Category: Judiciary

Rising cases of human rights violations worrisome — NHRC

Violations
By Edith Nwapi

Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed over the rising cases of human rights violations across the country.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Anthony Ojukwu, SAN expressed this concern on Friday when a report from the NHRC’s dashboard was presented.

According to Ojukwu the dashboard stands as a testament to the Commission ‘s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights in Nigeria.

” Over the past months, our teams in Abuja and across the 36 states have worked tirelessly to compile and analyse data from complaints received at the Commission and unreported human rights violations monitored across the country.

” These analyses not only shed light on the state of human rights in our nation, but also serves as a record of our progress and a guide for future action.

” This month’s edition features 55,218 complaints received by the Commission with violations against state actors topping the chart ” he said.

He noted that the violations recorded in the month of May impacted on an estimated 157,368 persons across the country based on their Victim Impact Analysis.

This he said is a distressing indication that despite their efforts, there are still instances where those entrusted with upholding the law become violators of human rights.

” We must emphasize the importance of accountability and the reasonable use of force by law enforcement agencies. While it is essential to maintain law and order, it must be done in a manner that respects the dignity and rights of every individual.

” Any abuse of power or excessive force must be met with swift and impartial justice.Furthermore, we have observed a troubling increase in violations of economic, social, and cultural rights.

“These rights are the bedrock of human dignity and well-being, yet they continue to be disregarded in many parts of our country” he said.

“As the  data is presented we analyse it. Let us  not lose sight of the real people behind these statistics’

“It is incumbent upon the government to take concrete steps to address these violations and ensure that all citizens can enjoy their economic, social, and cultural rights without discrimination or impediment.

” This includes implementing policies that promote equitable access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.

” The month under review also witnesses significant and troublesome escalation in the activities of non-state armed groups across the country” he said.

He noted that the Human Rights Observatory recorded 298 killings and 360 abductions largely attributed to terrorists and bandit groups.

Ojukwu added that, the north west continues to be a region of concern for the Commission in this regards.

” We continue to see the worrisome trends of killings of men of our armed forces and the Police.

” This for us constitute a threat to security and the defence of human rights and we continue to call on all relevant authorities at state and national levels to stem this tide

” One of the fundamental principles of democracy is the protection of human rights for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, gender, or social status” he said.

Ojukwu said, it is incumbent upon them, as the guardians of human rights in Nigeria, to remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts to safeguard these rights.

He added that as a Commission, their work does not end with the publication of this dashboard.

He added that , It is merely a tool, a starting point for further action.

” We must continue to collaborate with government agencies, policy makers, civil society organizations, and international partners to address the root causes of human rights violations and promote a culture of respect for human dignity and equality.

” I also want to thank our partners, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their invaluable support,” he said.

He said: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual in Nigeria can live a life of dignity, freedom, and equality.”

NAN reports that on Feb. 14, the commission inaugurated the maiden edition of human rights dashboard and observatory and presented the report of January.

In January, a total of 1,147 complaints were recorded against 1,484 recorded in February, March recorded a total of 1580 complaints , April recorded 19,470 while May recorded 55, 218.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

NEO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza
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Arraignment
By Adenike Ayodele
Ikeja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men before an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly stealing the sum of N3.5 billion from Access Bank.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three men are Michael Igbomins, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, on two counts of stealing and retention of proceeds of crime.
The defendants, whose residential addresses were not provided, however, pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC Counsel, Mr Abdulhamid Tukur, thereafter, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility.
The defence counsel, however, informed the court that there was no pending application before the court and prayed that the needful would be done before the next adjourned date.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences sometimes in 2023 in Lagos.
The prosecution submitted that the defendants, with dishonest intent, allegedly stole and converted to their own use the sum of N3.5 billion, property of Access Bank.
EFCC also alleged that the defendants retained the said amount of money, the proceed they knew to have been from unlawful act.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences violate Section 17 of  the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe remanded the defendants in Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
Abike-Fadipe, however, adjourned the case until Nov. 28 for commencement of trial.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
OAR/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

2 docked for allegedly stealing employer’s money

Theft

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Two men,  Ibrahim Uthman, 24 and  Hamid Adeleke, 26, were on Friday arraigned in an Ona-Ara Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing their employer’s money.

The duo, whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy and theft, to which they pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Insp Folarunmi Adeshina told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence sometimes in February, at Ayetoro area, Ibadan.

Adeshina alleged that Uthman stole the sum of N4, 481, 725, belonging to their employer, Mr Musa Afonja.

He alleged that Adeleke also stole the sum of N1, 062, 050, belonging to Afonja without his consent.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mr Ayorinde Ayo-Alagbe granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million each and two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until July 3, for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CC/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Strike: Shutting national grid extreme but not illegal  -Lawyer

Grid

By Adenike Ayodele

Ikeja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A Lagos-based lawyer,  Mr Ige Asemudara, has said  that the organised labour  took   to the extreme,  its strike  on Monday and Tuesday by shutting  the national grid.

The lawyer said that the action exposed Nigeria  to insecurity.

Asemudara, the Founder of Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

He said that closing  the national grid was not reasonable.

“No matter what you do during strike, you do  not expose  the country to insecurity or toy with the safety of a nation.

“”If you shut down the national grid, you have exposed  the country  to insecurity and also toyed with the fragile safety of Nigerians.

“All of the security systems in the country  are run by the electrical system; so, when  you shut down, you have breached the security of the nation,” he said.

He, however,  said that the action should not be regarded as unlawful or treasonable since electrical workers had the right to go on strike.

“I saw a fellow who was quoting  Miscellaneous Offences Act stating that anyone  who  tampers with  electrical cables will be jailed for life.

 “That  law,  with greatest  respect, is not effective during  strike, but  even if it does, it is a law passed under the military regime of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in 1984-1985.”

He further said that the law ought to have been amended.

He said: ” I do not know why that legislation has not been amended since the military regime because it has some or the most unreasonable provisions in human history.

“I will say that strike is lawful but there are some activities which are unlawful that  workers should not engage in.

“If you are a worker in a unified environment, you have right to go on strike and if you are going to strike, what you do is shut down your working facilities.

“For instance, you work with the Federal  Radio Corporation of Nigeria and you want to go on strike, the radio station will  not transmit during  that  period.”

The lawyer said same thing applied to the companies that constituted  the national grid as they  would naturally shut down their services.

Asemudara, however, said said shutting the national grid was an extreme and unreasonable action to be taken during strike ‘because the first responsibility of Nigerians  whether citizens or governments is security of lives and property’ in the nation.

The lawyer further said that power generation, distribution and transmission companies in  Nigeria, which made up  the national grid, had the right to go on strike because strike was recognised under labour laws as legitimate. (NAN)

www.nannews.ng

OAR/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Assault
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A 47-year-old man, Olawumi Odelanu, was on Friday arraigned before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly slapping a woman during a minor argument.
Odelanu, whose address was not provided, was charged with assault.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on June 5, at Foodco Shopping Complex Dugbe, Ibadan.
Amusan alleged that the defendant slapped one Mrs Deborah Ogunjimi on the right side of her cheek during a minor argument.
He said the offence contravened Section 351 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Court President, Mrs Moji Aworemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250,000 with one reliable surety in like sum.
Aworemu, thereafter, adjourned the case until June 27 for hearing. (NAN)
CC/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Stealing
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A 40-year-old security guard, David Michael, was on Friday arraigned before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing the school’s solar lamps and footballs.
Michael, who worked with Onireke High School, Ibadan and whose address was not provided, was charged with theft, to which he, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 21, at about 7.00 p.m. at the school.
Amusan said that Michael stole the school’s six solar lamps worth N900,000 and footballs worth N18,000.
He stated that the defendant also willfully left his duty post without the school’s consent and proper handing over.
The offences, according to him, were contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The court President, Mrs Moji Aworemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Aworemi adjourned the case till June 27 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
CC/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Fine

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) on Friday slammed N150 million fine against Multichoice Nig. Ltd. for disobeying its order on subscription rates hike for DStv and Gotv packages.

The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, also ordered the PayTv operator to give one month free subscription to all its Nigerian subscribers on the DStv and Gotv platforms, for flouting its order.

The three-member tribunal chaired by Thomas Okosun in a ruling, found Multichoice culpable of contempt, by flouting its earlier order restraining the PayTv operator from implementing hike in its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CCPT had, on April 29, restrained MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on May 1.

The tribunal gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.

Onifade, a legal practitioner and subscriber had approached the tribunal contending that the 8-day notice given by Multichoice for a price hike was insufficient.

Respondents in the case were MultiChoice and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

He urged the tribunal to restrain Multichoice  from implementing the tariff hike from May 1 as planned, pending the hearing determination of the petition.

The tribunal granted the ex-parte motion of the applicant and stopped the PayTv operator from going ahead with the price increase in the interim.

However, in defiance of the tribunal’s order, MultiChoice hiked its subscription rates for DStv and Gotv packages on the scheduled date (May 1).

Following the price hike, Onifade, on May 7, commenced contempt proceedings against Mr Mohammed Sani, Manager of Abuja office of MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd, over alleged disobedience to the order made by the CCPT.

The Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) marked: CCPT/OP/02/2024 dated and filed on May 7 by Onifade, warned Sani against disregard to the tribunal order.

MultiChoice, through its lawyer, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, filed a preliminary objection praying the tribunal to decline jurisdiction in the suit.

Onigbanjo argued that such price dispute case had been decided before, in favour of his client.

Onifade, in his response, urged the tribunal to discountenance the company’s objection and direct it to pay the sum of N10 billion or any amount the panel might deem fit in the circumstance for deliberately disobeying and failure to comply with the interim order.

The lawyer argued that the issue he brought did not border on price regulation or increase.

He explained that what he placed before the court was whether the company gave adequate notice in respect of the May 1 subscription price increase.

“It is our submission that the 8-days notice issued by Multichoice Nigeria Ltd is insufficient in law.

“A monthly subscriber should be given at least a month,” he said, praying the tribunal to dismiss the preliminary objection for being a waste of time of the court.

Delivering the ruling, the Thomas Okosun-led tribunal agreed with Onifade’s submission, prompting the panel to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against the company.

The tribunal subsequently fixed July 3 for hearing of the substantive suit of the claimant.(NAN)(www.namnews.ng)

TOA/ROT.

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Commercial driver docked for alleged assault

Assault

By Ngozi Njoku

Ikeja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A 27-year-old driver, Chinedu John, was on Friday, arraigned in an Ikeja  Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly causing bodily harm to his colleague, using a handset to hit him on the eye.

The defendant, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and bodily harm.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp Innocent Odugbo told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 14,  at CBM Park Adealu , Iyana Ipaja , Lagos.

Odugbo said that the defendant and another at large, used a handset to hit  Bright Osondu`s eye   over an undisclosed argument and misunderstanding between them (drivers).

He said that the defendant also inflicted injuries on the complainant`s right eyes which has caused damage to the right eye.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 170, 246, and  411 of the Criminal Law of  Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Miss M.F Onamusi , granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Onamusi said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and one must be a blood relative.

She said the sureties must also provide evidence of LARASA utility bill.

Onamusi  adjourned the case until June 13, for mention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

NG/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Man, 33, arraigned for allegedly stealing car worth N2m

Arraignment
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, June 7, 2024 (NAN) A man, David Oluwole, 33, was on Friday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Corolla valued at N2 million.

Oluwole, whose address was not provided, was charged with stealing.

He pleaded not guilty, when the charge was read to him.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence at about 3.00 am on May 10 at Ologunero area of Ibadan.

She alleged that the defendant stole the car belonging to one Oyewole Akinlolu without his consent.

She said the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adebola Adeola, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two reliable sureties in like sum.

She thereafter adjourned the case to July 7 for hearing. (NAN)(wwwnannews.ng)

CC/USO
Edited by Sam Oditah