CLASFON

CHRISTIAN LAWYERS WARN INEC, JUDICIARY ON 2023 ELECTIONS

Lawyers under the aegis of Christian Lawyers Association of Nigeria (CLASFON) have warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2023 General Elections are free, fair and credible.

The group also called on the judiciary to ensure that it is not used to scuttle the nation’s democratic experience, urging it to shun frivolous lawsuits aimed to derail the elections.

Rising from its President-in-Council Meeting held at Bible Guest House, Ilupeju, Lagos, CLASFON, in a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, said: “As the 2023 elections draw closer, CLASFON calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to take every step to ensure a free, fair and credible election in line with the provisions of the extant Electoral Act. CLASFON enjoins INEC to display the highest level of fidelity to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act and reject every attempt by political actors to hijack or derail the election process.”

Continuing, it called on the judiciary “to live up to its expectation as a bold, just and independent institution and as the last hope of the common man by acting as a watchdog of Nigerian Constitution and electoral law in ensuring that the will of the people is not thwarted. The Judiciary should be resolute and should not hesitate to dismiss frivolous suits with no value other than to scuttle the electoral process to avoid a repeat of the sad and unfortunate experience of 1993 when the courts were used to prepare the ground for the infamous annulment of the June 12 Election.”

Signed by Prof. John Akintayo and Precious Nwadimuya, CLASFON’s President and National Secretary respectively, the statement also decried the insecurity ravaging the country, saying: “CLASFON is worried about the increasingly alarming and pervasive incidence of insecurity in Nigeria. While commending the efforts of security personnel saddled with the duty of securing Nigeria, CLASFON joins other well-meaning Nigerians and groups to call on the Federal Government to restructure its security architecture.”

It stated that “the Nigerian Government should not merely declare that Nigeria is safe and criticise the travel advisories released by the diplomatic missions of some countries in Nigeria, including the United Kingdom and the United States, but it must ensure that all tiers of government act with caution and take concrete and measurable steps to adequately protect the citizens and other residents of Nigeria. CLASFON calls on all relevant security agencies to brace up and discharge their constitutional and legal mandates since no country can thrive or develop amid insecurity.”

Below is the full text of the communique.

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CLASFON DECRIES OWO KILLINGS, ‘WEAK’ CHARGE ON DEBORAH’S CASE

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) has condemned the recent killing of worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. 

In a communique made available to CITY LAWYER after its President-in-Council meeting in Calabar, the body also decried the filing of “weak charge” filed against suspects in the murder of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto.

Below is the full text of the communique.

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MAXIMUS UGWUOKE CONGRATULATES CLASFON ON ABUJA SUMMIT

Mr. Ikechukwu Maximus Ugwuoke, an aspirant for the position of Welfare Secretary in the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections has commended the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) on its summit which holds in Abuja.

The statement reads:

MAXIMUS UGWUOKE CONGRATULATES CLASFON ON SUMMIT; CHARGES THEM TO CONTINUE TO SET THE PACE.

NBA National Welfare Secretary frontline Aspirant, Ikechukwu Maximus Ugwuoke has sent a congratulatory message to CLAFON on her recently concluded two day submit in Abuja. In his message he said

“The summit for stakeholders of the Judiciary including litigants held by the Directorate of Anti corruption, Rule of Law and Good Governance (DARG), a body under the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) held at Abuja from 18th to 19th of May may have ended but the impact of the robust discussions on the theme of the submit “Promoting and Strengthening of The Nigeria Judiciary’ shall continue to endure and produce the intended objective in the Nigerian Judiciary.

“I congratulate the Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria CLASFON for living up to its motto which is ” A New Legal Profession Anchored on Christ” by chanting a new course for the Nigerian Judiciary through the well considered theme of the submit. There is no better time for such a submit than now when the country’s Judiciary system needs to be more strengthened to continue to live up to her enviable position as the watchdog of the Nigerian democracy.

“I thank God for the success of the program and charge CLASFONITES to continue to set the pace”

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SAFIYA BALARABE HAILS CLASFON ON JUDICIARY SUMMIT

SAFIYA BALARABE LAUDS CLASFON ON A TWO-DAY JUDICIARY STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT 2022

Safiya Balarabe has extolled the Christian Lawyers Fellowship Of Nigeria (“CLASFON”) who in partnership with the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory organized a two-day Judiciary Stakeholders Summit themed: “Promoting and Strengthening of the Nigerian Judiciary”.

According to her, “The Christian Lawyers Fellowship Of Nigeria has yet again demonstrated its profound resolve to always be in the forefront of nation building. This time around they have partnered the FCT High Court in organizing a two-day Judiciary Stakeholders Summit tagged: ‘Promoting and Strengthening of the Nigerian Judiciary’.

“This program projects an undeniable abundance of capacity from CLASFON, transcending their primary role of spiritual guidance for Christian Lawyers to temporal concerns bordering on the betterment of the nation which in itself is an offshoot of multiple biblical injunctions.

“It resides within the realms of my deepest desire that this program will once again send rejuvenating shock waves to the lagging heart of our nation’s judiciary.

“Thank you CLASFON.”

Signed:

Safiya Balarabe,

Treasurer, NBA Women Forum

‘JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED IN DEBORAH YAKUBU CASE,’ WARNS CLASFON

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) has urged the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that prosecution of the alleged masterminds of the killing of Miss Deborah Samuel Yakubu do not escape justice.

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the umbrella body of Christian lawyers stated that “against the background that murder or culpable homicide is a criminal offence in the Federal Republic of Nigeria irrespective of the motive for perpetrating it.

CLASFON however commended the Sultanate Council “for its condemnation of the unfortunate incident in its entirety and its appeal to law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of the acts which resulted in the death of Deborah Samuel Yakubu to justice, we expect all people of goodwill to do the same.”

The statement reads:

CHRISTIAN LAWYERS FELLOWSHIP OF NIGERIA (CLASFON) PRESS STATEMENT ON THE GRUESOME MURDER OF DEBORAH SAMUEL YAKUBU OF SHEHU SHAGARI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SOKOTO STATE

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) received with great shock and dismay the news of the gruesome and barbaric killing on Thursday, 12 May 2022 of Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a female 200 Level Home Economics Nigerian Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Sokoto State, by irate youths including her Muslim student colleagues, for blasphemy allegedly committed by her through WhatsApp communication with her course mates.

It is our considered view that there are adequate laws both substantive and procedural in the Statute books of Sokoto State to deal with the alleged blasphemous conduct of Deborah Samuel Yakubu and it was out of place to resort to jungle justice or self-help contrary to the law of the land. The unlawful and cruel termination of the life of Deborah Samuel Yakubu was a gross violation of her right to life guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the supreme law in Nigeria, as well as relevant international human rights instruments. The right to life is the most important and precious of all human rights and it is incumbent on all to ensure its protection. Life is sacred and Nigerian law does not authorise the unlawful taking of anyone’s life in the circumstances depicted by the gruesome killing of Deborah Samuel Yakubu. It is important to reiterate that the rule of law does not in any way support the criminal acts perpetrated with respect to Deborah Samuel Yakubu.

While we commend the Sultanate Council for its condemnation of the unfortunate incident in its entirety and its appeal to law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of the acts which resulted in the death of Deborah Samuel Yakubu to justice, we expect all people of goodwill to do the same.

We urge the Nigeria Police Force to ensure they leave no stone unturned to see that justice is served according to the law of Nigeria in the matter of the gruesome killing of a fellow citizen, Deborah Samuel Yakubu. This is against the background that murder or culpable homicide is a criminal offence in the Federal Republic of Nigeria irrespective of the motive for perpetrating it. The Police as an institution must not allow itself to be cowed by the sponsored protests in Sokoto State or pressured into abdicating its responsibilities to the good people of Nigeria by hoodlums whose only interest is the promotion of anarchy. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done in this case of Deborah Samuel Yakubu. Not only will this send the right message to the international community and all people of goodwill that Nigeria is a country governed by law and committed to the rule of law but it will also help to build the trust of the average citizen in Nigeria’s fidelity to the rule of law and respect for human life.

We urge religious leaders of all persuasions not to be deterred in performing their bounden duty to educate their followers on the need to be cautious, sensitive, tolerant and to follow legally prescribed processes for the vindication of their rights that are infringed cognisant of their tremendous ability to guide adherents of different faiths in Nigeria’s multi-religious environment.

CLASFON commiserates with the parents, family members, friends and associates of Deborah Samuel Yakubu and the entire Christian community in Nigeria on this sad development. We pray for God’s comfort and strength for them at this very difficult time.

We pray God Almighty to cause His peace that passes all understanding to reign in Nigeria in the most precious Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

DATED THE 15TH DAY OF MAY, 2022

Prof. Oluwole John Akintayo                                                                        Precious Nwadimuya, Esq., NP
President                                                                                                                        National Secretary

CLASFON_SOKOTO

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CLASFON, MULAN HOST GADZAMA IN ILORIN

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Security Agencies Relations Committee, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN has been hosted by the Executives of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), Ilorin Branch led by its Chairman, John Mayokun Dada alongside Mr. Femi Olorunfemi (Secretary) and John Olotu Bariki (Public Relations Officer).

Meanwhile, the leading litigator and chartered arbitrator also joined the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Kwara Chapter at the Princess Luxury Hotel and Tourism, Pipeline Road, Ilorin, Kwara State to celebrate the sallah holiday.

Gadzama was accompanied to the CLASFON meeting by the former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN); Mr. Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi (SAN) and Mr. Olasunkanmi Emmanuel Oluwabiyi.

Dada welcomed the entourage to Ilorin Branch and him that the executives deemed it necessary to welcome them to Ilorin. He informed the delegation of the activities of the chapter.

Responding, Gadzama appreciated CLASFON Ilorin branch executives for the honour done to him and promised to continue to support the objectives of CLASFON as a member. He stated that the essence of the fellowship is to instill the godly nature of Jesus Christ on members of the legal profession to ensure they are worthy of good conduct and character by shunning corruption. He commended the executives for their good service and implored them to be steadfast in their service to God Almighty and humanity.

Gadzama has over the years supported CLASFON in many ways. It is noted that the law firm of Gadzama LLP has over the years held Annual Christmas Carol by bringing together members from within and outside the Bar to mark the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is recalled that the National President of CLASFON, Prof. Oluwole Akintayo attended the last Christmas Carol of the firm held on Monday, 20th December, 2021 as Guest Speaker.

Gadzama was accompanied to the MULAN ceremony by the former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN; Mr. Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN; Mr. M. I. Akande; Mr. Ganny Ajape; Chief Debo Adeyemo; Mr. Olasunkanmi Oluwabiyi and Nafisat Ibrahim.

The NBA-SARC Chairman told the huge crowd that he has been enjoying the festive season in Ilorin with friends and colleagues. He encouraged the MULAN to keep up her good work by instilling the virtues of a true Muslim among her members.

Akande extolled the Chairman of MULAN Kwara Chapter, Mr. Folorunsho Ahmad Hussein who played a vital role in the NBA Ilorin Branch over the years and had been responsive to his duties. He introduced Gadzama and his entourage to the chairman of MULAN Ilorin Chapter.

Onigbinde disclosed that he had always been a friend to MULAN even to the point that he was invited to their Annual Lecture at Ibadan Chapter in Oyo State. He implored the chapter to extend their goodwill and kindness to others outside the faith.

On his part, Ajape aligned himself with Onigbinde and disclosed that Gadzama despite being a Christian, was solely responsible for completion of the Hajj to Mecca by some members of the Bar.

While the meeting with MULAN executives was ongoing, the National President of MULAN, Prof. Ibrahim A. Abikan joined the gathering.

Gadzama stated that he believes that the meeting was ordained by Allah. He informed the gathering that right from a tender age, he has always being a unifier of people regardless of religion, age, class, association, culture and philosophies. He implored the members to continue to propagate the virtues of true Muslims among the members and to others outside the faith.

The Chairman of MULAN, Kwara Chapter, Folorunsho Ahmad Hussein described the Sallah picnic as unique due to the presence of Gadzama, his entourage and the National President of MULAN, Prof. Ibrahim A. Abikan.

Abikan urged the members present to see everyone as human beings first. He attested to the fact that the good name of Gadzama has been registered in the hearts of MULAN members. Abikan prayed that Allah expands Gadzama’s coast to continue with his service to God and humanity. He stated that Gadzama’s presence in Ilorin has a hand of Almighty Allah. He noted that he has had heard about all the good works of Gadzama and will continue to have the Bar Leader in his prayers.

The MULAN Kwara Chapter Executives and members who were on hand to receive Gadzama were Abdullahi Saliu Ishola (1st Vice Chairman), Nurat Toyin Obalowu (2nd Vice Chairman), Malik Abdulmajeed (Secretary), Aminat Adeshina (Treasurer), Adewale Sheriff Oseni, Hajia Falilat Balogun (Ex-officio), Shehu Ismail Salaudeen (Ex-officio), Haruna Mahmud (PRO 1), Ibrahim T. Balogun (PRO 2), Lawal Abdulrasheed and Ridwan Musa, to mention a few.

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Dec 07, 2021
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GADZAMA HEADLINES CLASFON, NBA IBADAN EVENTS, FETES AKPATA, OTHERS

Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN will today deliver the Keynote Address at the Opening Ceremony of the NBA Ibadan Branch Annual Law Week.

According to a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER, Gadzama, a chartered arbitrator, will speak to the theme of the Law Week, “Unity in diversity and sustainable security in Nigeria: Any role for the law?”

Said the statement: “As part of the activities scheduled for the Law Week, the opening ceremony would commence tomorrow Tuesday, 7th December, 2021. To this end, a son of the soil in person of Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, OFR, MFR, SAN, has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the event.

“The devout bar man and pioneer Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN has maintained good ties with the people of Ibadan both as lawyer and golfer. Gadzama, who also happens to be a patron of the Ibadan Golf Club, occasionally enjoys the sport with friends and colleagues at the Tiger Golf Club and IITA Golf Club in Ibadan. He has and continues to show his undying loyalty and support to the Ibadan Bar. Little wonder, one of his Partners and Head of Lagos Office, Oluniyi Adediji, Esq., ACTI, hails from Ibadan, Oyo State.”

Meanwhile, the leading litigator was one of the special guests at the 2021 Annual Dinner of the Abuja Branch of Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) hosted in honour of Justice Peter Oyinkenimiemi Affen of the Court of Appeal.

In his goodwill message, Gadzama, a veteran Clasfonite, lauded the leadership of Abuja Branch of CLASFON for the dinner and the “continual succor” given to the Bar in the place of prayer and admonition. He urged the association to “continue in the spirit of commitment and fellowship to pray for the betterment of the legal profession in Nigeria.”

Gadzama emphasized the importance of the independence of the Judiciary and extolled the “dexterity and unwavering sincerity and transparency of Hon. Justice P. O. Affen.” He urged the jurist “to keep up with the good work.”

In a similar vein, Gadzama who is also the Chairman of the Mentorship Committee of the Body of Benchers (BOB), recently hosted NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and other guests at his residence after his 60th Birthday Thanksgiving service held at the Church of the Brethren Nigeria (EYN).

The event witnessed presentation of birthday gifts to Gadzama by the guests who extolled his good deeds and leadership qualities. These included gifts from the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association led by Mrs. Afiniki Hananiya, the Legal team of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by Prof. Joash Amopitan SAN, as well as the staff of J-K Gadzama LLP led by Mohammed Monguno, a former Attorney General of Borno State.

Aside from Akpata, other dignitaries at the barbecue/lunch were Oba A. O. Aladelusi Odundun II, the Deji of Akure and his wife; Alfred Dimas Gadzama, the Garkuwa of Uba Emirates; K. T. Turaki SAN, former federal Minister; Alhaji Garba Gajam, former Nigerian Ambassador to State of Kuwait and Kingdom of Bahrain; Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, and Mr. Mela Nunghe SAN and his wife.

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