UDUAGHAN; DELTA RECORDED HIGHEST NUMBER OF PROSECUTED KIDNAP CASES

With the reduction in the spate of kidnapping in Delta State, the governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the state has recorded the highest number of prosecuted kidnap cases in the country.

The governor made this disclosure on Friday during a courtesy visit to him at  Government House Annex, Warri, Delta State by a delegation of judges from the state led by the Chief Judge, Justice Zai-Laye Dawo Smith.

Uduaghan, who apologised for his inability to host the judges in September, thanked them for the way they have been entrenching law and order, their patience with government in spite of intimidation, adding that the timely prosecution has boosted the economic drive of the state government.

He thanked the bench for synergy with other arms of government, saying the three-point agenda of the state was on course.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation of judges from high courts and customary courts of appeal in the state, Justice Smith, who thanked the governor for promoting security and peace in relation to human and structural developments, said it was a tradition by the judiciary to visit a sitting governor after the ceremonial opening of every legal year.

He prayed God to grant the governor and his team the grace to finish very strong at the end of their tenure.

NBA SEEKS VIABLE AND CORRUPTION FREE JUDICIARY IN 2014

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Saturday expressed the need for corruption-free judiciary in 2014, saying that all necessary machinery should be put in place to achieve it.

The NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Wali said as the year was gradually coming to an end, adequate steps should be taken to promote a more efficient judicial system in the coming year.

He said that 2014 should be characterised by a more efficient judicial system with adequate working machinery that would enhance effective justice delivery.

He said at present, judges were still saddled with the rigour of taking down proceedings in “long-hand,” saying that these were some of the problems to be remedied in 2014.

“A major problem which requires redress in the judiciary is the issue of funding, and this simply entails the provision of more working facilities to enhance a smooth operation of the system.

“The Nigerian judiciary is one that I know in this age and time, where judges still take down proceedings in longhand.

“If automated recording devices are provided in all our courts, proceedings will definitely be faster, and this will promote the speedy dispensation of justice,’’ he said.

Wali, however, noted that although some of the delays were caused by lawyers, litigants and judicial officers, such situations could be dealt with following practice direction of courts.

MAN DOCKED FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT

 A 35-year-old man, Kunle Mayford,  has  appeared before an Ojokoro Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State, charged  with sexual harassment of a lady.

Also arraigned alongside Mayford was his wife, Chinyere, who was charged with the alleged assault of her husband’s victim, Miss Morenike Davids.

Mayford, who has no particular means of livelihood, is facing a three count-charge of assault, sexual harassment and theft.

The prosecutor, Inspector Lugard Ahonle, told the court that the accused committed the offences on December14, at   Event Guest House, Baale Villa, Meiran, a Lagos suburb, at 5:30 p.m.

“Kunle forcefully collected a Blackberry phone and a palm-top mobile device from one Morenike Davids,  after which he threatened to beat her up.

“He also harassed the victim sexually and asked her to have sex with him, before her property could be released,” he said.

Chinyere, on the other hand, was alleged to have assaulted  Davids for having her husband arrested.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 171, 262 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the couple pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Mrs A.O. Layinka, granted Chinyere bail on self recognition, being a pregnant woman and ordered that she should sign an undertaking to always be present in court.

She also granted Mayford bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till February10, 2014.

EX ICPC BOSS WIFE DIES, TASK CJN TO RESIST TEMPTATION

THE pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd) has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Maryam Muktar to resist temptation. Justice Akanbi, ex-president of the Court of Appeal, who spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when the CJN paid him a condolence visit over the death of his wife, said, “I think with the background training, with everything that we have done together and achieved together; I think you should be able to resist temptation which will bring the standard of the judiciary down.” He said Nigerian judiciary should be the pride of the nation, saying the CJN should not relent in her bid to reform the judiciary. The retired jurist said: “When you phoned to console with me about the death of my wife, I urged you not to relent on the way you are reforming the judiciary. A lot of people will want you to do things which you yourself may not believe is right. “I am taking advantage of the judges who are here. People think things have gone bad in the judiciary and God in His infinite mercy brought this woman to the seat, and she has been doing very well. You have limited time, but one crowded hour of inglorious life is worth more than an inch. “Today, I am enjoying the honour of somebody who has been appreciated by his country and I continue to do that. I am still part of the judiciary; I want the judiciary to be the pride of this nation. When others lose their heads, we must not lose our own.” Earlier, Justice Muktar consoled with the octogenarian, saying “whatever happens, we still have to thank God. She lived a fulfilled life. We will always be there for you and we will always think about what you are doing. We will always stretch our hands of fellowship to you whenever necessary. Death is what every one of us is waiting for and it will come sooner or later.”

PENCOM TO PROSECUTE EMPLOYERS FOR N10.78bn PENSION DEFAULT

The National Pension Commission has expressed its readiness to begin the prosecution of employers who have refused to remit about N10.78bn pension funds deducted from their workers’ monthly emoluments into Retirement Savings Accounts under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

It said it would carry out the threat if the employers failed to refund the contributions with the accruing interests, which had accumulated as of the first quarter of this year.

According to PenCom, the figure was established by the agents employed by the commission to recover the contributions with interests.

XMAS DAY BOMBER KABIRU SOKOTO GETS LIFE SENTENCE

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Kabir Umar, alias “Kabiru Sokoto’’ to life in prison for the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who gave the sentence on Friday, found Umar guilty on the two-count charge against him.

He said “the prosecution has proved their case beyond reasonable doubt in the two-count charge. Umar is guilty as charged.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the judge held that the convict belonged to an illegal organisation, Boko Haram, and facilitated terrorist acts intended to bomb the Police Headquarters in Sokoto State.

He also held that Umar had information about the planning and bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, on December 25, 2011 but failed to disclose such to security agencies.

The first charge is punishable with life imprisonment under Section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004, and the second charge attracted 10 years imprisonment under Section 7(1) under Terrorism Act, 2011.

The judge described the convict as a “pathological liar’’ who did not “show remorse’’ throughout the trial, saying “the convict has no respect for truth.’’

He commended the prosecution counsel for a job well done, as well as the Department of State Service (DSS) for the diligence in investigating the matter and bringing the trial to a conclusion.

The judge, however, noted that the police had not been able to investigate the circumstance that brought Umar to the Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, where he was arrested on January 14, 2012.

He urged them to investigate the matter with a view to bringing to justice whoever was involved in helping Umar to hide in the lodge, no matter how highly placed.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF A JUDGE

Just recently a serving Governor under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Sule Lamido said that the National Working Committee of the ruling party of the country is  inept and imbecile he said, adding: “I am short of words to express my pain. It is agonizing to see the party built in every home, in every village, town and cities all over Nigeria with lots of sacrifice being destroyed.”

Having imbeciles at the helms of affair in this country and the continuing years of corruption, the civil war, military rule, and mismanagement have largely affected all government institutions in which the Judiciary is one. Nigeria is endowed with diverse and infinite resources, both human and material. However, years of negligence and adverse policies have led to the under-utilization of these resources. These resources have not been effectively utilized in order to yield maximum growth.

In Nigeria Judges and Public Officers alike lacked integrity.

The judge being the pillar of our entire justice system, the public has a right to demand virtually irreproachable conduct from anyone performing a judicial function. Judges must strive for the highest standards of integrity in both their professional and personal lives. They should be knowledgeable about the law, willing to undertake in-depth legal research, and able to write decisions that are clear and cogent. Their judgment should be sound and they should be able to make informed decisions that will stand up to close scrutiny. Judges should be fair and open-minded, and should appear to be fair and open-minded. They should be good listeners but should be able, when required, to ask questions that get to the heart of the issue before the court. They should be courteous in the courtroom but firm when it is necessary to rein in a rambling lawyer, a disrespectful litigant or an unruly spectator.

Judges come to the bench after making a significant contribution to the legal profession and their communities. Many have been active in law societies and have done volunteer and charitable work.

They are to have in mind the essential qualities of a good judge which include but not limited to “integrity, honesty, knowledge of the law, willingness to listen, empathy, sense of fair play, patience and humility.

However, it is disheartening that the qualities were absent in the conduct of some judges, as well as public officers in the country.

Chief Judges in the Country should not hesitate to punish judges that flout the code of conduct for judicial officers.

The lack of these attributes could only diminish the high regard in which a judge is held, thereby making him unfit for the exalted position in the hallowed chambers of justice.

For instance, Some judges willfully flout court rules by not sitting at the statutory time of 9am for no reason at all, thereby contributing to the slow dispensation of justice.

In a bid to address the problem, the judiciary has proposed a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit to be established in the National Judicial Council to take administrative notice of such judges and forward their names to the council for disciplinary action.

The National Judicial Council should not shy away from taking appropriate steps to enhance the speedy disposal of pending cases and restoring confidence in the judiciary.

Consequently the justice department should ensure that the code of conduct for judicial officers was being reviewed in line with emerging developments in the society.

JAILED FOR DRUG RELATED OFFENSES, BUT NEVER GOT TO PRISON

List of those Sentenced to Jail by the High Courts for various Drug related offenses, but never got to Prison. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of The Federation refuse to Order their Re arrest till date. What Impunity.

By Dino Melaye

Executive Secretary

Anti-Corruption Network

TWO MEN JAILED FOR SPENDING FAKE DOLLARS

Two men- Ali Saidu and Naru Sani – being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly being in possession of fake United States dollar bills have been convicted.

The convicts were subsequently sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice E. S. Chukwu.

They were sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of the five counts of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of counterfeit US dollars and forgery preferred against them by the commission.

The EFCC had said the offences were in contravention of Section 10 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Decree No.20 of 1984 as amended, and Section 5 (1) (b) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act Cap. 35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Ali and Sani were arrested at Mararaba, Nasarawa State in 2011. At the time of their arrest, they were in possession of fake $10,000.

The convicts had initially pleaded not guilty. However, they later changed their plea and pleaded guilty to amended five counts.

Consequently, Chukwu convicted the duo and sentenced them accordingly.

ATTORNEY GENERAL PROMISES TO ASSIST COMMISSION IN APO EIGHT KILLING MYSTERY

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has expressed commitment to ensuring proper investigations into the killing of eight people at an Apo resident in FCT on Sept. 20.

He made this known on Thursday in Abuja at a public hearing on the killing.

Adoke, who was represented by a Senior Special Assistant, Peter Akpe, said as the chief law officer, he would render advisory assistance to ascertain cause of death and make sure justice is done.

“This investigative process if used by the commission should provide remedy for victims of human rights abuses,” he said.

The Chairman of Governing Council of the commission, Chidi Odinkalu, said the commission would work within its mandate to unravel cause of killing in order to restore confidence in the people.

He said the commission would do its best to abide by the rule of law and ensure that it present facts based on evidences got from witnesses.

“If Nigeria is to succeed as a republic, the Nigerian life has to mean something.

“We will do our best to respect the facts, the evidence and the rules,” he said.

One of the witnesses at the hearing, Alhaji Buba Goza, who swore under oath to give factual testimony, said members of the association demanded justice for the killing of eight of its members.

Goza is also the Chairman of FCT chapter of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria.

He said members of the association do not engage in unlawful activities and should not be linked with activities of Boko Haram sect.

“We condemn the killing of innocent souls and an attempt to cover it up.

“We are law-abiding operators. We do not engage in unlawful activities and therefore cannot be linked with activities of Boko Haram. The claim is baseless,” he said.

Goza said the association had demanded N500 million compensation for victims and families of the deceased, as well as a public declaration pronouncing the victims innocent.

He said the association demanded unconditional release of its member still in detention, while those responsible for the killing should be exposed and punished accordingly.

He warned that the association, with more than 10 million members across the country, had resolved to embark on a protest if their request was not met within a stipulated period of time.

Goza was however made to withdraw the call for mass protest by the commission, as it had convened the public hearing to get facts that would help it carry out proper investigations into the killing.

One of the occupants of the building where the incident took place, Gambo Idris, testified that the shooting started about midnight and lasted for more than one hour.

Idris, who said he had lived in Abuja for more than two years, added that more than 100 people were living in the building.

He testified that occupants of the building did not pose any security threat as they did not possess any weapon.

He further testified that the occupants were paying N200 weekly to the security guard

of building, known simply as Joseph.

Tunde Ajala, Programme Officer of an NGO, Global Right, said the organisation had pictorial video evidences of the incident which he presented to the commission.

He called on the commission to do all within its mandate to unravel the truth.

Abubakar Ahmadu, the Medical Director, Asokoro General Hospital, where victims were first taken on the day of the incident attested to the fact that the victims were brought to the hospital.

According to him, two vehicles carrying seven corpses and 11 injured persons were driven to the hospital on the day.

He said one of the victims later died, bringing the number of deaths to eight.

“At 900 hours, I heard that there was commotion at the emergency ward.

“I saw two vehicles and noticed many people gathering around. Seven corpses were brought to the hospital,” he said.

Adekunle Salisu, son of the property owner, denied knowledge of plans to raid the building.

Salisu said he heard of the shooting from the security guard, Joseph, at about 6 a.m. on that day.

He also denied knowledge of occupants of the building remitting N200 to the security guard, stressing that the guard was placed on a N12,000 monthly salary.

“I got a call between 5.30 a.m. and 6 a.m. from the security guard. He said some military men were shooting.

“When I left the venue of the incident, I consulted with my lawyer, after which we went to Garki Police Station to lodge complain,” he said.

The eight people were allegedly killed by the Department of the State Security on Sept. 20 at an Apo resident in the FCT.

Relevant stakeholders, including the National Human Rights commission, have since commenced investigation to unravel the mystery behind the killing.