Niger Delta
DESOPADEC MD Calls For Judicial Reforms
Managing Director of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has called for urgent reforms in the country’s judicial sector describing it as a profession whose image is being badly damaged with “accompanying innuendos.”
He also lamented the activities of the law enforcement operatives which according to him led to the “ignoble removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria and the beginning of the gradual killing of the judiciary helped by the timid response from the BAR.”
The DESOPADEC boss made his position known while speaking as a guest at the annual law week of the Nigeria Bar Association (BAR), Oleh branch which was held at the Anglican Women Hall, Oleh.
In his paper presentation titled, “An appraisal of the contemporary Nigerian Lawyer: Development or Regression,” he took a swipe on some judges over their frivolous and most times conflicting rulings of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, saying, “You don’t need me to tell you that this has badly tarnished the image of the judiciary.”
Speaking further, he said: “Ex parte motions are buzz words today, so popularised by their abuses. By my understanding, there is nothing wrong with ex-partes. But when you know that a matter is before a court of coordinate jurisdiction, you don’t need to shop around for courts and judges to get favourable rulings and or judgements for your clients.
“For me, that is a cardinal sin against the judiciary and your noble profession. Was it not curious and incredible that your colleagues in Anambra travelled 950 kilometers to Jigawa to obtain an exparte ruling on a matter that was already before a judge in Awka?
“And, I am amazed that the indicted judges are claiming ignorance of the same cases that are before coordinate courts. It means the judges are not reading, it means they are not following contemporary issues; they are alienating themselves from society as if they are not part of it. That is wrong, if it is the hard to believe truth that they were truly not aware, because they are members of the society who should be up to date with happenings around them.
“For me, the actions of the lawyers and judges tantamount to gross judicial misconduct which should be urgently addressed to redeem the image of the judiciary.”
On the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the DESOPADEC boss while taking a swipe at the BAR, said: “You didn’t resist it. You were cowed. It was not good enough, that a low level judicial officer who was even standing trial could remove a Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the BAR kept quiet. It was a sad commentary on the profession. You must defend and protect the profession at all times.
“Is Justice expensive? So it seems since it is now above the reach of the common man. The highest bidder gets justice these days and the common man relies on “God Dey,” a hopeful prayer of the streets which oftentimes leads to resort to self-help by the terribly aggrieved who failed to get justice at the altar of justice.
“There has been a plethora of how some Judges, Senior Advocates, Senior Counsel and other lawyers have engaged in this act of impunity. This without doubt has become a snarl in the wheel of legal profession in the country and there must be a 360 degree turnaround. The question is who do we run to for sane legal advocacy and canopy if those who ought to play that role are falling short of expectation?
”Critics also finger the undue delay in the administration of justice in the Nigerian legal system as a hydra-headed monster that has fastened its lethal proboscis on the fabric of our legal system. The blame here is shared by both the BAR and the Bench”.
“Some Judges sit very late while others sit sporadically. When they do come to court, they are in a hurry to usher off the lawyers from the stage as soon as possible. They adjourn at the slightest prompting and may even take months to write a simple ruling on the admissibility of a document.
“Lawyers too are not left out of this misnomer as they shoulder a portion of the blame, often seeking needless adjournments, frivolous amendments to pleadings, notices of appeals and briefs. Some are even rumored to collude with court officials (without the knowledge of the Judge) and smuggle documents which the Judges rightfully refuse to acknowledge when the matter comes up.”
Proffering the way out for the judiciary, he advocated on the need for innovation and legal dexterity which he said is not one to undermine due to its long-term impact in the entire legal profession.
According to him, “A lawyer that takes innovation and ingenuity for granted in this present time when the world seems to be racing against time itself is likely to be left behind to pine over nothing. Technology and other modern approaches to issues are gradually creeping in and taking over the traditional jobs of legal practitioners. It is therefore only the vigilant, industrious, innovative and diligent lawyers that may stand the test of time.”
Speaking further, he said: “No doubt, this is the age of digital information, communication and technology. By implication, any lawyer worth his salt will not sit on the fence and assume that it is the same route that must be taken to reach Eldorado. Time has indeed changed as it has suddenly proved to be so rare and no respecter of the indolent anymore.
It is also changing fast and will certainly continue to change and move at a pace that responds to the reality of the day. Particularly, the 21st century has proved to be tech-driven, permeating virtually all aspects of life. Law is not an exception to this trend.
“Development, we are told, is an organic concept measured in tangible and intangible. The criteria for determining whether the lawyer is progressing or receding will depend on what is required as his roles and responsibilities toward society.
“For me, I am of the opinion that the contemporary Nigerian lawyer can improve his current performance by taking cognizance of and electing to be guided by the rules of professional conduct. The Nigerian lawyer must therefore be on top of his game, else he may blur off the radar.”
The College of Nursing Sciences, Onicha-Uku, Delta State, was on Monday inaugurated as a satellite campus of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
At the inauguration, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State said the state would partner with the Federal Government (FG) to ensure the growth and development of the health sector in the state.
The Governor, who announced a donation of a 32-seater coaster bus to the college, lauded the former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, NdudiElumelu, for attracting the project.
He said the new college, at Aniocha North Local Government Area, would greatly enhance the tempo and quality of human capital development in the health sector.
“Currently, there are five state-owned colleges of nursing, but their carrying capacity cannot absorb all the qualified applicants.
“Hence, the establishment of this college of nursing sciences, Onicha-Uku, through our illustrious son, Rt. Hon. NdudiElumelu, will provide adequate healthcare for this community and environs.
“I commend him for laying this solid foundation for the take-off of this college of nursing sciences.
“My appreciation goes to the Hon. Minister of Health, as well as the management and staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for this achievement”, he said.
The Governor added that the presence of the school would, no doubt, boost the retail economy in Onicha-Uku and neighbouring communities.
He, therefore, charged the host communities to reciprocate FG’s kind gesture by taking ownership of the school and protecting the critical asset brought to them.
He assured that his administration would continue to support FG’s institutions in the state for the sustainable overall growth and development of the state.
“On our part, we shall lend adequate support and collaboration to the new College of Nursing Sciences.
“I have listened carefully to the requests of the Medical Director of FMC, Asaba, on various areas of need.
“I assure you of our willingness to assist within the limits of available resources in due course.
“It is my prayer that this college will fulfil its mandates by contributing immensely to the growth of nursing education in Nigeria”, Oborevwori said.
Meanwhile, Elumelu said the institution was one of the many projects he attracted to the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, pledging to continue to contribute to the development of the area.
He challenged students of the institution to maximise the opportunity to acquire knowledge to bridge the manpower needs in the health sector.
Earlier, the Medical Director, FMC, Asaba, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, thanked Elumelu for attracting the college while in office.
He appealed to the State Government and other stakeholders to sink a borehole to solve water needs in the school, in addition to handling issues of electricity, transportation and security.
He also thanked Oborevwori for his achievements in office in the last 11 months, especially in the health sector, urging him not to relent in recording more successes.
The Tide’s source reports that the representative of Onicha-Uku town, Chief Ephraim Osubor, described the project as an asset in the health sector.
The organised labour unions in Bayelsa State have rejected the recent hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government (FG) by staging a picketing exercise.
The Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Monday picketed the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Yenagoa to express their resentment toward the hike.
Bayelsa NLC Chairman, Comrade Simon Barnabas, urged the government to immediately look into the matter by reversing the hike and giving Nigerians constant power supply.
He decried the situation where despite the hike in tariff, people were still subjected to epileptic power supply.
He said: “Our action today is a way to inform the government that the hike in tariff is unacceptable by us.
“Of course, the national centres of NLC and TUC gave the directive that we should have a joint action here in Bayelsa State to express our unacceptability of this policy.
“We are calling on the authority to have an immediate reversal and passing information to our people that the labour leadership is concerned about their well-being and welfare.
“We are hoping that there will be a change of mind on the part of the government after this action.
“But where there is none, we have no option than to apply confrontation, as the issue of an epileptic power supply must be addressed”.
Meanwhile, the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Julius Laye, said introducing another form of taxation was not the right way to handle Nigerians at this time.
He said Nigerians were already sacrificing to buy petrol and diesel at exorbitant prices, therefore, the hiked electricity tariff should not be added to their woes.
According to him, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration should consider the feelings of the masses and allow them to breathe.
Armed bandits, who identified themselves as “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” on Sunday night attacked Imariogha Community, near Okomu oil palm plantation, setting ablaze over eight vehicles, according to The Tide’s source.
Investigation by the source reveals that the bandits invaded the community, formerly known as AT&P, located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr Funsho Adegboye, confirmed the attack to the source in a telephone interview in Benin.
“We are aware of the incident and have visited the community. We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organisations and Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation”, he said.
An eye witness told the source that the invaders entered the community from the riverside at midnight, shooting sporadically into the air and setting fire to about eight private vehicles and destruction of many houses.
One of the community leaders, Mr Rex Akpokiniovo, told the source that while one person was killed, a Chief of the community, Pa Gabriel Okorugbe, who sustained injuries from the attack had been hospitalised.
“The corpse of the dead person has been taken away by the police. My house was attacked and my car burnt down by the gunmen who came into the community at midnight and started shooting sporadically into the air.
“One of the Okomu workers, who resides in the community, was killed while the invaders left a warning note on his chest”, he said.
According to the note, addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki, the attackers, who identified themselves as Ijaw Freedom Fighters, made several demands from management of Okomu Oil Palm Plc.
Some of the demands included directorship position in Okomuoil palm company and 25 per cent of the company’s shares.
The group said : “We are not fighting any security personnel but Okomu oil company”.
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