₦airaland Forum

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The Senate on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call all security agencies to order and direct the full observance of the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

The call came after deliberation of a motion by Sen. Joshua Lidani (Gombe South) condemning the action of the Department of State Service in the arrest of some judges across the country last weekend.

The DSS operatives had on Saturday arrested Justice John Okoro and Justice Sylvester Nguta, both of the Supreme Court; former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike; Justice Namdi Dimgba and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Others were Justice Kabiru Auta from Kano judiciary and Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court, Gombe.

The judges were released on bail late Sunday on self-recognition.

In the motion, Lidani prayed the senate to summon the Director of the DSS, Lawal Daura, to brief it on the issue.

This call failed as the lawmakers voted against it after three voice vote sessions.

Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) said that the action of the security operatives was wrong and would go a long way to give the nation a bad name in the international community.

He said that it was condemnable to invade the house of any Nigerian, let alone serving judges.

He said, “This should not have happened even under an unguarded dictatorship, let alone a democracy; enough is now more than enough.”

In his contribution, Deputy Majority Leader, Ibn Na’Allah, said that Nigerians supported the change agenda because of the promise to fight corruption.

He said that the senate was committed to supporting the Federal Government to fight corruption, but stressed that it must be done within the ambit of the law.

Na’Allah said the NJC should have been left to do its job and the senate should be careful in condemning the DSS.

For Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minority Leader of the Senate, the nation should not destroy the principles of separation of power.

He said, “We know there is separation of power; we must bear in mind the need for the survival of democracy and our perception in the international community.

“We must be careful of the kind of image we give to the judiciary; it is difficult for a former governor to be respected outside this country because everybody believes that all former governors are thieves.

“If we carry that toga, everybody will lose confidence in the judiciary.

“Even if there is corruption, it should be handled carefully so that it does not jeopardise internal security.”

In all, the red chamber condemned the actions of the DSS, and said that they went against the rule of law of the land.

It mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to review all existing laws that deal with the security agencies and bring them in line with the tenets of democracy.

The committee was charged to report back in four weeks.

Although the upper chamber expressed support to Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight, it said it was wrong for DSS to have carried out the arrest with conferring with the NJC.

It noted that the NJC is statutorily responsible for disciplining judges and other judicial workers.

In his remark, the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said that the chamber was totally in support of the fight against corruption, especially in the judicial system.

He said, “We must eradicate corruption in all spheres of our society and this is a matter that we must pursue.

“I think the National Assembly has been playing its role to continue to support government in the fight against corruption.

“We must ensure that this fight against corruption is within the rule of law; any act of anti-corruption that goes against the rule of law does not help the corruption fight.

“That is why this action has been seen in this manner, and it is condemned by the Senate and all agencies of government must ensure that they act within the rule of law.”

NAN

http://punchng.com/judges-arrest-caution-security-agencies-senate-tells-buhari/

Na recession cause am...

Akeem Lasisi

Pronouns are important elements of the English Language – and any language for that matter. Being words used in place of nouns, they are very useful when we want to avoid repetition or conceal the identities of the doers of the actions in clauses.

Pronouns include I, he, she and they (all subjective); me, him, her, us and them (objective); and you, which is used both as subjects and objects of clauses.

1a. Ade went there, but Ade did not meet the man.
1b. Ade went there but he did not meet the man.

2a. Ige met Jane and Ige gave Jane the pen.

2b. Ige met Jane and gave her the pen.

You could see how awkward sentences 1a and 2a are. But when pronouns are appropriately used in 1b and 2b, the expressions flow better and cease to sound as if they are made by a drunkard.

Yet, as useful as pronouns are, they are a source of headache to many users of the language. Trouble usually comes when a choice has to be made between the subjective and objective forms of the part of speech. By the way, the subject of a clause is the agent (person or thing) taking the action, while the object is the one receiving it:

Oyegun replied Tinubu.

While Oyegun is the subject, Tinubu is the object.

Oyegun and Akeredolu replied Tinubu and Abraham.

Similarly, Oyegun and Akeredolu is the subject while Tinubu and Abraham remains the object (each considered as a unit). Consider these sentences, however:

Oyegun and him abused Tinubu and him.

Oyegun and he abused Tinubu and he.

Oyegun and he abused Tinubu and him.

Which of the three sentences is correct? It is definitely the third – Oyegun and he abused Tinubu and him. The first one is faulty because the pronoun needed to represent Akeredolu is the objective he. The second sentence is also wrong because the pronoun to replace Abraham should be in the objective case, him.

Two questions mostly exemplify the height of confusion associated with subjective and objective pronouns. The first borders on which is correct between between you and I and between you and me. The second is whether it is right to say It is I or It is me. Interestingly, the issues associated with both expressions go beyond the intrigues of Nigerian English. It is a global phenomenon.

Between you and …

In English, there is a rule that it is only objective pronouns that can follow between. This simply nullifies between you and I because I is objective. So, the correct thing to say or write is between you and me:

Between you and me, Grace wrote a love letter to Sam.

Often considered an idiomatic expression, between you and me means ‘this should remain a secret between the two of us’. So, it is used with the assumption that whatever is said is not meant for a third ear or the general public. While how guaranteed such secrecy is in reality is another matter entirely, the fact that the statement is an idiom means that it is a fixed expression that you cannot tamper with.

Between you and me, this government is confused.

This government has a joker to uproot Boko Haram, between you and me.

Who is at the door?

The question of It is I or It is me is a very old one. It is so old that traditional grammarians long ruled that the correct thing to say is It is I. They predicated their claim on the fact that only pronouns in the subjective case can follow linking verbs.

A linking verb is one that does not express an action but shows relationship between objects, while some indicate the state of things. Linking verbs include is, are, was, were, seem and appear. Traditional grammarians insist that the right thing to say is:

It is she.

It is he.

It is I.

But some grammar authorities, as well as usage, have relaxed this rule. Besides, when the context of use changes, it may no more be automatic to decree that It is me is always wrong. That is also what convention does to language. Consider these:

Sade and I went there.

Sade and me went there.

It is Sade and I who did the job.

It is Sade and me who did the job.

It is Sade and she who did the job.

It is Sade and her who did the job.

It is I who did the job.

It is me who did the job.

Many scholars believe that the first statement in each pair is more standard and should be adopted, especially in written communication. For one, in each of them, I and she are working as co-subjects of the clauses.

But you are likely to remind me that the situation the It is me question normally comes up is when someone is at the door, knocking, and the occupant wants to know who is there. Is one to answer It is me or it is I? Well, back to the traditional rule, the correct thing to say is It is I, suggesting that It is I who is at the door.

In actual use, however, It is me has also become so popular that it is no more realistic to dismiss it. When you say It is me, it is assumed that the occupant of the room can recognise you by your voice. Yet, the question is: What if he or she cannot? That is why my parting shot is that you should use It is I in the context. It is backed by the rule, while some authorities will still fault the liberal It is me. Perhaps another option is to use a variant, such as I am the one, probably together with your name:

Who is at the door?

I am the one, Akeem.

Answers to last week’s assignment

Is it true that he … (a) have (b) has (c) is having (d) is owning … 10 cars?
The food … (a) was tasting (b) is tasting (c) tastes (has tasted) … well.
Now, I … (a) understands (b) understand (c) am understanding (d) do understood … what you are saying.
The visitor … (a) leaves (b) has left (c) will leaving (d) are leaving … next week.

Those who got all the answers right

Kolawole Olaitan, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso; Ihekwoaba Ndidi, Lagos; Grace Oyegbami, Lagos; Chris Thomson, Omolola Akinola, Abeokuta; Dara-Abasi Etoh, Ogun State; Chukwudi Iheanacho, Lagos; Victor Jonah, Suleiman Jubril, Abuja; Azubuike Martins, Timothy Olufayo, Fregene Toyosi, Daniel Fregene, Ilorin; Olaoye Ifeoluwa, Lagos; Obilade Taiwo, A. B. Adejumo, Iseyin; Adekanye Iretiola, A. T. Perepou, Bayelsa; Ademola Adedokun, Akure; Awe Olusola, Ibadan; Tolulope Imoru, Maryland, Lagos; J. P. Gentle, Ibadan; Sanusi Abisola, Abeokuta; Ayo Olukayode, Kogi; Oladipo Niyi, Omuaran, Kwara State; Akegh Jacob, Akande Abimbola, Moshood Afolabi, Ajisafe Zainab, Ayoola-Koleoso Adebowale; Fisayo Durojaye, Ibadan; Ekoh Isaac, Lagos; Tosh Bello, Ilorin; Johnson Ojo, Lagos; Egoma Ilokwu, Aba; Femi Soyoye, Abeokuta, Ayeni Michael, Agboola Imisioluwa, Lagos; Nath Garnvwa, Abuja; Dare Olufade, Owo; Dada Jackson, Adigun Ganitat, Lagos; Hussainat Dawuda; Favour Akinbola, Akure; Titus Musa, Abuja; Arokoyo Syvester, Kwara State; Joshua Edward, Ibadan; Folorunso Akadi, Kogi; Adenike Mobolaji, Ile-Ife; Okeleye Solomon, Lagos; Yemi Ogunjimi, Oke-Igbo, Ondo State; Ayanlola Oluseyi, Ibadan; Fasooto Ademola, Lagos; John Adesile, Lagos; Kehinde Ayanlola, Abeokuta; T. D. Katsit, Emmanuel Echo, Oladipo Isaac, Lagos; Akodu Mudashiru, Edafe Oluwatosin, Godwin Nmesirionye, Babatunde Taiwo, Tajudeen Raji, Happiness Sam, Jibril Dare, Tolu Amao, Temilade Adeoye, Adeboye Olusegun and Gideon Kaduma.

Others who also did well

Alara Kabiru, Lagos; Oyebamiji Eluwumi, OAUTHC, Ife; Are Festus, Apena Akinkunmi, Olawepo Abiola, Oluwole Aransiola, Olaitan Omobola, Chika Okonwko, Mariam Ogunsiji, Hamzat Ayinla; Ashafa Abdwakil, Kwara State; Samuel Ajayi, Osogbo; Destiny Pam, Badagry, Ajayi Oluwaranti, Julius Omoluabi, Bodunrin Mayowa, Lagos; Oladimei Omowunmi, Monsuru Azeez, Ibadan; Adeliyi Adegoke, Temi Ayo, Ademolu Adeniyi, Egbe, Lagos State; Ogunwole Funke, Ibadan; Agaji Abednego, Osundiya Dupe, Ilesa; Emmanuel Ibukun, Ibraheem Azeez, Obasa Johnson, Lagos; Uche Oshile, Delta State; Godwin Johnson, Asaolu Damilola, Bolanle Folarin, Arinola Odumade, Williams Oyewo, Adeleke Taiwo, Kayode Samson and Afolayan Taiwo, Lagos.

Homework

They gave the book to John and … (a) I (b) they (c) me (d) she.
I guess the secret is between the woman and … (a) they (b) them (c) she (d) I.
The workers want … (a) increased (b) increasement (c) increment (d) increasing … in salary.
None of the boys … (a) knew (b) know (c) know’s (d) have known … me.


http://punchng.com/between-you-and-i-or-between-you-and-me/

Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt

THE former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has dragged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to court for an alleged defamation of character.

Odili, who is claiming the sum of N6bn as damages in the suit, had stated that Peterside, who is the current Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, had defamed him through a newspaper publication (not The PUNCH) in February 2016.

The defendant was alleged to have said in a press conference that the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, during a victory thanksgiving service, alleged that Odili helped him (Wike) to secure the judgement that gave him (Wike) victory.

But Odili had described the statement credited to Peterside as false and malicious, maintaining that Wike never said that he (Odili) helped him to secure election victory at the Supreme Court.

However, when the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Odili was asked to enter the witness box to adopt his witness statement.

Though the defendant and his counsel were absent in court, the Lead Counsel for the plaintiff, Kanu Agabi (SAN), told the trial judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, that Peterside was properly served.

Iyayi-Lamikanra, however, adjourned till October 27, 2016, for further hearing of the case.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after court proceedings, Agabi said, “We sued for libel and we called our first witness. We have adjourned for cross-examination till the 27th of October, 2016.

“We felt defamed by their (defendant) publication and we are here to vindicate ourselves.

“You could see that the defendants were not in court, but they have been served; they have been properly served. The court would not have proceeded otherwise.”

http://punchng.com/defamation-odili-sues-peterside-claims-n6bn-damages/

Punch Editorial Board

Justice is on crutches in Nigeria, severely ethically disabled by rogue judges. The long-held suspicion of grand decay was laid bare again when the Department of State Services arrested a total of seven judges in several parts of the country in an operation last weekend. Two of those arrested are Supreme Court justices. During the operations, the DSS claimed that its agents recovered a total of N363 million from the houses of three of the judges. Though the depth of the corruption is so shocking, fighting it must be within the laws of the country.

The DSS raided the homes of the judges and arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro (both of the Supreme Court); Mohammed Tsamiya (Court of Appeal); Adeniyi Ademola and Muazu Pindiga (both of Federal High Court); Innocent Umezulike (Chief Judge, Enugu State); and Kabir Auta (Kano State High Court). But the raid that generated ruckus happened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when the governor, Nyesom Wike, mobilised against the DSS agents arresting an FHC judge. The National Security Agencies Act, Section 3, among others, charges the State Security Service with the responsibility for preventing and detecting crime against the internal security of Nigeria; and such other responsibilities “affecting internal security within Nigeria as the National Assembly or the President, as the case may be, may deem necessary.”

Coincidentally, the National Judicial Council, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, had, on September 29, showed how cheaply some judges have sold their courtrooms in return for favourable rulings. The NJC had recommended the trio of Tsamiya, Auta and Umezulike to the President and their respective governors for retirement over allegations that included demanding bribe to pervert the course of justice. These breaches are ominous as they clearly bring into disrepute the entire Nigerian magistracy and threaten the very fabric of the society.
Tsamiya allegedly brought the judiciary to disrepute by relating with a litigant in a 2015 election dispute before the Court of Appeal panel, which sat in Owerri, Imo State. The NJC said, “During deliberations, Council found as follows: that there was evidence that the petitioner met with … Tsamiya thrice, in his residence in Sokoto, Gwarinpa, Abuja and Owerri, where, on each occasion, he demanded from him the sum of N200 million to influence the Court of Appeal Panel in Owerri or risk losing the case.”

The case against Umezulike is equally revolting. The highest judicial officer in Enugu, he failed to deliver judgement in Suit No E/13/2008: Ajogwu v Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, 126 days after final addresses were adopted in October 2014. This is contrary to the 90 days time-limit set by law. The NJC also accused Umezulike of other offences, including accepting a N10 million donation during his book launch from businessman, Arthur Eze, who had an interest in two cases before his court. It is unethical to unduly delay judgement. Justice delayed erodes the integrity of the judiciary, and the aphorism that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man is thus lost through dishonourable judges.

However, this is not the first time that such perversity is occurring. In March, the NJC descended on Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Lagos High Court, barring her from elevation to the Court of Appeal. Her offence: she allegedly adjourned a 2011 pre-election matter before her several times until the termination of the lifespan of the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2015. That meant the petitioner never got justice in the case.

Auta was accused of collecting N197 million from a litigant. Part of the filthy lucre was purported to have been used to help in providing accommodation for a former CJN, who had just been appointed at the time. Auta, who was recommended for prosecution, even agreed to refund N95 million to the petitioner. Though this behaviour is unconscionable for a judicial officer, it is not, however, surprising. Already, the NJC has sanctioned about 13 judges for misconduct this year. Those affected include Oluyinka Gbajabiamila (Lagos High Court), MJ Evuti and Tanko Usman (both Niger State High Court); Olamide Oloyede (Osun High Court); and BT Ebuta (Cross River High Court). Most of them were just retired and freed from punishment. This is a bad policy. It entrenches corruption on the Bench.

To stamp out graft from the judiciary and really kick-start the Buhari administration’s avowal to rid Nigeria of graft, the NJC must go the whole hog. As we have said in past editorials, this means prosecuting offenders. Before his death in 2012, a former Supreme Court Justice, Kayode Eso, had warned that there were then “billionaire judges.” He meant judges who made ill-gotten wealth from collecting bribes in election petitions before State Election Petitions Tribunals, which were common then because of the massive electoral heist of 2007. Corrupt judges should not escape the long arm of the law because justice is skating on thin ice if the judiciary is compromised, as these cases indicate.

It is argued that giant spectre of corruption is arguably more harmful than terrorism as it siphons an estimated $1 trillion from developing countries annually, wastes about $40 billion in direct aid and kills an estimated 3.6 million of the world’s poorest annually through inadequate health care and poor living conditions. A CBS TV report says at the extreme case, corruption causes people to lose faith in government, states to fail and violence to erupt in the form of organised crime and terrorism.

Judges must not be spared when they soil their robes. Arrested in October 2010, a United States District Court Judge, Jack Camp, was jailed 30 days, given a $1,000 fine and 400 hours of community service. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of giving a stripper his $825 government-issued laptop, among others. In 2011, 79 judicial officers were subjected to formal disciplinary action, while a further eight were given “guidance” or told to undergo training in Britain. Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in a corruption case against a judge in April that “the actions of every magistrate should be oriented towards raising the prestige of the judiciary and to protecting public values such as legality, fairness and equality. Therefore, committing crimes by such a person and especially crimes related to corruption, deeply resonate in public awareness and undermine public confidence in the entire judicial system.” We agree.

To make for a just legal regime, the justice system should be insulated from interference from desperate litigants, dishonest lawyers and the executive arm of government. A 2016 study by Washington DC-based NGO, Global Integrity, stated that the judiciary was impaired in 54 African countries because of interference by the executive. “This is the root cause of the judiciary’s inability to uphold the rule of law,” the report stated.

However, much as the Buhari administration’s anti-graft campaign is lofty, it must not be arbitrary. Did the DSS secure legitimate warrants before arresting these suspects? If not, its action so far is a throwback to dictatorship, which must not be allowed in the society. We re-state that the war on corruption must be fought openly and in accordance with the rule of law. Therefore, the NJC should stop coddling corrupt judicial officers by just sacking them. There might be corruption in the society, but it is too perilous for judges to traffic in it. The rights of those arrested so far must not be abridged in any form. They should be swiftly taken to court within the time limit allowed by law.

http://punchng.com/let-corrupt-judges-go-jail/

Folashade Adebayo

Over a month after a member of the National Youth Service Corps, Sorunke Lukman Olayiwola, got missing, his family and friends have lamented alleged nonchalance on the part of the NYSC authorities and security agencies.

Sorounke is a 2015 Batch B Stream 1 corps member serving in Zamfara State, who ought to have passed out on Thursday.

According to reports by the family, he got missing on September 20, while travelling back to Zamfara from his home town, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, Sorunke’s sister, Olaide Sorunke, noted that their parents had visited several police stations in Ibadan, Abeokuta and Ogbomoso areas, as he was said to have planned to board a bus to Zamfara from the area.

She said that none of the police units had any useful information on his brother’s whereabouts, nor did any make any sustained effort to search for him.

Olaide added, “We informed the NYSC authorities but they said my brother, Lukman, was not with them. Since that time, nobody really contacted us or made any concrete efforts to produce him. My father, my mum and all of us are sad that Lukman got missing in the course of serving his fatherland and the government is not really helping us to bring him back.”

Sorunke’s co-youth corps members in Zamfara, especially those in Anka Local Government Area where he was serving, have continually agitated for his recovery.

They have mounted campaigns, especially on social media, while they also regularly put pressure on the NYSC.

They argued that the NYSC, security agencies and the government had not paid enough attention to his disappearance because his parents were not influential.

One of them, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Monday, said all efforts they had made to stir up the NYSC into action had proved abortive.

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the NYSC Inspector, Anka Local Government, Mr. Kanoma Shamseed, was not successful as calls to his line did not connect.




http://punchng.com/family-friends-express-frustration-missing-corps-member/

wristbangle:
Jeez! I bought some stuffs at this market last week. Chai that's the home of wristwatch, clocks and sunglasses

and what?

Call ur customer there to confirm.. ...

Lalasticlala seun mynd44 temitemi1 tonyebarcanista


Meanwhile who can fill in the gap after almost all ..........;