1,000 Fake Lawyers On The Prowl In Nigeria– NBA

November 2, 2015

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised an alarm that no fewer than 1,000 fake lawyers are currently practicing in the country.

The Vice President of the association, Akintokunbo Oluwole, who made this known today in Akure, the Ondo state capital, during a Special Sitting of the NBA to mark the opening of the 2015/2016 legal year said that the fake lawyers were discovered after the inauguration of the association’s Stamp Policy, which was introduced to curb the operation of quacks in the legal profession.

Oluwole explained that the issue of quackery in the legal profession has been a pain in the neck of the association.

“So far, the NBA Stamp Policy has been able to revive the system and has increased the revenue stream of lawyers across the country.

“It has improved the authenticity of documents which are now being filed in court registries since all legal documents must now bear the stamps of lawyers to be considered valid. The persons (quacks) have also devised various means albeit unsuccessfully, to scuttle the smooth implementation of this policy. ”

He called all stakeholders in the profession to assist the association in actualizing the vision of restoring the integrity of the legal profession.

In his remarks, the state Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, said the state judiciary has been able to checkmate all forms of malpractices in the state’s third arm of government.

Justice Kumuyi said that some dubious individuals have carved out personal stamps, which they used in issuing illegal affidavits to unsuspecting members of the public.

One of the ways used to curb the malpractices in the state judiciary, the CJ explained, was the prohibition of affidavits by proxy, irrespective of the respondent’s status, explaining that a special Seal of Oaths and peculiar serial were affixed to all affidavits while hard and soft copies were archived.

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, expressed satisfaction over the performance of the judiciary, advising the arm of government not to compromise with any other arm in the interest of democracy. [myad]

22 Candidates To Slog It Out In Kogi Guber Poll, 20 In Bayelsa

Greenbarge Reporters

November 2, 2015

No fewer than 22 candidates have been cleared by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest for the governorship seat in Kogi state on November 21, even as 20 were cleared for the Bayelsa State governorship election on December 5.

This was contained in the final list published by the INEC, and signed by the Acting Secretary to the Commission, U. F. Usman today. [myad]

Jonathan Lands In Aso Rock Again

Greenbarge Reporters

November 2, 2015

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammad Buhari at Villa Today

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has again visited the State House today and conferred with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dr. Jonathan, arrived in the Presidential Villa at about 2pm, went straight to the office of President where he met, for about 10 minutes, behind closed doors with President Buhari.
The details of the meeting were not made available to news men at the end of it.
The former President left at 2.13pm without uttering a word to the reporters.
The former President has just returned from Tanzania, where he served as the Head of the Commonwealth Observers Team in that country’s general elections. [myad]

U-17 World Cup: Nigeria Shows Brazil Pepper

Greenbarge Reporters

November 1, 2015

Nigeria under 17 World Cup defending champions, the Golden Eaglets, today, demolished Brazilian side with 3-0 to advance to the semi-final of the game in Chile.

The Golden Eaglets showed clear signs of carrying the day from the blast of the first whistle as Leadndro of Brazil wass booked by the referee for a nasty foul on Michael in the opening seconds of the game. That was described as the fastest booking ever.

The goals started to fall in as from the 28^th minute when Osimhen opened scoring and a minute later, Michael increased the score to two. The Osimhen’s score marked his eighth goal in the tournament.

The third goal came in the 34^th minute of play through Anumudu via a fine strike from out of the yard. [myad]

Presidency Opens Fire On PDP’s Metuh: You Are Nuisance

Greenbarge Reporters

November 1, 2015

Presidency has come down hard on the national publicity secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, describing him as a nuisance.
Reacting to the latest statement by Metuh alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari is “demarketing Nigeria,” the Presidency made it clear that Metuh’s antics are futile.
“President Buhari cannot be distracted by a broken record.
“We restate for the umpteenth time to Mr. Metuh and his ilk that their attempts to distract President Buhari from the job he has been elected to do will fail.
President Buhari will remain true to the virtues of honesty, integrity, sincerity, incorruptibility and plain-speaking which endeared him to Nigerians and made them prefer his leadership that of a lying and deceptive PDP administration.”
A statement today by the Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina stressed that the President will not, in the guise of “marketing” the country, refrain from telling Nigerians and the world, the emerging truths about the abject state in which years of plundering by a PDP leadership has left the Nigerian treasury and economy.
The statement said that President Buhari will not in the name of “marketing” or “attracting” investors, follow in the footsteps of the ousted PDP Administration and its discredited officials “who shamelessly lied to Nigerians and the world about the buoyancy and vibrancy of an economy they had bled dry for personal gain, when it was very obvious to the discerning, that the Nigerian economy was headed for serious trouble.
“It is most unfortunate that instead of showing some remorsefulness for the harm done to the nation by his party, and giving genuine support for President Buhari’s efforts to salvage and revamp the national economy, Mr. Metuh persists in a vain attempt to remain relevant on the national stage by unjustly denigrating the President who continues to strive with all his might to alleviate and reverse the harm done to the nation by PDP misrule and corruption.”

If the PDP spokesman ever has serious matters to bring to our attention, we will be prepared to listen. [myad]

The Dangers In Merging Anti-Graft Agencies, By Ekpo Nta

Greenbarge Reporters

November 1, 2015

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC), Ekpo Nta

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, has identified some dangers inherent in merging the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Ekpo Nta cautioned against such merger, saying that it would be counter productive if the merger is carried out as being suggested in some quarters.
In a press interview in Abuja, the ICPC boss stressed that the fight against corruption would be derailed if the ICPC and the EFCC are merged.
He said such move would not help the anti-corruption stance of the present administration and would also demoralise the personnel working in the agencies.
Nta stressed that the merger of the two agencies being canvassed was ill advised and would merely impair the two investigative agencies from effectively discharging their distinctly specialised mandates.
Nta said that the two watchdogs were even more needed now for their surveillance and deterrent roles, adding: “it is advisable that the anti-graft agencies be left mutually exclusive alone to operate to preserve their credibility.
“Well, the first thing people normally think is that when there is shortfall in the funding mechanism of something in the country, we should begin to rationalise.
“You can rationalise those processes that are taking money away that you cannot explain.
“I would rather invest in processes that would protect the little money that I have for me to be able to do more things.
“And the best way of investing is to protect the money and make it available by having anti-corruption bodies that are specialised in the approach of doing what they need to do.
“It is the same thing that has been happening all over the world for those countries that have successfully addressed the issue of corruption.
“They have specialiSed agencies addressing the issue.
“If monopoly were meant to make things better, then there was absolutely no need to have unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
“I think the way our anti-corruption agencies are situated, it is easier to understand our mandates.
“If the mandates were not clear, I would have been one of those supporting it (merger).
“Not because I am working here.
“I am not a permanent staff, but I speak candidly as a Nigerian, as somebody who has worked in the public service.
“I know the effect of what we stand to lose by letting these agencies fuse.
“Under the International Treaty that brought them into play and the specialisation that they have derived and the mandate that they are executing, it’s not the best way to go.
“As a matter of fact, even we need one or two more in specialised areas.
“South Africa has eight anti-corruption agencies!
“And they don’t have the kind of population that we have.
“And you look at all other parts of the world that are succeeding, they have quite a number.
“I have always had this impression that specialisation is the answer.
“Whether we like it or not, the world is becoming more specialised.
“If we begin to create omnibus bodies, we will probably run into problems.”
Apart from this, the ICPC boss observed that the independence of the agencies may suffer credibility crisis if fused into one as opponents could easily accuse government of using it for persecution.
Nta added: “And you know that Nigerians are fast to accuse anti-corruption agencies of being used by government against political enemies.
“Is it easier to use one or three or four?
“Can you influence all or when you have a monopoly?
“That is an invitation to crisis.”
Nta said incessant calls for the merger could also demoralise the personnel working in the two agencies, with the constant impression given that they had no job security or welfare to look forward to despite putting their lives on the line.
The ICPC chairman, who listed several needs of the commission to include adequate funding, upgrading of infrastructural facilities and improvement of staff welfare, said from the proclamations of President Muhammadu Buhari, the commission was set to receive greater governmental support to deliver on its mandate. [myad]

Prince Audu Dares President Buhari

November 1, 2015

The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu, has dared President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to attend the flag-off of his campaign in Lokoja yesterday.
In a sponsored newspaper advertorial, Prince Audu accused President Buhari of trying to settle old scores with him.
Signed by one Elder Okpanachi Ameh Obulo, the advertorial said: “We know our President as the father of all will not give a listening ear to sycophants and fifth columnists desperately trying to force him down the path of vendetta.”
“But we are a bit apprehensive over some conflicting signals that tend to validate the speculations that there are scores to settle in high places. “The most recent was the cancellation of the grand rally planned for last Saturday in Lokoja.
“Mr. President was not able to attend and perform his traditional role of presenting the candidate to the electorate. There were reports in the media alleging that the absence of Mr. President was actually a premeditated retributive boycott.”
This came as President Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo were conspicuously absent at the All Progressives Congress (APC) grand rally in Lokoja, Kogi State to drum support for Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election.
The rally, which held at the Lokoja International Stadium drew some national leaders of the party and some APC governors from the North Central.
Buhari was expected to present Prince Audu to the electorate by raising his hand at the rally in line with political tradition.

EDITORIAL: With Prince Audu, APC Is Dead On Arrival In Kogi

The rally, earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 24, was shifted to yesterday after the President had reportedly asked to be excused because he was indisposed. There was, however, no official communication on why Buhari did not turn up at the rescheduled event yesterday.
Some APC members linked Buhari’s absence at the rally to the six-year-old case against Prince Audu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). [myad]

Bailout Fund: Labour Unions Declare ‘War’ In Kogi

Greenbarge Reporters

October 31, 2015

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed the public service workers in Kogi State to stay off work on November 2 to protest against non-release of bailout funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by the two unions in Lokoja today.

The statement, signed by the State Secretary of the NLC, John Faniyi, and his TUC counterpart, Joseph Kolawole, expressed dissatisfaction with the non- release of the N50.8 billion bailout fund due to the state.

“This directive is to serve as protest against the non-release of the money.’’

The unions said that they were surprised over the silence by the CBN and the Federal Government.

While asking workers to fully comply with the order, the labour unions warned commissioners, permanent secretaries, directors and other categories of senior public offices not to report for work to avoid embarrassment. [myad]

Wike Changes Gear: I Have Confidence In Judiciary

Greenbarge Reporters

October 31, 2015

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has changed from ‘judicial gang-up’ against him to having absolute confidence and respect for the same Judiciary.

He said that he was sure that the judiciary will do justice in the state governorship legal tussle even as he said that based on the April 11 election, his mandate would be upheld in the course of Appeal process

Speaking at the Stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Nyesom Wike advised the people of the state never to criticise judges despite the judicial setback, pointing out that the appeal process will correct the judicial opinion of the state tribunal.

Governor Wike dissociated himself from a statement from one of his aides describing the tribunal judgment as judicial terrorism and gang-up. He said the aide had no mandate to issue such a statement, noting that as a lawyer he respects the judiciary and knows the appellate process to seek redress.

“Be assured by the Grace of God our lawyers are working hard to file the appeal within stipulated time. I have told people that it is not in our character to cast aspersions on judges. I have also told people not to speak on my behalf to castigate judges. The tribunal is not the final appellate court on this matter. There is no need of castigating the judiciary.

“We are not one of those when judgment favours you, you says you have confidence in the judiciary. When it does not favour you, you lose confidence in the judiciary.

“I want to say in the past two days, you must have read where they quoted me as saying judicial terrorism or judicial gang-up, I never said so. And I never authorised anybody to say so on this matter”.

The governor noted that his team of lawyers are working round the clock to complete the process of filing an appeal against the judgment.

He assured the people that he is not distracted by the judgment. The governor said he is emboldened by the support of key stakeholders and the ordinary people to continue to discharge his responsibility to the people.
Governor Wike told the stakeholders the Appeal Court judgment of Thursday striking out the paragraphs of the APC petition that alleged violence and crime against named and un-named security agents and political thugs has strengthened his case that will shortly go on appeal.

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus gave assurance that the people are behind Governor Wike against the struggle by external forces to invade the state.

This was even as Senator George Sekibo insisted that Governor Wike was duly elected and his election will be updated in the course of the appeal. [myad]

Liverpool Thrashes Chelsea 3 -1

Greenbarge Reporters

October 31, 2015

Wonders will never end as Liverpool came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Philippe Coutinho scored twice to nail the much-prized Chelsea and pile pressure on under-fire manager Jose Mourinho.

The Blues have endured a torrid start to the season – winning just three times – and headed into the game with questions persisting over Mourinho’s future, though Ramires opened the scoring with a fourth minute header.

The Reds hit back, however, with Coutinho curling a brilliant effort past Asmir Begovic from the edge of the box to level the scores prior to half-time.

Coutinho then grabbed his second in the 74th minute, his effort deflecting off John Terry, before Christian Benteke completed the scoring with a low finish from just inside the box 10 minutes later. [myad]

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