Sometime in April 2021, Africa’s most rated airline, Ethiopian Airlines approached Air Peace to enter a deal that would allow it merge its operations with the local airline and pay millions of dollars monthly in royalty to its owner.

The negotiation took Allen Onyema, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace and his team to Addis Ababa to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. At the point, Onyema and his team did not have full understanding of the conditions of the contract.

Onyema told the story in a bid to link Ethiopian Airlines successful possession of 49 per cent of Nigerian Air without monetary contribution.

“What Ethiopia Airlines is doing now with the national carrier, they wanted to do it with me but for the love of country, I turned it down. April 10, 2019, in a letter, they came to me that they wanted Air Peace to corporate with them,” he said in an interview on Arise TV.

Onyema who is seemingly very proud of the successes of the Ethiopian Airlines, admitted that he wanted the deal when he was first approached.

Part of the deal according to the Air Peace boss was for Ethiopian Airlines to use his aircrafts to fly domestic routes.

He narrated, “They took us to Addis Ababa and we signed MOU and they said in the MOU that we need to push out gulf carriers and I said no problem. Mind you, I am very proud of what Ethiopia has achieved as an airline- as the pride of Africa. I like what they have achieved no doubt.

“We tried to collaborate, then when we got to the nitty-gritty of the meeting, what they wanted was to come into this place do local flights then use Air Peace to fly the whole world about 150 BASA and pay me royalty.”

He revealed that if he went ahead with the deal, he would have earned millions of dollars regularly as royalty.

According to him, he would not have to spend money to buy new aircrafts to keep benefiting from the deal.

“I would have been getting millions of dollars and one of them joked ‘Allen you don’t need to be buying planes again.’ And I asked, where does this leave my country?” Onyema said.

Onyema said he exited the deal because it would ruin the future of domestic airlines as well as make Ethiopian Airlines dominate the Nigerian Aviation industry.

He said, “In the letter I wrote to them, I asked where does this leave my nation Nigeria? It will destroy the jobs in Nigeria.

“It will kill the other airlines in Nigeria and Allen and Air Peace will be swimming in millions of dollars. So, we rejected it in a documented letter. It is in court today.”

FG To Dissolve Boards Of Federal Agencies, Parastatals

Civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have lamented the slow pace of activities and other schedules in the discharge of their responsibilities due to the non-availability of fund following the freezing order on their accounts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), According to Daily Trust reports.

Senior government and low cadre officers told Daily Trust on Sunday that the non-availability of funds was hampering the operation and expectation of the workers.

It was reported that the federal government had placed embargo on further payments to the MDAs of the federal government till further notice.

Officials, however, told our reporter that it was the administration of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari that gave the order days before he handed over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevent the looting of government treasury or other untoward last minute and frivolous spending.

“I can tell you that it was the administration of former President Buhari that actually gave the directive to the CBN, and this has nothing to do with the suspended governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele,” a senior government official, who pleaded anonymity, said.

It was observed that workers in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) were lamenting the cash crunch, with two of them saying that it was one of the reasons for the low key June 12 celebration and the hosting of new 21st SGF, Senator George Akume, who resumed office on June 7.

Also, senior officials in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), told Daily Trust on Sunday that they were caught unawares as they were expecting the Tinubu administration to place the freezing order, and were shocked that it was the Buhari administration that did that for reasons they did not understand.

“We first get the information from our colleagues from the SGF, who asked us if we had such experience on non-disbursement of fund. I even told one of them that there were still mandates and schedules to be met, until two of our memos were returned with minutes on the freezing of the accounts,” another official said.

Reports have it that apart from the payment of salaries to federal workers, which is being done directly from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, every other payment or financial mandates cannot be honoured due to the embargo.

Meanwhile, there is anxiety over reports that President Tinubu has given a directive to the SGF to dissolve the management and boards of federal agencies and parastatals.

Senior government officials told newsmen on Sunday in confidence that the dissolution would be announced soon, as expected.

One of the officials said the area of concern for them as civil servants was the ‘umbrella mode’ to be adopted in the dissolution, including those whose tenure are guaranteed by the enabling acts of their establishment.

Senior government officials said the dissolution would cut across all the ministries, departments and agencies and affect all political appointments by the Buhari administration.

This is coming on the heels of the June 14 indefinite suspension of AbdulRasheed Bawa as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.

The development was also coming less than two weeks after the suspension of Emefiele on June 9.

When contacted, Mr Willie Bassey, the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said he was not aware of the development.

He said there were official channels of communication on such matters and he was not aware of such developments.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the introduction of its digital currency known as the eNaira as a payment option to recipients of diaspora remittance.

The apex bank said the move was in furtherance of efforts to liberalise the payout of diaspora remittance.

The new policy was contained in the bank’s circular titled: “Operational Framework for eNaira Payment Option to Recipients of Diaspora Remittances,” and dated June 15, 2023.

The circular, which was obtained by THISDAY, was addressed to the International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) and the public.

The CBN said the guidelines in the circular signed by CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, would facilitate the payment of proceeds of diaspora remittances to recipients who choose eNaira as a payment alternative.

Under the guidelines, the IMTOs are required to apply for a one-time “No-Objection” to pay out in eNaira from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The bank shall also provide account details where foreign currency from IMTOs shall be received.

The CBN however, stressed that the receipt of proceeds of diaspora remittance in eNaira remained optional, adding that the option of the digital currency payout shall run concurrently with the dollar payout.

According to the framework, IMTOs are required to open merchant wallets through the CBN and pre-fund the CBN account with foreign currency.

The central bank will consequently fund the IMTO merchant wallet with eNaira equivalent of the foreign currency earlier pre-funded by the latter.

The CBN further explained that the payment procedure shall involve a sender initiating a diaspora transfer with an IMTO of choice overseas providing details of the beneficiary’s wallet.

The IMTO then logs into the eNaira web wallet portal, debits its eNaira merchant wallet, and credits the beneficiary with the eNaira equivalent of the foreign currency sent at the origin at the I&E window rate.
Alternatively, the apex bank noted that IMTO could integrate with the eNaira portal from its platform via API provided by CBN and initiate the transfer of eNaira equivalent of the foreign currency sent at the origin at the I&E window rate.

An initiative of the central bank, eNaira was unveiled on October 25, 2021, by former President Muhammadu Buhari to drive a more cashless, inclusive, and digital economy as well as complement the gains of previous monetary policy measures and fast-growing payments platforms.

The digital innovation is expected to support a resilient payment system ecosystem, encouraging rapid financial inclusion, reducing the cost of processing cash, enabling direct and transparent welfare intervention to citizens, and increasing revenue and tax collection.

Essentially, the eNaira would also facilitate diaspora remittances, reducing the cost of financial transactions, and improving the efficiency of payments.

According to the apex bank, the eNaira remains the country’s digital equivalent of the physical Naira.

“The eNaira – like the physical Naira – is a legal tender in Nigeria and a liability of the CBN. The eNaira and Naira will have the same value and will always be exchanged at 1 naira to 1 eNaira,” the bank reportedly noted.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu removed Abulrasheed Bawa as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The president, who assumed office on May 29 with the highest corruption perception index of any Nigerian leader, said he suspended Mr Bawa to allow a detailed investigation into multiple petitions assailing the anti-graft chief’s conduct in office.

Mr Bawa was subsequently held by the State Security Service (SSS), where he lingered under interrogation without access to a legal representative as of this publication.

While Mr Tinubu’s supporters have praised his action as indicative of his resolve to promptly address complaints against public servants in his administration — in contrast with Muhammadu Buhari’s manifest laziness in handling similar transgressions — anti-corruption activists are sceptical about the timing and circumstances preceding his wrath towards Mr Bawa, who is among the first cadet of the EFCC in 2003 and became the youngest officer to lead the agency following his confirmation to the position by the Nigerian Senate in 2021.

For one, Mr Tinubu’s action was seen as action as retaliation because Mr Bawa, 42, had launched an investigation into Mr Tinubu’s alleged fraud and racketeering while he was in charge of the EFCC’s Lagos zonal office in 2020.

“We all saw that Bawa was investigating Tinubu just before he became the EFCC chairman and moved to the headquarters in Abuja,” anti-corruption analyst Sola Olubanjo said. “The president being so prompt in removing a man that investigated him strikes me as too convenient.”

Mr Tinubu’s action also appeared more aimed at giving a respite to his political allies in Mr Bawa’s crosshairs, some of whom initiated the purported petitions used to oust Mr Bawa, Mr Olubanjo said.

“We should see this second part for what it is: a clear obstruction of active investigations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former governors like Bello Matawalle and Kayode Fayemi,” Mr Olubanjo said. “The president has immunity from criminal prosecution, so he is only helping his allies in the ruling party who don’t have such protections.”

Mr Matawalle, who completed his one term as Zamfara governor on May 29, has been publicly furious against Mr Bawa for initiating an expansive probe of his administration in one of the nation’s poorest states. Mr Matawalle accused Mr Bawa of seeking a $2 million bribe to ease the probe, which he purportedly rejected. The anti-graft chief denied the claim, and Mr Matawalle fled to Egypt, apparently to evade arrest.

Mr Akpabio, who became the Senate President on June 13, was for months hiding from the EFCC under the guise of a protracted illness.

Mr Fayemi, until October 2022 the governor of Ekiti, was also being probed for stealing billions from his state. He denied the allegations and stonewalled progress in his case.

Others expected to have a respite from Mr Bawa’s ouster include Governor Yahaya Bello, whom anti-graft operatives already traced millions of dollars in Kogi funds into his wife’s foreign bank accounts, as well as those of his associates. Mr Bello denied all allegations and accused Mr Bawa of victimising his administration and family in service to his political detractors.

“All these corrupt characters and their ilk will now have a respite under the Tinubu government,” Mr Olubanjo said. “It is disturbing and a reversal of any meagre progress the EFCC made under Buhari, who was just as corrupt and indifferent to corrupt aides and associates.”

Mr Tinubu has denied favouring his allies with Mr Bawa’s removal, which came barely days after the president removed Godwin Emefiele, another perceived adversary, as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, with his spokesman Dele Alake saying the president wanted to start his administration on a clean slate.

Still, Mr Olubanjo said Mr Tinubu, who once forfeited money to American law enforcement for drugs trafficking, should use his presidency to burnish his unsavoury image.

“He should see his presidency as an opportunity to repair his image and leave a legacy of a leader who eschewed personal political and pecuniary considerations to foster a decisive law enforcement system for the Nigerian people,” the analyst said.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and 13 other former governors in the 10th Senate to disclose the total amount of life pensions, if any, that have been received from their states as former governors.

SERAP also urged the ex-governors to clarify if they have collected or currently collecting life pensions as former governors from their respective states, adding that if they are, they should stop collecting any such pensions, and return the pensions collected to the treasury.

There are fourteen former governors in the 10th Senate.

In a letter dated June 3, 2023 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said that their constitutional oath of office, under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) requires them to publicly reject and return any pensions.

According to the organisation, public function’ means activities in the public interest, not against it, adding that the alleged collection by former governors of life pensions from their respective states amount to private self-interest and it is detrimental to the public interest.

The letter, read in part: “Nigerians expect you to act in the public interest including by ending the collection of any life pensions from your respective states and returning any such pensions that may have been collected to the treasury.

“Collecting life pensions as former governors while in the Senate would clearly violate constitutional provisions and amount to taking advantage of entrusted public positions.

“Ending the practice of former governors in the Senate collecting life pensions from their states would improve public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the National Assembly. It would show that the Senate can focus on serving the public interest rather than looking after themselves.

“We urge you to emulate former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki who stopped collecting life pension as a former governor of Kwara State and described life pensions by former governors as “immoral”, following a request by SERAP.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and other members of the Senate to comply with our request in the public interest.

“The country’s international legal obligations especially under the UN Convention against Corruption also impose a legal commitment on public officials including former governors in the Senate to discharge a public duty truthfully and faithfully.

“Life pensions for former governors serving as senators are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption, which implicitly prohibits large severance benefits for public officials such as former governors.

“The convention specifically in paragraph 1 of article 8 requires you to promote integrity, honesty and responsibility in the management of public resources.”

Akpabio who was elected Senate President last week, is an ex-governor of Akwa Ibom State. He was governor between 2007 and 2015.

Ahead of Sierra Leone’s presidential and parliament elections on 24th of June, the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Long-Term Observers have continued their consultations with political stakeholders, including the civil society organization, National Election Watch (NEW), a major player in the electoral process.

Briefing the ECOWAS Observers, NEW Chairperson Marcella Samba-Sesay, gave an overview of the political context, highlighting issues related to boundary delineation, voter registration, electoral reforms, especially women’s political participation and representation, and pre-election court cases. 

She also mentioned the perceived negative impact of social media, especially “youth radicalization,” “hostile and polarized political climate,” as well as the “regionalized and ethnicized” party politics with potential consequences on the 2023 polls.

Madam Samba-Sesay disclosed that NEW would be deploying 5,000 local observers across the 3,630 polling Centers nationwide as well as incident reporters and parallel poll result tabulators.

The regional observers also met Saturday with their European Union counterparts, deployed in Sierra Leone since 11th May.

On Friday, the Observers had a session with officials of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP-Sierra Leone, which boasts a membership of 58 registered organizations with shared responsibility and interest in conflict prevention and building peace in the country.

The 95-strong ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Sierra Leone, comprising 15 Long-Term and 80 Short-Term Observers is led by Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a former Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN office in West Africa and the Sahel. The Mission is expected to meet with more stakeholders ahead of the 24th June elections.

Some 3,374,258 voters registered by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) will elect a new President from among 13 contenders, as well as 135 Parliamentarians and 493 Local Counsellors in the four-pronged vote under three electoral systems in the diamond-rich country with an estimated 8.7 million people.

A successful candidate requires 55% of valid votes to win the presidency. If no presidential candidate gets the 55% constitutional requirement, the two frontrunners will square up in a run-off vote.

A candidate requires a simple majority under the first-past-the-post electoral system to win the Mayoral contest, while Members of Parliament and Councilors will be chosen from party lists under the proportional representation electoral system.

Incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, of the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party (SLPP) and Samura Kamara of the opposition All People’s Party (APC) are the front runners for the 24th of June election. Both men contested the presidency in 2018, with Bio emerging victorious over Kamara, of the then-ruling party.

Meanwhile, former President Ernest Bai Koroma has made a passionate appeal for peaceful elections in the country. 

“Fellow Sierra Leoneans, we should not be distracted, our focus should be on creating an enabling environment for citizens to exercise their civil and political rights peacefully,” the former president said in a statement. 

He also called on “champions and defenders of democracy” … “especially those who have stood with us during the darkest moment of our nation’s history” … to “make your voices heard in the “protection of peace, democracy and rule of law in our beloved country.”

The leper said two things, one of them being a lie; he said after he had struck his child with his palm, he also pinched him severely with

his fingernails.

Many years ago, in a small family reunion I was invited to, I watched as a father narrated a movie to the kids, unknown to him, the kids had viewed the same film. He went about mumbling the story line, while the older ones feigned attention, one of the younger ones just blurted out..."Daddy it's a lie".

I am writing this on yet another day that marks the ‘Fathers’ Day’.

And it’s early weeks yet, a new administration at the centre and several states are also adjusting to new leadership and in this case new fathers.

So, this is it, will the lies told about electricity, the whole pension administration, filled with filthy lies about change for the better. Like we now have an electricity act and the student loan bill in effect by September, would the lies about education witness the truth.

The cost of lies to our national development cannot be quantified, so it is fashionable that parents lie to kids, husbands to wives, wives to

sisters, employers to employees, and how about those legislative lies on job creation…but very painful lies that fathers and leaders tell recklessly, you remember how despite the strides of the last administration they lied about those job creation numbers.

Telling the truth is just unthinkable, it has simply become a deviant attitude to be truthful. I guess this writer should let sleeping dogs lie, and of course that itself is the problem, the dogs don't sleep, they lie continuously.

The problem with all these lies is how they seem to become the truth after constant repetition; you know that caveat that if you listen repeatedly to a lie, it becomes the truth. One other effect is, it leaves us with a short fuse memory because it’s all too dramatic. Too many lies, even when there's no need to lie we conjure up some fancy tales, lace it up with all the condiment.

When last did a public official tell the truth, I mean say it as it is, and have it on record as having said and stood by it. We just talk anyhow, most times without thought or regard to the consequences.

Fathers are forced to lie, coupled with the lack of security, alarming increase in cost of food items, and an all time low in public confidence in government.

Our fathers like Tinubu and like legislators and governors I ask, are you all ready for this job; is the job already overwhelming, how difficult is it? Almost all the states are without a cabinet list with portfolios, it’s almost a month!

How are they dealing with the opposition, as usual lies about how they are responsible for all this early morning sickness are already flying? There are persons that have a padlock grip on state matters positively and negatively, how are the current fathers dealing with it?

Can the current fathers disappoint PDP and LP, disappoint the old APC, tow a different line. They have promised this and that, but opinion is divided on whether they have said anything, will they deliver?

Can Mr. Tinubu as father of the nation unite Nigerians, given the almost every day constant reminders that we are on the edge, Boko Haram, MEND, IPOB, OPC, kidnappers, robbers, terrorists, unemployment, union strikes etc? Do we have nice fathers, or are they weak, humble or sly or they are still trying to define themselves or cooking lies?

The truth is that the topic of politicians and lies is complex and multifaceted. While it is true that some politicians may engage in dishonesty or deception, it is important to recognize that this behavior is not exclusive to politicians but can be found in individuals from various professions and walks of life. It is crucial to approach this topic with nuance and avoid broad generalizations. However, I have intentionally beamed my searchlight on politicians, in context of our leaders and as fathers.

Here are a few key points to consider:

Trust and Accountability: Honesty and transparency are essential for fostering trust between politicians and the public. When politicians lie or deceive, it can erode public trust and undermine the democratic process. Holding politicians accountable for their words and actions is crucial in promoting integrity in politics. Sadly, we are stuck here…

Complexity of Issues: Politics deals with complex issues, and finding simple solutions or conveying the intricacies of policy decisions can be challenging. Politicians may oversimplify or distort information to gain support or simplify complex issues for public consumption. This does not justify dishonesty but highlights the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking. This is something we lack…

Individual Responsibility: While politicians have a responsibility to be honest and ethical, citizens also have a responsibility to engage critically, seek accurate information, and hold politicians accountable for their actions. Active civic participation, fact-checking, and demanding transparency can contribute to a more accountable political system.

Ethical Leadership: Encouraging and supporting ethical leadership is essential for addressing the issue of dishonesty in politics. Political parties, institutions, and civil society organizations should promote ethical behavior, integrity, and a culture of honesty among politicians.

It is important to note that not all politicians engage in dishonesty, and many individuals in politics strive to serve their constituents with integrity and honesty. However, addressing the issue of dishonesty in politics requires a collective effort from politicians, citizens, and institutions to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior in the political sphere.

We want to see leaders and fathers that take action, are in charge, and the powers are theirs and ours, they need to start to work, do something, anything, one thing or nothing". Whatever reasons Nigerians voted for are getting inconsequential by the day...they need to prove themselves, the excuses are not tenable, the lies cannot continue.

The Yorubas say ebìtì tí ò kún ẹmọ́ lójú, òun ní ńyí i lẹ́pọ̀n sẹ́hìn. It is a trap that the giant rat disdains that wrenches its testicles backwards. Dangers that one belittles are liable to cause great havoc. When people suffer low expectations it’s easy for the Stockholm syndrome to set it...This president and governors won an election, they are our fathers, they can continue lying or they must now earn fatherhood—May Nigeria win!

Renowned Nollywood actor and political figure Kenneth Okonkwo has expressed his lack of trust in the executive, legislature, and judiciary branches of government under the current administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In response to the statement made by former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa regarding the manipulation of the judiciary, Okonkwo expressed his reaction.

The revelation has been made that Bulkachuwa had exerted influence on certain rulings made by his former spouse, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

Okonkwo has urged Nigerians to offer prayers for divine intervention in the country's affairs.

According to Okonkwo's recent Twitter posts, Nigerians may be unaware of the extent to which corruption, impunity, and illegality have permeated their society.

In a recent statement, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, has caused quite a stir with his admission of encroaching upon and compromising the integrity, freedom, and independence of his wife, who held the esteemed position of President of the Court of Appeal. The Senator reportedly boasted of his actions, claiming that they were done in order to assist his colleagues, friends, and constituents. The confession has left many feeling both heartbroken and perplexed."

While not all judges may face condemnation, the extent of immorality, impunity, corruption, and illegality brought about by the political party known as APC may remain unknown.

The individual emphasises the need for divine intervention in achieving liberation and deliverance.

The situation at hand is currently surpassing the limits of human understanding. In essence, the statement implies a lack of confidence in the ability of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary to act in accordance with the ideals of the APC.

An unprecedented and thoroughly depressing chapter in the contemporary diminution of the judiciary and consequential erosion of the rule of law in Nigeria was written with two contributions on the Senate floor during the valedictory session of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Rochas Okorocha expressed mock awe at how the Senate President Ahmed Lawan found his way back to the Senate without contesting in his party’s primaries for the seat, and hence ineligible for the election at all; with the innuendoes pointing at the inexplicable and widely criticized judicial decision which occasioned that otherwise most improbable feat. If Okorocha’s denigration and disdain of the judicial interventions in Nigeria’s political contests was oblique, Senator Bulkachuwa’s was pointedly brazen and as bad as it could possibly be.

Senator Bulkachuwa, without any prodding confessed to enabling high level judicial corruption by the instrumentality of his spousal relationship; stating to the obvious discomfiture of the Senate President how his wife aided his colleagues and political friends to prevail in their litigations. It is common knowledge that his wife was the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, the second most powerful office in the Nigerian judicial architecture. The lofty perch of the office, among other great powers, entitles the occupant to appoint judges into and to constitute election petitions tribunals for all the elections in the country. The magnitude of the matter and the potentiality for the destabilization of the electoral process and the entire polity could be grasped in the light of the normalization of litigation as the concluding part of electoral contests in Nigeria.

Oftentimes threats to the rule of law are perceived as primarily springing from executive lawlessness, but sight may be lost of the grave dangers a not-fit-for purpose judiciary usually poses to the rule of law. An integral element of the rule of law is a high degree of clarity and certainty of the law. This twin qualities of clarity and certainty infuse law with predictability which at the elementary level encompasses reasonableness and commonsense available to the lawyer and layman alike; and at a secondary level, and particularly for the lawyer (and the judge), logic, clarity of thought and strong belief in the guidance of precedent.

Ultimately, the courts assisted by the parties’ lawyers determine the law in given cases and what fashions that determination, the decision, are these identified qualities and indices.

When the law lacks certainty and predictability, as inevitably happens when precedents are disregarded and the reasonable person’s sense of justice assaulted by judicial decisions, the judge invariably falls under closer scrutiny; with the suspicion of incompetence or corruption becoming rife. And instead of the rule of law, the rule of the whims and fancies of the powerful cloaked with judicial imprimatur would hold sway; with dire consequences for economic progress and the polity in general, not just the rule of law. It is axiomatic that liberal inflow of international investments and absence of rule of law are mutually exclusive.

Similarly, the existence of great gap between the letters of the law on one hand and judicial and administrative decisions on the other breeds dissonance between actions and due consequences, with attendant social disorder characterized by high crime rate, pervasive corruption, ethnic and religious disharmony of which Nigeria is a prime example.

The present storm brewed in the Senate Chambers brings back to the front burner the critical issue of recruitment to the judiciary. There is universal agreement within and outside the country that the quality of adjudication by Nigerian courts has progressively regressed over the past thirty years or more. The quality of the judicial personnel, in terms of character and learning, is all important. Knaves, some of whom are amongst the ranks of Nigerian lawyers, have inevitably found their way to the Bench given the progressively declining filtration process and patronage system which is contemptuous of merit. Outright knavery is not the only problem and there is also that of weak personalities who easily succumb to sundry societal pressures including the family induced, religious, personal, community and such other mundane considerations that are quite contrary to the judicial oath of office.

These character flaws in some cases translate to or result in judicial corruption occasioning the bizarre decisions which hardly any honest practitioner can justify given the unbridgeable gap between those decisions and their facts with the applicable law. But there is also the problem of insufficient knowledge of law on the part of some judges and which yields the same outcome of clearly unjustifiable decisions. Nigerian newspapers had widely reported the revelation by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olu Akpata, of how one of the candidates for appointment to the Court of Appeal did not understand one of the most basic legal concepts. The standard justification for the promoters and supporters of such sub-standard appointments is that the appointees would learn on the job. But why would the system be clogged with those of deficient knowledge when there are still willing and sufficiently knowledgeable candidates yet to be appointed.

President Tinubu in his 2023 June 12 Day speech warned the judiciary against making decisions that have potentialities of truncating democracy.

He has been rightly criticized in many quarters for what amounts to a subtle intimidation of the judiciary before which is pending the gargantuan task of determination of the validity of his victory in the presidential polls. However, there is so much the Executive at the state and national levels can do in restoring the past glory of the judiciary especially since the latter has been finding it very difficult to help itself by effective sole self- regulation. Beyond improved funding as a priority, the Executive which has a critical role to play in the process should ensure that the laid down rules and criteria for appointment are followed strictly, and thus making for a transparent and merit-driven recruitment in practice.

The office of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is of critical importance in the forgoing regard and the President’s choice for that office would signal to all and sundry if he really desires that Nigeria’s judicial system recaptures the confidence of all within and outside the country. It is the position of the Ben Nwabueze Center that the office is not for anyone whose only major qualification is party or personal loyalty to the President as seems to have been the case in recent past, nor should the pool of possible appointees be restricted to any category of lawyers. For example, Prince Bola Ajibola KBE who is generally acknowledged as the most impactful Attorney-General of the Nigerian Federation in the past forty years was not a Senior Advocate at the time of his appointment.

In making the process more transparent, list of the candidates for judicial appointments who survive the last filtration hurdle should be published to the general public for comments on their overall fitness, intellectual and character wise. It is noteworthy that some judges had been formally reprimanded or retired for “poor knowledge of the law” or such deficiency. Such judges did not suddenly develop the deficiency upon appointment to the bench and it would have been observable ever before by those who had close contact with the quality of his work as a lawyer or lower ranking judge; whether as professional colleagues and lay persons alike. Similarly, the integrity or otherwise of the would-be judge must have been known by some people, just like those of weak character likely to be influenced by spousal pressures, traditional rulers and religious leaders and others in inherently influential positions. If it is deemed necessary for the list of those for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria to be widely publicized for due notice to the general public, as is presently the case, then it is even more so for the judge whose work profoundly affects the entire society.

Senator Bulkachuwa’s confession is unquestionably a low-water mark for the Nigerian judiciary; is a ready, timeless, whip for those convinced of its exemplification of the Charles Dickens Court of Chancery, of which all honest practitioners would counsel that the aggrieved bears whatever grievance he has suffered rather than approach it for redress. The current thinking in the global commercial strongholds like New York, London and indeed the entire global West is that Nigerian courts should be avoided like the plague, with anti-suit injunctions in appropriate cases readily granted by courts in those jurisdictions against parties inclined to litigate in Nigeria.

Frustratingly for the concerned regulatory authorities, however, their remedial options are limited. Apart from the remote possibility of the losers in individual cases in which she was alleged to have negatively influenced seeking some civil redress, it is difficult seeing much that the concerned authorities and major stakeholders can do in bringing Senator Bulkachuwa and his wife to book beyond issuing the strongest condemnations. Justice Bulkachuwa has retired and is no longer answerable to the National Judicial Council.

However, the incident should serve as a wake-up call, if at all any was needed, for an urgent and sincere reset of the Nigerian judicial system to make it fit for purpose.

CHIJIOKE OKOLI, SAN

Co-ordinator,

Ben Nwabueze Center for Constitutional Studies & Rule of Law.

June 15, 2023.

My June 12 day was hectic as usual; it started very early in the day as I led my parishioners to pray against destiny destroyers. There are many intriguing cases of destinies that were, well, inexplicably destroyed in the Bible; a few examples were Abel, whose offering God accepted but who, as a result, got killed by his brother Cain whose own offering God had rejected; a thoroughbred and conscientious soldier, Uriah the Hittite, whose brutal murder was orchestrated by a loafing King David to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife; and the conspiracy of King Ahab and his notorious wife, Jezebel, that led to the gruesome murder of Naboth. In all the three cases, the victims were blameless as far as ordinary eyes can see; yet, they were victims of destiny destroyers. In His manifest wisdom which no mortal can query, God punished the vile offenders but only after the deed had been done. That must be an object lesson for all of us!

A similar fate befell Chief MKO Abiola who won the June 12, 1993 presidential election fairly and squarely but was not allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labour. The military junta in power, led by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), annulled the election. As he was “stepping aside” from office under a barrage of protests by Nigerians led by civil society groups and activists, IBB installed an inept Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. Gen. Sani Abacha, the most senior military officer after IBB’s exit, wasted no time in dismissing Shonekan and taking over the reins of office. Abiola’s protest and effort to retrieve his mandate led to his arrest and detention, where he eventually died. He was not allowed to fulfil his destiny by destiny destroyers.

From church I landed at the Lagos State Television (LTV) where I was one of an array of analysts that discussed the various angles to the June 12, 1999 presidential election, the protests that followed its annulment, the political impasse or logjam that dragged for years, the eventual return to civilian rule on 29 May, 1999 and the progress made so far, if any. If anything, the current Fourth Republic is the longest-running in the history of the country and if it is true that experience is the best teacher, then, Nigerians must have learnt one or two lessons on how to sustain and nurture our renascent democracy. Challenges encountered so far, and the roadmap for a better tomorrow, were also dissected.  

From there, I moved to the Oodua People’s Congress commemoration of June 12, the 30th in a row, at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba. The place was jammed packed and the atmosphere was electric. It was my first participation in OPC’s commemoration of June 12. Activists and civil society organisations, traditional rulers and various chapters of OPC from far and near made the hotel premises too inadequate for the event. Leader of the OPC and Aare Onakankanfo, Iba Gani Adams, said in his speech that Nigeria cannot achieve much if our democratic aspirations are tied to the 1999 Constitution. He enjoined President Tinubu to find a way to get the constitution reviewed. Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin encouraged June 12 activists not to give up the struggle. She demanded that Abiola be placed on the same pedestal as former presidents of the country. On fuel subsidy removal, she counselled that the sacrifice demanded by our leaders should flow from top to bottom and not the other way round.

Dr. Tunji Abayomi described the 1999 Constitution as the fruits of a poisonous tree and urged the National Assembly to pass a law that will vest the Nigerian people with the powers to give themselves a Constitution. The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Oseni Taiwo Afisi, said June 12 transcended the identity politics of ethnicity, religion and such other primordial instincts. Veteran journalist, Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, also supported the demand for a new Constitution while also calling for the immortalisation of other heroes of democracy, which included journalists. Another veteran, Dare Babarinsa, said answers must be found to why the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar regime that succeeded Abacha failed to release Abiola from detention when other detainees were being released. He urged President Tinubu, the first activist to become Nigeria’s president, to order an investigation into this.

There were many other speakers, including this writer, but space will not allow us to mention them. I left the gathering resolved to attend future activities of the OPC as I find convenient.  

NCC chairman, Prof. Adeolu Akande’s golden advice to 10th National Assembly

Election of principal officers into the 10th National Assembly has come and gone and everyone must have simmered now, as they say. The next battle will shift to the composition of Senate and House committees. That will be the first litmus test of how competently Godswill Akpabio (Senate President) and Tajudeen Abass (Speaker of the House of Representatives) can bridge the gulf created by the keen competition for their respective seat and rally the chambers behind themselves. The robust intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was what made what had initially threatened to be a fight-to-finish look eventually like a storm in a tea cup, judging by the ease with which Akpabio and Abass sailed through. But the wisdom of our people says you can help someone to land a job but you will not be the one to execute the mandate for him. So, the ball is now in the court of Akpabio and Abass and the task of rowing the boat rests squarely on their shoulders. Can they rally their colleagues? Do they have the required leadership skills? Are they selfless? Will they be listeners who will be patient servant-leaders and not dictators? I came across the advice given by Professor Adeolu Akande, chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and felt that not just Akpabio and Abass but the entirety of the 10th National Assembly need it to succeed.

Hear the professor of Comparative Politics: “Now that the winners have clearly emerged after all the horse trading, I want to enjoin all the lawmakers to put Nigeria first and collaborate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in actualising his “Renewed Hope” agenda. So far, the country is moving in the right direction. I expect members of the National Assembly to collaborate with the Executive in moving the country forward. President Tinubu, since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, has left no one in doubt on his vision and mission to make Nigeria one of the best economies in the world. This can only be achieved with a cooperative and collaborative Legislature” It couldn't have been better put!

Prof. Akande then assured that the Board of the NCC, which he leads, will continue to initiate lofty ideas that will lead to poverty reduction, wealth creation and employment generation. Since every politics is local, Akande did not forget his home base of Oyo state as he also felicitated federal lawmakers from the state on their inauguration as members of the 10th National Assembly. He told them “to consider this as a rare opportunity and call to serve our fatherland. I pray God grant you the wisdom and good health to succeed in this national assignment!” Again, well said!

FEEDBACK on “Will Osinbajo rue missed opportunities?

Hello, Bola, o t’ojo meta! Just read your piece on Osinbajo in today's Tribune: Sobering, poignant, and VERY instructive. Kuu’se o! -Niyi Osundare.

I pity Osinbajo, our gentleman professor of Law. He was a prisoner of power while in Aso villa. I believe he became a target of jealousy the few times he stood in for his principal; they were worried by his brilliance and potentials in power. That's why they ended up taming him while ensuring that he lost friendship with Tinubu. Like you, I await his memoirs on his travails in power. It would be an interesting read. More ink to your pen, as usual. Please send the e-copy of your UI lecture to me after delivery. - Dipo Onabanjo.

Very sad story! He was marked out by the cabal. - Prince Suyi Olateru-Olagbegi.

Thanks very much, Sir. Osinbajo, like Obasanjo, needs to tell us the type of devil that resides in Aso villa that makes them forget their ancestral home. - Bello Mohammed Adeola.

I greet you once again for always standing on the side of not just the fact but also the truth! To start with, those who brought Obasanjo to power only gave him the office of the president but kept the authority and power of the office to themselves. Obasanjo was only able to grab and snatch 70% of the power towards the end of his second term; that was why he longed for third term! Under the Nigerian system, vice presidents are like spare tyres. Everything you said about Osinbajo is 100 per cent true. Keep the good work going, Sir! -Titus Kosemani Ayojesu.

Osinbajo was a disappointment all the way... There was no sign of a pastoral understanding on his part. He was put in position for “such a time like this” but... he was not sensitive to the Holy Spirit and had no sacrificial calling of “if l perish l perish” in order to do the needful. I am sure he and his cronies will have tons of lame excuses. I pray God will forgive him for being a bad example of a Christian in position of authority! By the way, let me have a link, if available, to your upcoming lecture at U. l. I will like to watch it either live or later. If that is not possible, please avail me an electronic copy to read. Blessings, my big brother! Reminder, please work on the compendium of your works. Or will you want me to do it? -Dr. Revd. Demola Sodeinde.                                                             

You can now see the deceit in human behaviour! Where are the youths shouting and hailing him on the APC primaries ground in June last year? Some of us didn't like his steps at that time but where are those defending his actions as the right thing to do? Why have they forsaken him so soon? That's a peculiarity of the Yoruba race. Similar story followed Aregbesola but as a politician he has started to apologize and shift the blame of his misbehaviour on Satan! I wish Osinbajo would follow suit! Everybody likes power; however, it was rumoured that (Borno state Gov. Babagana Umara) Zulum was approached to be VP (to Tinubu) but he said no; that they should first approach his boss, (Kashim) Shettima. If Shettima was not interested, Zulum said he would then accept the offer; unlike Osinbajo that did not look back, even when his (former) boss had signified his intention. I did not expect him to grab the offer. It was a very grievous mistake. The performance of Osinbajo as VP and a Christian made me to conclude that the religion of the VP is immaterial. When people were raising objections to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu/Shetima, I was not bothered. Also as a lawyer of repute, he disappointed me. Nevertheless, he has done his best. Thank God he returned home safe and sound! Welcomed by a crowd or not, he has acquired the big title of "EX-VP"! Welcome, Your Excellency! -Kola Oloye.

Sir, don't mind the ex-VP, Yemi Osinbajo; he was just there for eight years for himself and his family only! l do not see anything to remember him for. l pray he sees this your write-up one day! So, the day he passes through Lagos/Abeokuta road or Shagamu/Ikorodu road, who is he going to blame or accuse of abandoning those roads? So sad that all our past leaders from the South didn't do anything tangible there! l pray President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s case will be different for good. -PST. Austin Igharoro.