If you call it a gathering of Judicial titans, you are not wrong. The Judiciary stands still today Monday 30th September 2019 as the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR commissioned the annex edifice of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria headquarters complex situated at No 11 New Bussa Close, Area 3, Abuja.

While commissioning the gigantic and beautiful project, President Buhari stressed that all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, ethnic and religion deserve access to justice, promised to work closely with Judiciary for the betterment of the nation that the Judiciary would be adequately funded.

The epoch occasion also falls the same day the President of Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo OFR retired from service upon clocking the statutory 65 years of age as stipulated in the Constitution.

The event had in attendance, heavyweight Law Lords, the Secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief Law officer of the Nation, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN, Minister Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Mallam Musa Bello, Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Arakunrin Akeredolu ably represented by its deputy, His Excellency, Agboola, National Assembly members both serving and past, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, members of the Nigerian Bar, Captains of Industry and many others to mention a few.

Among the Law Lords and jurists of high repute in attendance were former Chief Justices of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, and Hon. Justice Mahmood Muhammed, the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Dr I. T. Muhammed, Justices of Court of appeal serving and retired, Judges of High Court, National Industrial Court, other coordinate courts.

The retiree, Hon. Justice Adejumo used the avenue to thank Almighty God and also educate the gathering about how is journey to Industrial Court started, praised all stakeholders who have contributed in one way or the other for his success in office, and prayed that Almighty God will reward them abundantly.

Without mincing words, whenever the history of the court is mentioned, the name Justice Adejumo must surface based on what he  achieved on the development of labour Jurisprudence in Nigeria.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad, today Wednesday 2^nd October 2019 swore in Hon. Justice Benedict kanyip as the Acting President National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The event took place at the Ceremonial Court of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

The Immediate past President of the Court, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo OFR retired from the bench on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Justice Kanyip trained as a lawyer at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and attended Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Nigeria.

After one-year NYSC, His Lordship took up a teaching appointment as a lecturer in the Department of Commercial Law at his alma mater in 1987; and rose to the position of Lecturer II before leaving in 1992 for the National Commission for Colleges of Education as Legal Adviser in the rank of Principal Legal Officer.

In 1995, he was appointed Senior Research Fellow by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and rose through this appointment to the rank of Associate Research Professor of Law in 2000 when he joined the Court. Professor Kanyip is the author of numerous journal articles in the areas of consumer law, tax law, labour law and commercial law, and also author of the book, Consumer Protection in Nigeria: Law, Theory and Policy (2005) and a joint author of the text, Elements of Commercial Law (1994).

Justice Kanyip is a member, Nigerian Bar Association, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Life Member and Deputy President II, Nigerian Society of International Law. He is a contributing editor of several academic law journals.

#NewDawn

It was a memorable and happiest day, to say the least as the staff of National Industrial Court of Nigeria, families; friends, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the Nikkah/Wedding Ceremony of Mr. Tobi Ahmed Adewusi and his soul mate Dr. Amina Salaudeen.

Mr. Adewusi works at the chamber of the president of the court, Abuja.

The propitious Nikkah ceremony was held at Peachvine Event Centre, Wuye, Abuja on Saturday 21^st September 2019.

The event had in attendance, many great personalities among were the court president, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, OFR; Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado-Judge, Abuja Division; the Chief Registrar, Mr. Olurotimi Daudu Esq,  Mr. Aremo Olanrewaju Esq, and Alhaji Bello AbdRafiu to mention a few.

We pray God to grant the couple everlasting joy and Marital Bliss. Amen

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its resolve to publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa states, even as it disclosed that some of the candidates fall below the age limit sanctioned for participation in the polls.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye who announced this in a statement Thursday in Abuja said the particulars of all nominated candidates would be published on INEC notice boards in its offices in both states on Friday.

Under the “Not Too Young to Run Act”, candidates standing for governorship elections are expected to have attained the age of 35, but the commission said its preliminary review of candidates’ particulars showed a breach of the law.

“The publication of the personal particulars of nominees is for members of the public to make any claims and objections regarding these candidates, as required by law. Similarly, the Commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the Governorship and Deputy-Governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the Constitution for these positions”.

Although, INEC no longer has legal powers to disqualify candidates legitimately forwarded to it by political parties, the electoral umpire said it would notify concerned parties and as well consider further action. “The Commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action”, the statement said.

The statement added that; “in accordance with the Electoral Act and in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Bayelsa State and Kogi State Governorship elections, the Commission will on Friday 13th September 2019 publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates for the elections. The personal particulars of the nominees will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja. As required by law, the Commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of aspirants who emerged has since been published on our website and other platforms.

“From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa State and 49 for Kogi state respectively submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm on Monday 9th September 2019.

“While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the Commission.

“Out of the 101 nominees for the two States, 91 are male, representing 90%, while 10 are female, representing 10% of all the nominees. Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa State, 6 are female, while 46 are male.

“The corresponding figures for Kogi State are 4 female and 45 male nominees.

“As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2019, the Commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and requests strict compliance with them.

“We look forward to working with the parties and all stakeholders to make the forthcoming elections in the two States free, fair and credible”.

Wife of the Ekiti state governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi has denied social media reports that she ordered security operatives in her convoy to shoot students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Ekiti.

The students who were on Tuesday protesting in Oye-Ekiti over incessant power outage in the community attacked Mrs. Fayemi’s convoy where vehicles were damaged.

The fracas led to a clash between security operatives and the students where Joseph Okonofua, a 300-level student of the institution was killed and several others injured.

The governor’s wife in a statement on Wednesday regretted the attack on her convoy by the students, revealed that the casualties did not occur when she was at the scene.

She refuted the insinuations that she failed to address the protesting students, saying, “this is totally false. I did not encounter any group of students when I got to Oye town.”

Mrs Fayemi while condoling with the family of the deceased students, wished a quick recovery to all those that sustained injuries in the fracas

She said, ” Half-way through our event, there was a disturbance outside. The FUOYE students (and possibly infiltrated by local thugs) had re-grouped and were trying to get into the venue. The security officers prevented this from happening. We finished our program, and by the time we got outside, we found that vehicles from my convoy and those of my guests that were parked outside the venue had been vandalised. As we were driving out of Oye town, we encountered at least two road blocks that the students had mounted to prevent the movement of vehicles. I could see students/thugs throwing stones and large sticks at us as we drove by. ”

However, the casualties that were recorded did not take place while I was there. There are eye-witnesses, photographs and video footage to confirm this.

”There are reports circulating that the crisis occurred because I refused to address the protesting students. This is totally false. I did not encounter any group of students when I got to Oye town. They had dispersed before my arrival, and when they regrouped I was inside the venue. It is possible, as I stated earlier, that the group that came to the venue trying to gain access with sticks and stones in hand might have included local hoodlums, but there was no way of telling the difference.

” I am scandalized and shocked beyond words to hear that I instructed security officers to shoot at students. If I had met a group of protesting students, as a social justice activist myself, I would have listened to their complaints and addressed them.  I firmly believe in citizens’ rights to protest on issues of concern.

”I am deeply saddened that at least one fatality has been recorded. As a mother, my heart bleeds. All these students are my children, and no mother prays to weep over their offspring. I extend my sincere condolences to the family concerned, and I wish those who are still receiving treatment a speedy recovery.

”In the statement, the governor’s wife announced the suspension of her tour of the local government areas which commenced on Monday pending the review of the incident.

President Muhammadu Buhari has dedicated the victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Wednesday to God and Nigerians who trooped out to overwhelmingly elect him for a second term in office.

He stated this in a press release statement made available to reporters by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Wednesday (September 11, 2019).

The statement reads in part; “The president dedicates the victory to God, and to Nigerians. He also commended the judiciary for “dispensing justice without fear or favour.”

”According to Buhari; “Good conscience fears no evil report. I was unperturbed all along because I knew Nigerians freely gave us the mandate.

“We are now vindicated,”

He also noted it is within the democratic right of the PDP and Atiku Abubakar to challenge his victory in the February 23, 2019 poll.

“President Buhari extends a hand of fellowship to those who had felt aggrieved at the outcome of the election, and went to court, noting that it was within their democratic rights.

”Buhari said it is time for the country to face contingent matters without being distracted by the PDP and Atiku.

“It is time for the country to move forward as one cohesive body, putting behind us all bickering and potential distractions over an election in which Nigerians spoke clearly and resoundingly.”

Following the plan by the Federal Government in partnership with Air Peace Airline to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home due to the xenophobic attack in South Africa, only 187 out of the 313 scheduled to return today (Wednesday) arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The returnees reportedly left OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg around 4:00 pm and arrived Nigeria around 9:34 pm.

A foreign affairs ministry official, Mr Kimiebi Ebenfa, who was on board the flight, confirmed their arrival.

He said, “We just landed safely despite the delays in South Africa.”

The returnees comprising men, women and children were the first batch of the 640 Nigerians who registered for evacuation following the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Ebenfa said the flight was originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m but was delayed by the slow check-in process and immigration clearance.

“Out of the 313 confirmed for the first batch, only 84 were cleared so far,” he said at 9:35 a.m before the flight took off around 4:00 p.m.

According to him, the flight was delayed due to the slow process of check-in and immigration clearance.

“There were also complaints of system failure.”

Prof. Peter Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Comission (NUC), says greater attention to teacher’s preparation, happiness and welfare, will ultimately translate to good quality education in the  country.

Okebukola said this in an interview with Newsmen on the sidelines of the Lagos State University (LASU) Faculty of Education 2019 Distinguished Lecture series.

The lecture, which had as its theme: “Teachers Preparation For Nigerian Schools : Adequacy, Effectiveness And Impact,’’ was delivered by Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, a former Minister of Education.

Okebukola said that the government needed to improve on teachers’ conditions of service, so that those with the passion and willingness to apply for teaching jobs would have fulfilled chosen careers.

The former NUC boss said once government fulfilled the standards raised above, it could then also raise the standards and requirements for the recruitment of teachers. Robert Mugabe’s family angry at govt funeral plans

“When you provide incentives for teaching professionals and improve the preparation of teachers, then we are assured that the glorious days would be restored,’’ he said.

According to him, data has indicated that teachers in Nigeria are not as effective and impactful in delivering the curriculum as expected.

Okebukola revealed that due to a host of reasons such as the preparation of teachers, incentives for them to be happy to deliver the curriculum and the quality of people recruited to teach have been compromised.

“Unfortunately, we have a preponderance of teachers who are ill- prepared but unhappy to be there and do feel somehow compelled to do the job,’’ he said.

The Don explained that research had shown that a third of the variables behind the good performance of students was the quality of teachers.

Okebukola, however, noted that “even if you have the best equipment and laboratories in the world, if the teachers’ factor is not good, then a third of the performance will not be good.’’

The story of a 14-year old raped by her father caught my attention on Tuesday.  The girl in question had previously been raped by the same man when she was 11.  The worst part was that she informed her mother back then that her father abused her but the mother did nothing.   The reason why the man has now been arrested was not because her mother reported the case, but because, her aunt, whom her mother confided in, reported to the NSCDC.

Just before I read the story, I suddenly remembered Ochanya Ogbanje, the 13-year old girl who died of complications from sexual abuse by her cousin (Victor Ogbuja) and uncle (Andrew Ogbuja) between age eight and 13. And I wondered whether her Aunty, Mrs Felicia Ogbuja, did not know that the child was being abused under her roof for six years.  Now I know she knew because a story I read noted that she hid 11 medical test results that showed evidence of the young girl being sexually abused.

When the news of the Bukola Dakolo’s abuse by a popular pastor broke in June, the social media went into overdrive and many people came out to report rape and sexual abuse they suffered as children.  One particular story broke my heart.  It was about a lady, who in sharing the lessons learnt from Mrs Dakolo’s case with her younger sister discovered that their youngest, an eight year old, was being abused by an adult male who their mother trusted so much.  When the young girl was examined by a doctor, it was found that she was months away from death as the infection she had caught was already serious and would have affected her vital organs.

We are not doing enough to protect minors from sexual abuse in our society.  We need to do more about educating them early about unsafe touches and how to seek help.  And when they cry out, like the 14-year old earlier mentioned, we are duty bound to take action.  When I say ‘we’, I mean, parents, siblings, teachers, neighbours, whoever finds out about the abuse.

First of all, parents should begin teaching their children about their body parts as early as 18 months of age.  I learnt this from Praise Fowowe, a popular speaker at a parenting programme organised by Mrs Abimbola Fashola I attended years ago and I put it into practice when I started having children.  Even if the child cannot speak clearly, teach him/her the real names of the sexual organs.  Let them know that it is wrong for others to touch their breast, penis, vagina, or buttocks.  Let them know nobody has the right to kiss them on the lips.

Another writer and proprietor of Le Poshe School Ikoyi, Mrs Ronke Adeniyi, also spoke on the need for parents to teach young children to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate touch of even public parts of the body.  Someone stroking the cheek of a child and rubbing arms and legs continually may constitute inappropriate touch.  She said children are vulnerable and need information that would make them less vulnerable when there are no adults around them.

In addition to being able to identify appropriate touches, they need to be able call for help.  They should be taught not to be afraid of their abusers to the extent of enduring the abuse.  They should learn to report to adults – and they should be able to tell more than one.

After children are taught to take such steps, then we adults must act when we know.  Please do not demonise a child who complains of sexual abuse for whatever reason.  It may be fear of job loss, marriage or relationship collapse.  Whatever you are losing is not worth the life of that child being abused.

Sometimes the sexual abuse is detected in the school.  Schools have already being informed about how to treat sexual abuse – report it to the appropriate quarters.  In Lagos, cases of domestic and sexual violence are taken seriously.  The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) can handle cases of sexual violence against children.  Recently, the team launched a short code, *6820# (for MTN and Airtel subscribers) that can be used to report sexual violence.  The hotlines to reach the team are: 112, and 08137960048.

This new session, every school should determine not to condone sexual abuse by taking action when they learn of sexual abuse both within their walls or in the homes of their pupils.

The Students Union Government (SUG) President of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Ekiti State, Comrade Oluwaseun Awodola, has narrated how police operatives allegedly killed two students protesting poor power supply in the town last Tuesday.

He demanded for justice, saying the students were unjustly killed and injured for merely protesting peacefully.

He spoke following a statement by wife of Ekiti Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who denied instructing police officers to shoot the students while returning from her empowerment programme, which coincided with the protest.
Oluwaseyi Kehinde, a 100- level student of Crop Science and Horticulture and Joseph Okonofua, a- 300 level student of biology education department have been confirmed dead following shooting allegedly by the policemen.

Other injured students are receiving treatment in the town.

Awodola claimed the peaceful demonstration turned violent after he was slapped by a police officer by a security detail attached to Mrs. Fayemi.

He said: “We held a peaceful demonstration which ended 1:40pm after granting a press conference at Aiyegbaju.

“All students present at the protest where discharged and they went to their various hostels peacefully.

“I was resting at my friend’s place when I received a call that some students had been arrested at Ikole campus and the students are been carried and transported to Oye community.

“I informed the Army Officer who was earlier with us at the concluded peaceful protest and he got in touch with the Divisional Police Officer Oye Ekiti who promised the students will be released once they arrive at Oye town”

“I was having severe pain in my muscles which was as a result of the early stress and trek during the peaceful demonstration, I told the DPO and Army Officer I needed to leave so as to rest and I left.”

He added: “Some minutes later, while I was resting, I was called by my personal assistant that the army officer requested for my presence.

“I came out and met the army officer who updated me that the CSO to the Governor requested to see me.

“I followed the army officer to meet the CSO to the Governor Ekiti. On reaching where the CSO was very close to the Civic Centre, the CSO, the army officer, some policemen were with me.

“When a CTU security officer in red uniform and black glasses came from behind the other officers of police and slapped me, right in the public. Right at the front of the officers and the army officer.

“The army officer and the CSO to the Governor immediately started begging and pleading.

“They apologised for the wrong action of the CTU official. Students at the scene and even indigenes were annoyed and raging before the situation was calmed.

“The CSO to the Governor apologised and went to the extent of saying he was ready to take me to the Governor’s office and ensure the CTU officer apologise.

“He also said we should meet with the governor’s wife but we were unable to meet with anyone as the students didn’t allow their leader to be taken away to meet anyone but kept requesting for the CTU officer.

“The CSO, the army officer, myself and some students went to a nearby shop close to the Civic Centre where the CSO apologised severally and everything died down. I rested my legs a little as I was still having muscle pull over.

“The CSO to governor requested I gave him some minutes as he left briefly. After a while I wasn’t feeling too good and I told the army officer who was still with me begging and apologising.

“I saw the CSO to the Governor holding the police who shot the gun and was trying to stop him from shooting. Within seconds other policemen were using tear gases as the CTU officers opened sporadically gunshots.

“The Army Officer was blaming himself saying if he hadn’t come to call me where I was sleeping the CTU Officer, there wouldn’t have been issues.

“After a while, I told the army officer I needed to take my leave to rest and he told me to tell the CSO to the Governor which I did. As I was taking my leave I heard the thundering sound of gun. On a glimpse, I saw the CSO”

“I wasn’t sure what was happening any longer as I saw stones flying from different corners and stray bullets and CTU Officers advancing towards the road and entered the streets.

“I had to run for safety as I couldn’t move well and I couldn’t move well and fast. Although, where I was heading wasn’t so far, in a few minutes I was indoors as I narrowly escaped different stray bullets by armed police and CTU officers.

“From the hostel I was, we could easily see the way policemen and Mopols as well as CTU officers were entering streets and shops chasing the students and shooting live bullets.

“I could figure out the reason why everything escalated was due to the reason why the riot started between the students, indigenes and Armed Forces was due to the first shooting by the police officer and CTU Officer.

“It wasn’t long we heard the shouting of students from nearby, listening closely we could hear them shouting a student has been killed.

“Someone who was in the hostel where I was at that moment came online on WhatsApp and the pictures and videos of the student was on the media.

“I managed to come out to take a glimpse but all we could see were policemen running and aiming at students, indigenes who were also fighting back at the police force.

“The shooting continued till late in the night. The following morning, students who were traveling to their various places, were beaten and punished.

“It was not until I called the Commissioner of Police and the school CSO that the harassment stopped.”