Photos: Iyanya unveils new look in new video shoot

Photos: Iyanya unveils new look in new video shoot

Iyanya was in London a few days ago to shoot the video for his massive hit 'Away' and he unveiled his new look in the shoot. He's now sporting a beard. Still handsome. Continue to see more photos from behind the scenes of the video shot by Sesan Ogunro....

DSS to appeal Court judgment ordering FG, Police to pay Sanusi N50m damages

on April 04, 2014   /   in Headlines 12:00 am   /   Comments

By Soni Daniel, Innocent Anaba, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon & Chris Ochayi
LAGOS — Suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, secured a major victory in his legal battle against the Federal Government as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, declared as unlawful, his arrest and seizure of his international passport on February 20.
The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba on the suit filed by Sanusi for the enforcement of his fundamental rights also awarded him N50 million as damages. The court further ordered the Federal Government to tender a public apology to him.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS.

DSS to appeal  judgment

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, DSS, had served notice last night that it was appealing the judgment.
Deputy Director, Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, confirmed the decision of the security agency to Vanguard.
“We are appealing the judgment immediately,” Ogar said but did not give details.
Earlier, the Police had said that they would not comment on it until it got the certified true copy of the verdict.
Force PRO, Mr Frank Mbah, said that the force was unaware of the judgment as at press time.

Preliminary  objection

The court first ruled on the preliminary objection by the Attorney-General of the Federation, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, which it dismissed.
The AGF had argued that the suit was wrongly instituted before the Federal High Court since the matter bordered on the employment of the applicant and so, should be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Dismissing the objection, the court held that the provisions of Section 11 of the Labour Act, cannot take away the jurisdiction bestowed on the Federal High Court by the Constitution, noting that the provisions of Section 251 of the constitution vest jurisdiction on the Federal High Court, to entertain matters touching on enforcement of fundamental human rights.
The court said the applicant had brought the suit under the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, seeking an enforcement of his rights, and so, is not a dispute relating to his terms of employment.
According to the court, “the averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth. The first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant. It is a case of ‘shifting the goal post’ and making a case for the applicant.
“The fact deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit speaks for itself. It is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the Federal High Court. The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on to approach the court for redress.”
The court consequently dismissed the preliminary objection and held that it had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the applicant’s suit.

Respondents fail to answer questions raised

On the main suit, the court held that from the totality of averments in the applicant’s originating summons, there was no doubt that the respondents had failed to answer all the questions raised.

COUNSELS TO FORMER GOV. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, MRS VICTORIA ALONGE (L) AND MR BASHIR RAHIM, DISCUSSING AFTER HEARING OF THE SUIT FILED AGAINST POLICE AND DSS, AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN IKOYI, LAGOS, ON THURSDAY (3/4/14).

The court noted that the first and third respondents presented conflicting averments in their counter affidavits, which shows that they were not on the same page on the issue and had acted in bad faith.
The court declared: “The averment of the second respondent is frugal, as it stated clearly that they had not been briefed by anyone to investigate or arrest the applicant.
“The first respondent laboured to submit that the applicant was not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, but this court is of the opinion that for every infraction, the applicant is entitled to a relief.
“This court believes that the action of the respondents in this suit, deserves condemnation and exemplary damages. This court has no doubt that the applicant has made out his case against the respondents, and so, resolve all the issues in favour of the applicant.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court makes the following declaratory orders:
“A declaration that the first respondent acting through the officers of the third respondent or its privies, does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and keep the passport of the applicant for any reason whatsoever.
“A declaration that the respondent does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and seize the passport of the applicant without compliance with section 5 (1) of the Passport Miscellanous Provisions Act 2004.
“A declaration that the forceful seizure and detention of applicant’s passport, is an unlawful violation of his right to freedom of movement, enshrined in section 35 of the 1999 Constitution and article 12 of the Charter on Human and Peoples Right Act.
“A declaration that the conduct of respondents acting through the officers of the DSS, in forcefully arresting the applicant without due allegation or suspicion of a crime, is an unlawful violation of his right to personal liberty.
“An order of this court is hereby made restraining the respondent, their agents, privies or any other law enforcement agency of the respondents, from further interfering, harassing or infringing on the personal liberty of the applicant.
“An order for immediate release to the applicant of his international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on February 20, is hereby made. Having granted a restraining order, the order of perpetual injunction cannot be granted because for every infringement, the applicant has a right to come to court.
“An exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally is also awarded in the sum of N50 million only.
“An order is also made directing the respondent to make a public apology to the applicant for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment.”

Commendations greet judgment

Meanwhile, commendations across the country yesterday greeted the court judgment
Reacting to the judgment, a member of the inner bar, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN said: “The Supreme Court had in the case of Director of SSS vs Agbakoba, held that it is wrong for security agencies to impound anybody’s international passport because it infringes on the person’s right of freedom of movement which is guaranteed by the constitution.
“I believe that the Federal High Court in Lagos must have drawn strength from that judgment. Mind you, the award of the N50 million damages may not actually be because he was detained or interrogated few hours by security agents, but because of the continued withholding of his passport.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutekpa, said: “The issue of seizure of passport was settled in the case of Agbakoba vs the SSS. We are not in a military regime. Judges have been authorized by the constitution to give judgment irrespective of whose ox is gored. We must commend the judge for being bold enough to interpret the constitution as it is.
“The constitution guarantees freedom of movement to every citizen. How can that be possible if security operatives seize people’s passports on mere ground that it is investigating one allegation or the other?”
In his reaction, Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN said: “I have not read the judgment so it will not be fair for me to start criticizing it deeply at this time. However, I hold the view that Nigeria is not under a military rule. Therefore, the constitution and its provisions remain sacrosanct.”
Human rights crusader, Mr Bamidele Aturu, in his reaction commended the judgment but expressed worry that the Federal Government may not learn any lesson from the episode.
Aturu said: “I hope that will teach the Federal Government a lesson not to violate peoples’ rights. If they violate peoples’ right and they go to court, then the court will act to defend citizens’ right.
“That is what I can say about the judgement. It should be a lesson to them not infringe on peoples’ right but I know that at the end of the day, government does not learn any lesson but I hope they will learn from this.”

CNPP applauds  ruling

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, also applauded the judgment. Reacting to the court verdict, via telephone conversation with Vanguard in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the verdict was a victory for rule of law.
He said: “It is a good judgment and welcome development.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/dss-appeal-court-judgment-ordering-fg-police-pay-sanusi-n50m-damages/#sthash.7yxMvm2J.dpuf

DSS to appeal Court judgment ordering FG, Police to pay Sanusi N50m damages

on April 04, 2014   /   in Headlines 12:00 am   /   Comments

By Soni Daniel, Innocent Anaba, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon & Chris Ochayi
LAGOS — Suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, secured a major victory in his legal battle against the Federal Government as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, declared as unlawful, his arrest and seizure of his international passport on February 20.
The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba on the suit filed by Sanusi for the enforcement of his fundamental rights also awarded him N50 million as damages. The court further ordered the Federal Government to tender a public apology to him.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS.

DSS to appeal  judgment

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, DSS, had served notice last night that it was appealing the judgment.
Deputy Director, Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, confirmed the decision of the security agency to Vanguard.
“We are appealing the judgment immediately,” Ogar said but did not give details.
Earlier, the Police had said that they would not comment on it until it got the certified true copy of the verdict.
Force PRO, Mr Frank Mbah, said that the force was unaware of the judgment as at press time.

Preliminary  objection

The court first ruled on the preliminary objection by the Attorney-General of the Federation, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, which it dismissed.
The AGF had argued that the suit was wrongly instituted before the Federal High Court since the matter bordered on the employment of the applicant and so, should be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Dismissing the objection, the court held that the provisions of Section 11 of the Labour Act, cannot take away the jurisdiction bestowed on the Federal High Court by the Constitution, noting that the provisions of Section 251 of the constitution vest jurisdiction on the Federal High Court, to entertain matters touching on enforcement of fundamental human rights.
The court said the applicant had brought the suit under the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, seeking an enforcement of his rights, and so, is not a dispute relating to his terms of employment.
According to the court, “the averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth. The first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant. It is a case of ‘shifting the goal post’ and making a case for the applicant.
“The fact deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit speaks for itself. It is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the Federal High Court. The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on to approach the court for redress.”
The court consequently dismissed the preliminary objection and held that it had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the applicant’s suit.

Respondents fail to answer questions raised

On the main suit, the court held that from the totality of averments in the applicant’s originating summons, there was no doubt that the respondents had failed to answer all the questions raised.

COUNSELS TO FORMER GOV. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, MRS VICTORIA ALONGE (L) AND MR BASHIR RAHIM, DISCUSSING AFTER HEARING OF THE SUIT FILED AGAINST POLICE AND DSS, AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN IKOYI, LAGOS, ON THURSDAY (3/4/14).

The court noted that the first and third respondents presented conflicting averments in their counter affidavits, which shows that they were not on the same page on the issue and had acted in bad faith.
The court declared: “The averment of the second respondent is frugal, as it stated clearly that they had not been briefed by anyone to investigate or arrest the applicant.
“The first respondent laboured to submit that the applicant was not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, but this court is of the opinion that for every infraction, the applicant is entitled to a relief.
“This court believes that the action of the respondents in this suit, deserves condemnation and exemplary damages. This court has no doubt that the applicant has made out his case against the respondents, and so, resolve all the issues in favour of the applicant.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court makes the following declaratory orders:
“A declaration that the first respondent acting through the officers of the third respondent or its privies, does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and keep the passport of the applicant for any reason whatsoever.
“A declaration that the respondent does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and seize the passport of the applicant without compliance with section 5 (1) of the Passport Miscellanous Provisions Act 2004.
“A declaration that the forceful seizure and detention of applicant’s passport, is an unlawful violation of his right to freedom of movement, enshrined in section 35 of the 1999 Constitution and article 12 of the Charter on Human and Peoples Right Act.
“A declaration that the conduct of respondents acting through the officers of the DSS, in forcefully arresting the applicant without due allegation or suspicion of a crime, is an unlawful violation of his right to personal liberty.
“An order of this court is hereby made restraining the respondent, their agents, privies or any other law enforcement agency of the respondents, from further interfering, harassing or infringing on the personal liberty of the applicant.
“An order for immediate release to the applicant of his international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on February 20, is hereby made. Having granted a restraining order, the order of perpetual injunction cannot be granted because for every infringement, the applicant has a right to come to court.
“An exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally is also awarded in the sum of N50 million only.
“An order is also made directing the respondent to make a public apology to the applicant for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment.”

Commendations greet judgment

Meanwhile, commendations across the country yesterday greeted the court judgment
Reacting to the judgment, a member of the inner bar, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN said: “The Supreme Court had in the case of Director of SSS vs Agbakoba, held that it is wrong for security agencies to impound anybody’s international passport because it infringes on the person’s right of freedom of movement which is guaranteed by the constitution.
“I believe that the Federal High Court in Lagos must have drawn strength from that judgment. Mind you, the award of the N50 million damages may not actually be because he was detained or interrogated few hours by security agents, but because of the continued withholding of his passport.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutekpa, said: “The issue of seizure of passport was settled in the case of Agbakoba vs the SSS. We are not in a military regime. Judges have been authorized by the constitution to give judgment irrespective of whose ox is gored. We must commend the judge for being bold enough to interpret the constitution as it is.
“The constitution guarantees freedom of movement to every citizen. How can that be possible if security operatives seize people’s passports on mere ground that it is investigating one allegation or the other?”
In his reaction, Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN said: “I have not read the judgment so it will not be fair for me to start criticizing it deeply at this time. However, I hold the view that Nigeria is not under a military rule. Therefore, the constitution and its provisions remain sacrosanct.”
Human rights crusader, Mr Bamidele Aturu, in his reaction commended the judgment but expressed worry that the Federal Government may not learn any lesson from the episode.
Aturu said: “I hope that will teach the Federal Government a lesson not to violate peoples’ rights. If they violate peoples’ right and they go to court, then the court will act to defend citizens’ right.
“That is what I can say about the judgement. It should be a lesson to them not infringe on peoples’ right but I know that at the end of the day, government does not learn any lesson but I hope they will learn from this.”

CNPP applauds  ruling

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, also applauded the judgment. Reacting to the court verdict, via telephone conversation with Vanguard in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the verdict was a victory for rule of law.
He said: “It is a good judgment and welcome development.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/dss-appeal-court-judgment-ordering-fg-police-pay-sanusi-n50m-damages/#sthash.7yxMvm2J.dpuf

DSS to appeal Court judgment ordering FG, Police to pay Sanusi N50m damages

on April 04, 2014   /   in Headlines 12:00 am   /   Comments

By Soni Daniel, Innocent Anaba, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon & Chris Ochayi
LAGOS — Suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, secured a major victory in his legal battle against the Federal Government as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, declared as unlawful, his arrest and seizure of his international passport on February 20.
The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba on the suit filed by Sanusi for the enforcement of his fundamental rights also awarded him N50 million as damages. The court further ordered the Federal Government to tender a public apology to him.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS.

DSS to appeal  judgment

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, DSS, had served notice last night that it was appealing the judgment.
Deputy Director, Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, confirmed the decision of the security agency to Vanguard.
“We are appealing the judgment immediately,” Ogar said but did not give details.
Earlier, the Police had said that they would not comment on it until it got the certified true copy of the verdict.
Force PRO, Mr Frank Mbah, said that the force was unaware of the judgment as at press time.

Preliminary  objection

The court first ruled on the preliminary objection by the Attorney-General of the Federation, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, which it dismissed.
The AGF had argued that the suit was wrongly instituted before the Federal High Court since the matter bordered on the employment of the applicant and so, should be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Dismissing the objection, the court held that the provisions of Section 11 of the Labour Act, cannot take away the jurisdiction bestowed on the Federal High Court by the Constitution, noting that the provisions of Section 251 of the constitution vest jurisdiction on the Federal High Court, to entertain matters touching on enforcement of fundamental human rights.
The court said the applicant had brought the suit under the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, seeking an enforcement of his rights, and so, is not a dispute relating to his terms of employment.
According to the court, “the averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth. The first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant. It is a case of ‘shifting the goal post’ and making a case for the applicant.
“The fact deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit speaks for itself. It is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the Federal High Court. The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on to approach the court for redress.”
The court consequently dismissed the preliminary objection and held that it had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the applicant’s suit.

Respondents fail to answer questions raised

On the main suit, the court held that from the totality of averments in the applicant’s originating summons, there was no doubt that the respondents had failed to answer all the questions raised.

COUNSELS TO FORMER GOV. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, MRS VICTORIA ALONGE (L) AND MR BASHIR RAHIM, DISCUSSING AFTER HEARING OF THE SUIT FILED AGAINST POLICE AND DSS, AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN IKOYI, LAGOS, ON THURSDAY (3/4/14).

The court noted that the first and third respondents presented conflicting averments in their counter affidavits, which shows that they were not on the same page on the issue and had acted in bad faith.
The court declared: “The averment of the second respondent is frugal, as it stated clearly that they had not been briefed by anyone to investigate or arrest the applicant.
“The first respondent laboured to submit that the applicant was not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, but this court is of the opinion that for every infraction, the applicant is entitled to a relief.
“This court believes that the action of the respondents in this suit, deserves condemnation and exemplary damages. This court has no doubt that the applicant has made out his case against the respondents, and so, resolve all the issues in favour of the applicant.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court makes the following declaratory orders:
“A declaration that the first respondent acting through the officers of the third respondent or its privies, does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and keep the passport of the applicant for any reason whatsoever.
“A declaration that the respondent does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and seize the passport of the applicant without compliance with section 5 (1) of the Passport Miscellanous Provisions Act 2004.
“A declaration that the forceful seizure and detention of applicant’s passport, is an unlawful violation of his right to freedom of movement, enshrined in section 35 of the 1999 Constitution and article 12 of the Charter on Human and Peoples Right Act.
“A declaration that the conduct of respondents acting through the officers of the DSS, in forcefully arresting the applicant without due allegation or suspicion of a crime, is an unlawful violation of his right to personal liberty.
“An order of this court is hereby made restraining the respondent, their agents, privies or any other law enforcement agency of the respondents, from further interfering, harassing or infringing on the personal liberty of the applicant.
“An order for immediate release to the applicant of his international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on February 20, is hereby made. Having granted a restraining order, the order of perpetual injunction cannot be granted because for every infringement, the applicant has a right to come to court.
“An exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally is also awarded in the sum of N50 million only.
“An order is also made directing the respondent to make a public apology to the applicant for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment.”

Commendations greet judgment

Meanwhile, commendations across the country yesterday greeted the court judgment
Reacting to the judgment, a member of the inner bar, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN said: “The Supreme Court had in the case of Director of SSS vs Agbakoba, held that it is wrong for security agencies to impound anybody’s international passport because it infringes on the person’s right of freedom of movement which is guaranteed by the constitution.
“I believe that the Federal High Court in Lagos must have drawn strength from that judgment. Mind you, the award of the N50 million damages may not actually be because he was detained or interrogated few hours by security agents, but because of the continued withholding of his passport.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutekpa, said: “The issue of seizure of passport was settled in the case of Agbakoba vs the SSS. We are not in a military regime. Judges have been authorized by the constitution to give judgment irrespective of whose ox is gored. We must commend the judge for being bold enough to interpret the constitution as it is.
“The constitution guarantees freedom of movement to every citizen. How can that be possible if security operatives seize people’s passports on mere ground that it is investigating one allegation or the other?”
In his reaction, Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN said: “I have not read the judgment so it will not be fair for me to start criticizing it deeply at this time. However, I hold the view that Nigeria is not under a military rule. Therefore, the constitution and its provisions remain sacrosanct.”
Human rights crusader, Mr Bamidele Aturu, in his reaction commended the judgment but expressed worry that the Federal Government may not learn any lesson from the episode.
Aturu said: “I hope that will teach the Federal Government a lesson not to violate peoples’ rights. If they violate peoples’ right and they go to court, then the court will act to defend citizens’ right.
“That is what I can say about the judgement. It should be a lesson to them not infringe on peoples’ right but I know that at the end of the day, government does not learn any lesson but I hope they will learn from this.”

CNPP applauds  ruling

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, also applauded the judgment. Reacting to the court verdict, via telephone conversation with Vanguard in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the verdict was a victory for rule of law.
He said: “It is a good judgment and welcome development.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/dss-appeal-court-judgment-ordering-fg-police-pay-sanusi-n50m-damages/#sthash.7yxMvm2J.dpuf

DSS to appeal Court judgment ordering FG, Police to pay Sanusi N50m damages

on April 04, 2014   /   in Headlines 12:00 am   /   Comments

By Soni Daniel, Innocent Anaba, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon & Chris Ochayi
LAGOS — Suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, secured a major victory in his legal battle against the Federal Government as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, declared as unlawful, his arrest and seizure of his international passport on February 20.
The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba on the suit filed by Sanusi for the enforcement of his fundamental rights also awarded him N50 million as damages. The court further ordered the Federal Government to tender a public apology to him.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS.

DSS to appeal  judgment

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, DSS, had served notice last night that it was appealing the judgment.
Deputy Director, Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, confirmed the decision of the security agency to Vanguard.
“We are appealing the judgment immediately,” Ogar said but did not give details.
Earlier, the Police had said that they would not comment on it until it got the certified true copy of the verdict.
Force PRO, Mr Frank Mbah, said that the force was unaware of the judgment as at press time.

Preliminary  objection

The court first ruled on the preliminary objection by the Attorney-General of the Federation, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, which it dismissed.
The AGF had argued that the suit was wrongly instituted before the Federal High Court since the matter bordered on the employment of the applicant and so, should be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Dismissing the objection, the court held that the provisions of Section 11 of the Labour Act, cannot take away the jurisdiction bestowed on the Federal High Court by the Constitution, noting that the provisions of Section 251 of the constitution vest jurisdiction on the Federal High Court, to entertain matters touching on enforcement of fundamental human rights.
The court said the applicant had brought the suit under the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, seeking an enforcement of his rights, and so, is not a dispute relating to his terms of employment.
According to the court, “the averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth. The first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant. It is a case of ‘shifting the goal post’ and making a case for the applicant.
“The fact deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit speaks for itself. It is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the Federal High Court. The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on to approach the court for redress.”
The court consequently dismissed the preliminary objection and held that it had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the applicant’s suit.

Respondents fail to answer questions raised

On the main suit, the court held that from the totality of averments in the applicant’s originating summons, there was no doubt that the respondents had failed to answer all the questions raised.

COUNSELS TO FORMER GOV. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, MRS VICTORIA ALONGE (L) AND MR BASHIR RAHIM, DISCUSSING AFTER HEARING OF THE SUIT FILED AGAINST POLICE AND DSS, AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN IKOYI, LAGOS, ON THURSDAY (3/4/14).

The court noted that the first and third respondents presented conflicting averments in their counter affidavits, which shows that they were not on the same page on the issue and had acted in bad faith.
The court declared: “The averment of the second respondent is frugal, as it stated clearly that they had not been briefed by anyone to investigate or arrest the applicant.
“The first respondent laboured to submit that the applicant was not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, but this court is of the opinion that for every infraction, the applicant is entitled to a relief.
“This court believes that the action of the respondents in this suit, deserves condemnation and exemplary damages. This court has no doubt that the applicant has made out his case against the respondents, and so, resolve all the issues in favour of the applicant.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court makes the following declaratory orders:
“A declaration that the first respondent acting through the officers of the third respondent or its privies, does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and keep the passport of the applicant for any reason whatsoever.
“A declaration that the respondent does not have any power to forcefully withdraw and seize the passport of the applicant without compliance with section 5 (1) of the Passport Miscellanous Provisions Act 2004.
“A declaration that the forceful seizure and detention of applicant’s passport, is an unlawful violation of his right to freedom of movement, enshrined in section 35 of the 1999 Constitution and article 12 of the Charter on Human and Peoples Right Act.
“A declaration that the conduct of respondents acting through the officers of the DSS, in forcefully arresting the applicant without due allegation or suspicion of a crime, is an unlawful violation of his right to personal liberty.
“An order of this court is hereby made restraining the respondent, their agents, privies or any other law enforcement agency of the respondents, from further interfering, harassing or infringing on the personal liberty of the applicant.
“An order for immediate release to the applicant of his international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on February 20, is hereby made. Having granted a restraining order, the order of perpetual injunction cannot be granted because for every infringement, the applicant has a right to come to court.
“An exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally is also awarded in the sum of N50 million only.
“An order is also made directing the respondent to make a public apology to the applicant for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment.”

Commendations greet judgment

Meanwhile, commendations across the country yesterday greeted the court judgment
Reacting to the judgment, a member of the inner bar, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN said: “The Supreme Court had in the case of Director of SSS vs Agbakoba, held that it is wrong for security agencies to impound anybody’s international passport because it infringes on the person’s right of freedom of movement which is guaranteed by the constitution.
“I believe that the Federal High Court in Lagos must have drawn strength from that judgment. Mind you, the award of the N50 million damages may not actually be because he was detained or interrogated few hours by security agents, but because of the continued withholding of his passport.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutekpa, said: “The issue of seizure of passport was settled in the case of Agbakoba vs the SSS. We are not in a military regime. Judges have been authorized by the constitution to give judgment irrespective of whose ox is gored. We must commend the judge for being bold enough to interpret the constitution as it is.
“The constitution guarantees freedom of movement to every citizen. How can that be possible if security operatives seize people’s passports on mere ground that it is investigating one allegation or the other?”
In his reaction, Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN said: “I have not read the judgment so it will not be fair for me to start criticizing it deeply at this time. However, I hold the view that Nigeria is not under a military rule. Therefore, the constitution and its provisions remain sacrosanct.”
Human rights crusader, Mr Bamidele Aturu, in his reaction commended the judgment but expressed worry that the Federal Government may not learn any lesson from the episode.
Aturu said: “I hope that will teach the Federal Government a lesson not to violate peoples’ rights. If they violate peoples’ right and they go to court, then the court will act to defend citizens’ right.
“That is what I can say about the judgement. It should be a lesson to them not infringe on peoples’ right but I know that at the end of the day, government does not learn any lesson but I hope they will learn from this.”

CNPP applauds  ruling

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, also applauded the judgment. Reacting to the court verdict, via telephone conversation with Vanguard in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the verdict was a victory for rule of law.
He said: “It is a good judgment and welcome development.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/dss-appeal-court-judgment-ordering-fg-police-pay-sanusi-n50m-damages/#sthash.7yxMvm2J.dpuf

Nigeria, 5 other countries, have largest numbers of extremely poor people

Nigeria, 5 other countries, have largest numbers of extremely poor people

The World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, while addressing participants at the Council on Foreign Relations, CFR, meeting in New York on Tuesday April 1st, said five countries, including Nigeria, make up two-thirds of the world's extremely poor people.

“The fact is that two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor are concentrated in just five countries – India, China, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you add another five countries — Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya – the total grows to 80 percent of the extreme poor.”

 “By extremely poor, we mean people living on less than $1.25 a day. And more than a billion people in the world live on less than that each day.”

And we are an oil producing country. We need a government that works!

Bomb Club unveils plan for celebrities

Fun lovers in Surulere, Lagos, may be keeping a date with the management of The Bomb Club, the newest night spot in the city, any time soon.

As part of the activities lined up to celebrate its arrival on the entertainment scene, the club plans to host celebrities and corporate executives to a ‘Night of Stars’.

Announcing this in a recent meeting with journalists, the chief executive officer of the club, Mr. Patrick Omeje, said the event would afford the guests an opportunity to unwind and network.

He said, “The Bomb Club offers anything you need, when it comes to entertainment and relaxation. We want to prove that it is not only on Lagos Island you can get this kind of treat. This club was established for this purpose. Before now, no such event centre existed in Surulere and in most parts of the mainland. We want people to be able to chill out here without having to drive all the way to the Island. We want to reposition the minds of the people on the mainland.”

Omeje said that stakeholders in the music, movie and visual arts industries would be given additional opportunity to attend other programmes, such as ‘An Evening with Editors’ and ‘Corporate Night’, at the club.

I’ll give marriage another shot –Chika Ike

Chika Ike

Star actress, Chika Ike, speaks with JAYNE AUGOYE about her divorce and career

Nollywood actress, Chika Ike, is no stranger to controversy. In the last few months, she managed to keep Nigerians talking about issues surrounding her recent divorce, which she announced on social media, and her frequent holiday trips abroad.

Like most other Nollywood stars who love to keep the gossip mills busy at all times, the leggy actress always appears to be the subject of debates among movie fans.

But, in an interview with our correspondent, Chika denies that she has ever gone out of her way to attract controversy. She says, “I have stopped searching for my name on the Internet. In fact, I don’t bother myself with gossips and negative comments about me any longer. I have a management team that deals with all that.

“When my aides want me to see or read whatever has been written or said about me, they simply draw my attention to it. Celebrities must learn to ignore what people say about them so they can live long and be happy. That is my principle.”

The soft-spoken actress says she owes nobody an apology for sharing some photographs taken during her recent trips to Dubai and France with her fans on Instagram.

“The truth is that I love to travel around the world. If anyone feels hurt by this, that is their business. I love to take pictures during my trips abroad and share them with my fans. I do this so as to educate them. Many of them have never been to these countries. So, whenever I post these images, I have no bad intentions.”

As more celebrities venture into philanthropy and charity related activities, critics have been quick to say that their actions are nothing other than popularity contest. But Chika, who currently runs a non-governmental organisation that caters for the less-privileged, her intentions are genuine.

“I am truly passionate about charity work, but I can’t speak for other people in my shoes. I am the sole financier of my NGO and its activities, though I get some form of assistance from members of my family and my friends. I strongly believe that if you want people to support a particular cause, you have to show and prove that you are able to hold your own any day.”

Although Chika prides herself in being a public figure, she is always careful not to divulge information relating to her personal life. Little wonder, many movie fans hardly knew she was married until they learnt about the breakup with her former husband.

Chika declines to comment on the circumstances that led to the dissolution of her marriage. “I don’t want to talk about the divorce because it is already in the past and I have since moved on. I am still open to marriage and I might give it a second shot because I believe in love. For now, I am most concerned with my own happiness,” she says.

Commenting on the increasing rate of Nigerian celebrity divorces, the actress, who has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies, says, “Celebrities also make mistakes. I don’t think they have a bad time combining their successful careers and managing the home front or their marriages on the side.

“All the talk about some men being afraid to walk up to a female celebrity and ask her out does not make sense to me. Any man that cannot walk up to me and toast me is not manly enough. I don’t have a long list or criteria for my ideal man. All I want is that he must make me happy.”

Ever since she appeared in an epic movie entitled, Mirror of Beauty, which was screened in major cinemas in England, Chika’s career has been on a steady rise.

With the birth of what is now known as the ‘New Nollywood’, the actress who was recently appointed brand ambassador of Bullet Energy Drink, already has her eyes fixed on the big pictures.

She says, “I constantly strive to take part in quality movie productions and I have had cause to turn down some scripts that did not fit in accordingly.

“My greatest desire is to play a living legend in a Nollywood movie, as that will give me so much fulfilment.”

I’ll give marriage another shot –Chika Ike

Chika Ike

Star actress, Chika Ike, speaks with JAYNE AUGOYE about her divorce and career

Nollywood actress, Chika Ike, is no stranger to controversy. In the last few months, she managed to keep Nigerians talking about issues surrounding her recent divorce, which she announced on social media, and her frequent holiday trips abroad.

Like most other Nollywood stars who love to keep the gossip mills busy at all times, the leggy actress always appears to be the subject of debates among movie fans.

But, in an interview with our correspondent, Chika denies that she has ever gone out of her way to attract controversy. She says, “I have stopped searching for my name on the Internet. In fact, I don’t bother myself with gossips and negative comments about me any longer. I have a management team that deals with all that.

“When my aides want me to see or read whatever has been written or said about me, they simply draw my attention to it. Celebrities must learn to ignore what people say about them so they can live long and be happy. That is my principle.”

The soft-spoken actress says she owes nobody an apology for sharing some photographs taken during her recent trips to Dubai and France with her fans on Instagram.

“The truth is that I love to travel around the world. If anyone feels hurt by this, that is their business. I love to take pictures during my trips abroad and share them with my fans. I do this so as to educate them. Many of them have never been to these countries. So, whenever I post these images, I have no bad intentions.”

As more celebrities venture into philanthropy and charity related activities, critics have been quick to say that their actions are nothing other than popularity contest. But Chika, who currently runs a non-governmental organisation that caters for the less-privileged, her intentions are genuine.

“I am truly passionate about charity work, but I can’t speak for other people in my shoes. I am the sole financier of my NGO and its activities, though I get some form of assistance from members of my family and my friends. I strongly believe that if you want people to support a particular cause, you have to show and prove that you are able to hold your own any day.”

Although Chika prides herself in being a public figure, she is always careful not to divulge information relating to her personal life. Little wonder, many movie fans hardly knew she was married until they learnt about the breakup with her former husband.

Chika declines to comment on the circumstances that led to the dissolution of her marriage. “I don’t want to talk about the divorce because it is already in the past and I have since moved on. I am still open to marriage and I might give it a second shot because I believe in love. For now, I am most concerned with my own happiness,” she says.

Commenting on the increasing rate of Nigerian celebrity divorces, the actress, who has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies, says, “Celebrities also make mistakes. I don’t think they have a bad time combining their successful careers and managing the home front or their marriages on the side.

“All the talk about some men being afraid to walk up to a female celebrity and ask her out does not make sense to me. Any man that cannot walk up to me and toast me is not manly enough. I don’t have a long list or criteria for my ideal man. All I want is that he must make me happy.”

Ever since she appeared in an epic movie entitled, Mirror of Beauty, which was screened in major cinemas in England, Chika’s career has been on a steady rise.

With the birth of what is now known as the ‘New Nollywood’, the actress who was recently appointed brand ambassador of Bullet Energy Drink, already has her eyes fixed on the big pictures.

She says, “I constantly strive to take part in quality movie productions and I have had cause to turn down some scripts that did not fit in accordingly.

“My greatest desire is to play a living legend in a Nollywood movie, as that will give me so much fulfilment.”

Falana demands refund of N700m NIS recruitment fees

Falana demands refund of N700m NIS recruitment fees

Mr. Femi Falana

Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, to refund the fees collected from applicants in the ill-fated recruitment by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Falana alleged in a letter dated April 2, 2014 and addressed to the minister, that the money totaling about N700m was “extorted” from the applicants “as there was no plan to employ the majority of them”.

The letter was entitled, ‘Demand for the refund of recruitment fee of N700m’.

The lawyer threatened to sue the minister “for extorting N700m from the job seekers on behalf of the Federal Government” if the demand for the refund of the money was not acceded to.

“It is hoped that you will not compel us to resort to litigation in the circumstance as it will expose the Federal Government to untold embarrassment,” Falana stated in his letter.

The recruitment tests conducted across the country on March 15 left 20 applicants dead and many others injured in the stampede that characterised the exercise.

The Lagos lawyer rejected the minister’s excuse that the Federal Government had not ordered his ministry to refund the money.

The lawyer argued that since there was no bill by the National Assembly authorising the imposition of the fee on the job applicants, the minister’s action amounted to a violation of Section 59 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He said, “In spite of your official negligence which led to the tragic death of 20 of the applicants, you stated that the Federal Government had not ordered you to refund the said sum of N700m. You have therefore decided not to refund the money or forfeit it to the Federal Government.

“However, since the National Assembly did not pass any money bill authorising the collection of the recruitment fee or levy of one thousand Naira per applicant, your action is a violation of Section 59 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides that there shall be a bill ‘for the imposition of or increase in any tax, duty or fee or any reduction, withdrawal or cancellation thereof’.”

Falana reminded the minister of two separate judgments recently delivered by the Federal High Court in Lagos, one of which declared illegal and unconstitutional the collection of tolls by the Lagos State Government on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

Falana demands refund of N700m NIS recruitment fees

Falana demands refund of N700m NIS recruitment fees

Mr. Femi Falana

Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, to refund the fees collected from applicants in the ill-fated recruitment by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Falana alleged in a letter dated April 2, 2014 and addressed to the minister, that the money totaling about N700m was “extorted” from the applicants “as there was no plan to employ the majority of them”.

The letter was entitled, ‘Demand for the refund of recruitment fee of N700m’.

The lawyer threatened to sue the minister “for extorting N700m from the job seekers on behalf of the Federal Government” if the demand for the refund of the money was not acceded to.

“It is hoped that you will not compel us to resort to litigation in the circumstance as it will expose the Federal Government to untold embarrassment,” Falana stated in his letter.

The recruitment tests conducted across the country on March 15 left 20 applicants dead and many others injured in the stampede that characterised the exercise.

The Lagos lawyer rejected the minister’s excuse that the Federal Government had not ordered his ministry to refund the money.

The lawyer argued that since there was no bill by the National Assembly authorising the imposition of the fee on the job applicants, the minister’s action amounted to a violation of Section 59 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He said, “In spite of your official negligence which led to the tragic death of 20 of the applicants, you stated that the Federal Government had not ordered you to refund the said sum of N700m. You have therefore decided not to refund the money or forfeit it to the Federal Government.

“However, since the National Assembly did not pass any money bill authorising the collection of the recruitment fee or levy of one thousand Naira per applicant, your action is a violation of Section 59 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides that there shall be a bill ‘for the imposition of or increase in any tax, duty or fee or any reduction, withdrawal or cancellation thereof’.”

Falana reminded the minister of two separate judgments recently delivered by the Federal High Court in Lagos, one of which declared illegal and unconstitutional the collection of tolls by the Lagos State Government on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

Fayose’s thug shot APC member —Fayemi campaigner

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose
| credits: Allwell Okpi

The Director General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, on Thursday alleged that some suspected political thugs, said to be part of the crowd of supporters that followed former Governor Ayo Fayose, when he returned to Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, shot a member  of the All Progressives Congress.

Fayose is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Daramola, who is a member of the House of Representatives, leveled this allegation against Fayose at a press conference in Ado Ekiti.

He said that the victim, Babatunde Ogunleye, was shot  inside a bus in the Adebayo area of the state capital and that he narrowly escaped being killed.

Daramola said the suspected thugs had earlier vandalised a bus parked within the premises of Kayode Fayemi Campaign office.

The Fayemi campaign director said, “Babatunde was returning from Oye Ekiti, where we held  our rally, at about 7 pm when the incident happened. The guy could have been killed. He escaped death by the whiskers simply because someone wants to be governor at all costs.

“I want to believe that a script has been acted out to turn this election into orgy of violence; if not, what did Fayose, who claims to be popular, need such a large number  of SSS and the policemen for?

“And we want to emphasise that if there is any script they are acting, either  in this Ekiti election or 2015, we want to make it abundantly clear that Ekiti people will bungle it.”

However, the spokesperson of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, denied the allegation.

Adelusi said, “Our supporters, who were being guided by the security men, did not have the time to branch at the APC secretariat.

“Beside that, the supporters had been specifically instructed by Ayo Fayose not to be violent and not to react to provocation by the APC as they move from Ikere to Ado Ekiti and they kept to the instruction.

“Therefore, what the APC is claiming is strange to us. Let them beam their searchlight elsewhere.

Fayose’s thug shot APC member —Fayemi campaigner

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose
| credits: Allwell Okpi

The Director General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, on Thursday alleged that some suspected political thugs, said to be part of the crowd of supporters that followed former Governor Ayo Fayose, when he returned to Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, shot a member  of the All Progressives Congress.

Fayose is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Daramola, who is a member of the House of Representatives, leveled this allegation against Fayose at a press conference in Ado Ekiti.

He said that the victim, Babatunde Ogunleye, was shot  inside a bus in the Adebayo area of the state capital and that he narrowly escaped being killed.

Daramola said the suspected thugs had earlier vandalised a bus parked within the premises of Kayode Fayemi Campaign office.

The Fayemi campaign director said, “Babatunde was returning from Oye Ekiti, where we held  our rally, at about 7 pm when the incident happened. The guy could have been killed. He escaped death by the whiskers simply because someone wants to be governor at all costs.

“I want to believe that a script has been acted out to turn this election into orgy of violence; if not, what did Fayose, who claims to be popular, need such a large number  of SSS and the policemen for?

“And we want to emphasise that if there is any script they are acting, either  in this Ekiti election or 2015, we want to make it abundantly clear that Ekiti people will bungle it.”

However, the spokesperson of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, denied the allegation.

Adelusi said, “Our supporters, who were being guided by the security men, did not have the time to branch at the APC secretariat.

“Beside that, the supporters had been specifically instructed by Ayo Fayose not to be violent and not to react to provocation by the APC as they move from Ikere to Ado Ekiti and they kept to the instruction.

“Therefore, what the APC is claiming is strange to us. Let them beam their searchlight elsewhere.

Conference full of sleepy lazy old men –Kalu

Dr. Orji Kalu

A former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, has described the ongoing National Conference in Abuja as a home to old men who do not have the strength to decide the future of the nation.

Speaking at the Centenary Lecture organised by the Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kalu, who delivered a lecture titled, ‘Nigeria: A Nation in Quest of Credible Leadership’, said Nigeria would not move forward unless the first generation leaders withdrew gradually from politics.

He said, “The present crop of leaders seems to be failing the nation and the people are becoming increasingly doubtful if indeed we have leaders. To worsen matters, the first generation leaders are still mostly the ones calling the shots. If you go through the National Conference delegates’ list, you will be amazed by the number of men in their 80s still trying to determine the type of future that is suitable for the millennium generation. What fresh ideas can these sleepy old men offer on the way forward? There can be no credible leadership until these men begin to gradually withdraw and allow the younger generation to take charge.”

Kalu also said that for the opposition movement and criticism of government to be effective, the media had a huge role to play.

“It is the media that has the constitutional responsibility to create such robust interface between the opposition and the governing party. The opposition that will guarantee credible leadership cannot be strong and effective if we do not have an equally credible media,” said The Sun Newspaper publisher.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Kalu expressed concern over the quality of candidates vying for elective positions, adding that Nigeria must have credible leadership to be a great nation.

He praised the likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awoowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other nationalists for their contributions to nationhood.

“In the circumstance, we need to start shopping for credible leadership ahead of the 2015 elections. This is the time to start the search as part of our collective civic duty,” said Kalu, who also give credit to President Goodluck Jonathan for his vision for Nigeria.”

Commenting on the reign of impunity and corruption in governance, the former presidential aspirant said he was saddened to see that many lawmakers in the country were people with fraudulent characters who even defended their action in public.

“Those at the National Assembly are fraudulent people who enrich themselves fraudulently. There is corruption in the land so much that thieves are no longer ashamed of their act. People pay journalists in order to discredit innocent Nigerians and some even hire assassin to kill. Our nation must change for it to be classified a great country,” he said.

Meanwhile, a social critic, Olola Kasum, has appealed to President Jonathan to devote more time to governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

In a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, Kasum, who is the President, Afonja Descendants’ Union, appealed to Jonathan and an unnamed major political party in the country to amicably resolve their differences.

He stated that diplomacy rather than litigation  should be employed to resolve differences.   He noted that much resources were being spent on litigations.

Conference full of sleepy lazy old men –Kalu

Dr. Orji Kalu

A former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, has described the ongoing National Conference in Abuja as a home to old men who do not have the strength to decide the future of the nation.

Speaking at the Centenary Lecture organised by the Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kalu, who delivered a lecture titled, ‘Nigeria: A Nation in Quest of Credible Leadership’, said Nigeria would not move forward unless the first generation leaders withdrew gradually from politics.

He said, “The present crop of leaders seems to be failing the nation and the people are becoming increasingly doubtful if indeed we have leaders. To worsen matters, the first generation leaders are still mostly the ones calling the shots. If you go through the National Conference delegates’ list, you will be amazed by the number of men in their 80s still trying to determine the type of future that is suitable for the millennium generation. What fresh ideas can these sleepy old men offer on the way forward? There can be no credible leadership until these men begin to gradually withdraw and allow the younger generation to take charge.”

Kalu also said that for the opposition movement and criticism of government to be effective, the media had a huge role to play.

“It is the media that has the constitutional responsibility to create such robust interface between the opposition and the governing party. The opposition that will guarantee credible leadership cannot be strong and effective if we do not have an equally credible media,” said The Sun Newspaper publisher.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Kalu expressed concern over the quality of candidates vying for elective positions, adding that Nigeria must have credible leadership to be a great nation.

He praised the likes of the late Chief Obafemi Awoowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other nationalists for their contributions to nationhood.

“In the circumstance, we need to start shopping for credible leadership ahead of the 2015 elections. This is the time to start the search as part of our collective civic duty,” said Kalu, who also give credit to President Goodluck Jonathan for his vision for Nigeria.”

Commenting on the reign of impunity and corruption in governance, the former presidential aspirant said he was saddened to see that many lawmakers in the country were people with fraudulent characters who even defended their action in public.

“Those at the National Assembly are fraudulent people who enrich themselves fraudulently. There is corruption in the land so much that thieves are no longer ashamed of their act. People pay journalists in order to discredit innocent Nigerians and some even hire assassin to kill. Our nation must change for it to be classified a great country,” he said.

Meanwhile, a social critic, Olola Kasum, has appealed to President Jonathan to devote more time to governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

In a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, Kasum, who is the President, Afonja Descendants’ Union, appealed to Jonathan and an unnamed major political party in the country to amicably resolve their differences.

He stated that diplomacy rather than litigation  should be employed to resolve differences.   He noted that much resources were being spent on litigations.

Nigeria is fully at war

Nigeria is fully at war

Professor Pat Utomi

Nigeria has been at war for some time. Many of the crises it has managed to keep stumbling into have been troubling enough to be the moral equivalence of a war. For a few years now, there has been a low grade shooting war gnawing at us. But now more people are dying from it than from many major civil wars around the world.

Nigeria and similes of war, as well as metaphors of conflict, have been associated, for a while. Many years ago, I was invited to speak at a Spring meeting of the World Bank in Washington. As we waited for my session, we engaged in a light banter with some World Bank staff members. One of them, Peter Mousley, an English gentleman, was responsible for three countries, Nigeria, Sudan and Sierra Leone. I wondered what the three countries had in common. At the time, Sierra Leone and Sudan were struggling with long running civil wars. Mousely laughed and said there are those who wonder at the awkward grouping and there are those who see all three economies as post-conflict economies of sorts. Nigeria was not at war but the metaphor of a conflict economy seemed to suit it.

In the last few years, conflict has moved from metaphor to what we live. Like, the Florida Everglades, a slow moving river, so slow many do not actually realise there is flow, creeping violence has crawled out from the Niger Delta, as criminals and party toughs became militants and went from kidnapping for criminal ransom to armed environmental activists. To the North-Central where Robert Kaplan saw the coming anarchy violence reigns, finding manifestation in the cleavages of religion, ethnicity, and economic injustice; to marauding Fulani herdsmen going into a murderous rage on the matter of indigene rights and nomadic people; and, eventually the Maitatatsine and other religion-based waves of uprisings and pogroms degenerating into a full-blown insurgency in the face of a failing state and a political class choking on the vomit of its voracious appetite for corrupt enrichment.

Nigeria, denial and make-belief notwithstanding, has been in a full-scale war that has not been declared, with an enemy that is anarchic and whose identity is known only by a name: Boko Haram.

Many things are puzzling about this major war we have a way of pretending is a “police action” some nutheads who hate in the name of God whereas it is a situation as bad as Sudan before the outbreak of peace that would soon be betrayed. One of them is how it seems our military do not seem to have recourse to modern technology.

I recall the Falklands War of as far back as 1982. Its end came while I was on the telephone with the late General Joseph Nanven Garba. I was putting finishes touches to my Ph.D. thesis in Bloomington, Indiana and Garba was a Fellow at the Kennedy School at Harvard. As I was running some of my conclusions by him on the phone when he suddenly said, “It’s over”. He had apparently had an eye on a television set as we spoke and saw the breaking news of Argentina’s surrender. “American technology won it for them”, he commented. Indeed, American satellite intelligence helped Britain win that war. That technology is today so advanced you can pick up the name tag on a soldier from outer space. So, how come rocket launcher vehicles can travel through desert-like conditions around Maiduguri and arrive at an Army barracks undetected, when even Google earth can track such movement? Then, there is the case of the biggest victims, the local residents. They are being slaughtered like chicken in these attacks and it seems improbable insurgents can function without locals knowing enough to provide intelligence that can aid proactive actions of deterrence.

Then, there is also the calculus of this descent into anarchy. Man may be an emotional being but many of the conflicts of Africa only barely mask the goals of those who prosecute them. Many times, it is for control of mineral resources so the contending groups can have access to the economic rent. In the Boko Haram case, you see slight traces of the benefits of political actors who may support from the background.

When politicians use the instrument of making the country difficult to govern as part of the politics of power erosion, to shrink the legitimacy of an incumbent, you assume a certain calculus in the end game. It may be desirable to get rid of the current government at the centre but the continuing cost of anarchy, after one is rid of such a regime, just seems too high for reasoning politicians to deploy as a covert tactic. So, why can people with intelligence on sources of covert support for the violence not be properly engaged? Everyone is losing. The economy of the North-East is near collapse, infrastructure and other assets are being devastated. The country’s image is sullied by broadcast signals of primitive and bestial anarchists which its military is at a loss on how to contain and the Leviathan looks a complete failure in its first duty of ensuring the security of all.

The zero sum game has become lose-lose so the real incentive is for reconciliation to stop the rot. A military solution is not optimal but the military needs to up the containment game so a political resolution can be attained.

There are those who think the prolonged conflict is creating a whole class of people, including those in the military-industrial complex, who profit from it. If that be the case, the urgency to end the conflict, is even more, because interested parties could make the culture of death a living and thriving industry.

It is time for a gospel of life to expel this culture of death consuming us. We can start preaching it in the North-East.

Let there be life in the far reaches of our troubled national soul, even on the fringes of Lake Chad that we may all live. Neighbouring countries and even friends with the technology, who are far away should, in human solidarity, help us save us from ourselves.

–Utomi, political economist and Professor of Entrepreneurship, is founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership.

Nigeria is fully at war

Nigeria is fully at war

Professor Pat Utomi

Nigeria has been at war for some time. Many of the crises it has managed to keep stumbling into have been troubling enough to be the moral equivalence of a war. For a few years now, there has been a low grade shooting war gnawing at us. But now more people are dying from it than from many major civil wars around the world.

Nigeria and similes of war, as well as metaphors of conflict, have been associated, for a while. Many years ago, I was invited to speak at a Spring meeting of the World Bank in Washington. As we waited for my session, we engaged in a light banter with some World Bank staff members. One of them, Peter Mousley, an English gentleman, was responsible for three countries, Nigeria, Sudan and Sierra Leone. I wondered what the three countries had in common. At the time, Sierra Leone and Sudan were struggling with long running civil wars. Mousely laughed and said there are those who wonder at the awkward grouping and there are those who see all three economies as post-conflict economies of sorts. Nigeria was not at war but the metaphor of a conflict economy seemed to suit it.

In the last few years, conflict has moved from metaphor to what we live. Like, the Florida Everglades, a slow moving river, so slow many do not actually realise there is flow, creeping violence has crawled out from the Niger Delta, as criminals and party toughs became militants and went from kidnapping for criminal ransom to armed environmental activists. To the North-Central where Robert Kaplan saw the coming anarchy violence reigns, finding manifestation in the cleavages of religion, ethnicity, and economic injustice; to marauding Fulani herdsmen going into a murderous rage on the matter of indigene rights and nomadic people; and, eventually the Maitatatsine and other religion-based waves of uprisings and pogroms degenerating into a full-blown insurgency in the face of a failing state and a political class choking on the vomit of its voracious appetite for corrupt enrichment.

Nigeria, denial and make-belief notwithstanding, has been in a full-scale war that has not been declared, with an enemy that is anarchic and whose identity is known only by a name: Boko Haram.

Many things are puzzling about this major war we have a way of pretending is a “police action” some nutheads who hate in the name of God whereas it is a situation as bad as Sudan before the outbreak of peace that would soon be betrayed. One of them is how it seems our military do not seem to have recourse to modern technology.

I recall the Falklands War of as far back as 1982. Its end came while I was on the telephone with the late General Joseph Nanven Garba. I was putting finishes touches to my Ph.D. thesis in Bloomington, Indiana and Garba was a Fellow at the Kennedy School at Harvard. As I was running some of my conclusions by him on the phone when he suddenly said, “It’s over”. He had apparently had an eye on a television set as we spoke and saw the breaking news of Argentina’s surrender. “American technology won it for them”, he commented. Indeed, American satellite intelligence helped Britain win that war. That technology is today so advanced you can pick up the name tag on a soldier from outer space. So, how come rocket launcher vehicles can travel through desert-like conditions around Maiduguri and arrive at an Army barracks undetected, when even Google earth can track such movement? Then, there is the case of the biggest victims, the local residents. They are being slaughtered like chicken in these attacks and it seems improbable insurgents can function without locals knowing enough to provide intelligence that can aid proactive actions of deterrence.

Then, there is also the calculus of this descent into anarchy. Man may be an emotional being but many of the conflicts of Africa only barely mask the goals of those who prosecute them. Many times, it is for control of mineral resources so the contending groups can have access to the economic rent. In the Boko Haram case, you see slight traces of the benefits of political actors who may support from the background.

When politicians use the instrument of making the country difficult to govern as part of the politics of power erosion, to shrink the legitimacy of an incumbent, you assume a certain calculus in the end game. It may be desirable to get rid of the current government at the centre but the continuing cost of anarchy, after one is rid of such a regime, just seems too high for reasoning politicians to deploy as a covert tactic. So, why can people with intelligence on sources of covert support for the violence not be properly engaged? Everyone is losing. The economy of the North-East is near collapse, infrastructure and other assets are being devastated. The country’s image is sullied by broadcast signals of primitive and bestial anarchists which its military is at a loss on how to contain and the Leviathan looks a complete failure in its first duty of ensuring the security of all.

The zero sum game has become lose-lose so the real incentive is for reconciliation to stop the rot. A military solution is not optimal but the military needs to up the containment game so a political resolution can be attained.

There are those who think the prolonged conflict is creating a whole class of people, including those in the military-industrial complex, who profit from it. If that be the case, the urgency to end the conflict, is even more, because interested parties could make the culture of death a living and thriving industry.

It is time for a gospel of life to expel this culture of death consuming us. We can start preaching it in the North-East.

Let there be life in the far reaches of our troubled national soul, even on the fringes of Lake Chad that we may all live. Neighbouring countries and even friends with the technology, who are far away should, in human solidarity, help us save us from ourselves.

–Utomi, political economist and Professor of Entrepreneurship, is founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership.

comic comic

Dilbert

 

 

Luann

 

B.C.

 

comic comic

Dilbert

 

 

Luann

 

B.C.