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
Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

A 30-year-old unemployed man, Sadiq Usman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly parading himself as a military officer.
Usman is facing a two-count charge of impersonation.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 24 at about 3.
30 p. m. at Alaba Rago Market area of Ojo, Lagos State.Ikhayere said that the defendant, who was unemployed, unlawfully had in his possession a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, cap, belt, and boots.
“He paraded himself as a member of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession two Nigerian Navy identity cards,” she said.
According to her, the defendant was arrested when he failed to give a satisfactory account of the items.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 77(a)(b) and 79(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 77 stipulates a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of impersonating a member of the armed forces or the police.
Section 79 stipulates two years imprisonment for unlawfully wearing the uniform of the armed forces.
The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
Owolabi adjourned the case until July 1 for mention. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Man Seeks Divorce After 17 years, Citing Loveless Marriage

One Moshood Kolobo of Temidire Community, Oko-Olowo area, Ilorin, on Wednesday applied to the Area Court, Centre-Igboro, for the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Hafsat Kolobo, citing lack of love.
Moshood told the court that he was no longer interested in the 17-year Islamic union, saying that the marriage lacked love and emotional connection.
He therefore urged the court to grant his request for a divorce.
The defendant (Hafsat) pleaded with the court to give her two weeks, saying, “I was just called and informed to appear in court today without knowing the details.
“This is shocking, after 17 years and five children. I am asking the court to give me two weeks.
”The Presiding Judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, adjourned the case until June 23 for further mention. (NAN)
CRIME
Man Remanded for Allegedly Raping Physically Challenged Teen

An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 50-year-old man, Linus Anozie, in a correctional center for allegedly engaging in anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged person.
Anozie, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a one-count charge of sexual assault.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B.
A. Sonuga did not take the defendant’s plea.He remanded him in a correctional facility and ordered that the file be sent to the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Sonuga adjourned the case until July 31, pending legal advice.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 9 at about 11.
00 a.m. at Ogunlana Estate, Akin Ogunlewe Street, in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.He told the court that the defendant unlawfully had anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged man (name withheld), without his consent.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravene the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)