JUDICIARY
SERAP Trains Lawyers, Journalists on Access to Data, Information, Digital Rights
The Socio-Econonic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on Tuesday trained media practitioners, lawyers and other stakeholders on access to information, data and digital rights in Nigeria.
Speaking at the training workshop and interactive session, a Lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Olubunmi Afinowi, said that at the time of drafting the Nigerian Constitution, digital rights were not conceived.
Afinowi said that data and digital rights as a specialised area, was borne out of current innovations and technological advancements.
She noted that thankfully, the constitution was expandable to accommodate current trends and there was a need for proper governance of the digital space.
“Section 37, provides for the rights of privacy within homes and this is why I said the drafters of the Constitution did not conceive of digital rights at the time.
“The beauty of the law is that we can expand its interpretation. So, now if we look at the provisions of Section 37 and we expand this by indication, it includes communications within the digital space, not just communications, interactions and activities within the digital space.
“We have the Data Protection Act, which was signed into law this year and I will just point out to specific provisions, the protections of the law and to safeguard the rights, freedoms and interests of data subjects.
“That is you and I as citizens in line with the Constitution and also to provide for the regulation of processing of personal data and so and to protect data subjects and so on,” she said.
Afinowi spoke on Legal Strategies for Promoting Data and Digital Rights in Nigeria.
The Executive Director, Dataphyte, Mr Joshua Olufemi, also spoke on: “Media Strategies for Promoting Data and Digital Rights in Nigeria’’.
Olufemi said that as an ecosystem, media needs a lot of collaborations outside its space and circle, specifically embracing innovation, technology, government amongst others.
The Deputy Director, SERAP, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, in his welcome address, said that Nigerians had rights to privacy and protection as guaranteed under the 1999 constitution as amended.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the event included law students, lawyers, media professionals as well as other stakeholders in the ecosystem. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Court Strikes Ex-Kogi Governor’s Bail Application
Justice Maryann Anenih o a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court on Tuesday struck out the bail application filed by former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi.Anenih struck out the application on the grounds that it was filed when the former governor was yet to be taken into custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The application was filed on Nov. 22, while the former governor was taken into custody of the anti-graft agency on Nov. 26 and arraigned on Nov. 27.(NAN)Details later….
JUDICIARY
5 Men Face N25m Worth of Milo Products Theft Charge
Five men, on Monday appeared before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, for allegedly stealing a truck load of Milo products worth N25 million.The defendants, Temidire Ramon, 35, Aminu Yusuf, 26; Olusola Opadare, 35; Oludayo Adeleye, 38, and Amodu Jimoh, 51, are standing tial on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Insp E. O.Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Oct. 13, 2020, at Agbara in Ogun.Adaraloye, said that the defendants conspired and stole a truck load of Milo products valued at N25 million, belonging to Nestle Company.He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.The Magistrate, Mr O.A Onagoruwa, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.He ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.Onagoruwa also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government.He adjourned the case until Dec.12 for hearing. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Grants Mother Custody of 2 Children
A Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa has granted Maryam Muhammad custody of two children from her former husband, Bashir.
The judge, Musa Sabo ordered Bashir to pay Muhammad N175,000 for a self contained apartment in arrears following the plaintiff’s claim of already paid rent.
Sabo added that Bashir should secure a self contained apartment or pay the plaintiff N250, 000 annually for accommodation.
He said that the children would spend first and third term holidays with their father and second term holidays with their mother.
The judge said the father could pick his children up every weekend for outings within 10a.m to 6.pm from the mother and notify her before hand.
He also ordered him to pay outstanding school fees if any and pay the plaintiff arrears for the fees she claimed to pay after verifying same as she failed to prove it.
Sabo ordered Bashir to pay N40,000 from October 2023 To February 2024 and subsequently pay N45,000 monthly for the children’s upkeep..
Regarding the children’s medication, he ordered Bashir to make an arrangement based on his financial capability.
Earlier, the plaintiff approached the court for custody of her children, maintenance, Islamiyya school fees, enrollment of one of the children in a special needs school and transportation.
She also sought for Bashir to refund N770, 000 which she paid for her house rent with the children and pay for the medicals of the children.
Bashir however said his ex-wife paid the rent without his consent adding that he is a civil servant and not financially capable.
“I do not earn up to N2 million annually and I am currently paying N600,000 rent annually. My children are already under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” he said.(NAN)