Legal firework is expected to continue at the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State on  September 22, this year in the human rights suit filed by the  Bilie Human Rights Initiative  on behalf of the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra, SCE-IPOB, against the Federal Government of Nigeria.
 
The suit which was filed on their behalf, by their legal counsel, A. C. Emeka of Mekadolf Law Chambers, Owerri, had earlier been scheduled for hearing on  June 16, but due to the  inability of the court to sit, the case was adjourned to  September 22  for hearing.  Before the  June 16  hearing date, the presiding judge of the court, Justice S. M. Shuaibu had awarded a N5,000 cost against the defendants for filing their statement of defence few months after the statutory required period.  The statement of defence and counter-affidavit were filed on behalf of the defendants, by their legal counsel, Prof. Yemi Akinseye George (SAN).

In the suit No FHC/OW/CS/192/2013, brought under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Bilie Human Rights Initiative representing IPOB, the claimants who are indigenes of the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria, parts of South South geo-political and the Middle Belt zones had dragged the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its Attorney-General of the Federation to the court as first and second defendants, seeking to be given the right to self-determination.  According to the originating summons, the claimants are seeking a declaration of the court  to enforce their right to self-determination, pursuant to the relevant Articles on African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adding that they are equally asking the court to order the defendants to redress all wrongs inflicted on them by the defendants in consequence whereof.  The claimants further prayed the court to determine whether the IPOB who are the remnants that were not consumed in the Nigeria-Biafra civil war of 1967 –1970 have the right of self-determination pursuant to Articles 19 –25 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.  They also want the court to determine  whether the claimants who identified themselves as Biafrans by indigenous identity were committing any offence by doing so contrary to any provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 or contrary to any provision of the Criminal Code and whether it is a crime under any national or international law to mention the name of Biafra or for the remnants of IPOB who were not consumed by the war to maintain their indigenous identity as Biafrans with their native emblems and symbols as they do now, even though they are Nigerians by citizenship and nationality laws. Source: vanguardngr.com

 There was pandemonium yesterday at Majidun area of Ikorodu as a Naval personnel allegedly shot three persons, leaving them in a critical condition.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred around 3p.m. at Tipper Park, when the Naval personnel, suspected to have been drunk, allegedly left his duty post to unwind and, thereafter, visited the park where he was playing with his gun, which went off and injured the three persons, who were going about their businesses at the park.  It was learned that the incident resulted in pandemonium as business activities there were grounded for hours, while the victims were rushed to the hospital.  Information was scanty at press time, but the victims were said to be in critical condition and were immediately referred to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.  The suspected naval rating was said to be one of the personnel mounting surveillance in the area to checkmate pipeline vandalism.  Vanguard gathered that one of the victims was a tipper driver, while the others were yet to be identified.  Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Patricia Amadin, confirmed the report, adding that the suspect had been arrested and was currently being detained at Naval Base, Ikorodu, while investigations into the matter continue
Source: vanguardngr.com

 The Chief Matron, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Caroline Oriola, has reportedly died in her office within the assembly premises.

It was gathered that Oriola had gone to the office on Saturday, August 22, but that her corpse was discovered yesterday by a cleaner, who had gone to clean the clinic.  lagos-house-assembly_0  Sources in the assembly revealed that the woman had gone to her office on Saturday to take some drugs and was said to have put on the air conditioning unit in the office and locked the door.  It was gathered that the security men on duty were oblivious of the incident though the woman signed in before she picked the keys to the clinic, being a weekend.  A visit to the House revealed a sad atmosphere as the place was calm and some of the staff of the assembly were seen discussing her death in groups.  A source said: “It is, indeed, sad news. Nobody expected that she would die when she did. We were told that she was in the clinic to pick some drugs only for her dead body to be found on the floor by a cleaner.”  Another source disclosed that Oriola’s husband, who had waited endlessly for her to return home that Saturday, had gone to check on her at the Assembly, but could not find her car in the car park, adding that he was unaware that she parked at the lawmakers’ car park in the assembly.  The body of the deceased was later conveyed to the morgue in the early hours of yesterday in the assembly’s ambulance, accompanied by some staff of the House, led by the Clerk, Mr. Segun Abiru.  Mr. Musibau Rasak, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Mubashiru Obasa, who confirmed the report, expressed the condolence of the Speaker to the bereaved family and friends.  He prayed to God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.
Source: vanguardngr.com

Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, has intervened in the suspension of Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, David Paradang, pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to show mercy. 

Lalong, who was at the Presidential Villa yesterday on behalf of the embattled Immigration boss, spoke to newsmen after a meeting with the President.  Comptroller-General-of-Immigration-David-Parradang  Speaking on security in his state, the governor stated that he had set up a 13-man committee to find solutions to the rift between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.  He said: “I came to see the President on some issues affecting my state. I feel comfortable with the response I got and that is why I am smiling.  “I told him what we are doing on insecurity in our state. Also on the prevailing issue of the suspension of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, who incidentally is from my state.  “When you have issues like this in a political period, you must find ways of looking for reasons; if anything affects any part of your body you must show concern.  “Paradang’s case is still under investigation. A man was suspended and he is from Plateau State. It is my concern because I am the governor of the state.  “For every appointment, we must show concern, no matter how small. The President is handling it.  “At the end of the day, I will agree the outcome. But I also need to get some explanation as the governor of the state.  “On insecurity in the state, there are still pockets of crisis in Jos, especially between Fulani and Berom. Because of that I set up a 13-man committee of credible people.”
Source: vanguardngr.com

A 40-year-old man, Salau Kehinde, has told a Customary Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, that he physically abused his wife, Shakirat, 32, whenever she refuses to have sex with him, but that he had no intention of bathing her in hot water. 

Shakirat had approached the court seeking for dissolution of their 10-year old marriage, blessed with two children.  According to her, “he would beat me whenever I returned from work. He would beat me when I told him I was too tired to have sex, or for any flimsy excuse. I want this court to dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our children.”  Reacting to the wife’s allegation, Kehinde, who resides at 9, Fatai Oloko Street, Haruna, Ikorodu, assented to the claim that he used to beat her whenever she denied him sex and if she came home late from her trading business.  “I merely boiled the water so I could threaten her with it. I had no intention of bathing her in the water.  “She refuses to cook for me when she is pregnant. She also said I should look for another wife.”  Kehinde promised to stop beating or threatening his wife, adding that he was willing to take her back if she wants to stay with him.  The Court President, Olu Adebiyi, adjourned the matter to September 13 for possible reconciliation.

An Ikeja High Court has vacated an order of interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode from performing the coronation ceremony of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi.

The Court upon listening to the unanimous application of all the Counsel to the effect that the matter be further adjourned until a date after vacation to enable all pending applications be argued together, was of the view that the earlier adjourned date of October 6 2015 be vacated accordingly.  The counsel for the claimant also prayed the court for an extension of the interim order of injunction earlier granted until after the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.  Having listened to all counsels, the Judge, Hon. Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan in her ruling refused to grant an extension to an earlier order dated August 14 2015 in which she granted an interim injunction.  She said the order of interim injunction was for a period of seven (7) days by effluxion of time automatically lapses on Friday 21st August 2015 following upon which the said order of injunction will thereby stand vacated accordingly.  It is on record that Hon. Justice Ogungbesan had earlier found merit in the ex-parte application of one Odupitan Eniola seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government or its agents from performing the coronation ceremony on Saturday, August 15.  In a motion on notice, the Lagos State Government, had sought to quash the earlier order of interim injunction made by the court, halting the coronation ceremony, be set aside for an order dismissing the suit to be made on grounds of constituting an abuse of the court process.
Source: vanguardngr.com

No fewer than 250 members of the Indian business community will be arriving in Nigeria on Tuesday for the Indian Show 2015 in Lagos, the Indian High Commissioner, Ajjampur Ghanashyam says.

Ghanashyam, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said that the delegation was the highest Indian business delegation ever to any country in Africa.     The Indian envoy explained that the positive developments in Nigeria since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged the large delegation of the business community. “This is perhaps the first time in the history of India-Nigeria bilateral economic relations that such a large delegation has arrived in Nigeria.    “Such a large Indian delegation may not have visited any country in Africa, not even Nigeria before now. “India and its industries have been watching the developments in Nigeria closely. “They have taken note of the free and credible elections in Nigeria earlier this year and the objectives of security and stability, efficiency and transparency and economic development and employment.    “India and Nigeria not only have deep-rooted relationship that goes back to World War I but also have complementary comparative advantages which can potentially open many opportunities to integrate the factors of production for the mutual benefits of the peoples of both countries.”    Ghanashyam said that the purpose of the India Show 2015, holding from Aug. 25 to Aug. 27 at Eko Hotel, Lagos, was for the Indian business delegation to search for investment opportunities. “The 250 Indian business persons are in Nigeria to search for potential Nigerian partners and possible projects and programmes that are mutually beneficial.    “The contingent of business persons includes a number of areas in which India has comparative advantages and experience to work with Nigerian partners. “This is to jointly add values to the economies of both India and Nigeria and more importantly, create jobs that both countries are desperately in need of,” he said.    The Indian envoy said that the India Show 2015 is organised by Confederation of Indian Industries, New Delhi, an apex Indian industry body and the High Commission of India in Nigeria.
Source: vanguardngr.com

The robbery suspects who allegedly robbed banks in Ikorodu have told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the confessional statements they made to the police were not voluntary. The robbery suspects paraded Monday in Lagos. 
 
The robbery suspects paraded Monday in Lagos.  The defendant’s lawyer, Olusegun Akanbi is prays the court to order the police to produce them if they are still alive. He said the suspects “made confessional statements to the members of the press out of duress”. He argued that it is illegal for the police to parade criminal suspects and have them grant press interviews under compulsion. ‎ The lawyer is praying the court for an order compelling the police to produce the four suspects in court because their families were denied access to them. The accused persons are ‎Agbojule Bright, Promise Abiwa, Monday Omoboye and Monday Ikuesan.  They were paraded on July 6 in connection with the robbery of the Ipakodo branches of First Bank and Zenith Bank in Ikorodu. The police said they were part of an 18-man gang which made away with about N80million in the robbery on June 24.  The four suspects had reportedly confessed to playing different roles in the alleged crime while three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) allegedly bought with the robbery proceeds were recovered from them.  Akanbi claimed that the police violated the suspects’ right to remain silent or to avoid answering any questions until after consulting with a lawyer in line with Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution.  According to the lawyer, the suspects may not get a fair trial since they have “already suffered prejudice in the eye of the public due to unfair publicity and unprofessional acts of the defendants.” He claimed that the police refused to allow him or the suspects’ family members to see them in detention. “The applicants’ counsel were not allowed to see the applicants or even to have a brief interview with them when they visited the defendants on 15th July 2015.  ‎“The applicants’ constitutional rights under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution are at stake because the defendants have already taken a biased position by denying the applicants’ family or their counsel their right of visiting them in police custody.  ‎“It will be in the interest of justice if the applicants are brought before this honourable court so that the court can ascertain whether the applicants are still alive.  “It will be in the interest of justice if the applicants can be charged by the defendants to court since they have already spent over 24 hours in custody.  “Failure to do this will amount to usurpation of the constitutional powers of the judiciary,” the lawyer argued. He claimed that the suspects were entitled to N5million damages for what he described as their unlawful detention. Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to S‎eptember 7‎ to enable the Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase respond to the suit.
Source: vanguardngr.com

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has given traders at the Mararaba Building Materials market on Abuja-Keffi road two months to quit the area or the face wrath of the law.

Almakura  Almakura  Al-Makura gave the ultimatum on Monday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the market.  He said the activities of traders, especially those at the building materials market, were hindering free flow of traffic on the route.  The governor, however, promised to provide alternative market for the traders.  He said that efforts would be made to clear drains along the road to check incessant flooding in the area.  He also gave operators of motor parks on the road two weeks to vacate the area, saying that their activities were obstructing free flow of traffic.  He said all motor parks should henceforth operate within the perimeter fence.  Mr Peter Ejike, the Chairman of the Traders Association, told the governor that they would comply with the directive and appealed to him to expedite action in providing alternative market for them. (NAN)
Source: vanguardngr.com

Beautiful actress and movie producer Tayo Sobola recently took to her Instagram timeline to express her displeasure at being referred to as a new actress in the industry.

The actress who won City People award 2015 in the ‘New Actress’ award category felt she should not belong in the category and voiced her thoughts as such.  Sotayo-Sobola  “So I got messages from people on Whatsapp and BBM that I won City People’s ‘Best ‘New’ actress (Yoruba).  It’s quite funny when you look back and see the same people who have been addressing you as an actress in years and suddenly you are new? Only City People understands their criteria for nominating and awarding. All the same, no be how far, na how well. Thanks everyone. This is for you”  She says.
Source: vanguardngr.com