Attorney General’s Power-Grab & Misplaced Priorities?

Amnesty International recently released a report in connection with the appalling conditions in N...Read the full article.

[I Love Nigeria]

Who's In Charge of Nigeria?

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Who's in charge of Nigeria? Is UMYA really capable of calling the shots? Does the buck really stop at his table? Can someone...anyone tell me what is really going on?

First it was the embarassing self-reversal regarding the affairs of EFCC.

Then, it was the public denial of not knowing about the CBN's plans to redenominate/recalibrate our Naira!

The Chief of Army Staff openly tells his Defence minister that the Army is ill-equipped to handle the crisis in Port-Harcourt!

Now, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) is openely saying that states may no longer receive their monthly revenues in dollars as announced recently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Accoriding to the AGF, Mr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC) of which he is secretary was not aware of any such plans. If this is true, it amounts to yet another major policy reversal!

All these happenings within one month?!!!!!!

And then, in the thick of all this, it's transpired that our darling madam speaker appropriated over half a billion naira (although she is insisting it is 'only' 232 million naira) to renovate her (and her deputy's) official residence!!!

For goodness sakes, what the heck is going on????!!!!!!!

DW
__________________
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." - Steve Biko

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Last edited by DoubleWahala : Today at 04:50 AM.

Double Wahala posted the above in the Main Thread section of the NVS and I thought it relevant to the substance of this article.

[ikechiji]

Let me first start with a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji:

“Consequently, all government agencies fighting corruption, money laundering, child trafficking and other crimes are expected to perfect their modus operandi and ensure that they operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them, and, more importantly, in deference to relevant constitutional provisions."

How can telling agencies to "operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them" be a misplaced priority?

Profilic writer and Attorney-at-Law Paul Adujie now wants the new A-G to make prison decongestion a priority! In the previous 8 years that your godfather OBJ was in power, where did Paul Adujie call for prison reforms?

OBJ experienced Nigerian prisons first-hand. You claim he set up a prison decongestion commission. He did squat for prison reforms in the 8 years he was in power. And now you want the new A-G who is not even in charge of the Nigerian Prisons Service to champion prison reforms? Give me a break!

The issue of people spending years in jail while awaiting trial is IMHO a gross violation of their fundamental rights. The courts not A-G are ultimately more responsible for this. The courts ultimately dictate the trial calendar. If you have 1 judge per 10000 people awaiting trial and the courts claim they do not have enough judges, how do you expect the new A-G to even suggest a remedy the situation without thoroughly studying the situation on the ground and dialoguing with all the relevant stakeholders. The solution to the delayed justice problem in Nigeria should be based on hard facts, not rush-to-the-press statements.

Odego

[I Love Nigeria]

I have for several years acted for free, representing indigent defendants in Nigerian courts, just so, the would not remain in prisons/detention centers awaiting trial endlessly.

The assertion above are verifiable.

Secondly, I have for several years, (including while President Obasanjo administered Nigeria) written published opinions regarding the unacceptable conditions in our prisons and what I thought any and every government ought to do about them.

Thirdly, the new attorney general and minister of justice complained that the EFCC detained some ex-governors over 48 hours. In my instant article, I have argued that.... that should be a universal concern for all detainees in Nigeria... and not just the exclusive preserves of ex-governors and high profile detainees in Nigeria. AND, your response is that the attorney general is not in-charge of Nigerian Prisons? Or the needs to consult staker holders first? So why did he speak before thinking and consulting or before consulting stakeholders/


Just do a search and you will discover that my concerns are not new.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...prisoners.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
http://www.google.com/search?q=priso...G=Search&hl=en
Thank you Mr. Fred Igbeare
, for highlighting this …. All important issue, of Nigerian citizens who are in Nigerian prisons without trial… and endlessly so… thanks for bringing this all important subject matter to our attention.

WHAT A COINCIDENT OR CONVERGENCE OF EVENTS?




Quote:
This was posted yesterday as well:Written by Paul Adujie
Wednesday, 29 November 2006
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...w-due-pro.html
Is the NBA unaware of the putrid conditions in Nigerian Prisons? Is the NBA aware that our constitution imposes a limitation on how long a Nigerian could be held without trial? (A true violation of the rule of law and due process to be held without trial) Especially in detentions without electricity, water, air or food!






There seem to be some type of conspiracy against the poor in Nigeria OR why is it that the Nigeria Bar Association frequently embark on nationwide strike in the name of the rule of law and due process as it affect corrupt looting governors who get impeachment notices from the EFCC?



But the same NBA never embarks on ANY meaning action on behalf of our fellow citizens who are detained without trial in fetid and putrid conditions?



Why does The Guardian Editorial Board expend its time praising the Attorneys General of our thirty-six states for meeting in Benin City to talk about the rule of law and due process, ONLY in particular reference to “the gale of impeachment of governors”?



Curiously, these 36 Attorneys General of our states, just happens to be appointees of the 36 states governors… some of whom, just also happen to be the target of the EFCC, the EFCC that is being maligned for doing its constitutional duties



I wish that I am the Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria I will not loose a night sleep over the deliberations and resolutions of 36 Attorneys General, who wasted valuable time, in their efforts to protect their employers, (the state governors) some of whom have pillaged and plundered Nigeria. Hence some of them are getting the consequences of their looting and thieving activities…. Visits from Mallam Ribadu and his EFCC staff!

[tonsoyo]

Originally Posted by I Love Nigeria

I have for several years acted for free, representing indigent defendants in Nigerian courts, just so, the would not remain in prisons/detention centers awaiting trial endlessly.

The assertion above are verifiable.

Secondly, I have for several years, (including while President Obasanjo administered Nigeria) written published opinions regarding the unacceptable conditions in our prisons and what I thought any and every government ought to do about them.

Thirdly, the new attorney general and minister of justice complained that the EFCC detained some ex-governors over 48 hours. In my instant article, I have argued that.... that should be a universal concern for all detainees in Nigeria... and not just the exclusive preserves of ex-governors and high profile detainees in Nigeria. AND, your response is that the attorney general is not in-charge of Nigerian Prisons? Or the needs to consult staker holders first? So why did he speak before thinking and consulting or before consulting stakeholders/


Just do a search and you will discover that my concerns are not new.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...prisoners.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search
http://www.google.com/search?q=priso...G=Search&hl=en
Thank you Mr. Fred Igbeare
, for highlighting this …. All important issue, of Nigerian citizens who are in Nigerian prisons without trial… and endlessly so… thanks for bringing this all important subject matter to our attention.

WHAT A COINCIDENT OR CONVERGENCE OF EVENTS?




Quote:
This was posted yesterday as well:Written by Paul Adujie
Wednesday, 29 November 2006
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...w-due-pro.html
Is the NBA unaware of the putrid conditions in Nigerian Prisons? Is the NBA aware that our constitution imposes a limitation on how long a Nigerian could be held without trial? (A true violation of the rule of law and due process to be held without trial) Especially in detentions without electricity, water, air or food!






There seem to be some type of conspiracy against the poor in Nigeria OR why is it that the Nigeria Bar Association frequently embark on nationwide strike in the name of the rule of law and due process as it affect corrupt looting governors who get impeachment notices from the EFCC?



But the same NBA never embarks on ANY meaning action on behalf of our fellow citizens who are detained without trial in fetid and putrid conditions?



Why does The Guardian Editorial Board expend its time praising the Attorneys General of our thirty-six states for meeting in Benin City to talk about the rule of law and due process, ONLY in particular reference to “the gale of impeachment of governors”?



Curiously, these 36 Attorneys General of our states, just happens to be appointees of the 36 states governors… some of whom, just also happen to be the target of the EFCC, the EFCC that is being maligned for doing its constitutional duties



I wish that I am the Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria I will not loose a night sleep over the deliberations and resolutions of 36 Attorneys General, who wasted valuable time, in their efforts to protect their employers, (the state governors) some of whom have pillaged and plundered Nigeria. Hence some of them are getting the consequences of their looting and thieving activities…. Visits from Mallam Ribadu and his EFCC staff!

ILN,

The present NBA Executive as constituted is a complete sell-out. Olisa Agbakoba who I used to respect a lot, now thinks that his personal opinions are laws and speak the mind of the Nigerian lawyers. I say NOOOOOOO.

[tonsoyo]

Originally Posted by ikechiji

Let me first start with a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji:

“Consequently, all government agencies fighting corruption, money laundering, child trafficking and other crimes are expected to perfect their modus operandi and ensure that they operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them, and, more importantly, in deference to relevant constitutional provisions."

How can telling agencies to "operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them" be a misplaced priority?

Profilic writer and Attorney-at-Law Paul Adujie now wants the new A-G to make prison decongestion a priority! In the previous 8 years that your godfather OBJ was in power, where did Paul Adujie call for prison reforms?

OBJ experienced Nigerian prisons first-hand. You claim he set up a prison decongestion commission. He did squat for prison reforms in the 8 years he was in power. And now you want the new A-G who is not even in charge of the Nigerian Prisons Service to champion prison reforms? Give me a break!

The issue of people spending years in jail while awaiting trial is IMHO a gross violation of their fundamental rights. The courts not A-G are ultimately more responsible for this. The courts ultimately dictate the trial calendar. If you have 1 judge per 10000 people awaiting trial and the courts claim they do not have enough judges, how do you expect the new A-G to even suggest a remedy the situation without thoroughly studying the situation on the ground and dialoguing with all the relevant stakeholders. The solution to the delayed justice problem in Nigeria should be based on hard facts, not rush-to-the-press statements.

Odego

Ikechiji,

You are still getting this wrong. Nobody is pushing this AG to do wonders in two months. He was the one that came out that he wants the rule of law to be respected, people started quering why that has to start with EFCC, a commission that prosecute the pen-robbers and powerful treasury looters that represnts less than 1% of the total cases of illegal detention rather than the Nigerian Police Force, the body that is responsible for about 99% of these cases and the serial violator.

Even if he was sincere, he got his priorities wrong. How can he achieve anything on the long run when his priorities are misplaced?

[ikechiji]

@ILN - Your previous comments about prison reform were directed at the NBA, an organization you felt was opposing your Baba-in-Chief. Why did you not direct those comments to the Federal A-G since you think it should be an A-G priority not NBA's?

@Tonsoyo - You do not get my point. In the case of EFCC, ICPC, CofC, he could write a memo because he felt those agencies were under his supervision and he was talking about illegal operations by those agencies. The case of judicial/prison reforms go beyond the A-G to the Courts, NPF, etc. The A-G would have been out-of-line to write a similar memo to the NPF or Courts.

[tonsoyo]

Originally Posted by ikechiji

@ILN - Your previous comments about prison reform were directed at the NBA, an organization you felt was opposing your Baba-in-Chief. Why did you not direct those comments to the Federal A-G since you think it should be an A-G priority not NBA's?

@Tonsoyo - You do not get my point. In the case of EFCC, ICPC, CofC, he could write a memo because he felt those agencies were under his supervision and he was talking about illegal operations by those agencies. The case of judicial/prison reforms go beyond the A-G to the Courts, NPF, etc. The A-G would have been out-of-line to write a similar memo to the NPF or Courts.

Good to hear the bolded part from you. Then why didn't he just write a memo to the EFCC, ICPC & co and then consult with the President regarding the NPF.

He just did exactly the opposite of what you said!

Remember he DID NOT write memo to the EFCC, but went to the President to seek control.

The question still remains why he tried to subjugate EFCC, a smaller fry in the violation of rule of law rather than take issue with the Police?

[Mikky jaga]

Barrister Paul,

I can understand your disappointment that you were not the Attorney General. That explains your obvious castigation of a fellow colleague for doing what is obviously right. I believe you would prefer an EFCC that is left unchecked to trample on people's rights with impunity on the excuse of fighting corruption. The new AG has refused to tow such line and as such he should be commended.

Ikechiji has said the prisons and its conditions fall within the supervisory area of the minister of the interior, and that is the truth of the matter. If that minister feels there should be new laws to make the prison better, he can seek the assistance of the AG in formulating such new rules.

That a former inmate turned president could not do anything in his eight years of misrule should concern you more than an AG that is barely two months old in office. And FYI it is not the role of the AG to advice the President on which visitor to receive in his office.

In actual fact, the AG was not defending the corrupt politicians as you allege. He was only trying to bring the EFCC, ICPC, CCB to tow line of civility and rule of law. If Obasanjo had started the implementation of the prison reforms, it would have been easier for the new government to continue, but he did nothing thereby leaving the new AG no option but to study the document first before implementing what he did not initiate.

On the whole, your article drips of regret and unjustified anger against a man that is just doing his job.

[DoubleWahala]

Prison decongestion aside, why is NOBODY writing about the discordiant tunes emanating from government officials?

Or is that supposed to be a non-issue?

DW

[I Love Nigeria]

How Ribadu nearly resigned
Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 26.08.2007
http://www.tribune.com.ng/26082007/images/fp.jpg

Fresh facts have emerged in Abuja indicating that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, nearly fell into a carefully woven plot aimed at easing him out of the anti-crime commission in the wake of the recent policy flip-flops from the Federal Government.


Sunday Tribune gathered last week that the events leading to the affirmation of AGF’s control and reversal of that declaration by the Presidency were targeted at getting Ribadu out of office, although some of those involved were said to have been unwittingly caught in the web.


Sources said that an ex-governor of a South South state and a figure who is constant in government circles were said to be the brains behind the plot which would have seen Ribadu resigning in anger.


Indeed, a source said that one of the arrow heads of the plot had visited Ribadu immediately the President endorsed Andoakaa’s memo to ‘commiserate’ with him over subjugation of the EFCC to AGF’s control and pleaded with him to resign to save his integrity.


While it was not clear whether the AGF had any ulterior motive in sending the memo demanding the exercise of the full powers of the AGF over the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to President Umaru Yar’Adua, a source said that the AGF made up his mind on the memo after the visit of an official of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to his office.


The NBA official was said to have discussed the issue of control of the anti-graft agencies, especially the right to prosecute suspects with the AGF.


But it was also gathered that those behind the plot had told the AGF to expedite action on the matter and that the Presidency would be prevailed upon to act on the memo.


The former governor was also said to have held talks with the AGF on the need to enhance the human rights records of this administration by ensuring adherence to the rule of law.


According to sources, once it became clear to the former governor and the influential politician that the AGF would forward a memo to the President on the matter, the duo kept a tab on the Presidency.


When the president eventually endorsed the memo asking the AGF to fully exercise his powers of control over the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the influential personality, who equally has a strong influence in the media, was said to have immediately visited Ribadu to intimate him of developments in the presidency and warn him not to stay a day longer.


“The influential figure actually pressurized the EFCC boss, when he saw that the man was not moved after he had broken the news to him and warned him of the consequences of the unfolding events.

He said that the move was aimed at putting him to shame as all the former governors whom he had investigated could be let off the hook by the AGF,” a source said.


It was also gathered that the influential figure offered to help Ribadu take his letter of resignation to the President and plead with the nation’s number one man to ensure he was reabsorbed into the police.


Sources said that those behind the plot kept their pressure on President Umaru Yar’Adua to ensure that he gave his nod to the request by Andoakaa


It was further gathered that as soon as it was clear that the president had given approval to the AGF’s memo, the ex-governor and the said influential figure decided to reach out to Ribadu to convince him to resign from the EFCC in protest.


A source said that only the influential figure approached Ribadu. He was said to have told him that his pleas with the President to reverse the decision had been without success and that the EFCC boss would save himself the embarrassment if he quit the post.


Ribadu was, however, said to be suspicious when the man asked that he hand him the letter of resignation for onward delivery to the President.


At that point, the source said that Mallam Ribadu told the man who came to him that he needed time to think out his future. Unknown to the man, Ribadu had got wind of the tricks at play and was not surprised at the ‘friendly visits,” a source said.


It was also gathered that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Chief of Staff to the President (COS), Gen. Abdullahi Muhammed, got wind of development and immediately intervened, leading to the unearthing of the judgment of the Supreme Court which affirmed the powers of anti-graft agencies to prosecute suspects.


The duo of the SGF and the COS were however said to have met with the president to reinforce to him the implication of the announcement by the AGF. They were also said to have tendered the ruling of the Supreme Court, leading to the reversal of the pronouncements earlier made by the AGF and the directive to Ribadu by the President Yar’Adua to carry on with his work.