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Tag: Falana

  • Propose Money Bill before implementing increase in VAT, Falana tells FG

    Propose Money Bill before implementing increase in VAT, Falana tells FG

    Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to propose a Money Bill to the National Assembly before the implementation of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).

    Falana told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja, said that the National Assembly (NASS) erred by inviting the Minister of Finance and the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to clarify issues of VAT increment.

    According to him, provisions of the constitution states that the President ought to have presented a money bill to be passed by the NASS before the increment.

    “It’s illegal, under a democratic dispensation you cannot impose tax or increase tax without a law made by the National Assembly or the State Assembly as the case may be.

    “In this case, it has to be realised that we are not under a military dictatorship.

    “By virtue of section 59 of the Nigerian Constitution, any increase, levy or tax will have to be presented to the National Assembly by way of money Bill by the President, it has to be passed into law.

    “The Senate erred in law by inviting them to come and clarify, the National Assembly has invited the Minister of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Services to come and clarify.

    ” No, the National Assembly must insist on its powers under Section 59 to pass a law to increase VAT or any tax, there can be no taxation without a legislation.

    “The Federal Executive Council has no power under the Constitution to increase VAT or any tax in the country,” Falana said.

    NAN recalls that the Federal Executive Council had last Wednesday approved the increment of VAT from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, had explained that the increase would only begin after the VAT Act was amended by the National Assembly and after consultations with the state and local government areas as well as the Nigerian populace.

    According to her, our projection is to finish consultations early enough so that it takes effect in 2020.

    She further disclosed that the FEC approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategic Paper, MTEF/FSP for 2020 to 2022, which will guide the 2020 Budget.

    The Minister also said the next step was to present the document to the National Assembly for consideration.

  • #RevolutionNow: Falana tackles FG over Police invasion of CDHR, Sahara Reporters offices

    #RevolutionNow: Falana tackles FG over Police invasion of CDHR, Sahara Reporters offices

    A number of armed security operatives yesterday blocked the Adeniyi Jones premises of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) and the Lagos office of online media outfit, Sahara Reporters, to stop the planned meeting of suspected pro-revolutionists.

    Conveners of the #RevolutionNow movement had planned to continue their agitations around 11 a.m for the release of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore and other agitators arrested by security agents for alleged treasonable felony.

    But as early as 7 a.m on Wednesday, armed policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military laid siege to the CDHR to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    But the protesters had another card up their sleeves as the planned protest kicked-off on the streets and not at the CDHR office, as anticipated.

    The protesters wore orange berets and carried banners with various inscriptions, such as “Free them all” and “Kill insecurity, bad governance”.

    They marched for about a kilometre from Under Bridge in Ikeja, the state capital, to Allen Avenue.

    Co-Convener of Coalition for Revolution (CORE) Olaseni Ajayi said the siege was another attempt to forcefully stop the planned peaceful agitation against the detention of activists without trial.

    He activist insisted that the government action only confirmed that the civil rights fought for over the years were crudely being removed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    “The right to speech, association, protest and even to think are no more guaranteed under this neo-regime.

    “However, our agitation for the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore, Agba Jalingo, Abayomi Olawale (Mandate) and all others currently being held in Buhari’s detention centres and for the revolutionary transformation of the country, continues,” he said.

    Reacting to the siege, activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said the government should stop harassing law-abiding citizens.

    The popular lawyer noted that Sowore had been held for over 45 days in defiance to a court ruling that granted the DSS 45-day remand.

    “In spite of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, the police had wanted to disrupt and stop the peaceful meeting of law-abiding citizens to discuss the illegal detention of Omoyele Sowore, Agba Jalingo, Abayomi Olawale and scores of others being incarcerated in various detention facilities in the country.

    “Contrary to the order of the Federal High Court that Sowore be detained for 45 days, the DSS has incarcerated him for 47 days.

    “Last week, the Federal High Court turned down the application for the renewal of its order for the detention of Messrs Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo for another 14 days.

    “In spite of the expiration of the detention order of the two journalists, they are still being held by the police in Cross River State. Mr. Abayomi Olawale, who was arrested on August 5, has been detained for 45 days by the DSS without any court order whatsoever.

    “These detainees and scores of others languishing in illegal custody ought to be released forthwith.

    “While congratulating the organisers of the symposium for successfully holding the programme at another venue, the harassment of law-abiding citizens cannot be tolerated under a regime that is busy negotiating with bandits and terrorists, bribing them with public funds and granting them amnesty,” said Falana.

     

  • Stolen funds: Tell Nigerians how much you have recovered, Falana tells FG

    Stolen funds: Tell Nigerians how much you have recovered, Falana tells FG

    Activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare how much stolen funds it has recovered since 1999.

    He was joined in this call by the first woman SAN, Chief Folake Solanke at the 20th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture to celebrate the 74th birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo.

    Delivering the lecture titled: “The Danger of Unequal Criminal Justice System in Nigeria”, Falana, who was the guest lecturer, said the Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered over N1 trillion looted from the treasuries helped by its whistleblower policy since 1999.

    However, he said the exact amount had not been declared neither had the government said what the funds were used for – though he also mentioned that N605 billion was recently recovered.

    He said the government should use the funds to empower local government areas to provide jobs at the grassroots level to check unemployment and curb crime.

    He said: “The Federal Government has recovered huge sums of money from looters. one of the policies of government, the whistle blowing policy, has fetched the country N605 billion as of three months ago.

    “I am therefore suggesting that the billions recovered by the EFCC, let the Federal Government allocate at least N1 billion to every Local Government for job creation for our young men and women. “
    Speaking on the justice system, Falana lamented that the despite the constitution providing for equality before the law, it was difficult for the poor to get justice as majority had no access to lawyers.

    The rich, he alleged, are able to subvert justice by paying huge sums of money to stretch trials, get police and military connivance, or buy favourable treatment when incarcerated.
    He said: “Section 17 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Nigeria talks of equality before the law. But I am sure you will all agree with me that equality before the law is a joke in any capitalist society.

    “What we have done is to create agencies like the Legal Aid Council, the National Human Rights Council and individual lawyers to encourage them to ensure that the poor get justice.

    “Because if the poor do not get justice, whether the government likes it or not, whether you arrest all the Sowores of this world, there will be a revolution one day. Because when the poor rise it can be dangerous in any society. It can even lead to anarchy as it is the case now.

    “Yesterday what happened in Lagos – the attacks if you watched the film on television, you will know that we are in trouble.

    “Some of the criminal elements opened carried the loot on their heads and the police had a hard time containing the crisis. That is why we must go out and ensure injustice in the polity is addressed”
    Supporting Falana, Mrs. Solanke, who chaired the lecture, said the government owed Nigeria the duty of telling how much has been recovered from its anti-corruption drive.

    To help address the problem, Falana called on Okonkwo and members of TREM to help in ensuring the poor get justice.

    He suggested that the church could join magistrates to inspect police stations monthly and identify people languishing in illegal detention.
    He promised to collaborate with the church to make it possible.

    “To stop illegal detention, every police station shall be inspected once in a month. In a place like Lagos, we have got the chief judge to assign magistrates to inspect police stations. We can help connect with the magistrates so that every month when the magistrates are going on inspection

    “By next year, this church will be rolling out how many people have been freed form illegal detention for the past one year. I know your church has a number of lawyers and I will be prepared to partner with them to ensure justice is done and served,” he said.

    In her speech, while commending the organisers of the Mike Okonwkwo Secondary School Essay Competition for awarding prizes to winners who scored 50 and above, Mrs Solanke called the practice of setting admission cut-off marks at less than 50 per cent scandalous.

    She said: “I am relieved that the average percentage of the winner was 68 per cent. One of my current crusades is to protest the damaging policy of educational institutions, schools, colleges, universities, the Law School…who accept less than 50 per cent as pass mark.

    “As a former teacher of Latin and Mathematics in England and Nigeria, anything below 50 is a failure. Now institutions accept 40, 45, 48 as pass marks. Scandalous!

    “I was appalled to hear that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) approves 120 out of 400 as passmark. Heavens above, 120 out of 400 is 30 per cent.”
    Winners of the competition, Esigbone Ferdinard of Roshallom International Secondary School, Egbeda, Lagos; Oluwaseun Aremu of Shepherd International College Ado-Ekiti ; and Adeola Ifeoluwa of Chrisfield College, Itamaga, Ikorodu got N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000 each.

    Their schools also got computers. Four other finalists will get a consolation price of N20,000.

  • Xenophobia: Why Buhari must sue South Africa – Falana

    Human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, on Wednesday asked the Nigeria’s Federal Government to sue the South Africa government and demand compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attack in the country.

    Falana, in a statement, titled: “Beyond the condemnation of xenophobic attacks by the federal government,” said like its counterpart in Nigeria, the political class in South Africa had failed to address the challenge of poverty and inequality confronting the majority of the black people.

    “Even though apartheid was defeated by the people of South Africa over two decades ago, the unjust socio-economic system erected by capitalism had not been dismantled. The crisis has been compounded by wanton corruption and the neo-liberal policies of the government.

    “Hence, the South African masses have been denied the dividends of democracy by the African National Congress-led government. In particular, the masses have no access to health, housing, education and employment. Out of sheer frustration, millions of young people in South Africa have decided to subject African immigrants to xenophobic attacks,” he said.

    According to Falana, the African National Congress, ANC, must accept responsibility for the misdirected antagonism against poor African imigrants.

    He said apart from the official condemnation of the shameful and cowardly attacks, the South African Government should fish out the culprits and prosecute them.

    “In addition to the payment of adequate compensation to all the victims of the mindless attacks the Government must teach South Africans about the immense contributions of the people of Cuba and a number of African countries to the struggle waged against apartheid and colonialism in the Southern African region.

    “However, since the Cyril Ramaphosa administration is not likely to accede to the demand for compensation the federal government should brief a team of lawyers to seek legal redress for the victims of the attacks in South African courts.

    “The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria should be directed to coordinate the legal defence. In view of the regular harassment of Nigerians in South Africa and a few other African countries, the federal government should make the Declaration to enable individual victims of human rights abuse to access the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights sitting in Arusha, Tanzania,” he said.

    The activist said since there was no assurance that Nigerians and other Africans would no longer be subjected to xenophobic attacks, the federal government should boycott the World Economic Forum scheduled to commence in South Africa on September 4.

  • 2015 bullets still in El-Zakzaky, wife’s bodies – Falana

    As Kaduna State High on Monday adjourned ruling in the application for permission to travel for medical attention by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky and his wife, Zinat to August 5th, his lawyer said, his clients have pellets of bullets in their bodies
    The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) had filed an application for permission to travel to India for medical attention, hinging his application on his ‘failing’ health
    However, the state High Court presided over by Justice Darius Khobo adjourned ruling on the application to Aug. 5th.
    Meanwhile, Lead Counsel to the INN leader, Femi Falana SAN while briefing newsmen after the hearing said, his clients, El-Zakzaky and wife Zinat, were in dire need of medical attention, as they had not been given adequate medical care since their detention in 2015.
    He stated categorically that, pellets of bullets were still in the bodies of both Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife since the December 2015 incident in Zaria.
    While expressing concern over the continued deteriorating condition of his client’s health, who he said had already lost an eye, Falana said, there is urgent need for them to travel abroad for medical care.
    “In fact, he was not in court because his health had gone very bad. Even during last appearance, he could not climb the staircase to the courtroom. That is why we applied that he be excused from appearance in court and it was granted.
    “The pellets in their bodies had resulted to lead poison and they need to be urgently removed by highly professional medical personnel,” he said.
    He however expressed confidence that, the court would grant his clients permission to travel for urgent medical care.
    In his own submission, Counsel to the respondents, (Kaduna State Government), Mr. Dari Bayero while briefing newsmen said, the adjournment was sequel to the arguments of both parties on the application.
    Bayero however said that, his team had examined the eight medical reports by both Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application, and argued that, medical facilities in the country that can handle the medical needs of the IMN leader and his wife.
    According to him, they had argued that there are several medical facilities in the country that can handle the medical needs of the IMN leader and his wife.

  • El-Zakzaky: Falana, Ozekhome condemn proscription on Shiites, demand immediate withdrawal

    El-Zakzaky: Falana, Ozekhome condemn proscription on Shiites, demand immediate withdrawal

    Leading rights activists Chief Mike Ozekhome and Femi Falana, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, on Saturday described the proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as illegal and immoral.
    While Ozekhome said the proscription was “discriminatory”, Falana, who represents IMN leader Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, urged the Federal Government to withdraw the order.
    Ozekhome said: “The proscription by the government of the Shiites religious group is highly discriminatory, unconstitutional, as was the case of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
    “What group could be more terrorist than the Herdsmen that has held Nigeria down by the jugular for years, killing, maiming, burning, raping, turning Nigeria into a crimson field of bloodbath? Until the government bans and outlaws these, it is certainly not serious.
    “They (Shiite members) are demanding the release of their leader still kept in government dungeon inspite of several court orders. The Shiite group is a religious group, like the President’s Sunni group. It is not an association that could be banned.
    “Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution makes Nigeria a secular state. You cannot ban religion, a people’s belief.
    “There is also freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Section 38, while sections 40 and 41 allow for freedom of movement and association.
    “The Constitution is ruthlessly being shredded by an intolerant and overbearing civilian dictatorship.”
    For Falana, the proscription is immoral and illegal.
    He noted that the IMN’s proscription by the Kaduna State government in 2016 was gazette, yet IMN has continued to operate in defiance of the proscription.
    Similarly, he said IPOB’s proscription in 2017 by the Buhari regime via an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court was also gazette, but IPOB has continued to operate in spite of the proscription.
    “However, in a desperate bid to prevent the Shiitesfrom demanding for the release of their detained leader, Elzakzaky and his wife from the custody of the State Security Service, the Buhari administration has proscribed the IMN.
    “Since there are millions of Shiites who belong to the IMN, the Federal Government will soon realise that it has merely driven the body underground,” Falana said.
    The respected activist-lawyer recalled that in 2003, General Buhari and other members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) held a rally in Kano to protest the rigging of the 2003 General Election.
    The rally was violently attacked by the Police on the ground that the ANPP leaders did not obtain police permit.
    “On the instructions of General Buhari and other the ANPP leaders, I challenged the disruption of the rally and the legal validity of police permit for rallies and political meetings at the Federal High Court. ANPP won the case.
    “Apart from condemning the violent disruption of the rally by the Police, the court declared that police permit for rallies was illegal and unconstitutional. The appeal filed against the judgment by the Police was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
    “In fact, the Justices of the Court of Appeal unanimously held that the right of Nigerians to protest against the policies of the government is part of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
    “Therefore, the proscription of the IMN for the demonstrations of the Shiites against the disobedience of court orders by the Buhari regime is immoral and illegal in every material particular,” he said.
    Falana called for the withdrawal of the proscription order.
    “It is particularly opportunistic on the part of the Sunnis occupying public offices to use the instrumentality of the state to liquidate the Shiites.
    “The illegal proscription of the IMN should be withdrawn. It will not stand as the fundamental right of the Shiites to freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed,” Falana added.

  • Nigeria heading towards anarchy if insecurity not halted, Falana, Musa warn Buhari

    Nigeria heading towards anarchy if insecurity not halted, Falana, Musa warn Buhari

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana and former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa have warned President Muhammadu Buhari to take pragmatic steps in tackling wanton insecurity and ethnicity brewing in the country as the nation is already heading towards anarchy.
    A statement issued by the duo on Sunday said amid the cacophony of ethnic and regional voices, it was imperative that pan-Nigerian voices should be heard louder than ever before to save Nigeria from disintegration, saying that the symptoms of the brewing socio-political crisis were manifest.
    They said the Nigerian state had failed to tackle the worsening insecurity plaguing every part of the country, stressing that Nigeria was increasingly being defined by insecurity, as killings had become almost a daily affair in Nigeria.
    “Terror attacks, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery are perpetrated by criminals with reckless abandon. In practical terms, no part of Nigeria is immune to violent crimes, although the incidence might be relatively higher in one part than the other at this time. Tragic news of lives wasted issues from the north and south, east and west.
    “In response to the flourishing crimes in the face of the worrisome incompetence of the state, ethnic and regional champions have resorted into the dangerous ethnic profiling and demonisation of others. It is the reign of hate speech and marketing of prejudice. Claiming to speak for “our people,” they issue irresponsible ultimatums and orders for which they lack constitutional authority to enforce. Some of those who are supposed to act as statesmen at this critical hour have instead joined the ranks of issuers of prejudicial statements.
    “The appropriate response to these sectional voices is not to glibly question the patriotism of any person or group. The effective response is to compel the Nigerian state under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the constitutional duty of keeping Nigeria secure. Nigeria must not be turned into a killing field. The way to take the wind out of the sails of merchants of hate is for the government to confront the worsening insecurity in Nigeria squarely and honestly,” they said.
    According to Falana and Musa, law enforcement and other security agencies should fight crimes competently and strictly according to the law and that in doing so, the ethnic and religious identity of the criminal was not of any importance, as ethnic and religious profiling could distract from the urgent task of stamping out crimes.
    “The truth is that every ethnic and religious group has its own share of criminals. We must separate crimes from prejudice so that criminals could be fought with a unity of purpose as a nation. It is also an indisputable fact that the victims of criminal activities belong to the various ethnic grounds and religions. We are convinced that the urgency of the situation should compel the Buhari administration to rethink its internal security strategy by considering some of the patriotic suggestions from conferences and panels set up by government in the last few years.
    “In our view, another conference (by whatever name) may not be coming up anything new given that the Nigerian condition is akin to an emergency. The police and other security agencies should be equipped and organised to perform their duty in the light of the new dimensions of insecurity.”
    According to them, the justice system, especially in the states should be alert to their responsibility of diligent and swift prosecution of arrested suspected criminals, saying that it was the duty of the respective attorneys-general in the affected states to prosecute suspected killers, kidnappers and armed robbers.
    “All the tiers of government have responsibilities for security, working in unison. If the degeneration in the Nigerian condition is not halted, the nation may descend into anarchy. Doubtless, the poor people will bear the brunt of such an avoidable disaster. We, therefore, call on President to rally the country around a national purpose of security everywhere in Nigeria as the constitution demands.
    “This leadership duty should be in words and action. The President should address the nation specifically for the purpose of giving assurance of his commitment to the unity of Nigeria amidst adequate security. It is also the duty of genuine lovers of peace, freedom and development of Nigeria to speak up in order to save the nation from descent of anarchy. It is time that pan-Nigerian voices are heard loud and clear,” they added.

  • Nigeria will face fresh bloody insurgency if El-Zakzaky dies in your custody, Falana warns Buhari

    Femi Falana, Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist has sounded a note of warning to the Buhari government on the implications of detaining Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, despite court orders for his release.
    The legal luminary said the nation risks another insurgency, should El Zakzaky die in detention, just like it happened with Boko Haram after the leader, Mohammed Yusuf was killed by Nigerian policemen, while in detention in Maiduguri in 2009.
    “El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay”, Falana warned in a lengthy statement on Tuesday.
    He warned the Federal Government of Nigeria against its violent approach to handling members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who are protesting the detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, despite numerous court orders for his release.
    Falana expressed concerns over the method the Federal Government had adopted in a statement on Tuesday. The legal luminary said the continuous detention of El-Zakzaky and killing of peaceful Shiite protesters by security forces could lead the country into another bloody war that it could not afford.
    “This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the Federal Government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzakys,” Falana said.
    Speaking on the arrest and detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife Malama Zeinab on December 12, 2015, Falana said over 1,000 Shiites were reportedly massacred by soldiers on the orders of the Nigerian Army high command and given mass burial in an unmarked grave in Mango village, Kaduna State over allegations of attempt to assassinate Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
    “Even though the leader of the Shiites, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was not at the scene of the attack, his residence was invaded by the rampaging troops two days later. The troops set the house ablaze, shot at El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeinab El-Zakzaky and killed three of their sons in cold blood in their presence. As if such barbaric assault was not enough, the army arrested and held El-Zakzaky and his wife in custody before handing them over to the Department of State Services. At that stage, the houses of El-Zakzaky and other leaders in Zaria were demolished by the Kaduna state government on the orders of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
    “After the massacre of the Shiites and the demolition of the houses of their leaders, the Kaduna state government instituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the violent attack.
    “The detained El-Zakzaky was prevented from responding to the allegations made against him and his group at the inquiry. But the judicial commission found that there was no plan by the Shiites to assassinate General Buratai. It was also revealed at the panel that the 347 Shiites were massacred by the army in violations of the Army Rules of Engagement and the Geneva Conventions.
    “Apart from condemning the brutal massacre of the Shiites, the judicial commission recommended that the culprits be prosecuted.
    “Instead of implementing the recommendation by prosecuting the well-known murderers the Kaduna state government turned round to charge over 300 Shiites with the culpable homicide of a soldier who was killed by his colleagues during the attack. But the defence team convinced the Kaduna state high court to free the Shiites as they were not involved in the commission of the offence.
    “Accordingly, the charge was dismissed for want of evidence while the trial court proceeded to discharge and acquit all the defendants. Meanwhile, the suit challenging the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife was decided in their favour by the federal high court on December 2, 2016.
    “The presiding judge, Kolawole J. (as he then was) directed the Federal Government to release the couple from unlawful custody, pay them N50 million reparation and provide them with a temporary house since the army had burnt down their residence. But the Buhari regime has characteristically treated the court orders with arrogant contempt.
    Curiously, the Court of Appeal has refused to hear the application to commit the Director-General of the State Security Service for contempt of court! Upon our legal advice, the Shiites approached three separate high courts to challenge the violation of their right to assemble and protect peacefully.”
    He added that despite the orderly nature in which the Shiites had conducted themselves, the Federal Government, through the army, was operating with impunity to disrupt the group’s peaceful protests.
    “The Shiites won the cases against the Federal Government as the courts upheld their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. But out of sheer impunity, the army has killed about 50 Shiites at Abuja for protesting against the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife.
    “As the federal government could no longer justify the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife it directed the Kaduna state government to file a charge against them. Hence, they have been charged with culpable homicide at the Kaduna state high court for the death of the same soldiers.
    “Pending the trial, the team of local and international physicians who examined El-Zakzaky and his wife on the orders of the trial court confirmed that their health has deteriorated and recommended that they are allowed to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment. In particular, El-Zakzaky has lost an eye while he is the process of losing the other one.
    “The wife can no longer walk as a result of the gun wounds inflicted on her during the military attack of December 2015. Without adducing any reason whatsoever the federal government has ignored the recommendation of the physicians.
    “The Shiites are currently protesting the refusal of the Buhari regime to release El-Zakzaky and his wife from custody to enable them to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment at their own expense.
    “El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay.
    “Finally, it would be recalled that the Boko Haram sect declared war on the people of Nigeria in 2009 following the cold murder of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf by the Police. Since then the nation has known no peace. This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the federal government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzaky.”

  • Falana faults CCB’s refusal to disclose ex-presidents’, governors’ assets

    Falana faults CCB’s refusal to disclose ex-presidents’, governors’ assets

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for its alleged refusal to grant a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on the asset declaration of former Presidents and governors.

    The CCB had allegedly turned down the request the ground that an asset declaration form is private information.

    Falana described the ground as “illogical”.

    The eminent lawyer spoke yesterday in Kano in a keynote address, titled: Involvement of Nigerian People in the Fight Against Corruption, delivered at a stakeholders’ dialogue on corruption in Nigeria organised by ActionAid Nigeria.

    Falana said: “The Federal Government has also failed to show commitment to the fight against corruption by encouraging secrecy with respect to asset declaration by public officers. A few days ago, the CCB turned down the request by the Socio-Economic Right And Accountability Project (SERAP) for the release of copies of the declaration forms of former governors and Presidents on the grounds that the declaration forms are private documents.

    “With respect, it is illogical to claim that the asset declaration forms submitted by the erstwhile public officers are private documents. Accordingly, the rejection of the request by SERAP is a contravention of Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

    “It is hoped that the CCB will review its position and allow citizens to access the information in the declaration forms submitted to it by all public officers in view of the new policy of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to enforce effective asset declaration by public office holders.”

    In his paper, the eminent lawyer said: “It is an undeniable fact that the progressive withdrawal of subsidies from social services by the state, which is a key component of the IMF/World Bank-sponsored Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), has led to mass poverty in the land.

    “Through the privatisation of public enterprises and assets, including banks and other financial institutions, the economy was taken over completely by foreign and local interest groups. Thus, the privatisation of public companies, commercialisation of social services, has increased poverty and income inequality in the society.

    “From the reports compiled by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Ministry of Finance as well as the anti-graft agencies, the Federal Government has recovered not less that N1 trillion from treasury looters and through the whistleblowing policy of the Buhari administration.

    “It is suggested that N1 billion be set aside for the establishment of a factory in each of the 774 local governments in the country while the balance should be allocated to the police to secure the country.

    “Having managed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under the Sani Abacha junta, President Buhari should have no difficult in investing the recovered loot to address the crises of insecurity and unemployment. After all, $321 million from the Abacha loot is being distributed to the poor, as dictated by Switzerland, which illegally warehoused the loot for almost two decades.”

  • Falana to Kachikwu: Give me with details on loss of $60bn oil revenue or be sued

    Rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has written to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, demanding information on the loss of $60 billion oil revenue which the Nigerian government had refused to collect from the international oil companies as at August 2017.

    Falana, in the letter dated April 10, 2019 said he recalled that in his letter dated 5 November, 2015 and addressed to Kachikwu, in his capacity then as the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, he drew the attention of the minister to the refusal of regulatory agencies in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to enforce the production sharing contracts signed by the International Oil Companies.

    He explained that in a public statement credited to Kachikwu in August 2017, he did disclose to the media that Nigeria had lost not less than $60 billion due to the refusal of some public officials to implement the terms of the Production Sharing Contracts between the Federal Government and the International Oil Companies.

    “In another public statement made on January 19, 2019 by the Acting Chairman of the Revenue, Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Shetima Bana confirmed the loss of oil revenue of $60 billion arising from the non-implementation of the said production sharing contracts.

    “In view of the foregoing, I am compelled to request you to furnish me with information on the revenue of $60 billion which the Federal Government has refused to collect from the International Oil Companies as at August 2017. As this request is made pursuant to section in the provision of the Freedom of Information Act, you are required to supply the requested information not later than 7 days from the date of the receipt of this letter,” he said.

    Falana added that if the minister failed or refused to accede to his request, he shall be compelled to apply to the Federal High Court to direct him to avail him with the information on the loss of the oil revenue of $60 billion.