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Tag: Adegboruwa

  • Just in: Human rights activist, Adegboruwa writes IGP on planned nationwide protest, asks for protection

    Just in: Human rights activist, Adegboruwa writes IGP on planned nationwide protest, asks for protection

    Human rights activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has written to the Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to notify him of planned public meetings, rallies, and processions being organised by a non-governmental body, the Take It Back Movement, all its members, and some other patriotic Nigerians and groups.

    In a letter dated Friday, July 26, 2024, the senior advocate writing as solicitor to the Take It Back Movement stated that the planned rallies will commence from Aug. 1 to 10, 2024, or any time thereafter at the Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of all the 36 states and the headquarters of the 774 local government councils.

    Adegboruwa while reiterating the role of the police during such rallies and protests, urged the IGP to make available the details of any police officer or police team that will be assigned to cover the said meetings/rallies/processions to harmonise plans and strategies for the same.

    More to follow…

  • Adegboruwa calls on Anambra gov to fish out killers of Fatima, four children

    Irked by the killing of a pregnant woman, Fatima, and her four children, by unknown gunmen in Anambra State, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has called on the governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to fish out their killers, as a sacred duty.

     

    Adegboruwa. who made the call via a post on his Facebook on Wednesday, frowned that no reason has been given for the killing of Fatima, her unborn child and four children.

     

    The post reads: “Lady Fatima, an indigene of Adamawa State by birth and Anambra State by marriage, was gunned down by “unknown gunmen”, recently. Her four innocent children were also mowed down in this insensate act of terrorism, recklessly perpetrated without any justification whatsoever.

     

    “No reason has been given and none could have been proffered for this criminal act of brutality, extended even to toddlers. There should be no hiding place for the barbarians; so Governor Charles Soludo owes the nation the sacred duty to do all in his powers to fish out those who killed Lady Fatima and her children, in their prime. The concept of national unity will be a mirage if citizens do not feel safe in other locations different from their places of origin.

    Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

     

    “If the primitive and evil motive of this mindless act is to provoke rival ethnic war, I urge the people of Nigeria to resist this by continuously holding government accountable to the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities of guaranteeing the lives and security of the people.

     

    “My heartfelt condolences go to the family of Lady Fatima, the good people of Adamawa and Anambra States, believing that in no time, the perpetrators will be unveiled and made to face the wrath of the law, no matter their status or motive.”

    Meanwhile, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, has described the killing of Fatima, her unborn child and four children by criminals in Anambra as bad for Nigeria’s peace and unity.

     

    In a statement by CAN Chairman in Kaduna, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the group urged the Nigerian government to go after Fatima’s murderers and all killers irrespective of their ethnic nationality.

     

    The statement reads, “We have read the story of the killing of Fatima, her unborn child, and four children in Anambra with sadness and disappointment about how evil activities have expanded in our country while good people are divided and silent. Life in our country has become so cheap with the raising of many evil criminal groups in every part of the country.

     

    “Killing of human beings is no longer a serious matter because the people have been divided by tribe, region, and religion which has made it impossible for us to collectively condemn the evil around us or fight the evil we are seeing as a united force.

     

    “CAN cannot keep quiet when evil is destroying the land. We all must know that when there is an injury to one then that injury is to all and evil only triumphs when good people keep quiet and look the other way.”

  • #OccupyLekki: I cannot continue to sit at #EndSARS panel –Adegboruwa

    #OccupyLekki: I cannot continue to sit at #EndSARS panel –Adegboruwa

    Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), on Saturday, demanded for the unconditional release of all protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

    The senior advocate said security agencies have not learnt any lessons from the occurrences of October 20th, 2020.

    Adegboruwa, who is also a member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, said he could not continue to sit at the panel when fresh assaults were being perpetrated with impunity.

    He revealed this in a statement titled, ‘The Arrest, Detention and Dehumanization of Protesters at Lekki Toll Gate Are Unacceptable’.

    He said, “I have been monitoring events at the Lekki Toll Gate since morning, and I am totally overwhelmed with the images, videos and sundry evidence of police brutality of armless civilians, who ventured to protest at the Toll Gate. In one particular video, I saw citizens of Nigeria being dehumanized, striped half naked and cramped together in a rickety bus. This is totally unacceptable.

    “While we are yet to come to terms with the events of October 20, 2020, it becomes worrisome that the security agencies have not learnt any positive lesson from those occurrences. I commend the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

    “I cannot in good conscience continue to sit at any Panel of Inquiry to heal wounds and end police brutality, when fresh assaults are being perpetrated with impunity. Consequently, I am presently consulting with my constituency within the civil society, as to my continued participation in the EndSARS Judicial Panel.

    “I hereby demand the immediate release of all those arrested in connection with the peaceful protest at the Lekki Toll Gate today. On no account should anything happen to any of them while in the custody of the police.

    “I appeal for calm on all sides, in order not to escalate the worsening security situation across the land. I cannot fail to point out the fact that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a product of protest and civil disobedience. Let history vindicate the just. Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!”

     

  • #OccupyLekkiTollgate, #DefendLagos protests should be shelved –Adegboruwa

    #OccupyLekkiTollgate, #DefendLagos protests should be shelved –Adegboruwa

    A representative of civil society on the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has appealed to #OccupyLekkiTollgate and #DefendLagos campaigners to cancel the planned protest and counter-protest slated for Saturday, February 13, 2021.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the panel last Saturday decided to hand over the toll gate back to its operators, Lekki Concession Company, after forensic experts submitted their report on the October 20, 2020 occurrence.

    Afterwards, hash tags such as #OccupyLekkiTollgate and counter-protest hash tags such as #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell trended on social media.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Adegboruwa said the youths have the constitutional right to express themselves but appealed to them to shelve the planned demonstrations “at least for now”.

    He said, “A protest or counter-protest at this time, may work to jeopardize the overall work of the Panel, the witnesses appearing or to appear, the testimonies, the investigations or even affect its ultimate assignment.

    “I’m concerned about the consequences of protests and counter-protests, at the same location, in relation to security and likely violation of COVID 19 protocols, given the rising wave of the pandemic, in Lagos State especially, where most economic, social, educational and other activities, are partially grounded, presently.

    “While the assignment of investigating the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October 2020 is yet to be concluded by the Panel, it will be premature to proceed on it, as the basis of renewed calls for protest and counter-protest.

    “It is safer for now, for the Lagos State Government and its agencies, the EndSARS group and indeed all those concerned with the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, to await the final report of the Panel.

    “I appeal to all security agencies, especially the police and the army, both respondents before the Panel, to embrace caution and demonstrate utmost respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens, including protesters, counter-protesters and non-protesters alike.”

     

  • Lagos should account for Lekki-Ikoyi bridge toll-Adegboruwa

    Lagos should account for Lekki-Ikoyi bridge toll-Adegboruwa

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has requested for the Lagos State Government and the Lekki Concession Company to state the amount of money they have generated since they began to operate the tollgate on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

    Adegboruwa made the demand in a statement on Monday, in which he called on the government to scrap the tollgate.

    He expressed the view that by now, the money spent on building the bridge, said to have been built through a Public Private Partnership arrangement between the state government and the LCC, must have been recovered.

    The lawyer noted that though the introduction of electronic payment system at the tollgate had drastically reduced gridlock common on the road, the desirable thing was for the government to scrap the tollgate.

    Adegboruwa said, “We should move towards total eradication of any form of tolling at all, as it has been established that the bridge was built with taxpayers’ money.

    “Having collected the toll for well over a decade now, the government should tell us how much it has so far generated from the toll regime, so that we know where we are.”

    He also urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team to “make governance easy for our people, if we care.

  • Solicitor General, Human rights activist, Adegboruwa, 36 others bag SAN title

    Solicitor General, Human rights activist, Adegboruwa, 36 others bag SAN title

    The Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Adetayo Toba Apata, human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Samuel Adegboruwa and Adedoyin Oyinkan Rhodes-Vivour, wife of Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court are among 38 lawyers conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) this year.
    Chief Registrar and Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha made this public while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
    Mrs. Mustapha said, out of the 117 lawyers that applied for the rank this year, 80 were short-listed, out of which the final 38 emerged.
    She said the final 38 constitutes of two females, three from the academics and 35 advocates.
    Mrs. Mustapha added that four female lawyers applied for the rank this year, from among whom two were chosen.
    Other successful ones are: Abdullahi Haruna, Manga Mohammed Nurudeen, John Onuegbulam Asoluka, Adedokun Matthew Makinde, Daniel Chwukwudi Enwelum, Emmanuel Adeyeye Oyebanji, Tuduru Uchendu Ede and Abdul Olajide Ajana.
    Also on the list are: Ama Vemaark Etuwewe, Oladipo Adekorede Olasope, Leslie Arthur Olutayo Nylander, Olusegun Oyediran Fowowe, Andrew Essien Hutton, Olukayode Abayomi Enitan, Paul Harris Adkole Ogbole, Olaniyi Maruph Olopade, Samuel Ngozi Agweh and Olusegun Omoniyi Jolaawo.
    Others are: Prof Alphonsus Okoh Alubo, Ayo Asala, Abiodun Adediran Olatunji, Olumide Andrew Aju, Chimezie Victor, Chikwem Ihekweazu, Prof Mamman Lawan, Prof Uchefula Ugonna Chuwumaeze and Usman Ogwu Sule.
    Also listed are: Safiya Umar Babamasi, Echezona Chukwudi Etiaba, Godwin Osemeahon Omoaka, Emeka Onyemaechi Ozoani, Alexander Chukwudi Ejesieme, Aikhunigbe Anthony Malik, Alhassan Akeje Umar and Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi.
    Mrs. Mustapha said the swearing in ceremony of the successful 38 legal practitioners will take place during the 2019/2020 Supreme Court’s new legal year celebration, scheduled for September 2019.

  • Restriction of movement during elections illegal – Adegboruwa

    Restriction of movement during elections illegal – Adegboruwa

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has said there is no legal basis to restrict movement during elections.

    He said cited a Federal High Court judgment, which nullified the restriction of movement during environmental sanitation, saying the verdict’s principles ought to apply during elections.

    Adegboruwa recalled the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu had announced that there would restriction of human and vehicular movements for 12 hours from 6am to 6pm due to the elections, which were later postponed.

    He said it was beyond the IGP’s powers to forcefully keep people at home because of elections.

    According to him, there is no law in force in Nigeria authorizing such unlawful restriction of movement.

    “The Federal High Court had occasion to pronounce on a similar illegal directive in the case of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Esq. v. Inspector-General of Police & 5 others in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1690/2014.

    “In that case, the applicant, a legal practitioner, was on his way to honour an invitation as a guest speaker of Channels Television for an early morning programme on June 29, 2013, being the last Saturday of the month.

    “He was accosted by policemen and LASTMA officials at the Ketu end of the Third Mainland Bridge, where the road had been barricaded on account of some compulsory three-hour environmental sanitation programme declared by the Lagos State Government.

    “The applicant was denied free movement and was arrested and detained briefly but later released.

    “Being dissatisfied with the action of the policemen, the applicant instituted an action at the Federal High Court to challenge his arrest and denial of his right to move around,” the senior lawyer said.

    According to him, in striking down “this odious practice”, Justice Mohammed Idris (now of the Court of Appeal), held that restriction of movement on account of environmental sanitation was illegal.

    The judge held: “Consequently, the restriction imposed on the applicant and other peace loving residents of Lagos State during the environmental sanitation day without a law prescribing such restrictions is unjustifiable and a gross infringement of the right to personal liberty and movement of the Applicant and the court so holds.

    “Everyone high or low must be prepared to justify his acts by a reference to some statute or common law power which authorises him to act precisely in the way in which he claims he can act.

    “Superior orders or state necessity are not defence to an action otherwise illegal.”

    Adegboruwa said the IGP did not appeal against the judgment, “yet he proceeded to hold people down at home on February 16, 2019, contrary to the express order of injunction granted by the court in this case against any repeated illegal practice of keeping citizens indoors.”

    “We will, therefore not condone or agree with any attempt to restrict people’s movement illegally, on February 23, 2019 or indeed any other day, by reason of elections,” Adegboruwa added.

  • Buhari’s clampdown on media houses is suppression of freedom of speech – Adegboruwa

    …Says people should expect more clampdowns in the nearest future

    Vocal human rights activitist and respected lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has said the recent clampdown on media houses by the President Muhammudu Buhari led administration is a breakdown of democratic tolerance, law and order.

    Adegboruwa’s reaction is coming after the Thursday raiding of the Premium Times head office and subsequent arrest of its publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, alongside the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu in Abuja by the police

    In a statement on Friday, Adegboruwa noted Nigerians are in for more difficult time, adding that one riding on the back of a tiger should not rejoice carelessly.

    He said, “I had warned, from the very first day of Inauguration on May 29, 2015, that this particular government has no plan for the restructuring and prosperity of Nigeria.

    “Many of my comrades believed and stated otherwise. Obviously, their views were driven by the sour experiences of the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, which in the time of prosperity, could not salvage Nigeria.

    “I, however, was quick to point out to them then, that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was only playing on the expectation of Nigerians for good governance, but had no genuine intention of transforming Nigeria, but rather to capture power for the sake of relevance.

    “The aphorism is true as true can be, namely that, when you ride on the back of the tiger, do not rejoice carelessly, as you may one day end up in its belly.

    “It is clear to me that after the euphoria of anti-corruption war would have suffered it’s inevitable death, the hawks will take the war to the gates of their “allies”.

    “And that’s why we must all stand up to resist this civilian dictatorship, because nobody knows who is next in line.

    “The point that I’ve struggled to make all these many months of the Buhari regime, is that all actions of government should follow due process and the rule of law and that there should be no discrimination in the application of law.

    “It is in the light of the foregoing that I strongly condemn the crackdown on the media, by the APC led administration. It started with Bloggers and has now moved steadily to social media practitioners and it will eventually get to the traditional mainstream media. It will not spare the political “allies”, the preferred civil society groups, the loyal activists and even the prayerful faith based entities.

    “However, we must not tolerate this clampdown on the media and the opposition, because anytime a government gets this desperate to silence the critical voices of the media, then there is hidden agenda. The media has the constitutional responsibility, imposed on it by section 22 of the Constitution, to hold government accountable to the people.

    “Without any doubt whatsoever, doubting media practitioners would all have seen by now, that the present government is totally clueless and so very much insincere, about its much trumpeted commitment to “Change.”

    “The freedom of speech and the press is expressly guaranteed under section 39 of the Constitution as a fundamental right and so no government should be allowed to muzzle the media or the opposition, as a way of covering its secrets or enthroning a regime of dictatorship.

    “Let all journalists be free to report, let the opposition be accommodated to criticize constructively and let all rights and liberties guaranteed by law, be respected and protected.

    “If there be any alleged infraction of the law, whether by journalists, politicians, lawyers or even the military, let such be dealt with according to law and due process.”