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UPDATE: Lagos Lawyers Shun NBA’s Directive On Boycott Of Courts

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Eniola Olayemi

 

Some Lagos lawyers who had cases fixed for hearing on Tuesday came to court in defiance of directive issued by the National Bar Association (NBA) asking lawyers to boycott courts for two days.

The reporter reports that the Federal Government had on Jan. 25 suspended the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, from office over his failure to declare his assets as required of every public servant.

Government had acted on a motion exparte granted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and replaced Onnoghen with Justice Tanko Mohammed as an acting CJN.

Consequently, NBA at its National Executive Council meeting held on Jan. 28 adopted a resolution asking members to boycott courts over what they tagged illegal suspension of the CJN.

NAN judiciary correspondent who went round courts in Lagos, including the Igbosere High Courts and Magistrates’ Courts, to monitor the situation, reports that the courts sat, proceedings went on and lawyers were in court.

However, the Court of Appeal Lagos did not sit because, according to the workers, the court was observing its conference week.

Some of the lawyers told NAN that they could not obey the directive because they owe it as a duty first to be in court to represent their clients who pay their fees.

One of the lawyers, Mr Daniel Idibia, a Lagos-based lawyer, said: “I have to respect the man who pays my fees, my clients; NBA on the other hand takes money from me.

“I pay my practicing fees, my Bar Association dues; those are monies coming from my clients.

`What will I tell my clients whose case is coming up today if I boycott court, will I say that NBA says I should not come to court, will that pay my fees?

“In law there is a saying, when two competing priorities are equal the first in time prevails. I have gotten a date for my clients’ case before NBA boycott date; therefore my client’s case supersedes that of NBA.”

He however advised NBA not to step into the arena of politics rather the association should strictly deal on matters relating to law.

Idibia also noted that the CJN had admitted that he made a mistake by not declaring his foreign assets in the Code of Conduct form.

He said that the CJN should have stepped aside after admitting the mistake due to the position he held in law.

“To me, nobody is invading the judiciary, if we are to fight corruption, it should start from lawyers.

“We are not going to fight corruption in abstraction. If this matter had happened to an ordinary civil servant, it will not be heard.

The person would have been tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal,” Idibia said.

Another lawyer, Miss Amaka Agbazu, said that she did not comply with the NBA directive because the association had not been fair to young lawyers whose rights were trampled upon.

“Last year we heard that a young lawyer was attacked by the police but NBA did not do anything about it, now they are calling for boycott because it is CJN.

“So, if it’s the CJN or any of the senior lawyers the whole judiciary should stand still.

“What is happening might not be right apparently because procedure has not been followed but right of everybody should be put into consideration.

“Lawyers are in court and proceedings are going on, nobody was prevented from entering the court or sent out of court,” Agbazu told NAN.

In his own opinion, Mr Jude Ozemhoya, said lawyers should respect the resolution as issued by the NBA.

“I came to court because of the pressure from my client who is facing a criminal charge whom I cannot leave alone and subject him to the whims and caprices of the prosecution.

“However, some of my colleagues believe that NBA’s decision is political be it that the Senate has approached the Supreme

Court for the interpretation of the affected sections of the law.

“NBA should have waited for the apex court’s decision,” Ozemhoya said. (NAN)

 

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FIVE KIDNAPPERS FATALLY INJURED IN POLICE OPERATION ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

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…As Commissioner of Police reiterates commitment to ensure safety of lives and property

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED: H&H

On January 25, 2025, at about 1900hrs, the Area Commander, Sagamu received a distress call from commuters travelling along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, Ogun State. Acting swiftly, the Area Commander mobilized a crack team of officers to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic. In the ensuing chaos, three commuters – Bolaji Bilesanmi ‘m’, 65yrs Olasunkanmi Idowu ‘m’ 50yrs, and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ (age unknown) were abducted into the forest from two vehicles (1) Honda Pilot (Registration No. Lagos EKY113GZ) and (2) Honda Accord Car (Registration No. Lagos KJA13QFA).

SWIFT POLICE INTERVENTION

The Commissioner of Police, CP. Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD. directed a covert operation led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. On January 29, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout, and upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five (5) kidnappers were fatally injured while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

RECOVERED ITEMS

The following items were recovered from the scene:
• One AK-47 rifle
• Ten rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition
• ₦5.2 million (suspected to be proceeds of crime)
• Three mobile phones

The three (3) kidnapped victims regained their freedom unhurt. Efforts are ongoing to arrest injured members of the syndicate. The Commissioner of Police strongly warns against criminal activities, particularly among young individuals seeking financial gain through high-profile crimes.

He reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to an aggressive crackdown on criminals preying on innocent citizens in Ogun state.

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) has apprehended a middle-aged man at a tomb in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, while he was allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander (Dr.) Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

According to the statement, at about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church. The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape.

Ganzallo revealed that the suspect, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, confessed to the crime during interrogation. Oriyomi admitted that on January 18, 2025, he had exhumed a skull from a tomb on a plot of land behind his residence. He confessed that he was now attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual preparation known as Osole. Oriyomi further disclosed that he had hidden the first skull in his room.

The suspect also confessed to being a seasoned offender, having sold nearly ten skulls in the past. He revealed that previous arrests for similar offenses committed at Ado-Odo led to two years of imprisonment and a further six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Center following another conviction in Obada-Oko.

Commander Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit—a fully dried human skull—have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Obada Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

In his remarks, Ganzallo urged community leaders to thoroughly screen tenants and visitors to prevent harboring undesirable individuals. He emphasized that such vigilance could ensure 70% of home security, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats.

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the unfortunate fire incident in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker.

The Governor also sent a note of sympathy to his colleague, Governor Umar Namadi, friends and associates of the victims, as well as the people and Government of Jigawa State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the unfortunate incident has left yet another scar in the minds of millions of Nigerians, adding that no nation or people could afford to experience this kind of tragedy without its effect on the social and psychological wellbeing of the people.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, offered prayers for the victims and their families, Governor Umar Namadi, and the citizens of Jigawa over the tragic loss of their fellow residents.

He said, “It is with heavy heart that I have read and followed the development of the disaster that happened yesterday in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker that claimed over 153 persons.

“Certainly, this unfortunate incident is beyond what we can reasonably imagine, going by what I have seen in the media. The devastating effects can only be imagined.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with my brother, Governor Umar Namadi, the Government and the people of Jigawa State over this very sad incident.

“I pray for the repose of the deceased and ask that the Almighty Allah grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

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