethical burden placed on her.

SPIDEL notes, unfortunately, that the Honourable chairman has sought to modify her earlier statement, and we hope that this modification is not arising from pressures on her. To keep silent is to enable malfeasance and perpetuate irresponsible behaviour.

May we reiterate that the later modification of the earlier statement of the Honourable Chairman of Tribunal is very surprising and confusing.

SPIDEL is willing and ready to take this matter up to ensure that the said Senior Advocate is made to face the wrath of the law as a scapegoat. We would not be satisfied except the Senior Advocate is called out by the Honourable Chairman.

We, therefore, call on the Honourable Chairman, Honourable Justice Flora Azinge, to boldly and courageously disclose the name of the Senior Advocate and other senior lawyers (if any) involved in this scandalous attempt to compromise the integrity of the tribunal. This call is expedient and the grant of same by the Honourable Chairman is imperative to enable SPIDEL do the needful in accordance with her mandate and in furtherance of the objectives of the Rules of Professional Conduct in the Legal Profession, which makes it a duty upon every lawyer to report every infraction of the RPC to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

The nation is watching as the legal profession is now in the eye of the storm by the allegations. We owe ourselves the sacred duty to protect the nobility of the legal profession, maintain the sanctity of our courts, and defend the integrity of the judiciary.

In the light of the above, SPIDEL hereby constitutes a team to investigate these allegations. The team is made up of:

1. Kunle Edun (Warri Branch)
2. Yakubu S. Bawa (Jos Branch)
3. Abiye Tam-George (Lagos Branch)

The team is expected to submit a report to SPIDEL within the next 10 days.

Dated the 16th of August, 2023.

John Aikpokpo-Martins
Chairman

Funmi Adeogun
Secretary

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GADZAMA URGES POLICE TO RESPECT LAWYERS’ RIGHTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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‘STOP THE KILLINGS NOW!’ ADEGBORUWA TELLS BUHARI

BY EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, SAN

In the course of last week, both Chambers of the National Assembly took up the issue of failing security across the land. Whilst the Senate asked that the service chiefs be sacked, the House of Representatives interacted with the security agencies. It is now clear to all and sundry, at least from the comments and contributions of lawmakers across party lines, that Nigeria is approaching a failed state. The pogrom going on in Southern Kaduna presently is totally unacceptable. In a programme that I monitored on television recently, a presidential aide was challenged to take a drive around his constituency without security patrol if indeed he feels Nigeria is safe enough. The worsening security situation across the land should be a cause for concern to all of us. The President has a duty to act fast, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Nigeria became a State formally in 1960, with sovereign powers transferred from the British colonialists to the representatives of the people. By law however, section 2 (1) of the 1999 Constitution states that “Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, and by section 2 (2) thereof, “Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory”. So, in the real sense of the word, Nigeria is created as a sovereign state consisting of federating units. Fair enough, the same Constitution that created the Nigerian Federation also specified the kind of powers that it should exercise and the functions it should perform, for its citizens. In this regard, Chapter 2 of the self-same Constitution, comes to bear. I will limit myself for this discourse however, to section 14 of the Constitution.

Under and by virtue of section 14 (2) (a), “sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution, derives ALL its powers and authority” (emphasis supplied). In very simple terms therefore, the sovereignty attached to the entity known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, resides in the people of Nigeria. In essence, all our leaders hold power in trust for the people of Nigeria and they cannot go on acting as if it is the other way round. To break it down more, there is no President who should claim to be in power, there is no Governor who should assert any authority and there should be no legislative house or even a court of law, that should rule over and above the people and be lording policies and decisions over them. Power belongs to the people, pure and simple. The fact that the people of Africa and especially Nigeria, have been living in the opposite of civility and modernisation, whereby those elected into office by the people turn around to arrogate power to themselves, cannot be an excuse to obfuscate this simple truth.

Now to section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution, wherein it is stated expressly and without equivocation, that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” A community interpretation of section 14 (2) (a) and (b) respectively will show clearly that the Nigerian State was created for the people of Nigeria, that the focus of the entity called Nigeria is the people and that the target of power and existence of that Federation, is the people. It is good therefore, to sound it loud and clear, that the very existence of government, the totality of the exercise of power, by all and sundry, is for the security and welfare of the people and anything outside this, anything done that cannot achieve this, means a failure of governance. Pure and simple.

According to the learned authors of Merriam-Webster Dictionary, SECURITY means: “(a) freedom from danger (safety); (b) freedom from fear or anxiety; … something that secures, protection or measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape.” The priority of security in governance is better illustrated by section 4 of the Police Act, wherein it is stated that the police shall be “… employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of this or any other Act.” What stands out in this section is the phrase “protection of lives and property”. Now, let us match this with certain data recently released by the Inspector-General of Police himself.

At the quarterly Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council meeting held in Kaduna in, 2019, the then Inspector-General of Police stated that in the first quarter of 2019 alone, 1,071 persons lost their lives in crime-related cases across the country. He stated further that between January and April 2019 alone, 685 persons were kidnapped. Amnesty International has a higher figure of deaths and casualties. In 2018, it was estimated that about 6, 562 persons died from crime-related cases whilst generally, an estimate of about 13,000 persons are said to have died from the insurgency going on in the land, whilst about 1.1m people have been displaced thereby. Just in one year! This is surely frightening, to the extent that no one can claim to sleep with the two eyes closed, any longer. It may well be that the government is taking all necessary steps to contain the rising spate of insecurity across Nigeria, but this remains to be seen by all and sundry, in terms of security and safety, in the real sense of the word. The summary now would seem to be that the government has not been able to rise up to the challenges posed by insecurity. The death rate is climbing everyday.

Now to welfare, since the two main points of governance are security and welfare. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines WELFARE as “the state of doing well, especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.” Are we doing well as a people, presently? Are we enjoying some form of good fortune economically? Is the well-being of the people of this nation improving in any form at all? Are we happy, with the state of things in Nigeria? Is there prosperity in the land? Without any doubt whatsoever, suicide cases have increased, the economic power of the people has dwindled considerably and virtually everyone now depends on handouts from the government, as private businesses are all struggling to survive, in the absence of basic infrastructure, especially power supply. I have no doubt in my mind that the true testimony across the land is that the majority of the people are suffering indeed. I see it in the text messages that I receive every now and then, for financial assistance, I read it in the news daily, of how many States in the Federation are owing their workers salaries, for several months and how the ordinary people are just living from hand to mouth, barely eking out a living, just surviving and tagging along. Companies are closing down, on account of COVID 19 and there is palpable suffering across the land.

The present circumstance of Nigeria is that many people have become beggars of some sort. Even as businessmen and women, professionals and even as manufacturers, the bulk of the little profit margin is spent on infrastructure, whereby you are forced to generate your own electricity, provide your own water, build your own road, employ your own security, train your children in private schools or send them abroad, if they must excel, provide yourself health care if you must live, and may be buy your own car, if you must move around. It is that bad, that the government seemed to have shifted all its responsibilities to the citizens. And how exactly is anyone expected to survive in such hostile environment, where you spend most of your valuable time in traffic, you get home to sleep in intense heat and darkness and then you eventually manage to make it to the office the following day, only to be confronted with power outage, all day long, draining all human capacity, productivity and usefulness. Can we then say that we have a nation or that any form of governance is in place?

From all the above frightening scenarios, how do you then describe the entity created as Nigeria, if it is agreed that the two critical responsibilities of government are the security and welfare of the people? This piece became necessary as it would seem that those in authority do not well appreciate the enormity of the situation that we presently face in Nigeria or that state propaganda has so prospered and become the art of governance, that some of them are totally ensconced from the reality of present day Nigeria. Whereas I know that some well-meaning persons exist in authority presently, I verily believe that the time has now come, for some frank introspection that will translate into some genuine appreciation, of the debilitating welfare and security conditions of our people, if we are to say that there is governance at all. In the absence of that, the reasonable conclusion is that we are gradually moving to a failed state, as echoed by those legislators, who, very unfortunately, are themselves part and parcel of the failure of the state.

The President must act and act quickly, as time is running out on him. As an expert in security matters given his background as a military general, it is totally unacceptable that the President is unable to stem the rising tide of insecurity in the land, especially the terror of bandits, criminals and insurgents. How do we have leaders and we live like nomads, victims and aliens in our own country?

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FIDA LAGOS LAUNCHES PDSS PROJECT

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos State Branch has launched its Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS). The event took place during the weekend at the FIDA Lagos headquarters at Makoko, Lagos.

Speaking on the rationale for the scheme, the Chairperson of FIDA Lagos Branch, Mrs. Philomena Nneji said it was aimed to assist indigent persons who come in contact with the law, adding that special focus will be placed on protection of women and girls against rape and sexual assault.

Tracing the history of PDSS in Nigeria, the Lagos State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN), Mrs. Iyabo Akingbade stated that approximately 70 per cent of total prisoners are awaiting trial detainees. She identified multiple adjournments as a major handicap in pre-trial detention, adding that State prosecutors charged with ensuring due process in criminal arraignments lack mechanisms to monitor or control the police.

“There are instances where detainees are held longer in pre-trial detention than would have been the case if they had been convicted for the offence charged,” Akingbade said, adding that duty solicitors are meant to “stand in the gap” and resolve many of the cases to reduce judges’ dockets.

On his part, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch PDSS programme, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke commended FIDA Lagos for the initiative, noting that there is a need to boost the provision of legal assistance to indigent persons. He however canvassed the need for an “urgent review of the PDSS framework in view of the fact persisting overhang in pre-trial detention.”

Former Chairman of NBA Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Adebayo Akinlade traced the implementation of the PDSS programme in the Ikorodu area, adding that the scheme posted several successes under his leadership. He urged the chapter to ensure that the scheme is sustained in order to foster access to justice for more citizens.

A senior officer with the Legal Department of the Nigerian Police Force, State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, Ibijoke Akinpelu spoke on the modalities put in place by the force to tackle rape and sexual offences among other crimes. She pledged the cooperation of the force with FIDA Lagos in carrying out its PDSS project. She also took questions from Makoko residents and duty solicitors during the interactive session.

Following the formal unveiling of the scheme, the chapter bestowed an award on Akinlade for his contributions to the growth of the duty solicitors’ scheme.

Other stakeholders who attended the launch are Mrs. Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, Executive Director of REPLACE as well as a representative of the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Kayode Omiyale. Members of the chapter held a legal clinic on the sidelines of the launch to offer legal counseling to some Makoko residents who attended the launch under the programme.

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AMNESTY INT’L, ODINKALU, BALLASON, OTHERS SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MASS KILLINGS

Amnesty International and human rights advocates have warned that unless there is accountability for mass killings in Nigeria, the trend will not stop.

Rising from the 2020 Annual Lecture of the Molluma Medico-Legal Centre held recently at House of Justice, Kaduna, the panelists noted that survivors, victims and communities affected by mass killings deserve empathy from government as well as dignity and closure. The theme of the lecture was “From atrocity to closure: Managing victims and deploying forensics in the aftermath of mass killings”

Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, decried the acceptance of impunity and lack of accountability for mass killings in Nigeria. Ojigho, who was on the panel of discussants, referred to cycles of killings and reprisals by terror groups and security forces or in so-called inter-communal clashes and regretted the seeming lack of interest on the part of the Nigerian government to bring these cycles to an end.

She gave the example of the massacre of Shiites in Zaria, Kaduna State, in December 2015 where security forces were involved in the mass killing and disappearance of hundreds with no consequences and no closure for the families despite the recommendations of a judicial commission of inquiry.

Ojigho underscored the importance of the “right to truth”, pointing out that truth has often times been caught in between a citizenry who demand accountability and government officials who disdain the kind of work that groups like Amnesty do in pursuit of truth about mass killings.

The keynote speaker at the lecture was world-renowned geneticist, Mishel Stephenson, representing Fredy Peccerelli, Executive Director of the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (GAFG). Ms. Stephenson called attention to the needs of families affected by mass killings and disappearances and underscored the obligation of government to address these needs.

Her words: “Families affected by such killings or disappearances usually have a diverse range of emotions, needs and priorities, such as locating the bodies of their loved ones, knowing the cause of death (right to truth), according their loved ones a burial, finding closure or ensuring justice. The skills required to fulfill these needs are multi-disciplinary, and include genetics, anthropology and psycho-social support. Forensic genetics helps in identifying the bodies when they are located and could also help in prosecution of alleged perpetrators or bringing to justice persons behind mass atrocities for the purpose of truth and justice.”

Stephenson revealed that in Guatemala, the work of the FAFG has helped to locate over 3,500 victims and to bring many people, including a former President of the country, to justice. According to her, the families and communities of victims are the real victims and the driving force behind investigations of this nature.

She warned that investigating mass killings takes time, effort and could be excruciating but is the only way that the collective dignity and humanity of both victims and survivors could be validated.

Drawing from the experience of Indian-Administered Kashmir, Khurram Parvez, a panelist and Chair of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances stressed the obligation of government to protect its citizens and communities, pointing out that quite apart from their impact on individuals and families, mass killings also undermine bonds of coexistence and faith in institutions. Mr. Parvez explained the importance of ensuring effective documentation of such crimes even when it is not immediately evident that any prosecutions will take place. In Kashmir, he disclosed, they have worked to document over 6,700 mass killings and mass graves.

Another discussant, Abiodun Baiyewu, Executive Director of Global Rights said closure would be much easier to achieve if government were to show empathy and sincerity in investigating mass killings and bringing their perpetrators to justice. “…this is the most effective way to break the cycle of atrocities and reprisals. When this does not happen, atrocities and impunity can be said to be ‘state-backed’, “she argued

Ahmed Salkida, Editor-in-Chief, “HumAngle” and foremost conflict reporter from Nigeria, argued that mass killings and massacres will continue as long as government and its agencies neglect their primary duty which is to protect the citizens and their communities. He complained that in Nigeria, government deploys effective assets to protect property but often behaves as if its people are expendable. “The government must choose its citizens over properties”, said Mr. Salkida.

Advocate, Peter Kiama, Executive Director of Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) in Kenya, who was also a panelist at the event argued that mass killings do not occur by accident but are enabled by government policies which means that policies can also be made to curb or eradicate them. He also called attention to the need to address the trauma needs of survivors who are often affected in ways that society and government are unwilling or unable to pay attention to.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, who chairs International Advisory Board of the Molluma Medico-Legal Centre added that it is important for families to have closure and to be able to locate and identify the remains of their loved ones and that could be made possible if citizens and government learn to count and account for each other. Citing the examples from both Guatemala and Kashmir, Dr. Odinkalu underscored the importance for attention to detail, documentation and dignity in responding to mass killings. ‘All these require patience and time’, he said.

Participation in the lecture came from over 30 countries, including Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States. They included former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice K.B Akaahs, former Attorney-General of Kaduna State, Zakari Sogfa; Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana at Legon, Professor Raymond Atuguba; and Head of Advocacy in Christian Solidarity World-wide (CSW), Dr. Khataza Gondwe.

Executive Director of the Molluma Medico-Legal Centre, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, said that the 2020 lecture was necessary to empower citizens to put pressure on Nigeria’s federal government to ensure accountability for the instigators, sponsors, perpetrators, catalysts and enablers of the mass killing that now characterize the country. “These killings will not stop until no one benefits from them”, Ballason noted, concluding that Guatemala is a great example of the power in citizenship movements.

Commissioned in 2014, the Molluma Yakubu Medico-Legal Centre works to ensure accountability for victims of medical crimes and mass atrocities, and to give victims dignity even in death. The Centre is located in Kaduna, Nigeria. The 2020 lecture is the third in series.

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

COVID-19: LAWYERS, COALITION SEEK MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY

* CITE LACK OF FAIR TRIALS, POOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Lawyers under the aegis of Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France) and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty have called for a global moratorium against death penalty during the Coronavirus pandemic period.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the two groups warned that it would be “contradictory and perverse” to carry out executions during the COVID-19 crisis when there are concerted efforts to save lives.

“When the whole world is trying hard to save lives from COVID-19, an execution by the state is contradictory and perverse” said Kevin Miguel Rivera Medina, President of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

In the statement, Avocats Sans Frontières France and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty called on all countries that still use the death penalty to impose a moratorium on death sentences and executions on the ground that fair trials and fair legal representation are impossible to maintain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement reads: “While some countries now sentence people to death by videoconference, as in Nigeria or Singapore, in others the prison restrictions have seriously infringed the rights of those awaiting execution because courts are stalled and law firms are closed. Options to help people whose lives are at risk are decreasing.

“The current global health crisis has demonstrated how profoundly unfair the system has been on people already weakened by their heavy sentence. A lack of visits to people on death row and the inability for lawyers and judges to work normally are all unfair consequences of an ill-equipped system.

“By comparison, those countries that have had the courage during this time to take a step, big or small, towards abolition shows that our world is made better without this archaic, cruel and degrading practice of capital punishment. For example, Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco and Zimbabwe nave granted commutations, which also extended to those sentenced to death.”

The groups note that “This 10 October, civil society will mobilize to celebrate the 18th World Day Against the Death Penalty, which will focus on the right to legal representation and highlight the role of lawyers in protecting those facing the death penalty. A right that is fractured by the health crisis since lawyers are less able to assist their clients and who are also economically weakened.”

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

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