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JUDICIARY

Justice Oputa was Prophetic

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By Lilian Okenwa

It set out to probe the past, seek truth in every corner of the land, reconcile those who felt alienated, heal the wounds of the past and restore harmony in the country. The Human Rights Violations Investi­gation Commission (HRVIC) popularly called Oputa Panel, started with so much hype and verve.

For nearly one solid year – precisely from October 23, 2000 to October 18, 2001, television stations treated Nigerians to what some called a circus, a jambo­ree, Oputa home video, and many other names.

But, then a lot of issues came to the fore while the panel’s assignment last­ed.

Not a few took the event seriously. Spellbound, and gripped by the riveting testimonies, many a Nigerian spent morn­ings and afternoons glued to their televi­sion sets and sleepless nights watching the replay of the proceedings.

Every day from 9.00 am till evening, the main au­ditorium of Women Development Cen­tre, Abuja was packed with petitioners, journalists, and people from all walks of life. Memoranda upon memoranda were submitted. About 10,000 victims’ recol­lections were received. The same scenario was replicated in several other major cities in the country, including Lagos, Port Har­court, Kano and Enugu where the panel also sat. Twenty years after Oputa panel, the rift, and the yawning wound on var­ious nationalities in Nigeria appear to be worsening. The question is: how prepared is the country to repair the crack, and heal the gaping wound? How sincere is the now famous “Nigeria’s unity is sacrosanct” often touted by politicians?

From police and soldiers brutality to unconscionable impunity in governance and insecurity. Can the country survive the sustained battering on every side by sundry issues that are not only dividing but pitch­ing each ethnic nationality against the other? Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who was secretary of that Commission, expressed grave concerns in his speech during Ni­geria’s 60th independence anniversary. He said: “The motto of our dear nation reads: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. To­day, where is Nigeria’s Unity? Today, who has Faith in Nigeria? Today, where is the Peace? Today, where is the Progress?

“The whole world stood with Nigeria sixty years ago expecting us to lead Afri­ca and beyond. TIME Magazine on De­cember 5th, 1960 made our Prime Minis­ter its Man of the Year. No black person had ever been conferred with this honour. Where are we today with that trust?”

As the public hearings of the famous Oputa Panel wound up on Thursday Oc­tober 18, 2001, Chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice ChukwudifuOputa, in his keynote address, made some pertinent statements. He warned for instance that the “simmering discontent” among the nationalities must not be allowed to fester.

According to him, “each ethnic group feels marginalized. From the memoranda and evidence from these groups, it became apparent that there exists a simmering dis­content which should not ever be allowed to boil over. The challenge then is to find an answer to this dreadful fiend called mar­ginalisation. And find an answer Nigeria must…”

It’s been 20 years since these statements were made and little has changed. If an­ything the situation seem to have deterio­rated. On 1st October 2020, when Nigeria marked its 60th independence anniversary, more questions arose about the country’s achievements in the past years, the basis for its unity and whether there have been reconciliations across the divide 50 years after the Nigerian civil war which accord­ing to the United Nations, claimed two million lives, mainly women and children.

The heightened discontent among dif­ferent groups in the country today con­firms Justice Oputa’s 20 years old predic­tion. Presently, the country is bedevilled with fallouts from the recent nation-wide #ENDSARS protests. As it stands Nige­ria’s fragile unity is faltering badly. Govern­ment must rise to the occasion and restore the faith of Nigerians in Nigeria.

This article was first published in Law and Society Magazine

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JUDICIARY

Woman in Court for Allegedly Damaging N2.5m Shop

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One Mrs Subomi Kalejaye, on Thursday, appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly damaging a shop worth N2.5 million.

Kalejaye, whose address was not provided, is charged with malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

She, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sgt.

Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Dec.
  9,  about 11.49 a.m. at Jericho area of Ibadan.

Owolabi said that the defendant maliciously damaged a shop belonging to one Ajomale Ibrahim.

He added that the defendant conducted herself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by engaging in the act.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 249(d) and 451 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Gladys Oladele, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oladele adjourned the case until Jan. 27, 2025, for hearing. (NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Woman Arraigned for Alleged N6.8m Theft

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Court Sentences Applicant to 6 Months in Prison for Stealing Cell Phone
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A 41-year-old woman, who allegedly stole N6.8 million from a company, has appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

Irene Onyechi appeared before the Magistrate, Mrs O. M. Ogun, on a count charge of stealing.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp Esther Adesulu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence from June to September.

Adesulu said that the defendant stole  from the New Concept Pharmacy located at Ojo.

The alleged offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum

It adjourned the case until Jan.

16, 2025 for mention. (NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Admits ex-Kogi Governor to N500m Bail

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday, admitted former Governor of Kogi , Yahaya Bello to bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.Justice Maryann Anenih had, on Dec. 10, refused the ex-governor’s bail application, saying it was filed prematurely.Delivering the initial ruling, she said, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, the application was incompetent.

There was, however room for the governor’s lawyers to file a fresh application for bail and apply for hearing date.
The former governor is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N110bn, along with two others.He had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday , Counsel for the former governor, Joseph Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the defence counsel had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsel.He applied to withdraw the further affidavit, saying, “We do not want to make the matter contentious.”There was no objection from the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN. The court, therefore, granted the application for withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.Daudu, also informed the court that discussions had taken place with the leader of the prosecution counsels, resulting in an agreement to ensure a speedy trial.In light of this understanding, Daudu urged the court to grant the bail application.He further requested that if the court would graciously grant the Defendant bail, the court should kindly review the bail conditions for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants.He urged the court to broaden the scope of properties to be used as bail sureties to include locations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rather than limiting the location solely to Maitama.The prosecution counsel, Enitan SAN, acknowledged that Daudu SAN had been in talks with the prosecution team.In accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), the EFCC Counsel gave assurance of their cooperation in expediting the trial.He said, “I confirm the evidence given by the distinguished member of the bar that is leading the Defence, J.B. Daudu, SAN, that he has been in conversation with the leader of the prosecuting team.“It is legal tradition that we should cooperate with members of the bar when it does not affect the course of justice.”We have decided not to make this contentious, bearing in mind that no matter how industrious the defence counsel might be in pushing forward the application for bail and no matter how vociferous the prosecution counsel can argue against the bail application, your lordship is bound by your discretion to grant or not to grant the application.“We are therefore leaving this to your lordship’s discretion.”Delivering her ruling, Justice Anenih acknowledged that the offence Bello was charged with was a bailable one and granted the ex-governor bail in the sum of N500 million, with three sureties in like sum.The sureties must be notable Nigerians with landed property in Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki and Asokoro.Bello was also asked to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court.He is to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are met.Daudu also prayed for the variation of the 2nd defendant ‘ bail condition.Z.E Abbas, counsel for the third defendant filed a motion on Dec. 17 for variation of bail conditions and urged the court to grant the application.This variation is based on landed property which earlier restricted them to only Maitama.The prosecution did not object.The judge granted their prayers and granted the property location as Yahaya Bello ‘s.The second and the third defendants were earlier admitted to bail in the sum of N300m each with two surgeries in.like sum with property at Maitama.The case was adjourned until Jan. 29. (NAN))

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