Human Angle

NBA Calls for Protection of Downtrodden

By Web News 458

By Adenitan Akinola

The Chairman of the, NBA, Osogbo branch, Mr Yemi Abiona says lawyers must champion the cause of the downtrodden, marginalized and the voiceless as a major yardstick to guarantee a society where law and order prevail.

Speaking at a forum in Osogbo, Mr Abiona noted that access to justice should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy or influential but a fundamental right bestowed upon every citizen.

He said it was the responsibility of legal practitioners to bridge the justice gap, ensuring that justice is not only blind but also accessible to all, hence they must deepen their free legal services for the poor.

To engage in proactive measures that address the root causes of social injustice, Mr Abiona said lawyers must collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to advocate for policy reforms that promote human rights, protect the vulnerable, and ensure equal access to opportunities for all members of society.

The NBA chairman also made case of the infrastructure rejuvenation of the Judiciary, saying “the state of Infrastructure within our courts 

is deplorable, with dilapidated buildings, outdated technology, and insufficient facilities hindering the efficient administration of justice.”

“This not only undermines the credibility of our legal system but also obstructs the timely dispensation of justice to those who need it most. It is our duty, as legal professionals and advocates for justice, to address this critical issue head-on. We must collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the government, to prioritize the improvement of judicial infrastructure.”

He equally promised to tackle the issue of fakery at the bar as well as enforce the Legal practitioner remuneration Order, 2023 to get ensure that lawyers take home really follow them home.

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Judiciary

We are investigating the issues of conflicting court orders – NBA

By Web News 719

National President, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olumide Apata says the association is investigating the issues of conflicting court orders from Judges in the country.

Mr Apata who stated this in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta when he paid a courtesy visit to the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said any erring member of the association would be taken to the Disciplinary Committee for prosecution.

The NBA president who noted the ongoing developmental projects in the state expressed optimism that the private sector background of the governor would help to ensure that governance should be pragmatic in finding solutions to people’s problems.

Responding, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, commended the NBA for protecting human rights and the tenets of good governance, saying it was in tandem with his administration’s policy of fairness, equity and fair play.

The governor also announced that a law would soon be put in place to ensure that judges who had served the state would own houses, adding that all judges from Ogun State serving in various courts across the country would benefit from the arrangement.

Bolanle Adesida

Politics

Ogun Sets Up Committees To Address Police Brutality

By Web News 643

Governor Dapo Abiodun has set up three committees aimed at providing answers to the agitations of the youths protesting against police brutality in the state.

According to a statement made available by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin in Abeokuta, while the governor appointed a retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi as the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Investigation on alleged cases of Police brutalities against citizens of the state, the governor is to head the second committee on Special Security and Human Rights Committee while the third committee has Mr Joseph Ogunniyi of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ota branch as the Ombudsman.

The statement said the appointments were in line with the resolution of the National Economic Council at its last meeting.

The committees list include the Judicial Panel of Investigation which has Retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi as the Chairman, Comrade Olayinka Folarin member, Ms Omonajevwe Janet Abiri member and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Babatunde Ogunyanwo as member.

Other members of the committee include Comrade AbdulJabar Ayelagbe, Comrade Bamgbose Tomiwa, Ms Aisekegbe Momodu and Mrs. Oluwatosin T. Ogundele that will serve as the secretary of the committee.

The term of reference of the committee include to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality, human rights violations or related extra-judicial killings; evaluate evidence presented and recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.

The Special Security and Human Rights Committee has the governor, Prince Dapo Abidoun as chairman with Heads of the security agencies in the State as members.

Other members include Head of any special tactical unit of the Police in the State charged with fighting armed robbery and other violent crimes, Mr. Babatunde Adeluola, representing the youths, Mrs. Peju Osoba representing civil society and Comrade Obatungashe Israel Adebayo.

The terms of reference of the committee include the task of ensuring the protection of the rights of citizens by all security and law enforcement agencies; monitor the prosecution of any officer indicted by the Presidential Panel on Police Reforms and entertain complaints of human rights violations from the State’s Human Rights Complaints Office.

The third committee, Human Rights Complaints Office has Mr. Joseph Ogunniyi as the Ombudsman while other members include Mr. Bamidele Adebayo and Mr. Shodeinde Oluwaponmile.

The committee is to facilitate easy access of complainants to prompt attention and assistance and give regular reports to the Special Security and Human Rights Committee for action.

The governor also announced Victims’ Support Fund of Fifty Million Naira set aside as start-up amount to enable payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

Wale Oluokun

Judiciary

Lawyers Boycott Court in Osun over Alleged Judicial Abuse of Power

By Web News 744

Proceedings were disrupted yesterday at a magistrate court sitting in
Ilesa, Osun State as lawyers boycotted and protested alleged abuse of
judicial power by the Magistrate of the court.

Our correspondent Isaac Hasstrup, who monitored the protest at
Magistrate Court 2 Ilesa reports that, those who had cases and other
businesses at the court returned home disappointed as the lawyers
refused to enter the court.

Speaking on the industrial action, the chairman, Ilesa branch of the
Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr Femi Fafowora said, members shunned
the court after a deliberation on the alleged stray style of
magistrate of the court.

Mr Fafowora further cited alleged refusal of the affected magistrate
to grant accused persons bail without justification when such bail
applications were not opposed by the prosecution counsel.

The NBA chairman, who also protested purported molestation of the
members of his association during proceedings said, a letter had been
sent to the Chief Registrar, Osun State High Court for the transfer of
the magistrate out of Ijesaland.

The Chief Registrar, Justice Muhammed Lasisi told Radio Nigeria that
he was yet to receive the NBA’s letter.

Justice Lasisi promised to look into the matter and pleaded with the
lawyers to remain calm.

Isaac Haastrup

Judiciary

We Need An Autonomous Judiciary – Gov. Fayemi

By Web News 762

Autonomy of the judiciary is the only way to make the judicial sector more effective and responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi stated this in Ado Ekiti while playing host to the president-elect of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata.

The governor who is also the chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, equally said all the 36 states governors were in support of judicial autonomy which according to him, remained the critical component of Nigeria’s democratic growth.

Governor Fayemi told the NBA president-elect that he had consulted the leadership of the Nigerian judiciary to reach a common front on the modalities for the implementation of judicial autonomy across the states of the federation.

“Judicial reform was necessary, it must be undertaken in the sector to promote rule of law, and give a better hope for the common man.

I appeal to the NBA president-elect to partner Ekiti state lawyers and give them sense of belonging in the union, as Ekiti has a history of producing legal practitioners who can be encouraged to become Senior Advocates of Nigeria” Fayemi said.

Responding, the NBA president-elect, Mr Olumide Akpata maintained that the union would be active in the implementation of judicial autonomy, with a promise to bring radical changes to the legal profession.

Tope Bamidele