For Protesting Three-Hour Wait, Sowore And Take-It-Back Movement Tear-Gassed At Ooni Of Ife’s Palace

Palace sources, who asked not to be named, revealed that the reason for the assault was that Sowore initially refused to prostrate to the Ooni to protest the three-hour delay in attending to members of the movement who had waited for the Ooni.

In what seemed like a coordinated attack, presidential aspirant and founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his #TakeItBack movement were tear-gassed while prostrating before the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday.

As the situation deteriorated, Sowore rushed to check up on students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who accompanied him to the palace. He was in the process physically assaulted by thugs within the palace premises.

Palace sources, who asked not to be named, revealed that the reason for the assault was that Sowore initially refused to prostrate to the Ooni to protest the three-hour delay in attending to members of the movement who had waited for the Ooni.

As the incident unravelled, one student and another member of the royal household collapsed due to respiratory challenges arising from the toxic fumes.

Sowore, who confronted the Ooni on the assault on his person and members of his movement, wondered why a guest would be attacked within palace premises.

Responding, the Ooni swiftly condemned the attack, saying such had never happened before in a palace in Nigeria and called for calm and restraint on both sides. He regretted the ugly incident, describing it as embarrassing. He assured Sowore of his continued support and collaboration.
Expressing shock while commenting on the incident as it was being streamed live on Facebook, Adedayo Gabriel Fatoki said: “Attack?? In the Palace? By who?”

“Thank God you guys are okay. This is highly condemnable,” Precious Umoera, another member of the public, said.

The attacks were streamed live on Facebook @Omoyele Sowore.

Read More »

Buhari Calls The Bluff Of nPDP — I'm Not Ready To Sit Down With Any Faction

• The President told the governors as well as national leaders of the party pointedly to resolve the issues,” the source said, quoting the President as adding: “It is a party matter. I am not ready to sit down with any faction. If they have problems, they should go to the party. I will not interfere.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called the bluff of the leadership of new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The bloc was instrumental to APC’s dislodgement of the PDP from federal power in 2015, as the faction, led by six PDP governors, pulled out of the then ruling party to fuse with the APC.

Now disgruntled in the APC, the nPDP is asking for a meeting with the President. However, it appears their wish would not be granted, as a presidential source has told reporters that the President recently admitted to APC governors that has no plans to honour such meeting.

“The President told the governors as well as national leaders of the party pointedly to resolve the issues,” the source said, quoting the President as adding: “It is a party matter. I am not ready to sit down with any faction. If they have problems, they should go to the party. I will not interfere.”

According to the source, Buhari had also said: “Governors as party leaders in the states should deal with all issues. Where there is need, the party leadership can come in. I will not get involved.”

The President was said to have expressed happiness with the meeting betweent nPDP and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, and gave his nod for the discussions to continue.

The source explained that not all the governors in attendance supported the President’s stance.

“Some hardline governors asked the President to ignore the nPDP while the majority felt the party and the VP should continue to talk to them,” the source said.

The nPDP, led by Kawu Baraje, is country pulling out of the PDP, like it did in 2014; however, that will be determined by how the party handles its grievances.

After meeting with the National Working Committee of the party and with VP Osinbajo, a follow-up meeting was scheduled to hold with the VP. But the bloc withdrew from the meeting, citing the alleged use of state institutions to harass Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who are members of nPDP.

Baraje had kicked against the partial withdrawal of the security aides of the two leaders of the legislature, as well as the linking of Saraki to the Offa bank robbers by the Police.

Read More »

President Muhammadu Buhari Signs Law That Would Have Barred Jonathan From Contesting 2015 Election

• Had it been in existence before now, this new law would have prevented former President, Goodluck Jonathan, from seeking re-election in 2015, having completed late President Musa Ya’radua’s tenure in 2011 and was elected President following same year where he did a full four years as president.

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law a bill that henceforth bans a Vice President who completes a President’s tenure form seeking re-election to be president more than once.

The law, has signed by the President, also prohibits deputy governors from doing same, Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja on Friday.

Enang explained that with the new law (Act 16), persons who have taken the oath of President or Governor once can only contest one more time afterwards.

Had it been in existence before now, this new law would have prevented former President, Goodluck Jonathan, from seeking re-election in 2015, having completed late President Musa Ya’radua’s tenure in 2011 and was elected President following same year where he did a full four years as president.

Late President Yar’Adua’s death was announced on May 5, 2010 after a protracted illness. Jonathan was sworn in as the President to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure.

He then contested and won in 2011 as the president. He was however defeated in 2015 by current President, Buhari.

Read More »

POLITICS: Mass Defection Looms In APC As Saraki, Tambuwal Meet With PDP Leaders

• A source privy to the meeting told Naijnews4u that mass defection is the number-one preference of the aggrieved APC members, but there are fears about fusing with another party only to suffer the same fate they have experienced in the ruling party. 

There are indications of a potential exodus of leading politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the public release of the names of its high-profile members who met the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc of the ruling party.

On Saturday, Kawu Baraje, the former Chairman of the defunct PDP, named Bukola Saraki, Senate President; Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, among key aggrieved APC members who attended the midweek meeting, where the group seriously considered the option of mass defection.

“Nigerians may recall that members of the former New PDP Bloc within the All Progressives Congress addressed a letter dated April 27, 2018 to the Chairman of the APC where we informed the party of our grievances and expectations from both the party and government of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Baraje said in a statement on Saturday.

“Following this development, the party invited us and we honoured its invitation to a meeting. We met with the leadership of the party last week, during which we resolved to report the outcome of our meeting to our members and stakeholders before arriving at any decision or proceeding with the next phase of discussions or actions with the APC and government.

“I am glad to inform you, therefore, that we have briefed our members at a meeting convened in Abuja on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, where we reviewed the state of the nation and our party, APC, and constituted committees on various issues, especially on how to rescue Nigeria from economic, social, political and especially security challenges.

“The meeting was well attended by members of the PDP, including serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and other aggrieved APC stakeholders.
Those he listed as having attended the meeting include: Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal; Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun State Governor; Murtala Nyako, former Adamawa State Governor; Senator Mohammad Aliero, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator John Enoh, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, Senator Rufai Ibrahim and Senator Ibrahim Danbaba.

Others are Sen. Suleman Nazif, Sen. Isa Misau, Sen. Muhammed Shitu, Sen. Shehu Sani, Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Sen. Shaaba Lafiagi, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Sen. David Umaru, Sen. Barnabas Gemade; Chairman, former nPDP, Alh. Abubakar K. Baraje; Mr. Aminu Shagari, Mr. Kabiru Marafa, Mr. Isa Ashiru, Mr. Muh’d Soba, Mr. Mark Gbillah, Mr. Sani Rano, Mr. Garba Durbunde, Mr. Aliyu Madaki, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, Mr. Rufai Chachangi, Mr. Razak Atunwa, Mr. Emmanuel Udende, Mr. Hassan Saleh, Mr. Nasiru Sule, Mr. Orker Jev, Mr. Aliyu Pategi, Mr. Isah Halilu, Mr. Rabiu Kaugama, Mr. Abdussamad Dasuki, Mr. Ismaila Gadaka, Mr. Lado Suleja, Mr. Dickson Tarkighir, Mr. Babatunde Kolawole, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, Mr. Danjuma Shida, Mr. Danburam Nuhu, Mr. Sunday Adepoju, Mr. Sani Zorro, Mr. Ahmed Bichi, Mr. Garba Mohammed and a host of others.”

Some prominent APC members, including serving lawmakers, were also at the meeting, but their names were deliberately left out.

Naijnews4u gathered the final decision on what next for the group had not been taken, but the plan is to inaugurate a committee that would review all possibilities and make recommendations

Read More »

POLITICS: John Oyegun Already Lost Tenure Elongation Bid In APC — Now He's Also Lost In Court

•  However, a month after — following opposition from Bola Tinubu and some party heavyweights — President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently overruled the NEC, citing the need to avoid a legal battle that could jeopardise the party’s cohesion before the 2019 general election.

John Oyegun

John Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), already lost the bid to have his tenure extended by one year, back in March.

However, had he not lost in March, he would have lost out nevertheless — because on Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed two suits challenging the attempted tenure extension, saying such action would have violated both the constitution of the party and the country.

At a meeting in February, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the APC had extended the tenure of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Oyegun, by 12 months, beginning from June 30.

Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi state, who addressed the media after the meeting, said the decision was taken “considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and conventions.

He had added that “considering that our leader Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we cannot afford to approach the general election with more disputes and crises adding that party have decided on line with article 13 which empowers the NEC to carry out the functions of its convention and the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of current NWC other executive committees at various levels for another 12months starting from June 30th”.

However, a month after — following opposition from Bola Tinubu and some party heavyweights — President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently overruled the NEC, citing the need to avoid a legal battle that could jeopardise the party’s cohesion before the 2019 general election.

“As we all know, the motion was moved at the last NEC meeting February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executive expires in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year,” he said.

“This motion was moved by majority of members present at the last NEC meeting. Even though some of our party members have since spoken very vehemently against it, others have even taken the matter to court.

“On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I have found is that it contravenes our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“While the APC constitution Article 17, in bracket 1 and 13 on two bracket b, limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election. The 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, in section 223, also prescribes periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.

“Furthermore, Article 31 of our party constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another election must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh election once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end.”

Ruling on Monday on the two suits filed against the extension of Oyegun’s tenure, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that they had become hypothetical, academic and spent, since the party had already reversed the decision and had begun conducting primaries.

He said he had taken “judicial notice” of the fact that the party had started conducting its congresses for the purpose of electing its officials at the ward and local government levels, and had also scheduled the date of its national convention.

He added that the attempted extension would have been a violation of both the Nigerian and APC’s constitutions.

Read More »

POLITICS:Fayose Boasts: Fayemi Will Suffer The Worst Political Defeat Of His Career In July

• “Fayemi will suffer the worst defeat of his political career," Fayose said. "After the July 14 election, he will go into political oblivion. He has nothing to celebrate because of the electoral disaster awaiting him. The manner of his so-called victory also leaves much to be desired as it has turned many of their party leaders and followers against him."

Kayode Fayemi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election, is about to suffer the worst political defeat of his career, Ayodele Fayose, Governor the state, has boasted.

Fayemi picked the APC ticket on Saturday, beating all comers to the highly-coveted prize at a rescheduled primary election.

Responding on Sunday via a statement issued and signed by Idowu Adelusi, his Chief Press Secretary, Fayose said Fayemi’s victory had only positioned the Minister for Solid Minerals Development for a defeat that will land him in political oblivion.

“In 2014 when he was the sitting governor and I was not in power, I trounced him mercilessly. I gave him 16 – 0, defeating him in all the local governments, including in his home town. He did not win a single local government,” Fayose taunted his opponent.

“Now, I have been in power for more than three years and have served the people of Ekiti well. My legacy projects are there to speak for me, and for my party the PDP, as well as for our candidate in the July 14 governorship election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka.

“Fayemi will suffer the worst defeat of his political career. After the July 14 election, he will go into political oblivion. He has nothing to celebrate because of the electoral disaster awaiting him. The manner of his so-called victory also leaves much to be desired as it has turned many of their party leaders and followers against him.

“Fayemi’s victory has made the condition of APC worse in Ekiti. The party leaders and members know that Fayemi has no use for any of them beyond the July 14 election.”

Fayose appealed to aggrieved former PDP members who are now in the APC to return home, saying: “PDP is your natural habitat. This is the time for you to escape from the APC’s sinking boat and return home to a rousing welcome.

“We also invite other politicians not satisfied with the parlous state of affairs of our nation to join hands with PDP to rescue our nation.

“APC is falling apart everywhere. Fayemi is the final nail on APC’s coffin in Ekiti. He may deceive them in Abuja but he is a paperweight at home. His arrogance alienates Ekiti people and any serious politician from him. He will meet his political waterloo on July 14.”

Read More »

News: Oshiomole Wants To Become APC Chairman Although 'Oyegun Hasn't Failed'

"Mind you my running does not mean Oyegun has failed but to continue with his works. My contesting is not to lament the use of power but ensure good membership base," Oshiomhole said.

Adams Oshiomole

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has formally declared his intention to seek election into the office of the National Chairman of the party.

The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

"I am running for the office of the National Chairman because everything can get better and because it’s in line with the party’s constitution," he said.

"I'm willing to contest so as to make a difference and contribute to what Oyegun has done in the party.

Read More »

POLITICS: ‘I Have A Greater Political Engagement’, Says Oyinlola As He Dumps APC, NIMC

•  “I gave the job the dedication it deserved and would have loved to continue but I regret to inform Your Excellency that I have a new, greater political engagement that will make that difficult and even impolitic," Oyinlolal said.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State, has resigned both as Chairman of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and as a leading member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his resignation letter, dated May 9 and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Oyinlola said he resigned his appointment to take care of “a greater political engagement.”

“Sir, I write to resign my appointment as the chairman of National Identity Management Commission with effect from today, 9th May, 2018,” read the letter.

“Your Excellency, I must put on record my very deep sense of appreciation for the special privilege and consideration you gave me to serve our fatherland in that capacity.

“As I stated in my appreciation letter to you shortly after the appointment, the offer was a clear call to service.

“I gave the job the dedication it deserved and would have loved to continue but I regret to inform Your Excellency that I have a new, greater political engagement that will make that difficult and even impolitic.

“Sir, as one of my bosses in the Army, I believe you would understand my stand given recent political developments.

“The training I got as a decorated officer and gentleman precluded me from engaging in any act that could amount to disloyalty and conflict of interest.

“I am moving on to chart a new course in my politics outside the ruling party and this thus, demands my dropping the NIMC chairmanship.

“I thank you, sir, once again for the great honour and confidence reposed in me. However, there is time to take a job and another time to leave it and move on.

“For me, the time to work on something else in the interest and service of our people is now. I wish Your Excellency good luck while praying that you will finish well and strong in the service of our country.”

Oyinlola was appointed by Buhari as NIMC Chairman in September 2017. He joined the APC in August 2014.

Read More »

Sexual Harassment: Shettima To Request Deployment Of Female Undercover Police, DSS, NAPTIP Detectives To IDP Camps

• Governor Shettima said deployment of undercover agents will be a permanent measure in addition to the urgent need for investigation of the report by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago which said some female IDPs interviewed had alleged they were sexually harassed by some security officials, to the extent of getting them pregnant.

Following recent reports about some officials sexually harassing female internally displaced persons, Governor Kashim Shettima has‎ revealed his plans to write letters requesting the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Security, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all IDP camps in Borno State to spy on culprits and bring them to book.

Speaking at a courtesy call by a delegation from the National University Commission on tour ongoing infrastructure at the proposed Borno State University, which held at the Government  House in Maiduguri on Tuesday,  Governor Shettima said deployment of undercover agents will be a permanent measure in addition to the urgent need for investigation of the report by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago which said some female IDPs interviewed had alleged they were sexually harassed by some security officials, to the extent of getting them pregnant.

‎"Today, as Governor of Borno State, there is no issue that gives me headache like the unfortunate bye-products of IDP camps. Our citizens were violently sent out of their houses and communities, it is their fundamental rights to be provided alternative accommodation with their food and health cater for. Sadly and very sadly indeed, the IDP camps have become avenues that horrible stories of sexual slavery, prostitution rings, drug peddling and other social vices are emanating from.

"Only yesterday (Monday) there was a report by a Human Rights group alleging incidences of sexual abuses by some Federal and State workers in some of the IDP camps. This is highly condemnable. Apart from investigating these claims and arresting culprits which is absolutely necessary, I am going to write letters to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and may be the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, requesting all of them to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all our camps to permanently spy on anyone involved in sexual harassment, any form of prostitution, drugs trafficking, possible child trafficking and even the allegations of diversion of food items meant for IDP’s.

"I would want these detectives to report their findings to their security establishments and whoever is found wanting should be picked up without notifying me so long as there is verifiable evidence to prosecute him or her. Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired of applying the element of persuasion in handling the issues of IDP’s, we need to wield the big stick. The problem with managing the IDP camp is that you are dealing with a population of two or more local government areas in one location and you cannot imprison them by restricting or stopping them from leaving the IDP camp in the day time. When a female IDP leaves the camp in the morning, you cannot be in control of where she goes and who she sees. If she leaves the camp and returns the following day, she may claim to have visited a family member and little can be done. I strongly believe there are cases of sexual harassment but some of the women may be consenting to sexual advances largely due to extreme poverty and loss of value system. We have to instill sanity into the IDP camps and I hope we will not end up having human rights activists telling us we cannot deploy undercover detectives into IDP camps due to one form of rights violation or the other. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Sexual harassment of female IDPs is a desperate situation.

"None of us here is beyond becoming an IDP if Allah decrees and none of us would fold arms if his or her daughter is in position to be sexually harassed, so we must act now" the Governor said.

Shettima explained that ‎the history of Borno State has painted negative by the Boko Haram insurgency noting that the State has gotten tired of counting deaths and destructions.

"The Borno Story that has been painted very badly by the Boko Haram. We are even tired of counting the number of deaths, number of those of injured, value of private institutions and private property destroyed and the huge number of persons internally displaced" the Governor said.

Isa Gusau
Special Assistant on Media to the Governor

Read More »

APC National Legal Adviser Muiz Banire Allegedly Paid Federal Judge ₦500k

Muiz Banire

Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) currently investigating cases of judicial corruption have told Sammynews4u that their review of banking and other financial documents discovered that Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), paid N500, 000 to one of the judges under investigation.

EFCC agents said their forensic scrutiny of some judges’ bank accounts revealed suspicious payments made to numerous federal judges, including the one made by Mr. Banire.

The agents disclosed that several of the judges have been questioned by the anti-corruption agency. They added that some of the answers provided by the judges were at odds with bank statements where investigators detected a series of suspicious transactions involving senior lawyers.

Yesterday EFCC agents invited three of the lawyers to the agency’s offices for questioning. Our sources revealed that the agency has scheduled at least 25 more lawyers to come in for interrogation in relation to the active investigation.

Among Federal justices who have so far been questioned are Uwani Abba-Aji of the Appeals Court, James Agbadu-Fishim of the Industrial Court, Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Nganjiwa Hyledzira of the Federal High Court, and Musa Kurya of the Federal High Court. Another Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, was traced to a Lagos clinic where she falsely claimed she was admitted before she turned herself in last weekend.

Mr. Banire has not been invited by the EFCC and Sammynews4u could not confirm if and when he would be summoned. However, three senior lawyers grilled yesterday included Paul Usoro, a lawyer to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Gani Adetola-Kaseem, and Felix Fagbohungbe. Mr. Usoro allegedly made five deposits into the account of the James Agbadu-Fishim of the Industrial Court.

EFCC agents disclosed that, when asked why he made the deposits, Mr. Usoro claimed they were for four burials in the judge’s family, naming the deceased as the judge’s father, mother, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. He reportedly told EFCC agents that the fifth payment was to support the judge in any future funeral activity in the judge’s family.

Investigators told SaharaReporters that Mr. Fagbohungbe cooperated with the investigators until he was asked to read his statement before its formal adoption by investigators. He reportedly requested for more paper, and while investigators went to fetch the paper, he reportedly crossed out his initial statement and attempted to destroy it before it was wrested from him.

EFCC investigators say they would likely arraign three of the judges next Wednesday. They revealed that the case files of Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mohammed Yunusa, and James Agbadu-Fishim were ready for trial.

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer, Niyi Akintola, has denied information circulating in the media that he was summoned by the EFCC regarding allegations that he bribed some judges. He denied involvement in any cases of bribery of judges, and insisted that EFCC agents had yet to invite him. He added that he was not involved in defending any judges before the National Judicial Council.

Read More »

POLITICS - Group Seeks Independent Panel On DSS’ Arrest of Judges

• The group, known as the Rule of Law-Nigeria Listserv (RoL), proposed that the Independent Panel be convened by the National Assembly to ensure its independence from both the Executive and Judiciary.

Nigeria Judges

A civic platform, notable rights activists among them, has called for the establishment of an Independent Panel to interrogate the lingering face-off between the Executive and Judicial arms of government over the recent arrest of judges suspected of corruption.

The group, known as the Rule of Law-Nigeria Listserv (RoL), proposed that the Independent Panel be convened by the National Assembly to ensure its independence from both the Executive and Judiciary, which are the contending parties.

A statement on Wednesday described RoL Listserv as “a civic platform comprising Nigerians from all walks of life who, through debate, discourse and civic action, seek to advance public service and accountable governance in Nigeria through fair, non-discriminatory and effective application of laws.” Moderated by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President and Chair of NBA Human Rights Institute, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, the group's members include Kemi Gbadebo, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Ayo Obe, Dr. Joan Oviawe and Stella Ugboma OFR. Others are Charles O. Ayaunor, KOP Odidika, Ozioma Izuora, Chike Okoye, Godswill Iyoke, Zeal Akaraiwe, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri and Okechukwu Arikibe.

The group took exception to the recent midnight invasion of the judges homes by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS). But it also noted that the challenge of corruption in the Judiciary and ineffectiveness of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in dealing with that challenge exposed the institution to such assault. It urged the NJC as well as NBA to strengthen their internal disciplinary mechanisms or face up to the Judiciary being trampled upon.

It said in its 14-point statement: “In respect of the recent midnight arrests of judges on grounds of corruption by the Directorate of State Security (DSS), RoL observes that corruption in Nigeria is cancerous, and must be fought with all vigour; indeed, double vigour in the justice delivery sector, given the criticality of that sector. 

“However, the fight against corruption must be within the perimeters and parameters of the rule of law. In this regard, RoL commends the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for its tireless commitment to reducing corruption in the body polity.

“RoL observes, however, that the events in relation to the raids on the homes of several judges of superior courts of record and their subsequent detention appear to cast doubt on the extent to which President Buhari's assurances in the build-up to the last elections, to the effect that he was now a convinced democrat who had left his dictatorial past behind him, of which the President was at pains to assure Nigerians, have value.”

The group was unsparing on the Judiciary for its ordeal at the hands of DSS operatives. It said that “blame for the intervention by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) must be laid in part at the feet of the NJC and the legal profession at large. As the African aphorism goes, ‘it is only when an Iroko tree falls that a goat may climb it.’ The judicial Iroko tree appears to have long since fallen in the eyes of many, including legal practitioners and judges, and it was a matter of time that the proverbial goat would trample over it.” 

It, however, added in its statement: “RoL observes that fine and incorruptible judges abound in Nigeria, but the increasing impunity of corrupt judges has afflicted the entire justice delivery sector with disrespect, cynicism or studied indifference by the citizenry.

“RoL observes also that the National Judicial Council (NJC) is perceived to be weak and effete; a sort of old boys’ club by her traditional handling of complaints against judicial officers – a perception which also applies to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the NBA (LPDC). It is this perception that has played out in the government more or less bypassing the NJC and going for the jugular, so to speak. The NJC and the NBA are hereby called upon to further awaken their internal disciplinary mechanisms or prepare to be trampled upon.”

Still, the group thinks the DSS crackdown went overboard. Its statement said: “RoL is of the view that the DSS should have employed more respect for the judicial institution, to say the very least, while carrying out their mandate unwaveringly.

“A contrary argument is that invitation to judges would have served as a warning signal to those who were actually corrupt to eliminate physical evidence of corruption. The solution therefore was for the DSS or ICPC or EFCC (whichever is appropriate) to call on them in chambers or at home, respectfully invite them immediately but in daylight, within reasonable hours; and execute search warrants on them, if need be.

“RoL observes that the manner of the arrests, midnight raids with sledgehammers and broken doors, is likely to weaken respect for the judiciary as an institution in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public, and will undoubtedly raise doubts as to the impartiality of any judge called upon to adjudicate between the state and citizens in the future (particularly in matters perceived to be political).

“Indeed, the manner of arrests (not the fact of arrest itself) appear intended to weaken the only institution with the constitutional authority to check the traditional dictatorial proclivities of Nigeria's Federal Governments, manifest since the advent of the 4th Republic in 1999.

“RoL further observes that the actions of the DSS (custodians of the nation's security intelligence) outlined above, appears to constitute a vote of no-confidence on the Nigerian Police, EFCC and the ICPC. Furthermore, the DSS being affected by some of the bail orders issued by some of the affected judges leaves open the possibility that by taking centre stage in these arrests, they are judges in their own cause: nemo judex in causa sua."

The group’s recommendation is: “That an Independent Committee/Panel (of the National Assembly) be set up to investigate the issue. This committee should ideally hear from both sides (DSS and NJC), all actors (the politicians and judges mentioned) and any member of the public with useful/helpful information. The sitting of the Independent Committee/Panel should be in public.

“RoL is of the view that the National Assembly, warts and all, is best positioned in the circumstances to set up an Independent Committee with a measure of independence from the Executive and the Judiciary; the setting up of such a committee being, perhaps, the only way to restore integrity to the judicial process and the Executive arm of government especially.”

Read More »