Lateef Fagbemi slams cases of conflicting judgments among high courts in Nigeria
ThisDay Pg.17, The Punch Pg.7
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has expressed concern over the reported cases of conflicting court judgements among High Court of Judges in the country.
Fagbemi who spoke with journalists during a chat on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara state capital on the sidelines of the ongoing three-day conference of the Justice Sector Reform Committee Teams in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Justice however said that, “The issue of conflicting judgments was a recurring decimal but you find in recent times that has stopped and efforts are being made to address this issue”.
The conference was also supported by the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International- IDEA).
According to him, “What use to happen was the effect of fundamental cause and you cannot continue to treat the effect in order to cure the cause rather it’s the cause that you have to look at – technology, over zealousness on the part of some litigants”.
AGF, NBA, judiciary move to tackle conflicting judgments
The Punch Pg.35
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said the Federal Government, the Nigeria Bar Association and the judiciary are working to address the issue of conflicting judgments.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday during the Conference of the Network of Justice Sector Reform Teams, Fagbemi lamented occasions where the state high courts and the Federal High Court gave different judgments on the same matter.
Fagbemi said the judiciary had set up a panel to prevent occurrences of conflicting judgments.
He particularly said the judiciary would leverage technology to address the trend.
He attributed the issue to overzealous litigants, some unscrupulous lawyers who fail to disclose previous rulings that might affect their cases.
Though he noted that the judiciary was on the concurrent list, he said stakeholders had resolved to get to the root cause of conflicting judgments.
Senate Okays sack of CCT Chairman over alleged misconduct, corruption
The Nation Pg.3, Daily Trust Pg.3, Tribune Pg.15, ThisDay Pg.9
The Senate yesterday passed a resolution with the support of two-thirds majority of its members authorising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danlandi Umar, for alleged misconduct and negligence.
Umar, 53, was sworn in at the age of 36 as the acting chairman of the CCT and became the substantive chairman of the tribunal on July 11, 2011.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion, titled: “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
The Red Chamber, after an hour of executive session, resolved to “invoke and activate the constitutional provision as enshrined in Section 157 (1) by forwarding an address, supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate to be acted upon by Mr. President for the official removal of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, as the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, for the official resumption of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new substantive Chairman of the Tribunal”.
Alleged $35m fraud: Wabote in EFCC custody
The Nation Pg.4
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday seized the traveling passport and detained a former Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote for alleged $35 million Brass Project fraud.
His residence in Abuja was also searched by operatives of the commission.
For the second time in two weeks, Wabote has been detained.
A source within the EFCC, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Wabote appeared before the commission for further questioning and we decided to detain him in view of the evidence against him.
“At this bend, it has also become necessary to seize his passport and other travelling documents pending the conclusion of investigations.
FG promises justice for victims of terrorism
Daily Sun Pg.4
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to get justice for victims of terrorism.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, gave the assurance at the launch of the Model Legal Provisions for Victims of Terrorism at the National Counter Terrorism Centre on Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Abubakar Babadoko.
He said the event marked a significant step forward in the collective efforts to address the needs and rights of victims and survivors of terrorism.
According to him, Nigeria has been at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism.
NHRC lauds CLEEN Foundation for advocating ACJA implementation
The Punch Pg.8
The National Human Rights Commission has applauded a non-governmental organization, CLEEN Foundation, for its advocacy in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Nigeria.
The commission gave the commendation at the end of a two-day workshop organized by the CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Chief Legal Officer of the NHRC, Patience Ovuezirie, said so far, the commission has attended about three trainings/workshops organized by CLEEN Foundation this year.
Ovuezirie added that the objectives and goals of the workshop, which centred on the theme ‘Advocacy/Workshop for Effective Implementation of ACJAL in Nigeria’ were in agreement with the commission’s mandate, which is to protect, promote, and enforce the rights of the citizens of Nigeria
EFCC chair, SANs disagree over huge legal fees from politicians
The Punch Pg.35
Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, have tackled the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, for suggesting that the judiciary should intervene in matters related to lawyers’ fees.
Olukoyode had on Monday appealed to the judiciary to address the issue of senior lawyers charging exorbitant fees for legal representation to politicians in the country.
He made the statement at the opening of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference on Monday in Abuja.
Olukoyode stated that lawyers should be mindful of where political officeholders obtain the huge sums of money they use to pay legal fees, as these funds often come from embezzled taxpayer money.
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