UDUAGHAN CHARGES NBA TO REFORM NIGERIA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Delta state governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to expedite action on the reform of criminal justice in the country to achieve sustainable justice.

Besides, he charged the Association to particularly play a collaborative role with government to ensure that criminals arrested were brought to justice speedily.

Dr. Uduaghan who gave the charge in Asaba on Thursday, while declaring open the National Executive Council meeting of the (NBA), enjoined them to urgently redefine and reform the system because it was long overdue.

The Governor recalled the security challenges that the nation was currently grappling with and the sudden rise in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy and terrorism, and enjoined the NBA to come up with blueprint for transforming the criminal justice system.

His words “I urge the Association to expedite action on the result of the conference held on Reform of Criminal Justice in Nigeria because this reform is long overdue. So urgently redefine and reform the judicial justice system”.

Dr. Uduaghan stressed the importance of the review noting that the onus to act was on the Association as the NBA was seen by Government at all levels as an agent of change and mouth piece of civil reform in the society.

He enjoined the Association to re-strategize and refine present ways of administering the body and promote and sustain the ethics of the legal profession so that standards were not lowered.

The Governor who also harped on the need for discipline said: “Discipline has to be maintained so that the legal profession can continue to effectively play the role of ensuring the observance of the rule of law, upholding the rights of citizens and social engineering, sensitize members of your profession to uphold the time honoured ethical standards and discipline at all times”.

He promised to support the activities of the Association both at the national and local branches but urged the body to work tirelessly to build a virile relevant Bar.

In his address, the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Barrister Okey Wali (SAN) called for increased funding of the judiciary.

Barrister Wali regretted that while budgetary appropriations of other arms of government were on the increase that of the judiciary was declining.

He recalled that in 2009, budgetary allocation to judiciary was N78 billion while in 2010 and 2011 it was N91 billion and N95 billion respectively but regretted that allocation dropped to N75 billion and N67 billion in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The NBA President said it was wrong to reduce the budgetary allocation of the judiciary if the nation wanted a modern judicial system.

Wali pointed out that a modern judicial system was instrumental for an orderly society and enjoined the Federal Government to comply with the constitutional provisions of S.81 (3) S.121 (3) and S.162 (9) and ensure the independence of the judiciary.

He commended the Governor Uduaghan for what he called “the aggressive revolutionary transformation of the state capital Asaba” which he noted was a remarkable departure from what the State capital looked like in the past.

Barrister Wali, also, commended the Governor for his quick response to the flood disaster in the state as well as for the cordial relationship between the bar and the state government.

 

ABSENCE OF SUSPECT STALLS EFCC SUIT IN LAGOS

The much-awaited arraignment of the Chairman of Bi - courtney Limited - Olawale Babalakin and four others at the Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, over alleged money laundering running to about 4.7billion naira could not hold on Thursday as scheduled, owing to the absence of Babalakin on health grounds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had filed a 27-count charge against Babalakin, Stabilini Visioni limited, Bi-Courtney Limited alongside Alex Okoh and Remix Nigeria Limited for allegedly assisting former Delta State Governor - James Ibori to transfer some monies through a third party to some foreign accounts.

Babalakin's Counsel - Ebun Sofunde informed the court that his client is currently on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over an undisclosed sickness.

Sofunde informed the court that he had earlier forwarded a letter to the registrar of the court, containing a medical report from one Doctor Charles Harmon about Babalakin's health.

But EFCC's  Counsel - Rotimi Jacob expressed his disappointment at the turn of event, saying he was shocked at the antics being employed by Babalakin.

In his ruling, Justice Onigbanjo asked the EFCC Counsel to verify that Babalakin is on admission at LUTH.

Correspondent - Georges Macnobles reports that the court also urged the EFCC to get an independent medical report on the true state of Babalakin's health.

The matter is adjourned till December 12, 2012 for arraignment.

NIGERIA MAKING PROGRESS....SAMBO

Nigeria`s Vice President, Namadi Sambo, says tremendous progress has been achieved in the implementation of the decisions of the Honourary International Investors Council in its twelve years of existence.

At the opening of the 13th Meeting of the HIIC in London, today (Thursday), Vice President Sambo said "much action has been taken and significant progress has been made" in implementing the decisions taken at the 11th and 12th Sessions in Paris and Abuja, respectively.

He further said three out of the ten new thermal power plants in Nigeria, were already adding power supply to the national grid, while the others were at 90% completion.

The Vice President said the port reforms had been so successful that goods were now being cleared within an average of 48 hours, from the previous time of between four and eight weeks.

He also spoke of the great improvement in meeting the security challenges, especially in the North, job creation, agriculture, as well as the progress already recorded in checking crude oil theft.

Vice President Sambo said after twelve years, Government was committed to reviewing the implementation of the decisions of the Council, in order to achieve even greater success.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker had briefed the Vice President on the activities  of the Council.

FRSC TO DEPLOY UNDERCOVER OFFICERS FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL DURING YULETIDE

The  Ijebu-Ode Unit Command  of the FRSC on Wednesday said  it would use undercover operatives in commercial vehicles to check the excesses  of drivers during the Yuletide. The unit’s Commander, Mr Issah Seidu, said this while launching the 2012 end-of-the-year campaign and rally in Ijebu-Ode.

He expressed  the hope that the initiative would help in the arrest of reckless drivers.
“We have decided to incorporate into this year’s campaign two key issues; the first is Beyond the Road Project that will focus on the driver’s state of health and behaviour.
``We want to make sure that the driver is fit as a road user through checking his high blood pressure  and sugar level, among other things.
``The Passenger Road Watch will involve plain cloth operatives of the corps travelling in commuter vehicles and monitoring drivers’ behaviour in the course of the journey.
``They are to caution them and if the driver refuses to yield to his advice, he will immediately alert the nearest FRSC Patrol Team for arrest of the driver.
``The only way to ensure safety and reduce to the barest minimum the carnage being witnessed daily on our highways is to obey traffic rules and regulations.
``We are going to give it all that it takes to make sure that we safeguard lives in the ember months and even beyond,’’ he said.
Seidu also warned that the operating licence of any transport company whose drivers violated the law would be revoked  while  the drivers would face appropriate sanctions.
The unit commander blamed the high rate of road crashes being recorded on the recklessness of drivers on the highways.
He also accused commercial drivers of  ignoring traffic rules and regulations, saying that the development had led to the death of many innocent Nigerians.
Seidu  expressed regret that no fewer than 40 people lost their lives in three major road crashes in the area within two months.
The rally, he said,  was organised to enlighten, educate and create necessary awareness on the need for a safe  road culture by motorists and commuters.

The Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Mr Adegaye Lawrence, enjoined road users to cooperate with the FRSC.
Lawrence also admonished drivers to exercise more caution while plying the roads.
Mr Badejo Badebo, who represented NURTW, said that all the lessons learnt from the rally would be imbibed and  passed on  to other drivers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally was attended by representatives of the NURTW  and Road Transport Employers Association of  Nigeria (RTEAN).
Others included Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (TORAN) and civil society groups.       (BY NAN)

NPA MD SEEKS AUTONOMY FOR NIGERIA PORTS AUTHORITY

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has advocated for a measure of autonomy for the Organisation in the Ports and Harbours bill currently in the National Assembly.

Malam Abdullahi said the measure of autonomy for the Authority would enable it perform most effectively and efficiently.

He  made the appeal while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, during their oversight function to the NPA.

Malam Abdullahi  told the Committee that the Authority has made tremendous progress since its visit last year, stating that  vessels waiting time is now 19 days instead of 28 days and that the Channels have been dredged to the required standard.

According to him, many foreign investors have indicated interest in Ports Development in Nigeria.

The Committee also inspected the on-going rehabilitation projects  at the Authority’s Headquarters, the Marina Jetty, the completed East and West Moles rehabilitation, Quay Wall reconstruction in Tincan Island Port, on-going Access Road Construction and Rail line rehabilitation in Apapa Ports.

FEC APPROVES NEW BANQUET FOR PRESIDENTIAL VILLA

The Federal Executive Council, on Wednesday,  approved the construction of a new banquet hall in the Presidential Villa for the sum of N2.2 billion.

The approval is part of  the final set of N19.4 billion contracts for this year covering road construction, rail transportation and infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the new banquet hall would have a capacity of 150 seats.
He said subsequent Federal Executive Council meetings would be devoted to reviewing what had been achieved by government in the last one year.

Dr Abati, who stood in for the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said aside from the roads, rail and other contracts, the council also approved the award of contract for the conduct of fiscal allocation and statutory disbursement audit for  2007 to 2011 as well as oil and gas industry audit.
He said the approval was in conformity with section 2 of the NEITI Act 2007.
He said: “The objective of this initiative is to ensure transparency and accountability in the application of resources from payments received from extractive industries and to further ensure that all fiscal allocations and statutory disbursements due from the Federal Government to statutory recipients were dully made.”
Abati noted that the essence of the contract was to enable NEITI track extractive industry sector funds paid into the federation account as distributed and received by federal, state and local government areas.
He said there would also be special emphasis on the application, utilization of the funds, on beneficiaries of the 13 per cent derivation and relevant federal institutions that directly received allocations from the Federation Account.

SCRAP SURE-P .....NASS JOINT COMMITTEE TELLS FG

A Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Petroleum Resources Downstream has called for the scraping of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme(SURE-P) alleging that the agency is duplicating activities being carried out by the  existing Ministries, Departments and government agencies in the country.

The Joint committee came hard on the Presidential committee on Subsidy Reinvestment headed by Christopher Kolade when it appeared before it to defend the 2013 budget proposal at the National Assembly in Abuja. The Chairman of the SURE-P,Christopher Kolade had told the lawmakers that 135 billion naira  was accrued to the agency up till the end of October, 2012  and the money has been channelled into construction of abandoned road projects,health care and skills acquisation programme.

Meanwhile, lawmakers disagreed with the Chairman of the agency saying that the task executed by the SURE-P has already been executed by the existing the Ministries  adding that with the advent of the SURE-P it is an indication that the Federal government has lost confidence in its main Ministries.

Speaking on the matter, a member of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason queried the SURE-P for not utilizing the funds to revitalize dead refineries in the country which will benefit Nigerians instead of wasting it on less important ventures.

In his response, Chairman of the SURE-P Committee, Christopher Kolade said it is not the duty of the National Assembly to decide the fate of the program, noting that the power is vested only on the Presidency whether the Program will remain or not.