SECURITY

DEBORAH YAKUBU: ‘RULE OF LAW IN ABEYANCE,’ SAYS TAIDI

A presidential aspirant in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections, Mr. Jonathan Gunu Taidi has decried the absence of rule of law in Nigeria, adding that the security agencies have failed to protect lives and properties.

Speaking as a discussant at the NBA Ikorodu Branch Bar Week, the immediate past NBA General Secretary said the situation “confirms our inability to evolve a workable template that suits our religious and cultural diversity.”

Below is the full text of his remarks.

REMARKS BY PAST GENERAL SECRETARY OF NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION JONATHAN GUNU TAIDI AS DISCUSSANT AT NBA IKORODU 2022 LAW WEEK

Protocol

It is a great honour to be asked to give a few remarks on the occasion of the Ikorodu Law Week. Although this event is an annual event, it is no less critical for the opportunity it provides for national soul searching, improving jurisprudence and elevating the bar and the practice of law in this country.

Everyday seems to bring  with it new challenges and even more invidious assault on the constitution and the laws we we pledge to uphold and defend.

The recent gruesome murder and decapitation of Ms Deborah Samuel within the premises of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto is a sad reminder that the rule of law is in abeyance and our security apparatus has failed – assuming there was ever any to speak of. It also confirms our inability to evolve a workable template that suits our religious and cultural diversity.

More disappointing, in a catalogue already filled with disappointments, is the comment by the Nigeria Police that some of the perpetrators of this heinous act were not even Nigerians but foreigners from Niger Republic. This is first an indictment on the Nigerian Immigration Service particularly, and the opportunistic and visionless leaderships which over the years have successfully superintended over failure in every facet of our affairs as an “independent” nation where impunity has become our coat of arms. As I write this the papers are awash with news of the arrest of the nation’s accountant general for allegedly perpetrating an N80 billion fraud.

We have made corruption a byword for governance and abominable violence is the new normal. This attitude of just condemning the vile actions of criminals by our leaders, without any deliberate strategy or action to check the menace, has not and will not redress our regression into anarchy.

It is unacceptable that our security agencies are always caught sleeping on duty.  It is time to invest more in intelligence gathering than on weapons especially in the face of scarce resources.

I urge all participants here to fully contribute to the discussions on Nation Building: Our Collective Responsibility. As legal practitioners we must always remember that we are the light of the nation, and we carry the torch of enlightenment and progress.

I hope this particular Law Week helps spearhead a national rebirth that will lead us on the road to a more progressive and prosperous nation.

Thank you and God bless our fatherland.

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  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Apr 09, 2022
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  • Comments Off on GADZAMA STORMS NBA CALABAR, UYO BRANCH LAW WEEK

GADZAMA STORMS NBA CALABAR, UYO BRANCH LAW WEEK

The Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch popularly christened as the Doyen Bar of the NBA held its Annual Law Week recently with the theme, “We the People: An Agenda for National Consciousness”.

Speaking on the theme of the Law Week, the Chairman of the NBA Securities Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), who was represented by Nella Andem Rabana (SAN), described security and education as twin factors which determine the level of development in a society. He explained that a society’s advancement is proportional to the level and kind of education and security architecture prevalent in that society.

Using Nigeria as a case study, Gadzama said that the parts of the country with the most incidences of insecurity are the Northern regions which are by far the most deprived of formal education. He outlined recommendations to better the situation of the country as it relates to both security and education.

Meanwhile, the Uyo Branch of the NBA also held its Annual Law Week from the 24th of March to the 1st of April, 2022. The Law Week which was christened “The Advent of Ibom Deep Seaport and the Prospects of Maritime Law Practice in Nigeria” heralded several insightful deliberations on the need for an all-inclusive approach in the development and sustainability of a standardized Maritime practice in the country. In the course of the Annual Law Week, several ideas were posed and resolutions made towards the fulfilment of this mandate.

According to a statement, “The Law Week also had other highlights including the Annual Dinner and Sit-out session. The event indeed all-round glamorous but even more thrilling was the crowning stroke; the farewell brunch courteously organized for the illustrious patriot of the Nigerian Bar, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN.

“The Executives and Members of the NBA Uyo Branch saw to it that their ‘in-law,’ in person of the Learned Silk J-K Gadzama, SAN was given a treat to several local delicacies before bidding him farewell.

“The Learned Silk whilst thanking them for the warm hospitality reiterated his unwavering support and commitment to the affairs of the Branch and prayed that such harmony, peace and innovation continued to coexist amongst the Members and Executives alike.

“It was a memorable, enjoyable and refreshing experience for all attendees.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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