The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has congratulated Olumide Akpata on his emergence as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The governor, in a statement, said Akpata has distinguished himself as a lawyer over the years and was deserving of his new role.
According to him, “I congratulate Olumide Akpata on his emergence as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. A versatile lawyer, Akpata is sure to bring to the leadership of the Bar his unique acumen and zest as a lawyer to steer the Bar to glorious heights.
There is no denying that different professions face quite peculiar challenges with the advent of Information Communication Technologies and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, but I am confident in the capacity of Akpata to deploy his experience in bettering the lot of hardworking and dutiful lawyers across the country.
“The role comes with immense responsibility and I trust that Akpata is capable of managing the affairs of Nigerian lawyers and truly building a formidable and conscientious professional body.”
Akpata, who polled 9,891 votes, was declared winner of the NBA presidential contest by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Chief Tawo Tawo (SAN). He defeated the other two contenders for the post, namely; Dr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), and Mr Dele Adesina (SAN).
The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has confronted the army over an attack on his convoy in Baga, a town in Kukawa local government.
Governor Zulum had departed Maiduguri, the state capital on Monday afternoon for the northern part of the state in continuation of the food distribution programme which he started earlier in July.
On Wednesday, he was scheduled to visit Baga, a fishing town on the shores of the Lake Chad region which has been under the control of insurgents for many years until the military declared its liberation, insisting no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram.
But, few kilometers to Baga, gunmen opened fire on the Governor and his entourage.
The Governor was forced to retreat as security operatives on escort duties repelled the attackers.
A furious Zulum confronted the Commanding Officer in Mile 4, mincing no words in expressing his disappointment at the inability of the military to rid Baga and environs of insurgents.
“You have been here for over one year now, there are 1,181 soldiers here; if you cannot take over Baga which is less than 5 km from your base, then we should forget about Baga. I will inform the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the men to other places that they can be useful,” Zulum said.
“You people said there’s no Boko Haram here, then who attacked us?”
The Governor has since returned safely with his entourage to Monguno where the distribution of palliatives continues.
A Magistrate Court in Zuba on the outskirts of Abuja has dismissed the case of assault instituted by the Nigeria Police Force against the lawmaker representing Adamawa-North, Senator Elisha Abbo.
Although there is a viral video showing Senator Abbo assaulting a woman, Osimibibra Warmate; and a televised press conference in which the lawmaker apologised to the victim, the court dismissed the suit for lack of diligent prosecution by the police.
The Magistrate, Abdullahi Ilelah, who upheld a no-case submission filed by Senator Abbo, said the police failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the lawmaker indeed assaulted Osimibibra Warmate on May 11, 2019.
During the trial, two witnesses testified against Senator Abbo and they are Warmate who was the nominal complainant and a police officer, ASP Mary Daniel, who investigated the matter.
In her testimony, Warmate said she had gone to visit a friend, Kemi at Pleasure Chest Sex Toy Shop, Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja on May 11, 2019, when the lawmaker walked in with three women.
She said suddenly, one of the women that accompanied Abbo started vomiting and later fainted.
Warmate said when she left the shop, she received a frantic call from the owner of the shop asking her to come to her aid as the lawmaker had accused her of fouling the shop’s air conditioning system that caused one of his female companions to vomit and was threatening to get her arrested.
The victim said when she returned to the shop and was cleaning up the vomit, two men, one of whom was a policeman in uniform, barged into the shop, assaulted them on the orders of Senator Elisha Abbo. Court Grants Senator Abbo Bail The court had on July 8, 2020, granted bail to Senator Abbo in the sum of N5million.
The Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District was granted bail by a Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Ilellah.
This was after the lawmaker was arraigned by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police at Zuba Magistrate Court, Abuja.
He was granted bail in the sum of N5million and the sureties must have verifiable addresses within the Federal Capital Territory.
Protesters Storm NASS, Demand Prosecution Of Senator Abbo
The viral video of the Senator Abbo assaulting the lady at the shop was widely criticised by Nigerians on social media.
The situation led to a protest by some Protesters who stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja demanding the prosecution of the senator.
The protesters including popular activist Aisha Yesufu said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, must be prosecuted alongside his police orderlies.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, condemning the act of assault and demanding justice
The little boy who went viral on social media after a video of him begging his mother to calm down surfaced online, has given an update concerning the incident.
The boy in a new video that is now trending on social media said his mother was moved by his conflict resolution skills.
According to him, she calmed down after he went down on his knees to beg.
When asked whether he misbehaved again, he said no, he didn’t.
The young boy has gained massive attention from Nigerians since his first video went viral.
His action in the video also wowed and inspired Governor of Lagos State, Jide Sanwo-Olu’s festive message to Muslims.
The governor is now expected to meet the boy soon.
However, Toluige Olokoobi Babalola, mother of the little boy, has broken silence.
Speaking via her Instagram post, Toluige said she only made the video to show people how her son always act drama whenever he’s about to be flogged or punished for his wrong action.
She noted that the video was not for any kind of abuse and thanked the public for their love and concern.
The Federal Government has said the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO) for SS3 pupils will commence on October 5 and end on November 18, 2020.
The government also said the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) examinations will start on September 21 and end by October 15, 2020.
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, announced the dates at the end of a two-day meeting with Chief Executives of examination bodies in the country.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), Ben Goong, the ministry said the the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Unity Colleges will hold on October 17, 2020.
The ministry also said the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, (BECE) for JSS 3 pupils also conducted by NECO, will start on the August 24 and end on the September 7, 2020.
The statement said registration for the NECO (SSCE), which is on-going, will end on the 10 of September, 2020 with no option of extension.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended market operational days from three days a week to seven days in the week from 7:00a.m. to 6:00p.m
The new directive would take effect from today, July 30, 2020, as part of measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
The extension was ratified after a virtual meeting yesterday between the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Muhammad Musa Bello, members of the FCT COVID-19 Response Team, senior members of the Administration and members of the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries, led by Mr. Raphael Okorie.
It was also resolved that the Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML) and the various market associations would continue to carry out sensitisation activities to enlighten market users on the risk of COVID-19 and on the necessity of obeying all extant health and safety protocols.
In addition, it was also agreed that access to the markets and operations within them will only be permitted with the wearing of facial coverings and adherence to all extant health and safety guidelines, including hand washing and maintenance of physical distancing.
The FCTA, however, warned that it would be compelled to withdraw this extension, in the event the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries fail to fully implement these guidelines.
Controversies have surrounded the recently released list of accredited voters by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA
In a statement released by Christian Ayemere Esq, the Chairman YLF and PRO Uromi Branch of the NBA, she decried as follows:
It is very disheartening to note that the Uromi branch has 45 eligible voters but after our verification exercise and from the just released lists of verified voters, only 20 names have enlisted as verified under the Uromi branch, out of which only 9 (nine) persons on the list are our actual members, the other 11 persons have Yoruba names that are neither known to us nor are they our members.“This is very sad and unacceptable.”
In another development, Simple I. Dioha, Esq., of Isiokpo NBA Branch of River State, he stated that:
“I have gone through the Isiokpo Branch list and discovered that out of the original about 84 names published in all the previous lists, we now have only 48 names published.
“I suspect serious mischief in the exercise because many of those whose names were omitted did their verification in my presence.
“For example one IZEOMA ORLU-AKWU did her verification in my presence. Now she could not find her name in this present list despite her name had appeared in all the previous lists.
“Please urgent attention is needed.” He said.
In addition, while reacting to the list on his Facebook page, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN described the list as a “fraud”.
“Nigerian Bar Association 2020- The Electoral Committee’ final list of accredited voters is a fraud! Names have been included in Branches where such names don’t exist as members. We are ready to vote on a platform of fraud Again!!!” He said.
Similarly, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu on his Twitter handle remarked:
“There is new branch of @NigBarAssoc. It is called #InternationalDiaspora. We take #DiasporaVoting serious. They have a lot of members oh. #Cumansee #NBAAbracadabra…”
In addition, Akpoguma Jennifer Akpevwe, immediate past Vice Chairman) YLF Udu Branch of NBA noted that the list is “unfortunate” despite the due diligence conducted by the Branch.
“It is appalling to discover the discrepancies between numbers of eligible voters in the final list as released by ECNBA and what was released this evening.
“I make bold to state that my branch exercised due delligence to see that all her eligible voters in the final voters list comply with the mandatory verification process as directed by ECNBA.
“It should be noted that out of 138 names released in the final list only 82names are in the current list and 56 names were ommitted.This is disheartening and highly unacceptable and it is a calculated attempt to disenfranchise members of Udu branch from exercising their franchise.”
Furthermore, Udeme Rivers, Esq., Assistant Secretary of NBA Uyo Branch in a statement tagged “THE HANKY-PANKY OF ECNBA 2020”, described his reaction to the list as it pertains to the Branch.
“To my greatest chagrin, my name was not found in the list, and some of my colleagues who also did not find their names have called me to question why their names are omitted when they conspicuously made it to the first and second provisional list earlier published by the ECNBA 2020.
“This unfortunate development raises a very serious requisition as to the competence and credibility of the ECNBA 2020 in conducting a free and fair election in the face of abundant malpractices and omissions observed by some members of our Association.
“Majority of members of Uyo Branch of NBA who were conspicuously listed in the first and second provisional list earlier published, who also ensured they were verified in preparation to participate in the election today, are not found in the third but last provisional list published this afternoon.
“The names of colleagues and members who did not make it to the first or second provisional list, who as at the 31st day of March, 2020, did not pay their BPF and Branch dues, talk more of being verified, are rather miraculously included in the third but last provisional list published this afternoon.
“As the Assistant Secretary of Uyo Branch of NBA who has knowledge of members of the Branch, it is also very shocking that some of the names allotted by the ECNBA to form the list of eligible voters from Uyo Branch are strange and unknown to our secretariat.“Finally, the names and branches of eligible voters in the first and second provisional list earlier published by the ECNBA were arranged alphabetically for easy readability and identification of members, compared to the third but last provisional list published this afternoon, wherein names are scattered randomly with no orderly compilation, and thousands of other names are just mentioned on the list without alloting them to their various registered Branches for easy identification and confirmation.”
Conversely, TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that the ECNBA had earlier on issued a statement noting that notwithstanding the errors on the list, what would be used to vote is the enrollment numbers of the voters.
Reacting to the ECNBA statement, Mr. Afam Osigwe vide his Twitter handle remarked:
ECNBA, if a lawyer’s Enrolment number is his/her unique identifier for voting in the NBA election., is there no possibility that a person who has access to lawyers’ enrollment numbers will be able to manipulate the system and vote multiple times!”
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has released list of 29,635 voters who would be voting in the NBA National Elections.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer.
Furthermore, it states that the list excludes names of persons with duplicities on the initial list and further reminds of the helpdesks available for support.
The statement reads:
Further to the publication of the full list of legal practitioners qualified to vote, the ECNBA now presents a total of 29,635 verified and duly accredited members who have fulfilled all requirements for voting in the NBA National Officers elections 2020. This figure excludes 1604 names with duplicated phone numbers and/or email addresses.
As the voting commences by 11:00 PM today, 29th July, 2020, we urge all members to conduct themselves in the respectable manner for which the legal profession is known. All Candidates and their supporters are also advised to desist from any form of campaigns forthwith.
The ECNBA reiterates that private helpdesks for the purpose of this election by Candidates, their supporters and NBA Branches are not allowed.
The ECNBA Support helpline for purpose of the election is: 0700 5555 2020. The helpdesk will be open from 10.00PM on the 29th of July 2020.
Voters who desire to observe this election real time from the comfort of their locations can do so using the unique link provided for the voting.
Judge warns Prison Warders to desist from maltreating accused Serial Killer, Gracious David West in their custody
There was mild drama at the premises of Rivers State High Court on Wednesday as Gracious David West, who is undergoing trial for series of murder of young ladies complained to the trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, that he and other inmates at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre were severely beaten on regular basis by warders.
He claimed that he had sustained injury on parts of his teeth as a result of the beatings from the warders.
After listening carefully to the accused, Justice Adolphus Enebeli warned warders from maltreating him and other inmates.
Gracious West also tried to break free from Officers of Correctional Centre to address journalists about the alleged maltreatment being meted out to him and other inmates at the end of the court session.
While being restrained by warders, he blurted out: “Allow me speak to journalists, I must speak with them today, I will tell them how you have been assaulting me and beating me in prison. Even my teeth is paining me, let me tell journalists what is happening in the prison, how you people are doing us”.
However, the court has given the prosecuting counsel in the murder case against David West seven days to file his written address.
This was after counsel to the first and second defendants informed the court that the prosecution counsel was yet to serve them the addresses.
According to Justice Enebeli, the prosecution counsel should file in his written addresses within seven days while the defence counsel should reply on point of law within seven days.
The Judge consequently adjourned to 14th of August 2020 for adoption of written addresses.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum’s convoy was attacked by terrorists enroute Baga, in the northern part of the troubled state Wednesday evening.
Our correspondent said the governor left the state capital, Maiduguri, on Monday to an undisclosed destination in the state to personally distribute palliatives to internally displaced persons in liberated local governments.
The governor left with a large convoy with the intention of giving palliatives to the IDPs so that they could celebrate the Eid-el-Kab
A security source told our correspondent that the governor’s convoy ran into an ambush on Baga road on Wednesday’s evening.
The source said: “Màsha Àllah. Glory be to God. Governor’s Convoy intercepted gunmen along the Baga.
“Fortunately the convoy cleared them with two vigilante and a policeman wounded in the crossfire.
“The convoy has since returned to Monguno town to forestall any other attack on the dreadful road.”
The information about the attack is still sketchy and the motive is unclear as of the time of filing this report.
All attempts to get confirmation from the government side was unsuccessful as the spokesman to the governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, and the Borno State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babakura Abba-Jatto, did not pick their calls or reply messages sent to their mobile phones.
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