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Tag: Judgement

  • Police takes over Cross River State House of Assembly, as staff are turned back

    Police takes over Cross River State House of Assembly, as staff are turned back

    Different units of the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, blocked all entrances into the Cross River State House of Assembly, as staff members were turned back.

     

    The staff members of the Assembly were cautioned not to loiter around.

     

    The different units of the police included the anti-kidnapping and cultism squad and the regular policemen, armed to the teeth.

     

    It gathered that the security build up is as a result of the judgment delivered at by a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which sacked 18 lawmakers from the State and two in the House of Representatives for crossing from the PDP to the APC on May 20, 2021.

     

    Some of the policemen are also seen standing close to Governor Ben Ayade’s office, which is a few metres away.

     

    Motorists and innocent passers-by are having difficult time meandering through the crowd of security men, their vans and other onlookers.

     

    The ruling APC had said they had applied to the Court for stay of execution of the judgment, while they had proceeded to the Appeal Court.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God’s mercy prevails over judgement

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God’s mercy prevails over judgement

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Samuel 3:11-18

    Meditation verse:

    “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psalm 89:14).

    The Almighty is a God of mercy and compassion. Several scriptures highlight this quality of God. Lamentations 3:22-23 says “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness”. Romans 9:16 says, “so then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. This means that you must be willing to approach and ask God for mercy to be a partaker of it.

    In today’s reading, we see how God revealed to Samuel the judgement that was to befall the house of Eli. As Samuel revealed this to Eli, one would have expected him to immediately cry to God for mercy, instead he said, “it is the Lord, let him do what seems good to Him” (1 Samuel 3:18).

    Hezekiah on the other hand knew the benefit of asking God for mercy. When he fell sick to the point of death, God sent the prophet Isaiah to say to him “set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” (2 Kings 20:1). But Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and cried to God for mercy, weeping bitterly. God responded immediately by sending the prophet back: “return to Hezekiah and say, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Surely, I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5). And God added fifteen years to his life.

    God’s mercy will always prevail over judgement. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psalm 89:14). No matter how estranged from Him you feel today, run to the mercy seat of your Father with outstretched arms. His loving arms are already stretched to receive you. “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench” (Mathew 12:20).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Supreme Court faults, sets aside judgement convicting, sentencing senior lawyer

    Supreme Court faults, sets aside judgement convicting, sentencing senior lawyer

    The Supreme Court has set aside the conviction and 30 days sentencing of a senior lawyer, Joseph Nwobike.

    He was charged with an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

    In a unanimous decision on Monday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, faulted the decision of the Lagos High Court and the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had upheld the conviction.

    The Supreme court noted that Section 97(c) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State, under which the Senior lawyer was charged, did not clearly define what constitutes a perversion of justice.

    The court added that the EFCC lacks the power to investigate and prosecute the offence of perversion of the course of justice.

    It also held among other things that the Lagos High Court was wrong to have convicted Nwobike on the offence.

    In April 2018, Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court had convicted the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

    The court had also sentenced the Senior Advocate to a jail term of 30 days after holding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved beyond reasonable doubt that the SAN was in constant communication with some court officials to influence the assignment of his cases to preferred judges.

    The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committees, LPPC had swiftly announced the suspension of the senior lawyer from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    The EFCC, through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo had, among others, accused Nwobike of exchanging SMS with a court registrar on the assignment of his cases and when such cases should be heard.
    At his trial, Mr Nwobike admitted sending messages to the court officials but denied that the intention was to influence the assignment and the outcome of his cases before certain judges of the court.
    He also admitted that the N750,000 he gave to a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Yunusa was not a bribe but “for the specific purpose of helping the (sick) mother of the gentleman.”
    Hours after the judgment, the Senior Advocate filed a notice of appeal to challenge his conviction.
    He insisted that the judgment was unreasonable and unwarranted and the EFCC did not prove the allegations of attempts to pervert the course of justice.

  • Christians are called to judge (2) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Before I met Christ, I was contemptuous of Christians. I regarded them as a bunch of hypocrites. I particularly despised the pretentiousness on display during church services where the adulterous, the unholy, and the profane put on cloaks of holiness and righteousness. For me, Sunday church services were no better than congregations of play actors and actresses.

    But after I met Christ, the Lord gave me a dream. In it, a committee had been set up to investigate the affairs of the library of my former research institute and to come up with recommendations for reform. I was privileged to be a member of that committee.

    At the end of the exercise, we were all seated at a roundtable. Then, the committee chairman decided to read the approved recommendations to us, before sending them to the management committee of the institute. “In the first place,” he said, “we have to make sure Femi Aribisala does not steal any more books from this library.”

    Flabbergasted

    The chairman’s statement completely caught me off guard. “But I am a member of this committee,” I protested. There was a deathly silence. “But I don’t steal any books,” I continued, becoming a little more strident in my protest.

    No one argued with me. The chairman brought out a book. Or should I say he brought out something that looked like a book? When he opened it, it opened like a computer notebook with what seemed to be a television screen. He switched on one of the dials and a recorded film came on. There I was on the screen in the library, reading a newspaper.

    All the members of the committee were watching the recorded episode on the screen with rapt attention. There was no place to hide. I just knew it was a matter of time before I would steal something from the library. But before I could see exactly how the theft was executed, my wife came and woke me up.

    Nevertheless, my dream was eloquent enough. Although I was very lavish in judging others, I was no better than they were, it not worse. This recalls Jesus’ parable of a pompous Pharisee flaunted his righteousness before God in the temple, deriding others as extortioners, adulterers, and tax collectors. Meanwhile, a tax collector nearby pleaded with God for mercy, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

    Says Jesus: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14).

    Prophet of God

    God says to His prophets: “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1).

    Accordingly, John the Baptist judged the Pharisees. He called them at his baptism: “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:7-10).

    But before a prophet judges, we must ensure that we do not share in the sins we reprove. Thus, Paul says: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11).

    However, even prophets must be careful not to arrogate to ourselves the exclusive position of God; the judge of all.

    We must be careful even when the providences of God put us in positions of authority over men. We must not become uppity: “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

    We must not allow men to exalt us beyond what is due. We must reject the glorification that comes from flattering lips, for God does not share His glory.

    In the middle of a battle, David expressed a longing for a drink of water from the well of Jacob in Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men of war took it upon themselves to risk their lives by breaking through enemy lines to get him this water. But David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a libation to the Lord. Only God, he insisted, deserves such a sacrifice.

    He said: “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” (2 Samuel 23:17).

    Merciful judgment

    Our judgment must always express the love of God, for God says: “I desire mercy.” (Hosea 6:6). Since the mercy of God prevails over His judgment, our judgment of others must also be full of mercy. “He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20).

    Therefore, we must speak the truth in love. Our judgment must build up and not tear down. The fruit of God’s spirit is love, and: “love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10).

    Moreover: “(Love) thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:5-8).

    This prescribes that we always hope for the best for others. We should always believe the best about them and not the worst. This principle even applies to our assessment of God. If we do not understand why something bad happens, our love for God should enable us to bear it in the confidence that it will ultimately turn out for good.

    Unrighteous judgment leads us to jump to the conclusion that God is unjust, or unfair, or even unrighteous. Thus, determined not to believe that Jesus is who He claims to be, the Pharisees maintained that He cast out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.

    Jesus said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges.” (Matthew 12:25-27).

    Jesus also told the parable of a man who hid his talents, claiming God is a “hard man” who reaps what He does not sow. He said to him: “Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?” (Luke 19:22-23).

  • Christians are called to judge – Femi Aribisala

    Christians are full of contradictions. We judge believers and non-believers. We judge situations and circumstances. We even sometimes judge God, our Lord, and maker. Nevertheless, we quote Jesus: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2).

     

    When we are criticized, we often respond by saying: “Don’t judge me.” But believers are called to judge. Indeed, there are many scriptures in the Bible asking us to do so. A whole book in the Bible details the activities of judges, appointed by God Himself for the promotion of His righteousness.

     

    Paul says: “He who is spiritual judges all things.” (1 Corinthians 2:15). He says furthermore: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

     

    Jesus Himself requires us to judge. He says: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:54-57).

     

    Echoing Jesus, the writer of Hebrews says: “Someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:13-14).

     

    Righteous judgment

     

    Scripture is used to understand scripture. So, although Jesus says we should not judge in Matthew 7, He says we should judge in Luke 12. It is then up to us to determine exactly what He means because Jesus does not contradict Himself. But He says: “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” (Matthew 18:16).

     

    Does Jesus want us to judge or not? Yes, He does.

     

    In the same Matthew 7 where He says: “Judge not,” He also says: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine.” (Matthew 7:6). We cannot identify “dogs” without judging. Neither can we determine “swine” without judgment.

     

    Jesus then goes on to say: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16). If we are to identify false prophets by their fruits, we cannot but judge them.

     

    Jesus’ concern becomes apparent when He says: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24). This shows Jesus wants us to judge, but we must judge righteously. The Law of Moses says: “In righteousness, you shall judge your neighbour.” Leviticus 19:16).

    Righteous judgment means not judging according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. (John 8:15). It means we judge the fruit and not the motive. We do not have the capability to judge the heart of others or their intentions. Only God can read the heart and discern the motives of men. Therefore, we must not arrogate to ourselves the judgment that only God can make.

    Righteous judgment also means not being respectful of persons. Accordingly, James warns: “Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4).

     

    Hypocritical judgment

     

    In Matthew 7, Jesus is particularly concerned about hypocritical judgment. His message is that we must not judge others for what we are guilty of. Every time we hypocritically criticise someone, we are condemning ourselves. God must not locate in us any wrong we see in others.

     

    This was the predicament of the scribes and Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, asking why she should not be stoned according to the Law of Moses. Jesus told them: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). Knowing that they were also sinners, they quickly made a retreat one by one.

     

    Jesus then asked the woman: “‘Where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” (John 8:10-11).

     

    Those who judge hypocritically are often hiding something about themselves. Their criticism of others becomes an elaborate scheme designed to distract others from our faults. Their thinking is that nobody would suspect that the man preaching that people should not steal, is actually robbing others blind.

    Indeed, we often hate the most those things that we are guilty of. And so, we identify our faults in others to pre-empt them from criticising us, and to distract them from seeing our inadequacies. But God cannot be distracted. He knows where we live.

    “Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:1-3).

     

    Spiritual proportionality

     

    One of the principles of the kingdom of God is that of spiritual proportionality. This is repeated severally in the Bible. Jesus says: “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:2). “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.” (Revelation 13:10). “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” (Genesis 9:6).

    Therefore, righteous judgment must be without condemnation. Those who believe in Jesus will not be condemned on the last day. Jesus gives us this assurance: “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24).

    Paul also affirms this: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

     

    If there is no condemnation for us, then we must not condemn others, otherwise, we lose our exemption. Jesus says: “Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.” (Luke 6:37).

    CONTINUED

     

  • Avoid God’s judgment on Nigeria, Okoye tells leaders

    The General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission (ACFM), Rev. William Okoye, on Sunday called on the country’s leaders to do the right things to avoid the judgment of God upon the nation.

    Okoye made the call in his sermon at the Cathedral of Compassion, ACFM, Abuja, stressing that God is still sovereign and just in spite of the evils seeming to triumph in the nation.

    ”God does whatever He thinks is best in heaven and on earth and no one can question or stops him.

    ”God rules in the kingdom of men and gives power to who so ever He wills,’’ he said.

    According to the cleric, the triumph of evil over good is always temporal and when the judgment of God is upon the earth, the children of men learn righteousness.

    Okoye said that God would do whatever necessary to see that His plans and purpose for Nigeria was fulfilled.

    ”We have some of us whose selfish agenda is more important than the peace and development of the country.

    ”As long as our leaders are committed to their personal agenda, against God’s agenda for the nation that the nation be prosperous and peaceful, there is nothing much we are going to do about it.

    “We are not dealing with people, who do not know the right thing to do, it is the unwillingness to do what is right, and everyone knows what is right.

    “But when our own selfish agenda supersedes the agenda of justice, fairness and equity for all, there is nothing much we can do,’’ he said.

    Okoye thanked God that in spite of the human lapses in different areas of the country, ”He accepts us in different ways.

    “We have refuse to learn lessons we need to learn. We have refused to cooperate with God and cooperate with each other so that the nation would be what it is supposed to be,” he said..

    The cleric gave assurance that if leaders refused to do the will of God, the judgment of God would come upon the nation and the leaders will be forced to do the right thing.

    “Let me begin with the herdsmen, all these killer herdsmen all over the place, the simple answer that everybody has proffered, which is what is happening all over the world is ranching, in every other places around the world ranching is the answer.

    ”Nobody is against these herdsmen if they do the right thing, and you do not even blame them much because it is our leaders that should simplify things, they should simply say this is the right way to go and everybody will cue in line and follow.

    “But when we stubbornly keep on going the same way that we are going, crisis will continue,’’ he said.

    Okoye also said that lopsided political appointments had also fueled the crisis in the land.

    He, however, urged the government to create an enabling environment for the youths to rise.

    ”We must create a conducive environment for the youths to find jobs, go to school and enjoy governance like some of us enjoyed in the past.

    ”The old people are not thinking of the future, else they will create an environment to mentor the younger generation knowing that they will not be here forever.

    “We will deliberately create the things that will enable young people that are serious and brilliant to emerge and then groom them to take over.

    “But we are not ready. We want to rule the nation until we rule the nation in our graves,’’ he said.

  • African Bar Association Welcomes ECOWAS Court Judgment On Venezuela Diplomat

    African Bar Association Welcomes ECOWAS Court Judgment On Venezuela Diplomat

    The African Bar Association has expressed satisfaction with the judgement of the ECOWAS Community Court delivered on March 15, 2021 in which the court ordered the immediate release of and payment of compensation to Mr Alex Saab a Venezuelan Diplomat detained by the Government of Cape Verde

    In a statement after the quarterly meeting of the Human Rights Council held in Monrovia, Liberia, the special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Osa Director quoted the executive council of the African Bar Association as endorsing the decision of the Court insisting that from the investigations carried out by the association following a petition from the wife of the detained envoy, Ambassador Saab was on a humanitarian mission to Tehran Iran to source food for the suffering people of Venezuela when the aircraft he was travelling in stopped to refuel in Cape Verde. He was immediately arrested by the Cape Verdean authorities on a non-existent warrant for unproven charges.

    The ambassador has been in the illegal detention since June, 2020 and all efforts to secure his release or allow him access to his Lawyers and family members have proved abortive despite an earlier ECOWAS Court ruling to that effect.

    The statement reads “It is the belief of the African Bar Association that Cape Verde is setting a very dangerous precedent that will soon come back to hunt her and her Government and we warn that Cape Verde cannot be bigger, wiser or stronger than the whole of ECOWAS Community.

    “We are also of the opinion that the actions of Cape Verde is not only putting her Diplomats at risk but that of other ECOWAS and African envoys and this is enough to tarnish the image of the Sub-regional body and break her cohesion as a responsible organisation.

    “To safeguard and uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and her obligations under the United Nations Conventions and other International Laws, we hereby request the Government of Cape Verde to immediately and unconditionally release Ambassador Alex Saab and comply with other aspects of the ECOWAS Court Judgement.’’

  • Edo 2020: Ize-Iyamu appeals judgement nullifying deputy’s candidacy

    Edo 2020: Ize-Iyamu appeals judgement nullifying deputy’s candidacy

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has appealed the judgement of a State High Court which nullified the candidacy of his running mate, Audu Ganiyu.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Court presided over by Justice Hellen Courage-Ogbebor, had on Wednesday declared Ganiyu’s candidacy as invalid for giving false information to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), in form EC9 affidavit, to enable him contest the governorship election in the state.
    The judgement followed a suit filed by Kadiri Oshoakpemhe against the APC deputy governorship candidate and others.
    The trial Judge also by extension, declared Ize-Iyamu unfit to contest the said election, having fielded an unfit deputy governorship candidate.
    Ize-Iyamu in his appeal, averred that the judgement was in error on the basis that the trial judge erred in law when he held that the suit between Kadiri Oshoakpemhe (first respondent) against Audu Ganiyu (second respondent) and others was not statute-barred by virtue of the provision of the 1999 (as amended) Constitution.
    The APC governorship candidate prayed the court to set aside the judgement of the lower court and dismiss the first respondent for failing to prove his claim rooted in allegation of commission of crime beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
  • BREAKING: Buhari speaks on Lekki shootings, assures dead protesters will get justice

    BREAKING: Buhari speaks on Lekki shootings, assures dead protesters will get justice

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday finally broke his silence on the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos by suspected security operatives.

    He vowed to ensure justice for “peaceful protesters who lost their lives.”

    The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explained he decided not to talk on the shooting incident until he had access to all the facts.

    He also promised property owners and business owners affected by the arson across the nation would get justice.

    The statement said: “As the Judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government, one of the more dozen states to do so, starts sitting on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his full support and optimism that it will assist the nation to give justice to peaceful protesters who lost their lives, security men who were murdered and property owners whose assets were vandalized and looted.

    “The President, who said he had all along avoided going into a debate about the Lekki Toll Gate incidents until all the facts are established, appealed to the people all over the country to maintain peace and brotherhood as the machinery of the government and the wheel of justice turn against the perpetrators of murder, arson, stealing, rape, assault and malicious damage to public and private property.

    “President Buhari reiterated his appeal for calm, brotherhood and communal harmony, telling Nigerians not to turn on each other in hate as according to him, peace, brotherhood, and inter-communal harmony are central to the nation’s ethos.

    “He said it is important that the police and other security agencies move everywhere to restore calm and normalcy as quickly as possible.”

    The statement added: “A government that has launched a massive crackdown on corruption, brought in strong laws for a decisive battle against corruption, pursues loot recovery at home and abroad, and taken strong decisions against those who thought they were above the law, will not fold its arms when an otherwise legitimate and peaceful protest is turning into free-for-all vandalism and looting.

    “While the administration has, for its part, blocked so many means of looting public money in a war against corruption, it is the expectation that all civil authorities, community and religious leaders in the country must rise against the organized looting and plunder we are witnessing in parts of the country.”

    The President admonished families to reject items looted and brought home by their children.

    He stated: “Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted goods, in the same way wives must ask their husbands to return looted items brought home.

    “What is more, is that criminal actions as we have so far witnessed can weaken and erode the confidence of our people and that of foreign businesses in investing in the economy.

    “Looting and vandalism will hurt trade and investment growth in our country, both large and small industries, as well as our hardworking people in the informal sectors of the economy.

    “These incidents do not reflect well on any society. They are wrong and condemnable and should not be supported by reasonable members of the society.”

  • Sex-toy-shop: Abbo appeals N50m ‘excessive’ judgement

    Sex-toy-shop: Abbo appeals N50m ‘excessive’ judgement

    Adamawa North lawmaker, Senator Elisha Abbo, has appealed the judgment delivered by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, ordering him to pay N50m as compensation to Osimibibra Warmate.

    Abbo was caught on video assaulting Warmate at a sex toy shop in Wuse 2, Abuja in 2019.

    Although the senator won the criminal case instituted against him by the police before a Chief Magistrate Court in Zuba, Justice Samira Bature of the FCT High Court ruled against him in a separate civil suit instituted by Warmate and ordered him to pay N50m and publish an apology to the applicant.

    However, the lawmaker has filed a notice of appeal, insisting that the facts of the case disclosed an “alleged tort of simple assault” and not torture or inhuman treatment, hence the fundamental rights procure was an inappropriate means of seeking redress.

    The notice of appeal read in part, “That the appellant being dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court of the FCT as contained in its ruling and orders in Suit No CV/2393/2019 delivered on the 28th day of September, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature, do hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal, Abuja.”

    Abbo, who is the youngest senator in the country, anchored his appeal on three premises.

    The senator said the judge erred in law when he dismissed his preliminary objection to the effect that the suit was not recognisable under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution and the fundamental rights enforcement procedure.

    He said the facts of the case were contentious and could not be determined via affidavit evidence.

    The lawmaker stated that the trial judge erred when he held that the applicant had proved her case as required by law whereas the evidence was not in her favour.

    He further stated that the court granting N50m compensation to the applicant was “excessive.”