News from the recent
Nigeria & The Immunity Clause
It is well known to everyone that immunity is enjoyed by people in power. Immunity was provided for in the 1999 constitution of the Ferderal Republic of Nigeria,and it keeps President,Governors and their Deputies as well as other public office holders from being prosecuted while in office. The debate is being taken but funny enough,the president himself Yar'adua is in support in his attempt at combating corruption. The removal of the immunity clause from the constitution however,denotes these office holders can be tried even while in office. To some end,it makes sense and in the other way round,it could get complicated as any office holder could be tried for any thing at all. Do you think it's removal will work out? I think Gani has a say in this as well...............
Gani rejects honour
Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has rejected the honour of OFR which was published on Fri,Dec12,2008 that the Fedreral Govt has honoured him with the honour. He thanked the President and the Govt of Nigeria on the award but ruminated on whether to accept it or not (trust him for who he is). He recounted that this is the first govt to honour him with the national award, "obviously this government must have considered my activities in the last 43 years before deciding to give the national honour",(the activities i don't expect you to ask me) noting the humiliation he suffered during the years like 23 detention,32 arrest between 1969 and 1998,attack on his chambers amongst others. The concrete reason behind the rejection was what he called government‘s insincerity in its war against corruption and the treatment meted out to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,he said that it was regrettable that the Umaru Yar’Adua administration threw Ribadu out of the EFCC at a time when Nigerians were saying “the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom”,"i went to court to challenge Ribadu's illegal removal from the EFCC,i thought Yar'Adua's govt would allow the court to do its work. But alas, Ribadu was sent to NIPSS, for a one-year course.While undergoing the course in Kuru, on Aug 5, 2008, the govt demoted Ribadu from the rank of AIG to Commisioner of Police. The eminent lawyer added that the government’s inability to achieve eight laudable goals made him to reject the honour, the 8 goals are:
-eradication of poverty in country
-the unqualified need to preserve, defend and protect the fundamental human rights
-governance of the country through democratic processes and subjection of everybody to the rule of law
-the right of the people to free and qualitative education at all levels
-free and qualitative education
-free and qualitative health services and facilities
-strengthening of the economy through sound development of infrastructure and an end to corruption
He said, “Today, the architect of the unprecedented anti-corruption war , unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria since 1914 is now literally roaming the streets of Nigeria without official car, without official status, without any form of security and yet, he is still being subjected to hounding, haunting and all forms of dehumanising vilification by the Federal Government.”
To Fawehinmi, the only offence Ribadu committed is the prosecution of “some untouchables.”
He said, “In the light of the above, I cannot accept the ‘honour’ of OFR.
“Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly its arrowhead, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu?
“Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honours? Certainly not.”
It is well known to everyone that immunity is enjoyed by people in power. Immunity was provided for in the 1999 constitution of the Ferderal Republic of Nigeria,and it keeps President,Governors and their Deputies as well as other public office holders from being prosecuted while in office. The debate is being taken but funny enough,the president himself Yar'adua is in support in his attempt at combating corruption. The removal of the immunity clause from the constitution however,denotes these office holders can be tried even while in office. To some end,it makes sense and in the other way round,it could get complicated as any office holder could be tried for any thing at all. Do you think it's removal will work out? I think Gani has a say in this as well...............
Gani rejects honour
Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has rejected the honour of OFR which was published on Fri,Dec12,2008 that the Fedreral Govt has honoured him with the honour. He thanked the President and the Govt of Nigeria on the award but ruminated on whether to accept it or not (trust him for who he is). He recounted that this is the first govt to honour him with the national award, "obviously this government must have considered my activities in the last 43 years before deciding to give the national honour",(the activities i don't expect you to ask me) noting the humiliation he suffered during the years like 23 detention,32 arrest between 1969 and 1998,attack on his chambers amongst others. The concrete reason behind the rejection was what he called government‘s insincerity in its war against corruption and the treatment meted out to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,he said that it was regrettable that the Umaru Yar’Adua administration threw Ribadu out of the EFCC at a time when Nigerians were saying “the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom”,"i went to court to challenge Ribadu's illegal removal from the EFCC,i thought Yar'Adua's govt would allow the court to do its work. But alas, Ribadu was sent to NIPSS, for a one-year course.While undergoing the course in Kuru, on Aug 5, 2008, the govt demoted Ribadu from the rank of AIG to Commisioner of Police. The eminent lawyer added that the government’s inability to achieve eight laudable goals made him to reject the honour, the 8 goals are:
-eradication of poverty in country
-the unqualified need to preserve, defend and protect the fundamental human rights
-governance of the country through democratic processes and subjection of everybody to the rule of law
-the right of the people to free and qualitative education at all levels
-free and qualitative education
-free and qualitative health services and facilities
-strengthening of the economy through sound development of infrastructure and an end to corruption
He said, “Today, the architect of the unprecedented anti-corruption war , unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria since 1914 is now literally roaming the streets of Nigeria without official car, without official status, without any form of security and yet, he is still being subjected to hounding, haunting and all forms of dehumanising vilification by the Federal Government.”
To Fawehinmi, the only offence Ribadu committed is the prosecution of “some untouchables.”
He said, “In the light of the above, I cannot accept the ‘honour’ of OFR.
“Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly its arrowhead, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu?
“Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honours? Certainly not.”
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