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Stay Off Election Petitions, Falana Tells Supreme Court
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has expressed concern over what he calls “tribunalization of the nation’s democracy”, saying it endangers the very essence of democracy in itself.
The renowned legal luminary, who said nowhere else around the world is the mandate of the people being determined at the courts than at the polls, spoke while featuring during a live programme at the Oyo State-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan, yesterday.
As a panacea, the Senior Advocate, however, suggested that retired judges should be engaged in electoral petition thereby allowing regular courts to take care of other vital matters.
Falana said, “I am strongly opposed to the idea of empowering the Supreme Court to get involved in governorship election cases. In most parts of the world, it is not the business of the Supreme Court to get involved in local elections and that was the situation in Nigeria until 2011.
“All election petition appeals arising from governorship election, legislative election ended at the appeal court. Among lawyers and judges, that is the thinking; that we have to go back to the status quo ante. We should take advantage of the pool of our retired judges to handle election matters”
On the various preventive measures to tackle the ravaging Coronavirus which has crippled the global economy in the past few months, Falana said the restriction order and total lockdown in some parts of the country are in order but that they should be reviewed periodically to lessen the burden on the citizens.
He frowned at the recent invitation of Chinese medical personnel to tackle Coronavirus cases in Nigeria, saying government should not at this moment frustrate the efforts of local medical workers with inadequate provision of facilities and necessary incentives, adding that our medical doctors are doing well and can compete with others around the world but they lack equipment to work with.
He advocated for the allocation of oil blocs to state governments in the stead of individuals so that the government at the state and local levels can have access to more funds to impact on their people.
“We need to abandon the neo-liberal economic system being practised by Nigeria. There cannot be basis for giving oil blocs to individuals that will turn them to instant billionaires while state governments cannot pay salaries.
“Why don’t you give the oil blocs to state and federal governments so that they will be able to use the money accruing from the sale of the oil blocs to take care of health, education and other key critical sectors?
“This is not the time to pay debts to the detriment of development of our nation. You can’t be cutting capital allocation, while you’re paying debt. The economic stimulus package has to address the crisis in the health, education and other social services”, he noted.
Falana also called for a review of the National Health Act by emphasizing the improvement of hospitals and the national health insurance at local, state and federal levels, noting that if every Nigerian is captured on the National Health Insurance net, nobody would die of any preventable disease.
He urged the country’s leadership to learn from countries like Cuba, a country of 11million population and 400,000 medical doctors with a good number of them being deployed to 15 countries combating COVID-19.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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