ANALYSIS: UWANNA, NTA EKPIKEN EMERGE CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY AS NBA LAGOS BRANCH HOLDS POLLS

 

THE SQUIB authoritatively reports that Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna has emerged as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch.

 Uwanna scored 590 (71.8%) votes while his runner-up, Mr. Anthony Atata, trailed with 186 (22.6%). Mr. Seth Amaefule scored the least votes, which is, 46 (5.6%)

In a related development, Ms. Nta Ekpiken, emerged as the new Branch Secretary with 533 votes. Shola Abiloye was the first runner up with 258 votes while James Sonde came third with 33 votes.

It will be recalled that the two offices were the ones up for contest as the other offices had candidates standing unopposed.

 

THE SQUIB gathered that one major factor that sprung victory for Uwanna  is the panache that he brought to his campaign. He equally enjoyed a formidable team of enthusiastic supporters who were regularly bombarding WhatsApp groups in which NBA Lagos Branch members are located.

It will also be recalled that Uwanna has served as Secretary of the Branch under Chukwuka Ikwuazom's Chairmanship of the Branch between 2017 to 2019. THE SQUIB obtained information he leveraged on his earned reputation and support base in the Branch to clinch victory.

Anthony Atata, the runner-up is well known as Publisher of CourtRoom Mail. He brought his media skills to the fore during the campaign. THE SQUIB gathered that the chink in his armour could be his late participation in the race due to an early disqualification which was subsequently set aside and his near lack of a team of campaigners.

Seth Amafuele , who took the last position is a former Secretary of the Branch. His most distintive message is the need for Bar activism. However, with NBA Lagos Branch known for his conservatism, he sounds like an evangelist with a "strange gospel" in a "strange land". Despite his loss, the validity of his message will echo .

In the race for Secretary of the Branch, it was clear to many pundits as THE SQUIB gathered that Sola Abiloye's unnecessary petition to the Electoral Committee  against Nta for her disqualification, which was overruled has pitted her to win the race. Sola Abiloye's participation, according to feelers , THE SQUIB gathered is also perceived in some quarters as breach of the unwritten  "ethnic balancing agreement" among Barmen in NBA Lagos Branch that the Yoruba and Igbo/South South  ethnic stock will alternate the core leadership of the Branch, to wit, Chairman and Secretary, every two years. 

This unwritten "ethnic balancing agreement" was believed to have commenced with the Ogunleye-led Chairmanship which was succeeded by Ikwuazom's Chairmanship, followed by Akangbe with Moshood Abiola as Secretary.

THE LEARNED SQUIB WITH ADESINA OGUNLANA: THE FUNNY LAMENTATIONS OF BOSAN

 

I was amused  to learn that some priveleged lawyers are complaining that too many lawyers are joining their priveleged circle.See selfishness in action , although I concede that selfishness is very natural . The only thing is that selfishness hardly goes noble and hardly comes out smelling nice  because it  inevitably swings with GREED . Greed in Yoruba is called many names one is OJUKOKORO . But one name I really appreciate for it in Yoruba is 'ANIKANJOPON'( the one who clears EVERYTHING  only for himself, leaving NOTHING for others ) .The BODY OF SENIOR ADVOCATES OF NIGERIA  has now just realised that the standards for gaining the silk are too low or easy ? Shame . Every one informed and honest enough should know that the pristine quality of the clearly aristocratic and abjectly undemocratic rank and ranking created in 1975 was not maintained beyond a decade . Clearly from 1990 , rot had started seeping in as so called eminent layers and so called respectable jurists started PUTTING their relatives , mentees into the group while many truly qualified lawyers were denied the so called ELEVATION for lack of CONNECTION . By the turn of 2000s, desperate characters with no familial or dynastic or political  leverage,  hadintroduced the factor of financial inducement and monetary shenanigans into the dynamics of getting the so called ELEVATION . Dont forget that as from at least 2000, CARTELISM codenamed ' consortium of lawyers' had started featuring in earnest ,while the' elevated 'lawyers were energetic in the propaganda to the public that  the only lawyer worth the while in serious and big cases is the lawyer called SAN ! 

The result of that propaganda drove more lawyers to attain the SAN title by all means .....who doesnt like money ? 

So BOSAN,  please stop crying and wipe your face . It is gross misconduct , nay conduct unbecoming of big time lawyers to be lachrymose in public . Let the cheese spread , let the music play on . You should learn that ENI KAN KII JE KILEFE .What goes round , comes round .Serves you guys right

NB . On a reconsideration , I suggest that instead of BOSAN wailing about bloated membership , they can help out . Older members can consider resigning en masse in tangible protest and in shining example of leadership . I humbly suggest that all living silks who have spent 30 years and above should quit the rank and association while retirement age from the silk degree should be pegged at 20 or 25 years as from next year !

SQUIB EDITORIAL: NBA JUNE 2021 NEC SHOULD SET INDEPENDENT AGENDA ON AUTONOMY, WELFARE AND STATE OF THE NATION

 

The Nigerian Bar Association is set to hold National Executive Committee Meeting on Wednesday,  23rd June, 2021 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

THE SQUIB is of the view that the NBA June 2021 NEC Meeting is holding at an auspicious time. With the recently suspended industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over autonomy of the Judiciary, most members of the NBA are waiting with abated breath what would be the outcome of the three month timeline of engagement between JUSUN and the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF). Will JUSUN return to strike?

This question is directly posed before the NBA June 2021 NEC. What the NBA NEC needs to urgently do is to discuss and agree on an independent agenda of engagement of the Association with the Governors. This will take the form of an independent correspondence to the Governors' Forum and a template of engagement by Branches of the Association.

This becomes necessary to avoid a situation where NBA becomes an "accessory after the fact" at the face of another round of Industrial action by JUSUN. While the Olumide-Akpata led national leadership of NBA needs to be commended for its extension of solidarity to JUSUN , it must now do more to set an independent agenda on the issue of Judicial Autonomy.

The NEC should also discuss the state of welfare of members of the Association , especially fresh wave of harrasment of lawyers by security agencies. A case in point is that of the harrasment of Mr. Justin Gbagir , the Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch by EFCC operatives. We call for setting up of National Taskforce against Harrasment of Lawyers which can institute legal action against incidents of harrasment and responds to the cases of harrasment.

The NEC should also discuss the State of the Nation especially the spate of attacks on democratic rights by the  Executive of the Federal Government of Nigeria , particularly with the ban on Twitter among others. A Programme of Action on the State of the Nation should be set by NEC to include press conferences, public interest litigation and direct intervention, where possible against these attacks.

It is in this way that the NBA can reclaim its position of pride among her members and the Nigerian citizenry.

"SARS IKEJA IS BACK-SETH AMAEFULE, LAGOS LAWYER CRIES OUT"

 A Lagos-based lawyer, Seth Amaefule has taken to social media to narrate his first hand reports of fresh cases of torture at SARS Ikeja, confirming that the scrapped Squad is alive and kicking .

Excerpts of his statement can be found below:

"THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE LAGOS STATE COMMAND STILL SUBJECTS DETAINEES TO TORTURE, ORDEAL, AND INHUMAN TREATMENT AT FORMER SARS TORTURE CENTRE, IKEJA*

*By Seth Amaefule, Esq.*

I went to visit a client detained at the former SARS Unit of the Lagos Police Headquarters Ikeja on Tuesday 15 June 2021. I was shocked when in my presence, a young man apparently in his early 20s who was said to have been arrested from Mushin area of Lagos in connection with alleged cult activities was being slapped brutishly with the flat side of a machete. The young man's cries and plea for mercy which brought tears to my eyes meant nothing to the about eight policemen and a woman  in the room. And whenever the young man, out of anguish tried to escape his torturer and got close to any of the other policemen or woman in the room, that one will deliver a resounding slap or a booth-kick on him. Once of twice, the torturer used the blunt edge of the machete to heat the victim on his back, extracting more screams of pain and anguish . 

Apparently becoming uncomfortable with my presence knowing that I am a lawyer, one of the policemen asked me to leave. This coincided with the bringing out from the cell of my client whom I came to see, so I left to speak with my client.

Two other things stood out from my observation:

1.  The same old SARS are still there and carrying on as if they have a licence to torture detainees to death. All that was removed from them was their name and black jacket emblazoned SARS. Their killer mentality, their scorn for human right, their lack of civility, and their disdain for law generally are all still intact. Nothing was done to reform them even a bit.

2.  They openly expressed heavy resentment against the public for prosecuting the #EndSARS Protest which caused SARS to be disbanded.   One even held it against lawyers who he claimed always peach human rights.

The #EndSARS protest achieve nothing and the lives lost were in vain. SARS with their mentality is still alive and well in the Lagos State Police Command

*Seth Amaefule, Esq.*

*16 June 2021*

NBA SPIDEL KICKS OFF MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

 

Arising from her recently held Annual Conference, the newly elected Governing Council of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association has commenced Membership Drive to draw more members into its ranks.

The details of the Membership Accreditation are as set out below:

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR NIGERIA BAR ASSOCOATION SECTION ON PUBLIC INTEREST AND DEVELOPMENT LAW.

SPIDEL membership is open to any member of the NBA upon satisfactory completion of this form and payment of the Section’s dues which are:

Section membership above 10years post call – ₦10,000

Section membership from 6-10years- ₦5,000

Section membership from 0-5years post call ₦3,000

Committee membership- ₦2,000

Payment Method

Pay all Section dues into the bank account listed below BANK: Access Bank PLC ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0775676671 ACCOUNT NAME: Nigerian Bar Association (SPIDEL) Account

The duly completed application form must be accompanied by evidence of payments of Bar practicing fee receipt of the current year and Section’s membership due, by attaching copies of the bank deposit slip.

SUBMISSION AND ENQUIRIES

Submission of the duly completed application form and any enquiry should be made to: SPIDEL Admin/Programme Officer, Section on Public Interest and Development Law. J-K GADZAMA COURT, plot 1805, Damaturu Crescent by Kabo Way Off Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki 2, Abuja. Tel: 08063088182;09027932767. E-mail: talk2spidelofficer@gmail.com

REGISTRATION

Use the link below for registration

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDv53sJg1vPC2n3AXv2EL5bzt3H_OP0AwgcLvZIuh7e3rggQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

MAKURDI MIASMA: NO RESPITE YET FOR BRANCH CHAIR EVEN AS NBA PRESIDENT BREAKS SILENCE

 STATEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE ASSAULT ON THE NBA MAKURDI BRANCH CHAIRMAN BY OPERATIVES OF THE EFCC

On the 9th day of June 2021, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) received a report of unwarranted assault on the Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch – Mr. Justin Gbagir, by officers of the Markudi office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (“EFCC”), on the 8th day of June 2021.  It was reported that Mr. Justin Gbagir had gone to the  EFCC Office to effect the release of a member of the Makurdi Branch detained by the EFCC.

Upon receipt of the said report, the leadership of the NBA reached out to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (“EFCC”) which promised to investigate same. However, our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Wilson Uwujaren - EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, accusing Mr. Justin Gbagir as the aggressor who led a team of thugs to the EFCC office.

From the report available to the NBA, during the incident, Mr. Justin Gbagir was in the company of some senior members of the profession and officers of the Benue State Government including the AG of Benue State, the DPP, the Solicitor-General of the State, the Senior Special Assistant of the Governor on Legal Matters and other leading lawyers. Their eyewitness accounts completely contradict the EFCC's position.

The NBA frowns at any display of brute force by security operatives against law abiding members of the public, and even more particularly against members of the legal profession going about their legitimate functions. It is disconcerting that such display of unprofessionalism at the instance of a highly placed EFCC operative, was exhibited in the presence of the Attorney-General of Benue State and other senior members of the legal profession.

The NBA President have since intervened in this matter and is taking up this particular incident and the general harassment and intimidation of lawyers by EFCC operatives with the leadership of the EFCC.

The NBA pledges to get to the root of the matter and will ensure that the officers behind such brazen acts of inhumanity are brought to justice and that abhorrent acts of this nature do not reoccur. 

Dr. Rapulu Nduka

Publicity Secretary,

Nigerian Bar Association.

TELECOMS WORKERS TO EMBARK ON 3 DAY STRIKE FROM JUNE 16

 PRESS STATEMENT

9TH JUNE, 2021

PRECARIOUS WORKING CONDITIONS AND GROSS DISREGARD FOR LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS OF NIGERIA BY EMPLOYERS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR: A DECLARATION OF 3-DAY WARNING STRIKE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY 16TH JUNE, 2021

This is announcing to the world that our Union shall be embarking on a 3-day warning strike in the telecommunications and communications sector in Nigeria starting from 12 Midnight on Wednesday 16th June, 2021. This decision was taken at the emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting held on 7th June, 2021 and further sanctioned by National Executive Council (NEC) at its meeting of the Union held on 8th June, 2021. In line with the directives of both the NAC and the NEC the Union has perfected plans to mobilise workers in the industry to embark on the strike accordingly. 

This strike has become inevitable because of growing precarious working conditions in the sector and gross disregard for our laws and its institutions. This is the 21st Century, workers in the sector are still being treated like slaves even though slavery has long been abolished all over the world.

We have made series of efforts in the past, including but not limited to escalating the issues to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the House Committee on Communications, yet, these employers believe they are bigger than the nation and would not respect our institutions.

Some of the anti-labour practices in the sector are as follows:

1. BREACH OF FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND RIGHT TO ORGANISE

Unionization of workers in the sector, most especially among the vendors, seems to be a taboo as they ensure the workers are barred from freely joining the Union as against every known Conventions of ILO, Nigeria’s Constitution, and the Trade Unions Act. 

We have instances whereby employees that indicated interests in joining the Union were sacked. Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited is notorious for sacking any employee who shows interest in joining the Union. In recent time, where Ministry of Labour intervened the Deputy Managing Director assured reinstatement of the sacked members of the Union. Several weeks after, the sacked employees are yet to be reinstated. 

ATC is another company that has resisted Unionization of its employees despite interventions of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Lagos. In the presence of the officers in the Ministry one of the lawyers that came with the employers asserted that never would the Union ever be allowed to organize the workers.

2. VICTIMISATION OF UNION MEMBERS 

In some companies where the Union was able to organize the workers the employers have embraced culture of victimizing union members in order to dissuade them from membership of the Union. 

NOKIA is a good example of a company doing everything possible to rid the company of the Union. This it does by rewarding non-Union members for choosing not to belong to the Union. This can be seen in its decision to monetise excess leave days and add same to the salary of Non-Union members while Union members were to be left empty handed. Meanwhile, every negotiated benefit of the Union for its members are extended to those that chose not to be members of the Union.

3. POOR AND DISCRIMINATORY REMUNERATION

There seems not to be any company within the sector that is not culpable on this issue which is against Equal Remuneration Convention (100). There are examples of workers earning, even, more than their superiors. This act is carefully shielded by Confidentiality Policy adopted by these employers.

4. INCREASING SPATE OF PRECARIOUS WORK

Casualization of work has become the order of the day in telecoms sector. This is prevalent among field engineers and technicians. Many are given monthly contract of employment, while many others tri-monthly up to 6 months and others yearly contract. For any of these contract terms renewals are not made as at when due.

We experience multiple layers of employers now in the sector such that to differentiate among them is a difficult task. For example, Huawei Technologies alone uses more than twenty-five pseudo companies in its operations in Nigeria alone.

5. 24 HOURS WORK

This is peculiar to vendors in the sector. Their field engineers have 24 hours as their work hours. They are called upon to work, even, at wee hours of the night despite high spate of insecurity in the country. Several of them have been attacked and injured without their employers bearing the cost of treatment. Notwithstanding, risks involved in attending to work at nights employers in the sector have yet to made provision for security of these workers. This is most common to Huawei operations in Nigeria.

6. ABSENCE OF EXIT PACKAGE 

Majority of the employers do not pay severance benefits to their employees when they are leaving the employments irrespective of the number of years spent.

7. NO HAZARD ALLOWANCE

Workers in the sector, especially the field engineers, are exposed to series of work hazards, like long time exposure to dangerous levels of Microwave, which have negative impacts on their health. Employers must as a matter of urgency commence payment of hazard allowance to the concerned workers in the sector.

8. DISREGARD FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safety equipment are often not made available to workers on the field. This exposes them more to different forms of hazard at work. Working at nights have exposed lots of them to series of attacks, as earlier mentioned, including kidnapping.

9. RESTRICTIVE CAREER PATH

Several of the companies in the sector have no structures in place to ensure steady growth of employees in their organisations. Employees that are diligent spend several numbers of years on the same positions without deserved and due promotion.

10. EXPATRIATES QUOTA POLICY INFRACTIONS

Expatriates quota policy in the country allows companies to employ expatriates to work in the country ONLY when the skills needed for the projects are lacking among Nigerians and when the expatriates are brought in each of them are expected to be attached four Nigerian employees to understudy them for the purpose of transferring the knowledge unto the attached locals. In many of the companies, including the ones owned by Nigerians, there are numerous foreigners working in the country that have no Nigerian understudying them. The peak of this breach is seen in NOKIA where Nigerians are sacked, and they are replaced by foreigners. 

11. UNJUST SEVERANCE OF UNION EXECUTIVES

Employers want to make it fashionable to be getting rid of Union executives under feeble and cooked up reasons to weaken the Union and, ultimately, destroy the Union in their companies. We have seen this panned out in HUAWEI, NOKIA and ZTE and we say enough is enough. We shall no longer allow that to happen ever again. Those that have been sacked must be recalled forthwith.

12. GROSS DISREGARD FOR THE LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

Our Labour laws are being flagrantly flouted by companies in the sector, just the same way they are disregarding the institutions of government in the country. Probationary period in our law is three months in the first instance and another 3 months in second and the last when an employee on probation is unable to meet up with expectations on the new job. Several employers place on probation workers for longer period of months spanning more than 12months. 

Also, Ministry of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the supervising Ministry in charge of labour and employment has been reduced to nothing as employers disregard its verdicts at conciliation and carry out what please them. 

A good example is the case of NOKIA whose reason for placing an executive member of the Union on redundancy was faulted and ordered to withdraw the redundancy placed on him. Rather than abide by the verdict or better still appeal same it went ahead to sever the employment of the Union officer. Also, NOKIA was directed to pay its former Alcatel Lucent staff off, their merger and acquisition benefits because of their transfer to NOKIA. The same way the company called the bluff of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on the issue of the Union officer so it chose to call the bluff of the Ministry on the payment.

In the light of the above issues and others not captured our Union demands as follows:

1. That HUAWEI Technologies Nigeria Limited, ATC, 9Mobile, Globacom, Smile, IHS, AIRTEL, IPNX Nigeria, SPECTRANET, MAINONE, ntel, Swift and others whose employees have not yet been Unionised should respect the right of the workers to freely associate with the Union. A communication duly signed by an authorized management staff from all these companies should be sent to the workers with assurances that they would not be victimized, harassed or even sacked as a result of their membership of the Union.

2. Immediate recall of the severed officer in NOKIA and other workers sacked in Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited.

3. Immediate withdrawal of warning letters and threats issued to the leaders of the workers in Huawei Technologies.

4. Immediate commencement of discussion and negotiation of Procedural Agreement and Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Union for the workers in Huawei Technologies and other companies in the sector.

5. Immediate regularization of employment of all the casual workers in the sector. We outrightly reject casualization of workers in the sector under any form of guise be it sub-contracting or outsourcing.

6. A stop to continued abuse of expatriate quota policy in the Sector.

7. Immediate provision of PPE for the field engineers and ensuring occupational health and safety measures are put in place for the generality of workers in the sector.

8. That all the companies in the sectors stop forthwith arbitrary sack of workers in the sector. Telecoms sector is the only sector that is immune to Covid-19 fall outs, hence, we do not see any reason for workers to be losing their jobs.

9. That the multi-nationals in the sector abide with our laws and institutions else, they should leave this country or face dire consequences of their breach.

10. That all employers in the sector remedy the issues raised above

If our demands are not met on or before Monday 15th June, 2021 we shall be going ahead with the initial 3-day warning industrial action.

We seize this opportunity to call on all workers in the sector to co-operate with us as we commence the move towards sanitizing our beloved sector. We assure them that it shall no longer be business as usual in the sector.

To Nigerians, we would like to let them know that we regret the unfortunate consequences that our impending but inevitable action will cause them. We plead for understanding and urge them to bear with us.

Signed

Com. Opeyemi Tomori Com. Okonu Abdullahi A.

PTECSSAN President PTECSSAN General Secretary

HOT: OBASANJO WRITES BUHARI OPEN LETTER ON STATE OF THE NATIONi

 THE SQUIB exclusively reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written the incumbent, Major General Muhammadu Buhari an Open Letter on the State of the Nation.

The excerpts of the letter are as follows:

12/06/2021

Dear President and General Buhari,

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT, GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI

I am constrained to write to you this open letter. I decided to make it an open letter because the issue is very weighty and must be greatly worrisome to all concerned Nigerians and that means all right-thinking Nigerians and those resident in Nigeria. Since the issue is of momentous concern to all well-meaning and all right-thinking Nigerians, it must be of great concern to you, and collective thinking and dialoguing is the best way of finding an appropriate and adequate solution to the problem. The contents of this letter, therefore, should be available to all those who can help in proffering effective solutions for the problem of insecurity in the land.

One of the spinoffs and accelerants is the misinformation and disinformation through the use of fake news. A number of articles, in recent days, have been attributed to me by some people who I believe may be seeking added credence and an attentive audience for their opinions and view-points. As you know very well, I will always boldly own what I say and disown what is put into my mouth. But the issue I am addressing here is very serious; it is the issue of life and death for all of us and for our dear country, Nigeria. This issue can no longer be ignored, treated with nonchalance, swept under the carpet or treated with cuddling glove. The issue is hitting at the foundation of our existence as Nigerians and fast eroding the root of our Nigerian community. I am very much worried and afraid that we are on the precipice and dangerously reaching a tipping point where it may no longer be possible to hold danger at bay. Without being immodest, as a Nigerian who still bears the scar of the Nigerian civil war on my body and with a son who bears the scar of fighting Boko Haram on his body, you can understand, I hope, why I am so concerned. When people are desperate and feel that they cannot have confidence in the ability of government to provide security for their lives and properties, they will take recourse to anything and everything that can guarantee their security individually and collectively.

For over ten years, for four of which you have been the captain of the ship, Boko Haram has menacingly ravaged the land and in spite of government’s claim of victory over Boko Haram, the potency and the activities of Boko Haram, where they are active, remain undiminished, putting lie to government’s claim. The recent explanation of the Chief of Army Staff for non-victory due to lack of commitment and lack of motivation on the part of troops bordering on sabotage speaks for itself. Say what you will, Boko Haram is still a daily issue of insecurity for those who are victimised, killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped, sold into slavery and forced into marriage and for children forcibly recruited into carrying bombs on them to detonate among crowds of people to cause maximum destructions and damage. And Boko Haram will not go away on the basis of sticks alone, carrots must overweigh sticks. How else do you deal with issues such as only about 50% literacy in North-East with over 70% unemployment?

Herdsmen/farmers crises and menace started with government treating the issue with cuddling glove instead of hammer. It has festered and spread. Today, it has developed into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and killings all over the country. The unfortunate situation is that the criminality is being perceived as a ‘Fulani’ menace unleashed by Fulani elite in the different parts of the country for a number of reasons but even more unfortunately, many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who are friends of Nigeria attach vicarious responsibility to you as a Fulani elite and the current captain of the Nigeria ship. Perception may be as potent as reality at times. Whatever may be the grievances of Fulanis, if any, they need to be put out in the open and their grievances, if legitimate, be addressed; and if other ethnic groups have grievances, let them also be brought out in the open and addressed through debate and dialogue.

The main issue, if I may dare say, is poor management or mismanagement of diversity which, on the other hand, is one of our greatest and most important assets. As a result, very onerous cloud is gathering. And rain of destruction, violence, disaster and disunity can only be the outcome. Nothing should be taken for granted, the clock is ticking with the cacophony of dissatisfaction and disaffection everywhere in and outside the country. The Presidency and the Congress in the US have signalled to us to put our house in order. The House of Lords in the UK had debated the Nigerian security situation. We must understand and appreciate the significance, implication and likely consequences of such concerns and deliberations.

No one can stop hate speech, violent agitation and smouldering violent agitation if he fans the embers of hatred, disaffection and violence. It will continue to snowball until it is out of control. A stitch in time saves nine, goes the old wise saying. With the death of Funke, Chief Fasoranti’s daughter, some sympathetic Nigerian groups are saying “enough is enough”. Prof. Anya, a distinguished Nigerian merit Laureate, has this to say “We can no longer say with certainty that we have a nation”. Niger-Delta leaders, South-Eastern leaders, Middle-Belt leaders and Northern Elders Forum have not remained quiet. Different ordinary Nigerians at home and abroad are calling for different measures to address or ameliorate the situation. All the calls and cries can only continue to be ignored at the expense of Nigerian unity, if not its continued existence.

To be explicit and without equivocation, Mr. President and General, I am deeply worried about four avoidable calamities:

1. abandoning Nigeria into the hands of criminals who are all being suspected, rightly or wrongly, as Fulanis and terrorists of Boko Haram type.

2. spontaneous or planned reprisal attacks against Fulanis which may inadvertently or advertently mushroom into pogrom or Rwanda-type genocide that we did not believe could happen and yet it happened.

3. similar attacks against any other tribe or ethnic group anywhere in the country initiated by rumours, fears, intimidation and revenge capable of leading to pogrom.

4. violent uprising beginning from one section of the country and spreading quickly to other areas and leading to dismemberment of the country.

It happened to Yugoslavia not too long ago. If we do not act now, one or all of these scenarios may happen. We must pray and take effective actions at the same time. The initiative is in the hands of the President of the nation, but he cannot do it alone. In my part of the world, if you are sharpening your cutlass and a mad man comes from behind to take the cutlass from you, you need other people’s assistance to have your cutlass back without being harmed. The mad men with serious criminal intent and terrorism as core value have taken cutlass of security. The need for assistance to regain control is obviously compelling and must be embraced now.

A couple of weeks ago at a public lecture, I had said, among other things, that:

“In all these issues of mobilisation for national unity, stability, security, cooperation, development, growth and progress, there is no consensus. Like in the issue of security, government should open up discussion, debate and dialogue as part of consultation at different levels and the outcome of such deliberations should be collated to form inputs into a national conference to come up with the solution that will effectively deal with the issues and lead to rapid development, growth and progress which will give us a wholesome society and enhanced living standard and livelihood in an inclusive and shared society. It will be a national programme. We need unity of purpose and nationally accepted strategic roadmap that will not change with whims and caprices of any government. It must be owned by the citizens, people’s policy and strategy implemented by the government no matter its colour and leaning.

Some of the groups that I will suggest to be contacted are: traditional rulers, past heads of service (no matter how competent or incompetent they have been and how much they have contributed to the mess we are in), past heads of para-military organisations, private sector, civil society, community leaders particularly in the most affected areas, present and past governors, present and past local government leaders, religious leaders, past Heads of State, past intelligence chiefs, past Heads of Civil Service and relevant current and retired diplomats, members of opposition and any groups that may be deemed relevant.”

The President must be seen to be addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and with maximum dispatch and getting all hands on deck to help. If there is failure, the principal responsibility will be that of the President and no one else. We need cohesion and concentration of effort and maximum force – political, economic, social, psychological and military – to deal successfully with the menace of criminality and terrorism separately and together. Blame game among own forces must be avoided. It is debilitating and only helpful to our adversary. We cannot dither anymore. It is time to confront this threat headlong and in a manner that is holistic, inclusive and purposeful.

For the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians, I pray that God may grant you, as our President, the wisdom, the understanding, the political will and the courage to do what is right when it is right and without fear or favour. May God save, secure, protect and bless Nigeria. May He open to us a window of opportunity that we can still use to prevent the worst happening. As we say in my village, “May God forbid bad thing”.

signed

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

AKPATA MUM AS UBANI , ADEGBITE, RAMINBA KNOCKS EFCC'S DENIAL OF ASSAULT OF NBA MARKURDI CHAIR

 

 

A host of leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and opinion moulders have taken turns to knock the Economic and  Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its statement denying the act of the brutalisation of the NBA Makurdi Chairman, Mr. Justin Gbagir at its Makurdi Office.

THE SQUIB exclusively reports that Dr. Monday Ubani, the Chairman of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law ( SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association, Adesina Adegbite, former National Welfare Secretary and the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association ( RAMINBA) has taken turns to condemn the assault on the NBA Makurdi Branch.

However, THE SQUIB exclusively reports that the President of the Nigerian Bar Association , Olumide Akpata has not issued an official statement on the matter, which have been lingering for days.

 THE SQUIB obtained from sources that  Mr. Olumide Akpata  took  up the matter with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa over the battering of the  NBA Makurdi Branch Chairman, Mr. Justin Gbagir, who requested time  to investigate the matter and take necessary action.

However, the response of the EFCC was to issue a statement denying the alleged assault. According to the statement of the EFCC, it was the Makurdi Branch Chairman who “was the aggressor as he led a gang of thugs to breach the security of the Makurdi office in an attempt to forcibly set free a suspect under interrogation by the EFCC.”

The statement, which was obtained by THE SQUIB also indicated that   the Bar Leader allegedly failed to identify himself and that “the EFCC Zonal Head had no option than to show him out of his office and refuse him further entry into the Commission’s premises.”

As at press time, since the issuance of the statement of the EFCC, there is no official statement from the Office of the President of the  NBA on the statement of the EFCC, though THE SQUIB obtained from sources that " the President is involved in the matter from the beginning".

In  a related development, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Chairman, Mr. Monday Ubani said that several sources confirmed the assault to him, even as the under-fire Zonal Head denied the allegation. In a social media post obtained by THE SQUIB, he stated : “I have spoken to the Chairman of Makurdi who confirmed the beating. He is back to hospital. I have also spoken to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters who confirmed the incident. I eventually got the President of the Bar who affirmed that the AG confirmed the beating. Our President has spoken to the Chairman of EFCC who requested for time to investigate and take action.”

He however said the Zonal Head denied “that he never touched nor directed any of his operatives to touch our member. He denied the beating.” 

In a similar development, Mr. Adesina Adegbite, the former National Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association also issued a statement decrying the assault.

In the statement, Mr. Adegbite stated thus:

*Yet Another Unjustifiable Attack on A Serving NBA Branch Chairman!!!*

I read this morning, the report of the unwarranted brutal assault of the Chairman, NBA Makurdi Branch, Mr. Justin Gbagir, by the EFCC operatives in Makurdi, Benue State with great indignation. I was compelled to ask the following questions:

1. When will this type of madness stop in Nigeria, really? 

2. What kind of a barbaric security/law enforcement system do we operate in our country? 

3. How long shall we tolerate the animalistic tendencies of the law enforcement officers who appear to have adopted a criminal code of conduct, especially against lawyers, which entails violent assault (physical or verbal) against a lawyer each time one visited their offices, in the the course of his lawful duty? 

4. For how long will the Nigerian Bar Association tolerate these mad dogs that are being paid with our taxes, but will rather unleash terror on us, at nearly every point of forced and lawful official engagement? 

We had seen lawyers and Bar leaders assaulted in Okutipupa, Ondo State, it has happened in Orlu/Owerri, Imo State, it also happened in several other States including but not limited to Lagos, Oyo, Abia and Akwa Ibom States respectively and so many other States in Nigeria. I have had cause to raise this alarm in the past. Now it has happened again in Makurdi, Benue State. When exactly will enough be enough? I think it is time we rose with a clear message that this type of atrocity shall no longer be tolerated anymore and insist that the perpetrators of all reported cases of assaults on our colleagues be brought to justice with maximum sanctions imposed against them. It is apparent that the continuous misbehaviour of officers of various security agencies in Nigeria, especially the Police Force and the EFCC, against legal practitioners is borne out superiority challenge. It is a case of sustained impunity of some self deluded officers who are battling for supremacy over the legal profession and it's practitioners

It is my most humbly considered view that the Nigerian Bar Association should use this latest incident to make a Very Loud Statement and devise an Action Plan that will ensure, that NEVER AGAIN, shall any assault on any of our colleague(s) by any misfit officer(s) who criminally exploited his/her security agency's membership, to rein havoc of physical assault or any form of harassment on a legal practitioner go unpunished.

Enough Is Belatedly Enough!

*Ade Adegbite FICMC (AA)*

*Past National Welfare Secretary*"

Equally, the Chairman of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association ( RAMINBA), Mr. Adesina Ogunlana , who is also  former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and Ayo Ademiluyi, Secretary of RAMINBA respectively in a statement called for the Investigation and prosecution of the indicted officers up to the Head of the Makurdi Office of the EFCC. RAMINBA also called on Mr. Justin Gbagir to institute a fundamental rights action against the operatives.

Below is the full text of the EFCC statement.

EFCC Press Release

EFCC Denies Assaulting NBA Chairman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC wishes to inform the public that claims by one Justin Gbagir, Chairman Makurdi Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, that he was assaulted and brutalized by operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Office of the Commission on June 8, 2021, leading to his being hospitalized at BUSTH is false, and orchestrated to portray the Commission as draconian and uncivil.

Contrary to the false narrative being promoted in the social media by Gbagir, he was the aggressor as he led a gang of thugs to breach the security of the Makurdi office in an attempt to forcibly set free a suspect under interrogation by the EFCC.

The standard procedure for effecting the release of suspects in detention is known to even rookie lawyers. But rather than follow due process, Gbagir opted for force, recruited thugs and stormed the EFCC office.

In spite of the provocation, operatives of the Commission handled him with restraint, bent backward by allowing him to meet with the Zonal Head. But rather than reciprocate, he still refused to identify himself, against all norms of civility. In the circumstance, the EFCC Zonal Head had no option than to show him out of his office and refuse him further entry into the Commission’s premises.

Regrettably, the seasoned lawyer resorted to social media blackmail, posing in hospital bed and concocting a fantastic story of an imaginary assault by EFCC operatives.

His action is to say the least indecorous and unbecoming of the leader of the bar in a state like Benue. He demonstrated embarrassing insensitivity to the delicate security situation of the state.

Gbagir should be remorseful for his misguided action and not spew untruths in pliable sections of the media.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

BREAKING: NBA MAKURDI BRANCH DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF EFCC MAKURDI OFFICE HEAD

 The Nigerian Bar Association , Makurdi Branch has addressed a Press Conference today , 11th June, 2021 wherein it demanded prosecution of the Head of the Makurdi Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission .

The excerpts of the Press Conference is as follows:

*TEXT OF A PRESS STATEMENT BY BASIL HEMBA, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), MAKURDI BRANCH ON THE INCIDENCE OF THE ASSAULT, BATTERY, BRUTALITY, HUMILIATING, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT METED OUT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BRANCH, JUSTIN GBAGIR, ESQ, BY OFFICERS OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC), MAKURDI ZONAL OFFICE.* 

Protocols:

Distinguished Learned Silks, Elders of the Bar, Esteemed Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press. 

We appreciate your timely presence at this press briefing and profoundly thank you for honouring our invitation on this very short notice.

2.    Recall that on the 9th of June, 2021 in the early hours of that day, the Chairman of the NBA Makurdi Branch, Justin Gbagir, Esq, made a post on facebook and other social media platforms chronicling the event of the previous night wherein he was thoroughly assaulted and battered by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Office right inside the office of the Zonal Head of the Commission Mr. Kazeem Oseni, in the presence of The Honourable the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State (AG), Michael Gusa, Esq, the  Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General(PS/SG) of Benue State, Chief Simon Egede, Esq (MON), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Peter Ukande, Esq and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on Legal Matters, E.Z Agbakor, Esq, while the Zonal Head of the Commission nodded with mischievous and ecstatic approval.

3.    Consequent upon the barbaric act by the EFCC officers on the 8th of June, 2021, the Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch as the victim, was admitted at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi and after administering medication on him throughout the whole night by the Medical Personnel on duty due to the excruciating pains he was going through, he was discharged on the 9th June, 2021 at about 12:00pm with an appointment to revisit the hospital on the 11th June,2021 for further examination. While all of these were happening, it was completely not without the knowledge of the National leadership of NBA, the Chairman having initially spoken to the National President, Olumide Akpata, Esq.

4.    The Chairman himself on the 9th of June, 2021 had made a report of the incident to the Makurdi Bar and the National President of the Nigerian Bar Association narrating the graphic details of his ordeal in the hands of the EFFC officials, which statement is already in the public space.

5.    In the wake of the unwarranted and barbaric attack on our Chairman by the officials of the EFCC, the NBA Branch convened an emergency meeting on the 9th of June, 2021 with a view to deliberate on the matter and take a decisive action against the brazen act of the EFFC, but we were informed at the emergency meeting that the National President of the NBA was in close talks with the EFCC Chairman, who undertook to carry out an immediate investigation into the matter with a plea to the NBA National President to appeal to the Makurdi Branch to stay further action on the matter pending the investigation. Upon receiving this information, the NBA Makurdi Branch, though highly agitated with the incident reluctantly acceded to the request of the EFCC Chairman especially as the Chairman gave all assurances that at the end of his investigation, all the officers found to be culpable in the matter will be made to face the law.  

6.    Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, it seems to our mind that the commitment of the EFCC Chairman to get to the root of the matter was a mere subterfuge designed to allow the commission to put more insult to injury as the Commission later that same day, issued a press statements through its Head, Media and Publicity, One Wilson Uwujaren, wherein the Commission not only denied the unprovoked and reckless assault on the Chairman NBA Makurdi Branch but went ahead to call the Chairman unprintable names and also called the eminent and distinguished members of the Legal Profession, who were in the company of the Chairman as thugs.

7.     First, we wish to state that the conduct of the EFCC, by going to the press on this matter while the Commission made the NBA stay action on the ugly incident expecting a communication from the EFCC Chairman on his findings on the matter is devoid of good faith and administrative decorum, which should not be associated with an agency of the Government such as the EFCC which prides itself as the eagle eye and watch dog of the society.

8.       Secondly, we need to emphasize that the Press Statement said to be issued by one who is said to be the Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, was not only a tissue of lies and fabrications but was riddled with indecent language which should not come from a trained and competent image maker of an agency of the Federal Government. By the above outing, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren has presented himself to Nigerians as a misfit in the office he occupies.

9.    We take very serious exception to the denigration of the legal profession by the EFCC and further contend that, this is one attack too many by the commission on Legal Practitioners and all attempts to stem their excesses will be vehemently and strongly resisted using all civil and legal means at our disposal. It must be noted that, after the release by the commission's head of media, we at the Bar tarried awhile to see the reaction of the commission’s Chairman in view of his earlier intervention, but nothing was said and heard till date.

10.  At any rate, we wish to reiterate that the true state of affairs in this incident is as earlier set out by our amiable Chairman, Justin Gbagir Esq, which is to the effect that he was harassed, assaulted and manhandled by officials of the EFCC Makurdi Zonal Office on the 8th of June, 2021 under the watch of the Zonal Head, Mr. Kazeem Oseni. This state of affairs occurred in the presence of credible witnesses and cannot be wished away or swept under the carpet by a shameful press statement issued by a clearly insincere and untruthful public officer.   

11.    In the light of the foregoing, it is clear to every discerning mind that, the EFCC has lost her credibility. This assertion is premised on the beastly attitude and dishonourable conduct displayed by her lame and paranoid officers who are better suited to a rehab than the esteemed commission.

12.    It has long been abandoned in the Stone Age when society was in its crude and abhorrent stage where members took to their arms against each other without a sovereign to adjudicate over their dispute. It is with utmost dismay that the role of the EFCC as provided in her extant laws has been long jettisoned for petty and trivial matters bearing on simple contract and priority of successors from a deceased person’s estate.

13.    Going forward, we demand for the immediate investigation and prosecution of the Zonal Head of the EFCC Makurdi, Mr. Kazeem Oseni and all the operatives involved in the dastardly act of brutality against the NBA Chairman Makurdi Branch. This we believe will serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the commission who unleash terror and venomous impunity on innocent citizens, bearing in mind that, nobody is above the law.

14.    Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Learned Colleagues, this matter without doubt shall be followed to its rightful, proper and judicious conclusion. The maxim is, ‘ubi jus, ubi remedium’, which means that ‘where law has established a right, there should be a corresponding remedy for its breach.’

Thank you all for listening.

Hemba Basil, Esq.

Vice-chairman, 

NBA Makurdi Branch.

11th June, 2021.

(FULL TEXT)JUSÚN NEC ISSUES COMMUNIQUE SUSPENDING STRIKE

 COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE JUDICIARY STAFF UNION OF NIGERIA HELD OH THE 9th DAY OF JUNE, 2021 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH WORKERS UNION OF NIGERIA HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA

The NEC in session after exhaustive deliberation resolves as follows:

1. NEC-in-session commends the Chief Justice of the Federation and all heads of Courts for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the industrial action.

2. NEC-in-session commends the effort of the NJC in making sure that the Governors obey the MOA, Judgment and agreement on the Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary

3. NEC-in-session commends the NWC/ NEC and all JUSUN members for all their sacrifice, understanding and patience.

4. NEC-in-session condemns the actions of the Governors of Kaduna, Plateau and Benue States for withholding salaries of Judiciary in their various States for months and urge all Governors involved to do the needful.

5. NEC-in-session agreed that there shall be introduction of peculiar allowance throughout the State and Federal Courts.

6. NEC-in-session discussed extensively and after putting so many issues into consideration i.e. the intervention of NJC and other stakeholders, the NEC has resolved that the strike is hereby suspended.

7. NEC-in-session plead with the NJC, the Presidential Implementation Committee, Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation and all stakeholders to see that the issue of Judiciary Financial Autonomy is laid to rest finally as provided for in Section 81(3), 121(3), and 162(9), of 1999 Constitution as amended.

8 NEC-in-session frowns at the deduction of salary of JUSUN members of Bayelsa State and request that the deducted sum be restored forthwith.

9 NEC- in- session unanimously reiterate that no member of JUSUN should be victimized on strike action.

Issued this 9m day of June 2021 at Abuja.

Emmanuel Abioye

Deputy President

I.M.Adetola

General Secretary

SQUIB EDITORIAL: THE PAINS, THE GAINS AS JUSUN SUSPENDS STRIKE

 

THE SQUIB is seized of the suspension of the indefinite strike action of the  Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, has suspended its two months strike.

THE SQUIB is seized that the decision was taken by the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Union at its emergency meeting today , Wednesday, June 9, 2021

We are also aware that the suspension shall take effect from Monday 14th June, 2021 and all Judiciary workers are expected to resume office that day.

 

THE SQUIB is aware that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had, at a meeting with JUSUN leaders on Tuesday, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad in attendance, urged the striking court workers to put an end to the industrial action in the interest of the country and the suffering court users.

We recall  that JUSUN had embarked on an indefinite strike which led to the closure of Courts since April 6, 2021.

THE SQUIB urge its readers to recall that JUSUN  is demanding amongst other things, financial autonomy for the judiciary in the light of Sections 81 and 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and decisions of Federal High Courts to the effect that all funds due to the judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund shall be paid directly to the Heads of the Courts concerned. A subsequent Executive Order was issued by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari “Implementation of financial Autonomy of States Legislature and State Judiciary” on 20th May 2020, yet some State Governors have failed to implement this fundamental provision of the Law.

THE SQUIB is also aware of the fact that a 5-man Committee of the National Judicial Council has been set up to monitor compliance of the 36 States' Governors with the agreed template of Judicial autonomy.

In assessing the strike , THE SQUIB acknowledges the pains that lawyers and the litigating public went through during the period of the strike as well as the members of the Union.

THE SQUIB is of the view that there is no gain without pain and indeed struggle pays . What JUSUN national leadership has demonstrated is unusual vibrant and vigorous trade unionism .

This must be commended in all ramifications.

HOT: AKINLADE CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF EFCC CHAIR OVER NBA MARKURDI CHAIR'S BRUTALISATION

 

The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch,Mr. Adebayo  Akinlade  has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  over the brutalisation of the current Chairman of Makurdi Branch of the NBA by operatives of the Commission when he went to apply for the bail of the Treasurer of the Branch , who was detained there .

The excerpts of the press release as obtained by THE SQUIB is as follows:

THE EFCC CHAIRMAN MUST RESIGN OR BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY:* Bayo Akinlade Cries Out

How can we live in a country where law enforcement agencies have become the new military rulers of our democratic dispensation?

People are treated inhumanely by law enforcement over alleged criminal conducts yet to be proven and they want us to support the current government.

Our civilian leaders have lost complete control over this nation and when we tell them they label us agitators and traitors because thats how their narrow minded sadistic military mindset operates.

When the public asked me about this new chairman of EFCC, I wrote a piece that had a stint of doubt in it and the only thing I saw that was positive about his appointment was his young age. BUT now I am convinced that this young man hasn't the capacity nor the resolve to change anything within the EFCC which is still as corrupt as ever.

Why am I now screaming at the top of my voice for the removal of the EFCC CHAIRMAN? 

Because of the story below. If this can be done to a lawyer in the presence of an Attorney General of a State then ordinary citizens are not safe.

A Government that can wake up one morning and block Twitter and abuse the rights of it's citizens is a dangerous government.

 *READ THE VICTIM'S ACCOUNT BELOW* 

Good morning Learned Silks, Seniors and Colleagues,

I write this on my admission bed at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi (BSUTH).

Yesterday, Tuesday 8/6/2021 at about 6:59pm, Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa Esq, called to intimate me that our colleague who is also the Branch Treasurer was detained by the EFCC.

On further inquiry, I found that our colleague was detained on allegation that she gave legal advise to the Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) upon which the latter signed a document which is subject of investigation by EFCC.

Our said colleague is a law officer with Benue State Ministry of Justice and assigned to offer official legal services to SUBEB. She also Chairs one of the Rent Tribunal Panels.

I rushed to EFCC office. On my way, I made a post on our Branch WhatsApp Page and enjoined other colleagues who could make it to join me at the EFCC office in Makurdi.

Immediately I alighted from the NBA official Bus, the security at the gate of EFCC shouted at me "who are you?" and I replied that  "I was a Nigerian".

As I approached them almost all of them started shouting at me to go back pointing their guns at me that if I step forward further, they will shoot me.

At the time, the State Director of Public Prosecution who was standing across the road in front of Royal Choice Inn, a hotel directly opposite EFCC office was calling me to turn back.

I turned back and went to where he was standing by his car with another Director from the State Ministry of Justice.

As a result of the shock of threat by the security at the EFCC office to shoot me, I immediately called our pragmatic and action President, Olumide Akpata, Esq. who also answered my call at first instance and briefed him of the development. I even joked over it that even if I am killed, my colleagues will brief him and he advised I take it easy.

While I was still talking to Mr President on Phone, the State Attorney General and the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General arrived. 

One of the personnel of EFCC who was wearing nickers and personal wears approached us where we were standing across the road and confronted me that he was informed that we were there to protest. I told him to call the person who said so to come and say that in our presence. I stated that I am surprised that the same people who did not even listen to me when I came would turn around and be accusing us of coming to protest.

He now ordered us to leave the place or he will call for our forceful eviction. I therefore, told him that we were not even in their premises since they did not allow us on their premises and they have no legal right to force us out of where we were standing.

As the said personnel returned back to their premises, some lawyers joined me and we all stood across their office waiting.

Hitherto, I was informed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on legal matters that he was in touch with the Head of EFCC office and were discussing the possibility of releasing our colleague. This of course had informed the basis of our waiting. 

Eventually, the Head of Office arrived and drove into their premises. As the AG and PS/SG approached the gate, the personnel at the gate started shouting at them and ordering them to retreat. 

It took the intervention of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor who arrived at that moment to halt the harassment of the AG and PS/SG.

When the 3 of them went into the premises, the Solicitor General came out and requested that the Head of office requested that I go in as well. I followed him into the EFCC office premises.

As we entered, the Solicitor General introduced me to the EFCC Head of office that I am the Chairman, NBA Makurdi Branch and offered the sit he was previously sitting before he went out to bring me.

As I made to sit down, the EFCC Head of office said I cannot sit down because I am "an agitator".

I then asked whether I was brought in as an accused? When he did not answer me, I told the AG that with due respect, I cannot be made to be standing talking to the EFCC Head of office, and sought the leave of the AG to leave.

As I made to leave, the personnel of EFCC numbering between 7 and above pounced on me and started beating me. They broke my recommended reading eye glasses in the process and pushed me out of the premises.

Outside the premises, the threw out my foot wears which I was dispossessed of in the course of the beating.

Infuriated, the AG, SG and SSA to the Governor also walked out of the premises and the AG met I and other lawyers including the DPP who were outside that we should leave.

Because of the excruciating pains I was having as a result of the beating, I went to Federal Medical Centre at Atiku Abubakar Road, Wadata, Makurdi, but they told me to go to their main Centre at Apir.

As a result of the severe pains, I could not start going to the FMC Apir which is at the outskirt of  Makurdi.

I then decided to come to BSUTH where I was admitted and is receiving treatment.

I slept off after the hospital administered several injections to relieve the pains. I wake in the early hours of this morning to make this post.

Meanwhile, I am still having serious bodily pains around my neck,  left eye, my waist on the left and right hand.

I shall give you further update in the course of the day.

Thank you all.

Justin Gbagir, Esq.

Chairman,  Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch

JUST IN: "I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED..."- BRUTALISED NBA MARKURDI CHAIR CHATS WITH THE SQUIB

 

THE SQUIB exclusively reports that Mr. Justin Gbagir, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association , Makurdi Branch has been discharged from the Benue State Teaching Hospital, Markurdi  where he was on admission after suffering brutality from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr. Gbagir made this revelation in an exclusive chat on mobile telephone  with THE SQUIB . 

Outrage has followed the reports of the brutality of Mr. Gbagir has lawyers in various WhatsApp groups took turns to condemn the action.

There is no official statement from the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association on the matter as at the time of filing this report.

Details later...

HOT: "I AM ON HOSPITAL ADMISSION"- NBA MARKURDI CHAIRMAN ASSAULTED BY EFCC OPERATIVES

THE SQUIB has obtained that the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch is currently on admission in Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State, following the assault on his person by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

The excerpts of the post by the NBA Markurdi Branch Chairman is as follows:

Good morning Learned Silks, Seniors and Colleagues,

I write this on my admission bed at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi (BSUTH).

Yesterday, Tuesday 8/6/2021 at about 6:59pm, Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa Esq, called to intimate me that our colleague who is also the Branch Treasurer was detained by the EFCC.

On further inquiry, I found that our colleague was detained on allegation that she gave legal advise to the Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) upon which the latter signed a document which is subject of investigation by EFCC.

Our said colleague if a law officer with Benue State Ministry of Justice and assigned to offer official legal services to SUBEB. She also Chairs one of the Rent Tribunal Panels.

I rushed to EFCC office. On my way, I made a post on our Branch WhatsApp Page and enjoined other colleagues who could make it to join me at the EFCC office in Makurdi.

Immediately I alighted from the NBA official Bus, the security at the gate of EFCC shouted at me "who are you?" and I replied that  "I was a Nigerian".

As I approached them almost all of them started shouting at me to go back pointing their guns at me that if I step forward further, they will shoot me.

At the time, the State Director of Public Prosecution who was standing across the road in front of Royal Choice Inn, a hotel directly opposite EFCC office was calling me to turn back.

I turned back and went to where he was standing by his car with another Director from the State Ministry of Justice.

As a result of the shock of threat by the security at the EFCC office to shoot me, I immediately called our pragmatic and action President, Olumide Akpata, Esq. who also answered my call at first instance and briefed him of the development. I even joked over it that even if I am killed, my colleagues will brief him and he advised I take it easy.

While I was still talking to Mr President on Phone, the State Attorney General and the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General arrived. 

One of the personal of EFCC who was wearing nickers and personal wears approached us where we were standing across the road and confronted me that he was informed that we were there to protest. I told him to call the person who said so to come and say that in our presence. I stated that I am surprised that the same people who did not even listen to me when I came would turn around and be accusing us of coming to protest.

He now ordered us to leave the place or he will call for our forceful eviction. I therefore, told him that we were not even in their premises since they did not allow us on their premises and they have no legal right to force us out of where we were standing.

As the said personnel returned back to their premises, some lawyers joined me and we all stood across their office waiting.

Hitherto, I was informed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on legal matters that he was in touch with the Head of EFCC office and were discussing the possibility of releasing our colleague. This of course had informed the basis of our waiting. 

Eventually, the Head of Office arrived and drove into their premises. As the AG and PS/SG approached the gate, the personnel at the gate started shouting at them and ordering them to retreat. 

It took the intervention of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor who arrived at that moment to halt the harassment of the AG and PS/SG.

When the 3 of them went into the premises, the Solicitor General came out and requested that the Head of office requested that I go in as well. I followed him into the EFCC office premises.

As we entered, the Solicitor General introduced me to the EFCC Head of office that I am the Chairman, NBA Makurdi Branch and offered the sit he was previously sitting before he went out to bring me.

As I made to sit down, the EFCC Head of office said I cannot sit down because I am "an agitator".

I then asked whether I was brought in as an accused? When he did not answer me, I told the AG that with due respect, I cannot be made to be standing talking to the EFCC Head of office, and sought the leave of the AG to leave.

As I made to leave, the personnel of EFCC numbering between 7 and above pounced on me and started beating me. They broke my recommended reading eye glasses in the process and pushed me out of the premises.

Outside the premises, the threw out my foot wears which I was dispossessed of in the course of the beating.

Infuriated, the AG, SG and SSA to the Governor also walked out of the premises and the AG met I and other lawyers including the DPP who were outside that we should leave.

Because of the excruciating pains I was having as a result of the beating, I went to Federal Medical Centre at Atiku Abubakar Road, Wadata, Makurdi, but they told me to go to their main Centre at Apir.

As a result of the severe pains, I could not start going to the FMC Apir which is at the outskirt of  Makurdi.

I then decided to come to BSUTH where I was admitted and is receiving treatment.

I slept off after the hospital administered several injections to relieve the pains. I wake in the early hours of this morning to make this post.

Meanwhile, I am still having serious bodily pains around my neck,  left eye, my waist on the left and right hand.

I shall give you further update in the course of the day.

Thank you all.

Justin Gbagir, Esq.

Chairman, Makurdi Branch

RAILWAY WORKERS' UNION CALL FOR MEASURES TO STOP RAIL VANDALISM

 

The Nigerian Union of Railway Workers has called on the appropriate authorities to put in place measures to stop railtrack vandalism in the country.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Union and obtained by THE SQUIB.

Excerpts of the press release are as follows:

3rd June, 2021

*PRESS STATEMENT:*

*RAILWAY WORKERS BERATE TRACK VANDALS AND THIEVES; DEMAND FOR THE PROSECUTION OF ALL THE TRACK VANDALS ARRESTED IN NASARAWA STATE*

 

We the entire workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) have totally condemned the criminal and unpatriotic act of organized vandalization and thieving of Nigerian Railway tracks and other valuable assets as recently perpetrated in Nasarawa State allegedly by one Yusuf Abubakar Musa (Special Adviser to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdulahi Sule, on infrastructure) along with his partners in crime among whom are Mohammed Isiaka (former Supervisory Councilor on Education in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area), Mr. Marta Thai (Chinese national and manager of Yong Xing Steel Company Abuja who is the receiver of the stolen railway assets, Jacob Terlumum Emmanuel (Procurement Officer of the Chinese Company), operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Others, according to the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, that are allegedly involved in this heinous crime and rail track vandalization include Sergeant Mali Peter and Inspector Richard Joseph both attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia; Samuel Asoloko of the Nigerian Legion; Ibrahim Amegwa Usman of the Arm Squad Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Lafia; and a Judas among the twelve, Samuel Shagbaor (Nigerian Railway staff and Principal Technical Officer in charge of Agyaragu, Lafia; and Nathaniel Oba ( Legal Adviser to the Chinese national and Principal Partner of NathOba and Co, law chamber in Benin Edo State).

The entire Nigerian Railway workers have viewed this unfortunate incident involving such a high-calibre team of criminals as not just a crime against the rail transport sub-sector but a heinous siege against the citizenry and Nigerian State and a drain pipe against the commendable financial commitment, political will and quest of the federal government of Nigeria in evolving a better, more efficient and effective rail transport system. This crime is a deliberate crime against the social integration of Nigeria which only can be achieved by a sustainable railway transport as a prime and additive distributor of the nation’s populace. It is a crime and attack of massive and unquantifiable destruction to the nation’s transport economy which rests on the rail transport infrastructure as its backbone and mainstay. It is indeed a crime against all of us Nigerians who procured and built this vandalized railway with our collective patrimony!

It is consequent upon the foregoing grounds that we earnestly demand for the full backing of the federal government, Nasarawa State government and, of course, Nigerian Railway management to the Inspector General of Police with a view to carrying out a full scale investigation, diligent scrutiny and unbiased profiling of all involved in this condemnable act of vandalization and thieving of railway tracks and assets for encounter with the law. If the investigation is thoroughly and painstakingly carried out, we strongly believe that more actors and collaborators behind the vandals and thieves; buyers; legal adviser to Yong Xing Steel Company Nigeria Limited; and the Chinese national all already apprehended, will be exposed. For this ring of alleged thieves and vandals to have as members a Special Adviser on infrastructure to an incumbent governor, arms-carrying personnel of the Police, Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Legion, a Chinese national with an active company in Nigeria, and a serving staff of Nigerian Railway for that matter, then these people must have masters in high places who they are working for. We share in the rationality that it is extremely pertinent to dig to the down-bottom of this unpatriotic act in order to unmask the kingpins and make a deterrent out of these accused and, more importantly, save Nigerian Railway from the hands of these vandals by making buying of stolen railway assets an abhorrence as it used to be in the olden days.

In material particular, the Chinese national (Marta Thai or whatever he calls himself) who can never commit such crime against China either for the reason of patriotism or fear of being found guilty and sentenced to death must not be spared from the full wrath of the law of our land if found culpable. No Nigerian will ever do this to China in China and go scot-free. In fact, everybody involved must be brought to book! We the Nigerian Railway Workers under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers will not relent in following up this case until justice is served and deterrent attained. In the same vein, we demand that all cases of vandalization and theft of the assets of Nigerian Railway on which arrests have been made should be dusted up and pursued to a logical end. For instance, the operatives of the NSCDC in Benue State, under the command of Sadique Okeji, arrested some vandals for similar offence in April this year.

Also, we hope to see the outcome of the case of those arrested under the Command of FV Afrika of the NSCDC Command in Enugu for track vandalization sometime in January this year among many other cases of theft and vandalization. To forestall further vandalization of our hard-earned assets, we use this opportunity to call on all the workers of the Corporation to join in putting a stop to this phenomenon by consciously putting an eye on happenings around and within the railway premises especially as concerned issues of scrap items, suspected theft and vandalization. All our members and the railway staff general are hereby enjoined to say something whenever they see something. It is unacceptable to us to watch those that vandalize and steal railway property go scot-free.

The Nigerian Railway workers are under obligation as patriotic citizens of this great country and social partners for the continued growth of the railway system to be thankful and appreciative of the federal government for its exemplary commitment to the repositioning of the railway industry through massive and capital-intensive infrastructure development and gradual system transition from narrow gauge track system to standard gauge track system. So far, Abuja – Kaduna; Lagos – Ibadan; and Warri – Itakpe railways now effectively functional with many more of such railway expansion and development to come in the near future are proofs of the success of the federal government on the industry.

To put a stop to the incessant thieving and vandalization of the railway tracks and other assets, we have the following pieces of advice for the federal government and Nigerian Railway management:

i.             Employment of track men (i.e lenghtmen, gangers, and track patrol men) should be done based on catchment area whereby young and employable youths from within host community of the railway tracks should be employed to man and patrol the tracks. For instance, if the youths of Eggon community are employed to patrol the tracks within their community, there will be some sense of belonging and commitment to really protecting the railway facilities within their community as their personal property. Employing trackmen from Ibadan and transferring them to man tracks in Lafia community will not correlate. For the protection of the tracks, employment based on catchment area is the answer as it was done in the gone days.

ii.            Trains operation, which is at the lowest ebb now because of acute lack of adequate fleet of locomotive engines, wagons, and coaching facilities, should be increased so as to get the tracks busy. The federal government should procure more locos and rolling stocks and spare parts to sustain the life spans of the movable assets and also achieve optimal train operation and track engagement. The spate of vandalization and thieving of railway tracks and other assets will drastically drop if the tracks are engaged with optimal trains operation. Nobody will dare steal or vandalize tracks that are engaged. The federal government should, therefore, complete the rehabilitation of the Eastern line by mobilizing the rehabilitation contractors back to site to finish the unfinished work on the Eastern line between Maiduguri and Port Harcourt. By so doing, the narrow gauge will not be abandoned but promptly fixed to feed the ongoing construction of the standard gauge which, to some extent, occurs on the same narrow gauge track corridors. Federal government should be reminded that narrow gauge system must not be abandoned because of its predominant distribution and links to about twenty six State capitals of Nigeria. Narrow gauge system has the comparative advantage over standard gauge because it connects nooks and crevices of the country known for agrarian occupation. The narrow gauge will serve in food distribution and availability across the country. It will also help tremendously in bringing back to life diverse business activities good and productive enough to engage millions of Nigerians;

iii.          Federal government should, as a matter of necessity, stop the scrapping of irons (ferrous and non-ferrous) in their raw and direct forms because this encourages uncontrollable movement of railway irons and scraps. To differentiate authorized scrapping and lifting of unused items from the Corporation from the stolen ones, there is need to ensure that all the irons and other scraps to be sold and transported out of the railway premises must be cut to pieces, properly documented and way-billed. Lifting of iron scraps by buyers without first dismantling and cutting the iron to pieces has helped indiscriminate movement of railway items too difficult to be ascertained as stolen or genuinely scrapped and sold out.

We commend the leadership and acumen of the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, who spared no one but diligently announced the nefarious deed of the thieves and vandals of the railway items irrespective of the political gigantism and connections of these undesirable elements who are sworn to cripple Nigerian Railway by stealing and vandalizing it to extinction. In especial particular, we are grateful to Citizen Annette Eyo, Chief Superintendent of Police who preferred gallantry, patriotism and integrity to a whopping amount of bribe to sway his exemplary discretion. You occupy a special place in our heart for being so dutiful and diligent. May you reap the rewards of your professionalism here on earth and in heaven. Amen!

*Signed*

*Comr. Amb. Innocent Luka Ajiji*

*President General, NUR*  

            

*Signed*

*Comr. Segun Esan, fcipa*

*Secretary General, NUR*

BREAKING: NBA HOLDS NEC MEETING 24TH JUNE, 2021

 

THE SQUIB reports that the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association has issued notice of National Executive Committee Meeting for 24th June, 2021 to  all Statutory & Coopted NEC Member, dated 3rd June and signed by the General Secretary, Joyce Oduah, FICMC.

The excerpts of the notice are as follows:

"Notice of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Committee (NEC) meeting

The date time and venue are specified below:

 

DATE: Thursday 24th June, 2021

TIME: 9:00 a.m. prompt

VENUE: NBA Auditorium, NBA House, Plot 1101 Muhammadu Buhari Way, Cadastral Zone AOO Central Area, Abuja – FCT.

AGENDA:

1. NBA Prayer

2. Review of the Minutes of the NBA-NEC Meeting of Thursday 18th March, 2021

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

4. President’s Address

5. National Secretariat Report

6. Financial Report and Related/Ancillary Matters

7. Reports from Sections, Committees and Fora

8. State of the Nation

9. Any Other Business

NOTES:

1. This meeting will be held in strict compliance with the Covid-19 protocols and guidelines as established by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and attendance shall be limited to statutory and co-opted NEC Members only.

2. Documents required for the NEC Meeting will be circulated, to NEC Members, by e-mail ahead of the meeting. Members are therefore encouraged to attend the meeting with their devices (Laptops, i-Pads, Smart Phones etc.) with which

they can view the said documents. Members may also wish to print and bring with them, hard copies of the documents for the meeting.

3. NEC Members will be expected to arrive Abuja on Wednesday 23rd June, 2021 and to depart on Friday 25th June, 2021. For hotel bookings and reservations, kindly contact the Welfare Secretary, Mr. Kunle Edun, on 0803 869 5936.

 

4. For further inquiries, please contact the General Secretary or Mr. Ezekiel David of the NBA Bar Services Department on 0703 700 0903."

JUST IN: NBA BENIN CONDEMNS ATTACK ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS

 THE SQUIB has obtained an exclusive statement of the Nigerian Bar Association , Benin Branch ("Lion Bar") , wherein the attack on peaceful protesters  led by Dr. Osagie Obayuwana , who partook in the National Day of Action against Insecurity and Hardship. 

The excerpts of the press release reads as follows:

The Nigerian Bar Association Benin Branch is taken aback and condemns unequivocally and in strong terms the unwarranted and unjustifiable attack on peaceful protesters led by Dr Osagie Obayuwana by members of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) in Benin City, Edo State on Monday 31 May 2021.*

*We find the assault and vandalisation of the properties of the peaceful protesters most reprehensible and extremely distasteful. We call on the State Government to fish out the perpetrators of this ungodly act for proper discipline and sanction. The right to gather and protest peacefully is an inalienable right of every citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as guaranteed and protected under sections 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Citizens have a right to voice out their displeasures, disappointments and frustrations. The Court of Appeal upheld the right to protest in the case of IGP V. ANPP (2008) 12 WRN 65 stating that “certainly in a democracy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations without seeking and obtaining permission from anybody. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 constitution and any law that attempts to curtail such right is null and void and of no effect.” The right to protest is also protected in International Law.*

*We were therefore surprised to learn of the attempt by certain officials of PUWOV to curtail the rights of citizens to protest the wanton insecurity in Nigeria. What is even more condemnable is the attack on the person of Dr Osagie Obayuwana who is a distinguished legal practitioner, foremost human rights activist, a former Attorney General of Edo State and a member of the Benin Bar.  Perhaps it is appropriate to go down memory lane and state that the democracy which we enjoy today is a result of the efforts of persons like Dr Obayuwana who took on the  Abacha junta in the quest to ensure that the rights of Nigerians are protected and was incarcerated by the Abacha led junta because of his unwavering stance in the face of intimidation. It is a testament to Dr Obayuwana’s steadfastness that over 20 years after, he is still at the forefront of the civil society movement.*

*As a noble Association, we find the brazen attack on the protesters led by Dr Osagie Obayuwana, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State to be the height of lawlessness and we demand that an apology be sent to the protesters and the erring PUWOV officials who led the assault and disruption be brought to book*.

*Pius I. Oiwoh Esq.*

*Chairman*

*O.A. Lawani Esq.*

*Secretary*