Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has condemned the violent protest staged by some Nigerians at the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Angry Nigerians living in the country on Thursday, June 25, staged a protest at the Embassy over the alleged discrimination and targeted raids by Indonesian immigration officers. They accused Nigerian officials of not protecting them from the alleged injustice meted on them by Indonesian immigration officers. The protest came a day after a Nigerian man, Chike, plunged to his death while running from Immigration officers.
The protesters vandalized the gate leading to the Embassy and also some cars in the premises.
Reacting to the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said efforts will be made to identify and punish the ”Hooligans” that carried out the attacks on the high commission.
”Absolutely deplorable and disgraceful criminal behaviour by Nigerian hooligans who without justification attacked the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Every effort will be made to identify them and see they are severely punished. Totally unacceptable behaviour.” he tweeted
As Nigerian protesters against discrimination in Indonesia
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria Anthony. A. Malik, has also reacted to the letter written by Chief Awomolo, SAN where he expressed fears over the position of NBA President being taken by a non Senior Advocate of Nigeria (NBA).
It would be recalled that Chief Awomolo, SAN had earlier written to the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria(BOSAN) urging them to take steps towards upholding the integrity of NBA by ensuring that only SANs should always hold the position of NBA President.
In reaction to this, Mr. Malik, SAN has expressed his disagreement over the assertions of the learned silk
Mr. Gboyega Awomolo, SAN is, by any parameter, a doyen of the Bar. I respect him and appreciate his overall contributions to the Bar and the enrichment of our body of laws.
“Regrettably, I am unable to navigate my way through the contents of his letter. In clear terms, his letter does not enjoy my endorsement in the least. “ He said.
Furthermore, Mr. Malik contends that since the recently amended NBA Constitution does not contain any provision restricting the office of the NBA President to only SANs, it would be counterproductive to import into what the Constitution has not provided for.
“We have a Constitution which has just been amended and it serves no good importing into it what is not contained therein.
“If it was the desire of the Association to make the Presidency of NBA the exclusive preserve of SANs, a provision along this line would have been inserted in the Constitution.”
In addition, he urged that members of the profession should be given the opportunity to choose the candidates they want, whether SANs or non-SANs.
“I feel we should allow members exercise their right to freely determine who leads them.
“ECNBA has cleared 3 of our members to contest the election [albeit I do not agree with the disqualification of Mr. Ogunlana. But that’s a discussion for another day).
“2 of them are SANs. One is not. Let them go into the contest.” He said.
Reacting to the assertion of the learned silk on junior members trying to “wrestle” power with the SANs, he submits that this is not the first time a non SAN is vying for the office of NBA President.
“I don’t know of and see no “wrestling” anywhere. And the last time I checked, this is not the first time a non-SAN is attempting to “wrestle” power.
“The last time out, Afam Osigwe was coasting home to victory before his aspiration was unjustly truncated. Yet on all previous occasions, heavens did not fall. This time around, the same heavens will not fall.” He said.
Finally, he said since all the candidates are qualified to lead the Bar, the members should be given opportunity to exercise their franchise by voting for any of candidate of their choice.
Video of wife of the late former Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi blasting Governor Seyi Makinde and his deputy for allegedly treating her husband with disdain in the last one month of his illness has gone viral on social media.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the family of the ex-governor of Oyo state, Ajimobi and the Oyo state government under the leadership of Seyi Makinde traded words over the final resting place of the deceased.
Chief Florence Ajimobi who was visibly angry in the one-minute video denied that she ever contacted the Oyo governor or anybody in government for any kind of support during the illness of her husband which eventually resulted in the demise of the former governor of the state.
The wife of the late ex-governor of Oyo state, Florence Ajimobi also denied the claims of Oyo State Government that the family of the deceased sent a proxy.
Florence Ajimobi made these disclosures while receiving a delegation of governors who were at the Oluyole residence to commiserate with the family and pay their last respects.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan led the delegation to the Oluyole home of the late ex-governor of the state.
While acknowledging that she was supposed to keep quiet, the wife of late ex-governor of Oyo state said she decided to break her silence since his husband fell ill about a month ago and died last Thursday because of misgivings emanating from the government.
Florence appealed to the state government of Oyo to stop what she described as dirty politics and further disclosed that her late husband was for peace and served the state for eight years making him deserve better treatment even in death.
Wife of the late ex-governor of Oyo state, Ajimobi stressed that “Although I should not be the one speaking but I just want to clear the air on a lot of misgivings that has been spreading.
“On behalf of my late husband, children and the entire Ajimobi’s family, I want to sincerely thank you for all your support at this very crucial point of our lives.
“My husband is not a very difficult man but thank God we are here today. For me, when things like this happen, I want to pick up something. It is a time for everyone of us to reflect on our lives because death is a necessary end. It will come when it will come. We don’t know who is next and we don’t know when our time will come.
“Either you are a Christian or a Muslim, both religions teach love and peace and I am glad that the deputy Governor of Oyo State is here because I need to put some records straight. It is the first time I’m going to make any public announcement or statement since my husband actually died.
“I opened the papers a couple of days ago and I saw the Oyo State Government writing a lot of things.
“Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, for the avoidance of misinformation to the public and damage to the image of my husband because my husband is a peace- loving person. He lived for peace passionately.
“My husband took ill on the 22nd of May and he was hospitalised and I was reading in the papers that the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, claimed he called me. But he didnt.”
Referring to the Deputy Governor, she said “I don’t have your number and I have never spoken with you on phone. But it’s important we put the records straight because this is a family of politicians and I don’t want anybody to tarnish my husband’s name and well my husband is gone. It could be me or anyone else tomorrow.
According to the video obtained by WITHIN NIGERIA, the deputy governor of Oyo state, Olaniyan tried to react to her statements but he was stopped by the Kano State Governor who is also an in-law to the Ajimobi’s family, Umar Ganduje who waved to him.
Florence continued that “Life in itself is vanity upon vanity. Either you are PDP or APC, the man is dead and he has been buried.
“But the Governor didn’t call me. Even if he had called me and I didn’t pick his calls, I don’t have his number and I have never spoken with him on the phone. He could have sent me a text message for record purposes.
“And then today again, I read in the papers and saw how the Ajimobi’s family was lying about something again
“Mr Deputy, my husband never had anything against the Governor or anyone else. We were in different parties but he was an elder stateman and he slept on the ground.
“The Governor of Oyo State never called me nor sent a condolence message, my husband was hospitalised for one month. What politics are we playing, please?
“Life is short, I’m a Christian and my husband is a Muslim, we all should let the fear of God guide us in whatever we are doing. Ajimobi is gone today. Whatever he does doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t matter to me as his wife and his widow. I’m going to mourn and respect my husband’s wishes and that was what I did today, laid him to rest peacefully.
“I don’t want any controversy. Everything I read in the papers, I just swallowed them all and let it go. So, please, the press are here, we never had any rift with the Governor with the state government. I never dialogued with them. I never contacted them nor sent them a word because I didn’t know it was necessary for me to send official messages that my husband was hospitalised.
“I didn’t send messages to Governor Fayemi. I didn’t send to Governor Ganduje. I didn’t send to Lagos State Governor, I didn’t send messages to anybody because it was all over the social media and they knew that my husband was ill.
“I think the least anybody can do as a God- fearing person was at least to send me a word of encouragement at that time. And even after he died. Not even you Mr Deputy Governor called. If you had called me as you claimed and I didn’t pick, you could have at least sent me a message Sir.
“I don’t have your number, I am the wife of a politician, I don’t pick numbers that I don’t know Sir. You can send a message. Everybody is going to die. My husband is dead and he served this state for eight good years.
“Are you saying he didn’t contribute anything to this state and you could not honour him for a second? The man is dead and I need to put the record straight. I don’t want anybody, any government to tarnish my husband’s image. He was a peace loving man. And he played his role and he’s gone.”
“Nobody can be on the stage for so long. You come, play your roles and you leave. Somebody else comes. I pray for Governor Seyi Makinde to succeed because that is the only time I would say that my husband succeeded.
“So, please let’s put the record straight. I never had any interactions with Governor Seyi Makinde, he did not contact the family and that is the fact. His deputy Governor is here, he did not even send me a text message and I don’t have your number and I don’t pick calls from numbers that I don’t know. So, please let’s stop dirty politics.”
The quick intervention of Kano Governor Umar Ganduje, who quickly called for prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Governor, put the matter to rest.
The Osun state police command has arrested a 50-year-old man, Adeleye Fayemiwo, for defiling his 13-year-old daughter.
A statement issued by the spokesman for the command, Opalola Yemisi, says the suspect who resides in Agbongbe Street, Ibokun area of the state had unlawful carnal knowledge of his daughter, adding that the victim was taken to the hospital for medical examination and treatment.
“On June 17, 2020 at about 0700hrs, one Adeleye Fayemiwo ‘m’ (50) of B50, Agbongbe Street, Ibokun had unlawful carnal knowledge of his daughter, a girl of 13yrs old of the same address.
Upon information received from the complainant, the suspect was arrested while the victim was taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment,” the statement partly read.
In a related development, the police has also arrested a 75-year-old man accused of defiling a 15-year-old girl.
The suspect, Jacob Ayinla who resides in Odiolowo area of Osogbo, allegedly lured the minor to his house under the pretext of buying local ‘PITO’ drink from her and then raped her.
“On 28th May, 2020 at about 1730hrs, one Isiaka Adeyounbo ‘m’ of Ayelabowo street, Ile-Ife dragged a 16years old girl of the same address into his house and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
On 10th June 2020 at about 1800hrs, one Jacob Ayinla ‘m’ (75) of Odiolowo area, Osogbo lured a girl of 15years old of Aresa area, Osogbo into his house under the pretext of buying local ‘PITO’ drink and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
On 14th June 2020 at about 1350hrs, one Oyerinde Oyeniyi ‘m’ (28) of No.62, Mokuro road, Ile-Ife had unlawful carnal knowledge of his landlord’s daughter, a girl of 11yrs old of the same address” she said
The spokesperson said both men would be arraigned immediately investigation is concluded.
Police investigating the murder of Alexander Kareem, the younger brother of BBNaija star, Khafi Kareem, have made a renewed appeal for information as Crimestoppers announced a £10,000 reward for anyone with any useful information.
Witnesses say he screamed out “help me” as he lay dying in the street at 12.40am.
He died from a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen, police said.
The independent charity, Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the murder of Alexander Kareem.
Police are also investigating a white Ranger Rover which was found burned out just 25 minutes after police were called to the scene.
DCI Wayne Jolley, said: “We continue to work round the clock to find answers for Alexander’s friends and family. We are appealing to those who have information to call and say what you know. There are people out there who know who was in the white Range Rover that night. You are protecting someone who has committed a terrible crime and needs to be brought to justice. Please think of Alex’s family and friends who deserve to know what happened to him.
“We are hoping this significant reward, put up by Crimestoppers, will encourage people to come forward. It is 100 percent anonymous.
“There continues to be additional patrols in the area and we want to reassure the public that we will do all we can to bring those responsible to justice.”
Alexa Loukas, London regional manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Alexander after this tragic murder. He had a great future ahead of him and his life has been senselessly cut short. If you know who was responsible or have any information, no matter how small, please speak up and tell Crimestoppers. This is your opportunity to do the right thing. We are offering this reward because his family deserve to see justice for Alexander.”
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says airports in Nigeria are 90% ready for reopening.
He said this today Saturday, June 27, 2020 after he and other government officials partook in the dry run simulation exercises held at the domestic terminals of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos respectively
The exercise, which was aimed at assessing the readiness of the airports for reopening post Covid-19 was witnessed by the Honourable Ministers of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, State for Health, Dr Olorunnibe Mamora, Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force, Dr. Aliyu Sanni, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, Chairman, Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, amongst several other stakeholders.
The simulation exercise began in Abuja as passengers were taken through the Post Covid-19 departure protocols enroute Lagos on a Boeing 737 Aerocontractors flight. The team from Abuja arrived at the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos at about 1200hours. Passengers onboard the flight were facilitated in line with the normal procedural order of arrival facilitation.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika expressed his delight at the level of facilities on ground. He added that going by the measures that have been put in place, the airports are about 90% ready to reopen.
According to Senator Sirika, domestic passengers will now have to get to the airports like three hours before departure, while international passengers would be expected to get to the airports about five hours before their flight. This is to ensure that all protocols, including safety markings, social distancing, hand sanitizing, baggage decontamination, scanning of personal items, etc. are complied with forthwith.
Other Ministers on ground and the National Coordinator of PTF also took their turn to comment on their impression of the preparedness of the airports for reopening. They also expressed satisfaction at the measures on ground and optimism that the airports are ready for reopening.
The team from Abuja also went through the departure protocols, signalling the end of the exercise.
Nigerian Lawyers on social media have called out a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for saying that junior lawyers are planning a revolution to take the office of the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from senior lawyers.
In a letter written to T.O Okpoko, a senior advocate and former president of the NBA, Awomolo stated that “It will be a great failure of leadership for the senior advocate to surrender leadership to the outer bar when there are willing and able senior advocates.”
In his letter, Awomolo said there is “an unannounced but powerful and potent revolutionary move by our junior colleagues who are very much in larger numbers to wrestle the office of the NBA from the rank of SAN.”
He described the NBA as “a conservative professional body with strong ethical values of seniority, integrity, respectability and good name as core values to the profession for leadership positions, not wealth or other primordial sentiments”.
Awomolo referred to the Jos conference of 1998 where the late Mudlaga Odic, former president of the NBA, challenged members of the inner bar to take hold of the leadership of the bar “to avoid the occurrence of what happened in Port Harcourt in 1992 the paralyzed the bar association from 1992-1998”.
Addressing Okpoko, he said: “Since you became the president of the reformed NBA in 1998, and to avoid what happened in Port Harcourt in 1992, all successors to the office of the president have been senior advocates of Nigeria.”
“With respect, I believe you need to urgently call a meeting of the past presidents of the NBA and do all within your powers to preserve the integrity, honour and respectability of the office of the president of the NBA,” the letter further read.
Reacting to the letter, A senior counsel at Ephesis Lex, Aminu Mahmud; said Awomolo’s letter seeks disunity at the Bar and promotes a conservative culture that seeks to create inferiority & superiority complex, Prospero & Caliban or master & slave relationship at the Bar.”
According to him, “Awomolo describes the Bar and or the legal profession as conservative. An unfortunate description that highlights all that’s wrong with the NBA”.
Regarding Awolowo SAN calling Senior Advocates of Nigeria to close ranks to prevent a non SAN from emerging as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) in the next election.
Earlier today the purpose Tv host, Ebuka share his vote support for the aspirant NBA president Olumide Akpata but it seem people never knew Ebuka is a qualifier lawyer in the Nigeria bar not just a lawyer but he also did his LLM
Tune in to your Africa magic every Monday at Channels 151 for “ Judging matters “to see more of Ebuka Obi Uchendu Esq
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