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Kanu: Adopt UK, US manner of secret trials, ex-federal lawmaker tells FG

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Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu
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As the trial of the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, resumes on Monday, a former federal legislator who authored and co-sponsored the Terrorism Act Amendment Bill of 2013, Kayode Oladele, has called for a procedure which disallows those charged with terrorist acts from using the trials as a propaganda platform.

Kanu’s arrest from an unknown location and his extradition to Nigeria was announced on June 27 by the
country’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IPOB leader was consequently arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, amidst tight security on June 29.

The case was subsequently adjourned till July 26.

Oladele, a former Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes in the 8th Assembly, however, canvassed the need for a closed trial of terrorists.

He advised the Federal Government to embrace secrecy in court terrorism trials, being the model used by several Western nations.

According to him, acts of terrorism are tantamount to acts of war.

The former lawmaker stated these in a five-page article entitled: “Terrosim Trials: An Overview of the Delicate Balance between National Security and Human Rights.”

The lawmaker said all terrorism trials anywhere in the world by their nature were always full of intricacies which involved several difficult legal issues bordering on procedure, conflict of laws including the protection of witnesses, issues of disclosure and the use of sensitive evidence during trials.

He urged the Federal Government to ensure a balancing between national security and fairness of proceedings at all stages through proper protection of human rights standards as an international law obligation by the state

The legal practitioner also advised the government to adopt secrecy in the process, maintaining that this had been the common practice globally.

He said: “Secrecy of terrorism trials, which is another common feature of terrorism trials globally, can be found in Nigerian law.

” Section 31(3) of the 2011 Act provides that the court may, on motion by or on behalf of the prosecuting agency, in the interest of public safety or order, exclude from proceedings instituted for any offence under this Act, any person other than the parties and their legal representatives.

“Surprisingly, the 2011 Terrorism Act did not create a separate court for the trial of terrorists.

” The jurisdiction is still vested in the Federal High Court which presumably is expected to use the same procedure used for the prosecution of other criminal cases in terrorism trials, a significant departure from what is obtainable in several other jurisdictions where in addition to secret trials, separate courts such as Military Tribunals are usually used for the trial of terrorism cases.”

He also quoted Section 30 of the 2011 Act as giving the Attorney- General of the Federation the general powers to institute and undertake criminal proceedings on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria even though he may “delegate his power to any agency charged with responsibility of terrorists investigation to institute criminal proceedings against any person in respect of offences categorised” in the Act, ” which he put forward as empowering the government to justify to mode of the proceedings.

“Realising that acts of terrorism are tantamount to acts of war, several Western nations including the United States and United Kingdom not only try most terrorism cases secretly by Special Tribunals, they also sometimes adopt special procedures in order to protect national security, public interest and also “achieve a high rate of conviction that would not be achievable in the regular courts, where “due process” is diligently pursued.

“In the trial of terrorists, therefore, the focus is mainly about “dispensing military justice attendant to a military conflict”, not necessarily (though important), the protection of the fundamental rights of the terrorists,” he said. (NAN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Judiciary

Woman begs court to grant her husband’s divorce prayer

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A businesswoman, Anthonia Ubong has begged a Customary Court sitting in Jikwoyi, in Abuja Municipal Area Council to grant her husband, Ime’s prayer for divorce on grounds of domestic violence.

Ubong made the application on Monday in her defence in a divorce her petition filed by Ime.

“My husband does not provide food for me. He twisted my ankle when I asked him to give me N100 to buy food when I was eight months pregnant.

“The pain in my ankle did not stop until I delivered my baby.

“He also refused to pay the N60,000 for my surgery to deliver my baby after I went through prolonged labour.

“It was my mum and my sister that paid the bill and cared for me.

“My husband only gave me N4,000,” she alleged.

She also alleged that her husband punched her in the face and dislocated her jaw bone.

The respondent also said that her husband is 11 years older than her and as such never allowed her to say anything in the marriage.

She begged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custody of the child of the marriage

The presiding judge, Mrs Thelma Baba, adjourned the matter until Sept. 28 for cross examination.

 

 

(NAN)

 

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Judiciary

12 professors, Falana, Ajulo, 45 others make SAN’s shortlist

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Wig
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Twelve professors have been shortlisted among the senior lawyers that made the list to be considered for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Some of the shortlisted academic applicants are Prof. John Alewo Agbonika, Prof. Osy Chukwu Chukwunyere Nwebo, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule, Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, Prof. Mohammed Lawal Ahmadu, Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion, Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Prof. Babatunde Adetunji Oni, Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu,

Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke, Prof. Benedicta Lopez Daudu and Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola.

Also on the 69-man shortlist include Funmi, wife of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Mrs. Folashade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, Bomo Agbebi and Dr. Kayode Ajulo.

On the list also are Daniel Uruakpa, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie amongst others.

This list was released by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) in Abuja on Thursday, September 14, 2023.

“The LPPC by this notice announced the shortlisting of Applicants who qualified after the Advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic pre-qualification and Academic 2nd filtration Exercise.

“Also after the Independent Appeals Hearing and Chambers Inspection Exercise, preparatory to the interview stage in the process for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the successful Applicants for the year 2023.

“All qualified shortlisted Applicants are graded under two-category systems by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, namely Advocates and Academic Applicants respectively,” LPPC stated.

SHORTLISTED ADVOCATE APPLICANTS IN ORDER OF SENIORITY AT THE BAR

1 Felix Ota Offia, Esq

2 Lawrence Bankole Falade, Esq

3 Kingsley Osabuohein Obamogie, Esq

4 Folashade Abosede Alli, Esq

5 Abiola Isiaq Oyebanji, Esq

6 Bomo Olakunle Agbebi, Esq

7 Daniel Osinach Uruakpa, Esq

8 Oseloka Godwin Osuigwe, Esq

9 Babatund E Adeoye, Esq

10 Babseyi Sigismund Joseph, Esq

11 Emmanuel Moses Enoidem, Esq

12 Kehinde Olufemi Aina, Esq

13 Ngozi Chido Olehi, Esq

14 Aaron Chileokwu Okoroma, Esq

15 Ibrahim Dalhatu Angulu, Esq

16 Olayiwola Emmanue L Afolabi, Esq

17 Sule Shu’aibu, Esq

18 Abiodun Olanrewaju Olaleru, Esq

19 Alfred Olufemi Atteh, Esq

20 Kazeem Adekunl E Sobaloju, Esq

21 Shehu Wadaabdullahi, Esq

22 Bamidele Ibironke Olawoye,Esq

23 Oluwaseyilayo Akinkunmi Ojo, Esq

24 Funmi Falana, Esq

25 Felix Tamara Udenke Mefa Okorotie, Esq

26 Oluwagbenga Seun Ajayi, Esq

27 Friday Ramses Aku Onoja, Esq

28 John Agada Elachi, Esq

29 Bola Razaq Gold, Esq

30 Paul Kasimanu Wamad Uemene, Esq

31 Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun, Esq

32 Oluwole Aladedoye, Esq

33 Paul Yn Osobhase Abhulimen, Esq

34 Jonathan Taidi Gunu, Esq

35 Tochukwu Jude Onyiuke, Esq

36 Olukayode Abraham Ajulo, Esq

37 Christpher Adapar Umar, Esq

38 Chibueze Ogechi Ogbonna,Esq

39 Yemi Adewale M’sbaudeen Adesina, Esq

40 Omoyemi Lateef Akangbe, Esq

41 Olumide Akin Wale Olujinmi, Esq

42 Musa Adamu Aliyu, Esq

43 Fidelis Chuk Wunonye Mbadugha, Esq

44 Onyemaechi Chkwudi Adiukwu, Esq

45 Ikechukwu Philip Onuoma, Esq

46 Yakubu Philemon, Esq

47 Johnny Ugwugwaye Agim, Esq

48 Aliyu Lemu Ibrahim, Esq

49 Isaiah Bozimo, Esq

50 Prisca Ozoiloesike, Esq

51 Yahaya Dan’asabe Dangana, Esq

52 Adeola Oluwaseun Adedipe, Esq

53 Adedayo Samue Ladedeji, Esq

54 Chikaosolu Ojukwu, Esq

55 Musaahmed Attah, Esq

56 Ayotunde Foluso Ogunleye, Eso

57 Olayemi Badewole, Esq

SHORTLISTED ACADEMIC APPLICANTS IN ORDER OF SENIORITY AT THE BAR

58 Prof. John Alewo Agbonika

59 Prof. Osy Chukwu Chukwunyere Nwebo

60 Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule

61 Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri

62 Prof. Mohammed Lawal Ahmadu

63 Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion

64 Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo

65 Prof. Babatunde Adetunji Oni

66 Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu

67 Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke

68 Prof. Benedicta Lopez Daudu

69 Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola

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Judiciary

FG Moves To Withdraw Firearms Case Against Emefiele, Files Fresh 20 Charges

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Godwin Emefiele
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The Federal Government has applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, in an oral application, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations.

However, counsel for Emefiele, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Daudu, opposed the application insisting that that the government must first purge itself of the disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, before its application could be taken.

Justice Oweibo has adjourned till Thursday, August 17, 2023 to rule on the application.

In an interview with journalists after the day’s proceedings, the DPP said a fresh 20 counts has been filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court against the suspended CBN governor.

One of the counts, he said, accused Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.

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