Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed regret that there has never been measure enunciated towards disciplining judicial officers that go foul of the profession.He emphasized that creating and maintaining efficient disciplinary structures and rules has remained what he called “a huge challenge.” Professor Osinbajo, who spoke at a dinner by the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), in Lagos, said that self-regulation even among the SANs is non-existent. “There is no forum for calling out a bad egg.”Osinbajo, himself a SAN. Described the legal profession in Nigeria and the system of administration of justice as one of the oldest of the professions. “It has created reputations; it has created dynasties, enormous wealth and modest livelihoods for generations.”But its integrity, its credibility and relevance are gravely threatened and have been so for many years now. It appears that some of the greatest acts of malfeasance are perpetrated by those of us who are senior lawyers.”Professor Osinbajo stressed the need for a consensus on how to ensure that the legal system is revived to gain back its respect and reverence, and that it “is not destroyed in our own time. “It is a consensus that will be built only on sacrifice, sacrificing ethnic, and other parochial loyalties where the profession is threatened.”Enabling a system of discipline that truly neither fears friend nor foe.”The Vice President advocated moral reawakening as it is obvious that “almost all of us, and I speak also for myself, have taken advantage in one way or the other, of a system where there is no consequence for misbehaviour; so truly, as the scriptures say, “all have sinned.”He also called for a practical, clearheaded consensus thinking “on how to preserve our profession, and the prestige of our privileges and how to avoid the indictment of history. “It is our duty as professionals today, especially those of us of the inner bar, to ensure that our profession and the administration of justice system survives the assault on it by all manner of misconduct.” [myad]

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, himself a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has expressed his admiration for the British Legal System and wished Nigeria could catch up with itsm”In our own profession, the British legal establishment stand out as the exemplars in self- preservation and the preservation of the commonwealth that the recognition of the obligations that attend the privilege of belonging to that profession. “By the strict enforcement of discipline, by strict rules of entry into the profession, strict rules of preferment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel (QC) and even stricter rules in judicial appointments, they have maintained the integrity, the prestige and the relevance of the British system of justice from generation to generation. “Such is the absolute trust in the British legal system, that today by the creation of extra-territorial jurisdiction for their courts, commercial disputes from all countries of the world can by agreement of parties be tried in the royal courts of justice in London.” Professor Osinbajo, who addressed the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria at its maden dinner in Lagos, said that the British legal profession attained such enviable position by rigorous self-regulation. “While I served as Attorney-General in Lagos State, I was called upon to write a mitigating reference for a senior Nigerian lawyer who was in practice in England. He was at the time, on the verge of losing his license to practice in the United Kingdom. Why? He was before the court of appeal in respect of a criminal matter. “In the course of arguing the appeal, the court hinted him that his position was unarguable, but he stubbornly persisted in that line of argument. In the end, he lost the appeal. But the court wrote to the law society seeking that he be penalized for pursuing an unarguable point. He came to me to ask for a character reference as he was, of course, on the verge of losing everything.  “That is the nature of the discipline of that profession, which insists that you cannot trivialize the legal process in any way, that you cannot hamper the legal process in any way, and that behaviour of a dilatory sort will not be tolerated.” [myad]

The immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed the declaration, by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, to contest the 2019 Presidential election, because according to Jonathan, the position has already been zoned to the North.

“Are you not aware that our party has zoned the presidency to the north, and the chairmanship to the south?

“Even Fayose that has declared his interest may face big challenges because of the decision of our party.”

Ex President Jonathan made the remarks when he spoke in an interview with the publisher on Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu. [myad]

The Inspector General of Police (igp), Ibrahim Idris has deployed no fewer than 26,000 personnel, 15 gunboats and 303 patrol vehicles for the Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, 18 November.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer,  Jimoh Moshood, in a statement, the IGP had also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations of the Force and is expected to be assisted by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police to be in charge of each Senatorial District.

“In order to ensure adequate security and safety of lives and properties before, during and after the elections, the Inspector General of Police has graciously approved deployment of additional 26,000 Police personnel, comprising the Police Special Forces, Police Mobile Force, the Counter- Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Anti Bomb Squad (EOD), the Force Marine Police, Conventional Policemen, the Force Armament Unit, personnel from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Mounted Troops, the attack and Sniffer Dogs Section, Police Gun Boats, Police Helicopters and Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) to Anambra State and most of these personnel are already on the ground.”

The statement said that the deployed equipment will be deployed to cover entire state, including riverine areas and difficult terrains. In addition, other security and safety agencies, which are members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the state are also deployed to complement the Police.         “Four policemen are deployed to each polling unit along with personnel of other security and safety agencies. No armed security personnel will be allowed within the polling units. Armed Police detachments on patrol vehicles are going to patrol the streets and other locations throughout the state to prevent crime and intervene to quell any violence that may occur during the election.”

The statement said IGP and Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) will meet stakeholders and political parties, their flag bearers before the date of the election.

The statement told the Police personnel deployed for the election to be polite and civil, but firm.

“They are to provide adequate security for the electorate, INEC officials, election materials, election observers and other individuals and bodies that have statutory roles in the conduct of the election, at the polling booths, collation centers, and INEC offices in Anambra State throughout the period of the election.”

The Police also announced that vehicular movement in the state between 12 midnight on 17 November till after the voting period on the day of the election.  Government agencies and personnel on essential duties and services, however, will be allowed passage within the period.

“Security identification tag will be provided for all the security and safety agencies, INEC officials, election observers/monitors and others that have statutory duties to carry out in the election. The security personnel deployed will only operate within the area they are posted for the election,” the Police said.

The statement said that  Commissioners of Police and personnel in the states contiguous to Anambra State have been put on red-alert not to allow an influx of miscreants and thugs into Anambra State. Also, a broad-spectrum security threats assessment is in progress.

“All the identified flashpoints, trouble spots and other perceived violence/vulnerable areas in the state have been profiled and appropriate pragmatic strategies and tactics have been implemented to checkmate and tackle them ahead of the election.Consequent on the renewed threat by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other affiliate groups to disrupt the election, the Force has deployed Special Police Forces, Police Mobile Force, Specially Trained Counter-Terrorism Unit and other intelligence and tactical Squads to deal decisively with IPOB.”

The Police assured voters of adequate security, warning IPOB to stay off polling units. The Force also warned political parties, traditional rulers, community leaders, parents and guardians to advise their followers and wards to be law-abiding or face the full weight of the law. [myad]