The National Assembly has been called upon to put into law a policy that will make it mandatory for every community in Nigeria to have a health facility that has a midwife or qualified medical personnel so as to ensure the safe delivery of pregnant women.
The Media Associate, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Kory Habib made the call in Keffi, Nasarawa State in her address at a two-day training workshop on Reporting Trending and Development Journalism organized by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH).
Mrs Habib lamented that most women die in the rural communities in particular during delivery because health facilities are either not available or are far too away from the urban cities.
She added that the traditional institutions also have a great role to play in saving life’s by advocating for men to ensure that their wives attend ante-natal clinics during pregnancy to avoid complications.
Mrs Habib encouraged husbands to form little cooperatives, so that they use part of their savings to visit health facilities, so that during delivery, the mother and the baby will be delivered safely.
The Media Associate, disclosed that the training workshop was organized to create a partnership with media practitioners to put up adequate reportage on how best to save mothers lives.
According to her, UNFPA strongly advocates for women to attend ante-natal clinic, as well as deliver in hospital for safe delivery while men should partner with their wives to ensure safe delivery and be sympathetic to their situation particularly during pregnancy.
Mrs Habib disabused the minds of some Nigerians that have the belief that family planning was an attempt to reduce population, but rather said it is meant to a family give intervals between their births.
A Resource person at the workshop, Mr. IIiya Kure, an International journalist and Media Specialist urged the media to be more involved in developmental, involving, persuasive and informative journalism and embark on visits to rural communities to highlight and report their plights so as to attract the attention of government and non governmental organizations.
According to him, most times, Nigerian journalists pay more attention in reporting government and political activities at the detriment of reporting issues that affect humanity, which at the end of the day, had affected the growth and development of the country.
Mr Kure whose paper was tilted Development Journalism, disclosed that by 2030, seventy percent of Nigerians will be living in the cities, which posses lots of dangers to the country as it would overstretch the existing facilities.
Another Resource person, Mrs Jane Afolabi , the Publisher of Scroll Report, an online publication who spoke on Generating Story Ideas and Pitching Stories highlighted various ways of sourcing for news but stressed the need to be objective and not be subjective in the discharge of their duties.
Mrs Afolabi said the journalism profession is facing a great challenge and threat more so in terms of non payment of salaries as at when due and therefore appealed to employers of the media to be more responsive and pay media workers adequately.
The Nigeria Urban and Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), wants media Managers in the country to accord adequate airtime and priority to Maternal and child Health issues towards reducing unnecessary maternal deaths.
Kaduna State Team Leader of NURHI, Kabir Abdullahi made the appeal while speaking at an advocacy training workshop on Family Planning for Journalists in Kaduna.
Acting President of Nigeria & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Presidential/Aso Rock Villa, Three-Arms-Zone
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Sir,
(Intersociety, Nigeria, 1st July 2017)-It is recalled that the leadership of our Organization (Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law: www.intersociety-ng.org)had two days ago (29-6-2017) written and successfully submitted a 17-page detailed memo to Prof Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, in his official capacity as the Acting President of Nigeria & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The memo seeks to draw his Government’s attention formally or officially to raging gross abuses of human rights in Nigeria and associated heinous crimes especially since 29th May 2015 when the sixth central civilian Government which he now heads in acting capacity came on board. For easy public reading, comprehension and analysis, the memo was segmented with its first part published same date. The link to it is here: http://www.intersociety-ng.org/component/k2/item/263-gross-abuses-of-human-rights-in-nigeria.
Thankfully, the special memo which was copied electronically to over 30 national and international institutions, bodies and respected personalities for their immediate attention and necessary diplomatic and int’l oversight actions have already generated prompt responses and acknowledgments particularly from international bodies and members of the diplomatic community copied. Among those that have responded or acknowledged are Office of the Prosecutor for Int’l Criminal Court in Hague, the Netherlands; the US Consulate in Abuja and the Right Hon Boris Johnson, MP and UK Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs.
Below is a reply received from the ICC, dated 30th June 2017 at 11.17am:
“Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your message. Please note that the International Criminal Court has a very limited jurisdiction. The Court may only address the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as defined by Articles 6 to 8 of the Rome Statute that have occurred after 2002, and can only exercise jurisdiction in the countries that have ratified it. For more information on the Court’s jurisdiction and the full text of the Rome Statute, please refer to page 2 of the attached document and our website as well as our address, www.icc-cpi.int. We encourage you to carefully review this information.
If, after your careful review, you still believe the ICC is the correct place for your case and would like to submit a claim to the Court, then please follow the directions for how to do so on page 1 of the attached document. If you decide to submit information, kindly use only this email address: otp.informationdesk@icc-cpi.int.
Kind regards,
OTP Information Desk
International Criminal Court “
The second part of the special memo is continued as follows:
Nigeria’s regional and international obligations to its citizens in non-war situation or peacetime:
Nigeria as a State Party to UN and AU is strictly bound by numerous regional and international human rights treaties or conventions including the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) of 1981, ratified and domesticated in 1983; the UN Covenants on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR); and Economic, Social & Cultural Rights of 1976 (ICESCR), ratified in 1993. Nigeria is also a State Party to UN’s anti Genocide and Torture Conventions of 1948 and 1985 respectively as well as the UN’s Women and Child’s Rights Conventions of 1984 and 1990 respectively, to name but a few.
Sir, Nigeria as a leading member of the UN and international community is also bound by the Basic Standards of International Law & Humanitarian Principles. Under this are the ten basic rules or standards for policing public and peaceful assemblies in any member-State; which expressly recognize the rights of the citizens of all Member-States of the UN including Nigeria, to peaceful assemblies and expressions other than armed conflict and strictly outline ways through which these assemblies shall be managed or policed by policing agencies excluding the army.
Under the ten basic standards of international law made mandatory for policing agencies of Member-States of the UN for management of civil assemblies and free speeches as well as arrest, detention and prosecution of citizens accused of commission of municipal crimes of relevant municipal code definitions; the following rules must be observed and strictly applied:
(1)everyone is entitled to equal protection of the law without discrimination on any grounds, especially against violence or threat..; (2) treat all victims of crime with compassion and respect, and in particular protect their safety and privacy; (3) do not use force except when strictly necessary and to the minimum extent required under the circumstances; (4) avoid using force when policing unlawful but nonviolent assemblies; (4) when dispersing violent assemblies, use force only to the minimum extent necessary (i.e. in line with proportionate use of force and avoidance of application of excessive force on unarmed but violent or aggressive assemblies).
Others are (5) lethal force should not be used when arresting nationals suspected of committing municipal or local crimes except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect your life or lives of others; peaceful or provoked violent assemblies do not amount to commission of municipal crimes other than insurrection, mutiny or armed struggle; (6) arrest no person unless there are legal wounds to do so and ensure that the arrest is carried out in accordance with lawful arrest procedures; (7) ensure that all detainees have access, promptly after arrest to their families and legal representatives and to any necessary medical assistance; (8) all detainees must be treated humanely and avoid infliction, instigation or toleration of any act of torture in any circumstance and refuse to obey order to do so; (9) do not carry out, order or cover up extrajudicial executions or disappearances of the arrested or the detained and refuse to obey any order to do so; (10) report all breaches of these basic standards to your senior officers and to the office of the public prosecutor and do everything within your powers to ensure steps are taken to investigate these breaches.
In policing or managing such civil assemblies and free speeches, particularly if they become uncontrollable and capable of breaching public peace and safety, policing agencies and their officers must apply the following modern crowd control methods or kits and equipment: tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, electric tasers, batons, whips, water cannons, long range acoustic devices, aerial surveillance, police dogs, etc; and they must be bodily aided or protected by body protective devices such as anti crowd helmets, face visors, body armor (i.e. vests, neck protectors, knee pads, etc), gas masks and anti crowd shields. Sir, it is crystal clear from the above that these fundamental rules were observed in grave breach in the instant case.
Regional and international obligations of Nigeria to its citizens under armed conflict or war situation:
Under circumstances of war or situations of widespread or clustered internal conflict, Sir, the military and humanitarian handling or management of same are strictly regulated regionally and internationally. On humanitarian and use of force aspects, Nigeria is a party to UN Statute on Refuge of 1951 and allied treatments of IDPs. Nigeria is also a State Party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998. Nigerian armed forces and police are also strictly bound by the UN’s Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials of 1979 and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials of 1990.
In the area of intra and inter-State armed conflicts, Nigeria is bound by the Geneva Conventions or Laws of War of 1949 and their Four Protocols including the doctrine of rules of engagement and its principles of use of force, self defence, and others already highlighted above. Nigeria is also a State Party to anti Genocide and anti Torture Conventions of 1948 and 1985 respectively.
Sir, as you may professorially be aware or unaware, the Rules of Engagement traditionally and universally associated with internal and inter -State violent or armed conflicts or wars are the integral part of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 or Laws of War and their Four Protocols of 1977. They originally came from the three war related doctrines of Jus Ad Bellum (justification and ground for going to war); Jus In Bellum (ethical rules of conduct during war, such as ethical standards expected of soldiers or combatants in wartime or rules of engagement); and Jus Post Bellum (regulations on how wars are ended and facilitation of transition from war to peace).
Another name for the Rules of Engagement is the Standard Rules for the People of the War. The People of the War here literally means parties in the conflict who occupy the conflict areas such as fighting parties, non-combatants or civilians or IDPs and Refugees as well as other third parties directly or indirectly participating or affected by the conflict.
Further, Sir, key features of the internationally standardized Rules of Engagement strictly applicable in war or conflict situations are (1) legitimate use of force, (2) proportionality of use of force, (3) legitimate self defense, (4) treatment of prisoners of war or conflict, (5) avoidance of attacks on non-military necessity or civilian targets or properties, (6) avoidance of attacks on civilians or non-combatants, (7) treatment of the wounded, (8) avoidance of attacks on culture symbols or places of worship, (9) avoidance of attacks on humanitarian agencies and personnel/human rights activists; (10) treatment of other peoples of the war (i.e. spies and journalists).
Nigeria’s obligations to UN and its citizens under UN System:
Sir, the UN’s new concept of sovereignty as a responsibility or citizens’ sovereignty and maintenance of international peace and securityas the core foundation of the Purposes of the 193-member Organization; is inviolably binding on Nigeria as a key Member-State. Nigeria is also bound by the Customary International Law under UN System particularly those that are inviolable by virtue of their doctrine of “substantial uniformity by substantial number of States” or “Opinio Juris”.
Example of UN and Int’l Law’s hallowed doctrine of Opinio Juris or substantial uniformity by substantial number of States is a general belief binding on all Member-States of UN that a non-treaty is legally binding on States. Also, Nigeria as a leading and one of the most populous UN Member-States is inexcusably bound by the principle of “Jus Cogens” (i.e. absolute rules of general international law binding on UN Member-States for which no derogation is permitted). These include use of crude, deadly or asymmetric force against vulnerable and unarmed populations; perpetration of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity; massacre of unarmed and defenseless citizens in non war situations, slavery, torture, etc.
Reasons for Writing:
It shocks and saddens us; Sir that till date no single person in connection with these atrocious crimes above mentioned has been punished or arrested and prosecuted by the present Federal Government of Nigeria which you now head in acting capacity. The living victims or survivors and families and relatives of the slain have also been totally abandoned with several of them passing through post traumatic stresses and disorders. It is totally saddening that the present central Government now under your acting leadership has turned blind eyes; in addition to conspiracy of silence maintained by Nigeria’s leading human rights groups and activists particularly those concentrated in Lagos and environs.
There have been several researched and thoroughly investigated reports by leading international and local human rights groups especially by Amnesty Int’l, Human Rights Watch and Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law and in spite of their several calls on the present central Government to fish out and bring the culprits to book and punish them accordingly and adequately compensate the living victims or survivors and dead victims through their families or relatives, nothing of such has happened till date. As a matter of fact, Sir, the perpetrators are still on the prowl with impunity.
For the avoidance of doubt Sir, there are special reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on Shiite Muslims’ massacre in Zaria as well as in-house investigations carried out by the authorities of the Shiite Muslims.
Till date, the leader of Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim Zaky El-Zaky and his wife-Malama Zeenatu are still being detained incommunicado or without trial or bail since 14th December 2015; a period of 18 months. While the Shiite leader got shot and battered with eighteen live bullets removed from his body, his wife had four live bullets removed from her body as well (source: IMN leadership 2016).
There are also comprehensive reports of Amnesty Int’l on mass killing and maiming by Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and ors of defenceless pro Biafra activists in Southeast and parts of South-south Nigeria as well as the alleged death in Army custody of 240 civilians including 29 children aged between new born and five years in Northeast State of Borno.
Chief Prosecutor for International Criminal Court, Netherlands
UK Foreign Secretary
US Secretary of State
UN Human Rights Council
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
UN Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions
The Council of Europe
Head of Division, Governance, Election & Human Rights of AU
Chairperson of AU
European Union, Brussels Belgium
AU Spokesperson
The African Union Commission on Human Rights
Senator Patrick Leahy, United States Democratic Party Senator for Vermont
World Organization Against Torture
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners of France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Japan, etc.
Sometimes, it’s more consoling to dismiss America as inconsequential. The desire of America to police the world at all cost compels it, to often commit unpardonable blunders. America has just released a report on Nigeria and seven other countries alleging the use of child soldiers in terrorism combat wars in the country.
America was vehement that Nigeria alongside the indicted countries violated the American Child-Soldier Prohibition Act, (CSPA) 2008. In its accustomed haughtiness, America proclaimed a number of restrictions on these indicted countries over the alleged violation of the child-soldier Act. But most profoundly, penalties also include the denial of military assistance of any kind to governments of such countries.
I do not have sufficient knowledge of how the other countries prosecute their internal wars. But I am knowledgeable about Nigeria. I have enthusiastically followed the counter-insurgency war in the Northeast specifically.
In the first place, we are not living in the stone age, where Americans would sit in the White House, churn out obnoxious laws, impose it on other nations, determine when such nations are guilty, pass judgments’ on them in absentia and trumpet to the world their sanctity. Methinks, it defeats sound reasoning to continue to administer external relations to the world in this manner and expect to earn respect.
It’s understandable that developing countries like Nigeria routinely depend on advanced countries like America for assistance. But no nation is an island to itself, including America. But it does not mean America should smear these nations with their smelly dung.
America’s application of its CSPA is extremely and transparently defective. It has found Nigeria culpable because of the involvement of the Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) in the counter-insurgency campaigns in Nigeria’s Northeast and other parts of the country. But going by the prescriptions’ of CSPA, no sensible judgment can pronounce Nigeria guilty on use of child-soldiers.
None of the prescriptions constitute the concept, underlying philosophy, membership content and operations of the Civilian JTF in Nigeria. Had America lowered its head, to check the composition of Civilian JTF in Borno state, it would have restrained itself from criminalizing Nigeria with such generous conclusions.
I do know that none of the members of the Civilian JTF has been recruited into the Nigerian military for the purpose of fighting the Boko Haram terrorism. Its membership is also drawn from youths of diverse professional persuasions’. The legal officer of the Civilian JTF, Mr. Junril Gunda himself a fighter, is a lawyer by training. It is impossible for anyone who qualifies as a lawyer in Nigeria to be below 18 years of age.
Based on a mindset to deny Nigeria military assistance, America downplayed the reality that among members of the Civilian JTF, there are degree holders, NCE and diploma certificate holders. Some of them are into established businesses and family men before voluntarily opting to assist the military in salvaging their communities from the menace of Boko Haram terrorism. America has not convinced anyone on how it qualifies such persons as under-aged, by any standard of definition.
The Civilian JTF evolved through stages into a formidable force. Its members do not use conventional weapons, but traditional arms like Dane guns, cudgels, machetes’ and knives. Some are local hunters. In recognition of the crucial roles they elected to play in quelling insurgency, the Nigerian Army documented them.
Its condemnable conspiracy against Nigeria to claim the Nigerian military would have consented to the registration of under-aged youths as soldiers.
The idea of shouting first over presumed lapses by other nations has become America’s trademark. They drum perfection to the extent of forgetting their own decomposing sores, preferring to point the black spots in others. So, they hardly mention the extra-judicial killing of Osama Bin Laden in a Pakistani cave. Had this act been done by another country, America would have imposed restrictions.
I dare say, America knows nothing about the Civilian JTF. So, they should be reminded that a corrupt Nigerian military could not tame the horror of Boko Haram terrorism, as it festered uncontrollably in 2009. It compelled the Federal Government to impose a state of emergency. And constant raids of communities by terrorists, coupled with the violent interface with insurgents by Nigerian troops made life hellish for inhabitants.
In order to wriggle out of this predicament, the vision of Civilian JTF sprouted in 2013, at the Hausari part of Maiduguri, when a courageous youth, Baba Lawan Jafar, chased a gun-wielding terrorist in his neighbourhood with a mere stick and captured him. This act of valour enticed his friend Modu Milo who also enlisted in the task of hunting for insurgents.
The initial success recorded by these brave duo fired the zeal and emboldened other youths, who believed they could help salvage themselves from the suffocating difficulties terrorism imposed on inhabitants. The youths therefore, decided to orderly arrange themselves to resist the brutality of terrorists, leading to the birth of Civilian JTF.
And for the years they have operated, members of the Civilian JTF have proven to be dependable allies in the counter-insurgency war. Like soldiers, they sacrificed their comfort and paid the supreme price in most instances. With the supportive intervention of the Civilian JTF, exploits of Boko Haram insurgents began to wane. They were handy in various ways as local informants and pathfinders to virgin territories for soldiers in hunting for insurgents.
Consequently, if Nigeria enjoys respite from the suffocating grip of terrorism today, the Civilian JTF are the indisputable unsung heroes of this war. They deserve accolades as patriots of the Nigerian state, who staked their lives for Nigerians and humanity in general. America’s orchestrated mockery of Civilian JTF is in bad taste, condemnable and an assault on the psyche of these brave Nigerians.
It is unfortunate that it came from the Americans and not Iran or Qatar who are known supporters of terrorism. But certainly, this outing on Nigeria is sacrilegious and betrays America’s hidden agenda on terrorism.
The Nigerian military have repeatedly celebrated the Civilian JTF as true patriots who identified with their country in the hour of need. They have never been an arm of the Nigerian armed forces or the core counter-insurgency operations. America cannot belittle their selflessness that abusively or blot the joy of being part of the redemption history of their nation, through the jaundiced report.
Nigeria is not the only country immersed in terrorism. In spite of America’s sophistry, terrorism is still a threat to its existence.
Ainoko, a public affairs commentator writes from Kaduna.
On December 7, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Peter Okpalaeke of Awka Diocese in Anambra State, as the Bishop-elect of the Episcopal See of Ahiara Mbaise Diocese. .Fr. Okpalaeke is to replace His Lordship, beloved Late Most Rev. Dr. Victor .A. Chikwe, who passed away on the 16th of September, 2010. The clergy and laity of the Diocese have since rejected his posting and refused to give him, canonical possession of the Ahiara Diocese- a right it has according to the code of canon law (Can. 382 §1/382 §3), on the following grounds.
Due process was not followed. Ahiara Diocese rejects the violation of the canonical process (Can. 377 §2), that produced Bishop Okpalaeke. We want a Shepherd that will pass through the Gate of the Sheepfold and not one that climbs over elsewhere (John 10:1).
Ahiara Diocese detests nepotism in the selection of Bishops. It is unacceptable for Cardinal Francis Arinze to derail the code of canonical law, disqualify an entire presbyterium, in order to grab an additional episcopal see, for an Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, that already has 8 bishops and 1 cardinal.
Neglect of Pastoral obligations as required by the code of canon law (Can. 383-400), since his appointment 5 years ago, is a clear sign that Bishop Okpalaeke and his representative Cardinal John Onaiyekan, appointed to administer the Diocese in his stead, do not care for the flock of God in Ahiara Diocese. We have been so starved of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Ordination; and all Pastoral obligations reserved to the Bishops. They have come to slaughter and destroy (John 10:10a).
A lot of polluted water has passed under the bridge in the Bishop Okpalaeke crisis, which has incapacitated him to efficiently administer the Diocese. He and Cardinal Onaiyekan have so intimidated the Diocese with the use of lies, military and police force to impose injustice on Ahiara. The code of canon law Can.401 § 2 states that “. A diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office.”. Bishop Okpalaeke should immediately resign or be reassigned. He makes the flock to scatter and run away (John 10:5). His name alone brings anger, fear and disaffection to the people.
Ahiara is not insisting on “Son of the Soil”, but on a Priest from Ahiara Diocesan Presbyterium as prescribed by the code of canon law (Can. 377 §2),.
Ahiara Diocese is not disobeying the Pope, rather we are helping him in reforming the Church, making sure that people do not commit ecclesiastical crimes in his name.
The grievances of the Diocese are strong, justified and deserve a fair hearing, by his Holiness Pope Francis, especially for the potential disruptive impact on evangelization work globally. it is worthy of note that Ahiara Diocese has, about 750 priests, who trace their origin to the Presbyterium,. Since the establishment of the Diocese in 1987, there have been at least 167 priestly ordinations for the Diocese. The Diocese is currently served by 127 priests and 113 religious, according to Vatican source. With such a wealth of priests, the Ahiara diocese has sent more than its share of missionaries around the world, and yes, has contributed to the universality of the church and sure can differentiate it from lawlessness.
Signed,
On behalf of the Ahiara Diocese World-Wide Laity Council
Professor Edie Oparaoji
Mr Emeka Opara
Adanze Aguwa
Dr Jude Ihuoma
Tessy Okere
Collins Ugochukwu
Ezeji Alozie Aguwa
Mr Austin Onwubiko
Mr Casca Ohanele
Mr Tony Awusaku
Paschal Ukpabi
Charles Ibe
Mr Zephrinus Dozie
Columba Akalonu
Ms Cynthia Tochi Ibeh
Peter Onu
Robert Unegbu
Fabian Ekeanyanwu
Dim Chijike Ndukwe
Mr John Nwachukwu
Sir Mel Igbokwe
Sir Felix Acholonu
Mrs Perpertua Ogokeh
Ezeji Tobias Ogu
Law Nwandu
Chief Edwin Nwanodi
Onyema Nkwocha
Fabian Anyanwu
Tony Madu.
Nze Silas Ugwu
Emeka Okoro
Foster Ikechukwu .
Chief Josiah Ikeh
O. Onyeocha
Chinedu Iwuji
Goddy Okoro
Chikezie Onwu
Vitalis Nkwocha
Dr Sebastian Chukwu
Tobias Udo
(Mrs) Justina Obilor
Jonathan Igbokwe
Pat Ekwe
Chinenye Agoha
Ugochukwu Okoro
Obioma Agoha
Charles Nkwokocha
Ogbonna Akubuiro
Uchenna Egwim
Ngozi Eze
Cecelia Agomuo
Ngozi Nwokocha
Benedicta Njoku
Charles Anyanwu
Pius Nzekwe
Callistus Njoku
Simon Chukwu
Okechukw Osondu
Virginus Osondu
Scholastica Ndu
Victor Okwu
Ann Njoku
Ugochukwu Igbo
Tina Odocha
Roseline Mesie
Justina Anya
Charity Eze
Chioma Okparaeze
Getrude Njoku
Egochukwu chukwu Opara
Sylvia Njoku
Esther Onyeocha
Praise Odu
Vitus Ugo
Vero Ugworji
Ibeawuchi Nze
Maurice Ekechukwu
Linus Onye
Remijus Ekeocha
Thaddeus Unaegbu
Tracy Okoronkwo
Damian Njoku
Eugene Anyanwu
Tochi Ekeh
Tonia Ugwu
Harry Ugwo
Christopher Njoku
Anne Ogu
Ben Amadi
Chioma Opara
Uchenna Duru
Donald Njoku
Esther Agim
Kema Ugwu
Greg Ononaku
Queen Ibechukwu
Ikenna C. Ibeh
Ifeanyi G. Anyanwu
Mrs Fidelia Ugochukwu
Mike Chikere
Ngozi Onyeocha
Mrs Cecelia Amadi
Obasi Agbaraji
Mrs Laura Onuoha
Chioma Odum
Mike Achilonu
Robert Ndugbu
Jude Opara
Mrs May Anyanwu
Martins Onyenegecha
Titus Egejuru
Gabriella Njoku
Daniel Njoku
Aloy Mbaegbu
Andrew Anayo
Finian Anyanwu
Paul Nnadi
Nze Robert Ezenwa
Jude Igbokwe
Prince Uzoma Ugochukwu
Paschal Ndugbu
Gerald Ndugbu
McCauley Onyekwere
Valentine Onuoha
Andrew Ugochukwu
Onyinyechi Onuoha
Lolo Uche Egwim
Vincent Nwamdi
Remy Nwamdii
Udo Nwamdi.
Leonard Ndubuisi
Ndubeze Ekere
Young Ekere
Julios Ekere
Rob Opara
Ugochi Opara
Ikechukwu M. Opara
Odinaka Opara
Emmanuel Anejionu
Chicaodi Nwanneri
Chief Benjamin Ejere
Carol Onuoha
Bruno O. Onuoha
Emeka Onuoha
Kevin Kachi
Odom Ugwunali
Michael Obasi
Joan Obasi
Kennedy Nwankwo
Bede Oku
Mcdonald Oji
Aileen Iro
Dr Chidi Okpara
Bertrand Okwu
Charles Oparah
Chidi Nneji
John Njoku
David Onyekachi
Athan Ememe
Chief Christopher Onye
Raph Chukwuma
Mark Opara
Celestine Eleanya
Will Nnadozie
Eziada Nnadozie
Gilbert Nnadozie
Obinna Chukwu
Abara Chinedu
Egbujor Ugochukwu
Francis Kemakolam
Ethel Onyeoziri
Eustace Obasi
Austin Iwuh
Canice Nwachukwu, CPA
Bright Onyewuchi
Pat Dozie
Prof Roland Izu
Chief (Prof.) Mathias Dirichi
Linus Egede
Dr Paul Ujumba
Hon Steve Ezenwa
Mr Joseph Ikechukwu
Mr Bob Anochirionye
Mr Frank Ibechhukwu
About Ahiara Diocese World-Wide Laity Council: We are a global network of Catholics with roots and or relationship traceable to the Ahiara Diocese Presbyterium, of Nigeria, constituted to promote the social and pastoral health of our members and the Diocese, using all resources available to us globally.
A Court sitting in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on Friday fixed July, 6, 2017 for judgement on the N2bn suit filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky against the Nigerian Army, the Attorney General of the Federation and Kaduna State government.
El-Zakzaky dragged the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, Attorney General of the Federation, AGG, and Kaduna State government before the Federal High over the alleged Killings, including his three children and destruction of his house.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, under Justice Gabriel Kolawole had earlier delivered judgment on the infringement of the fundamental rights and unlawful detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife, ordered for their release within 45 days, provision of befitting accommodation and the payment of damages to the tune of N25 million to each of them.
When the case came up for hearing in Kaduna, the Federal High Court Judge, Justice Saleh Musa Shuaibu, said, “I have the written addresses of both the applicants and respondents in this case before me, and I have also gone through the judgment of my learned brother in Abuja, Justice Kolawole which deals with the unlawful detention and fundamental human rights of El-Zakzaky and his wife.
“I will concern myself with the issue of alleged destruction of the houses and properties of the applicant by the Army and the killings of his children which were brought before me. And all these have been covered by the written addresses, exhibits and affidavits of counsels and which I have gone through.”
However, the Counsel to the Applicant, Mr. Festus Okoye while addressing the court, said that despite the fact that Justice Kolawole ordered for the release of Zakzaky and the wife, the third respondent, Directorate of Security Service, DSS, remained adamant to the judgment, “Thereby giving approval to what the first and second respondents (Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff) did,” he obsrrved.
“I wish to refer the court to the judgment of justice Kolawole. He said that the applicant must be provided with a house, for himself and his wife. What Justice Kolawole said was that they should be given a temporary accommodation with damages of 25 million naira to each of them. If my Lord looks at relief 5, your Learned brother, Justice Kolawole did this in page 51, to talk about accommodation to be provided,” Okoye added.
Okoye who said that the applicant has been rendered homeless unjustly while his children were killed by soldiers, told the court, “On the whole, we urged my lordship to grant all the reliefs sought and for the court to take judicial notice of the fact that the third respondent (DSS) is still in contempt in releasing the applicant and his wife, thereby giving approval to what the first and second respondent did.”
Meanwhile, in his submission, lawyer to the Army and Chief of Army Staff, Mr. Biola Oyebanji while urging the court to dismiss the submission of Okoye, said, “The essence of this is to do justice primarily in this case. It is the effort and action of the first and second respondents that uphold peace in this country and we were all eye witnesses to the terrifying situations that the entire nation went through doing the
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recorded 113 convictions nationwide between January and June, 2017.
The Commission’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu made the disclosure Friday at an interactive meeting with stakeholders in Ikoyi, Lagos – southwest Nigeria.
According to Magu, the feat was made possible by the contributions and support of stakeholders. He vowed not to spare the corrupt despite the prevailing encumbrances.
EFCC’s head of Media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement quoted his boss to have said, “We will not fail to bring to book those who have corruptly stolen our commonwealth and thereafter organize to destabilize the anti corruption initiatives. I will not relent, I will fight… for the interest of our citizens and our children’s future”.
The EFCC boss who observed that corruption was at the root of recent separatist agitations in parts of the country, urged for the joining of forces by all patriots to defeat these tendencies, adding that “we all have a stake in the peaceful co-existence of this nation”.
President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwumadu, described the anti corruption fight not only as a class struggle, but a war that must be won by the people. He said, “This is a class struggle between the political elites and those of us fighting to rescue the soul of our society. The battle may be lost if we don’t reorganize and focus on the people who seem confused due to manipulation by the corrupt few”.
Also speaking, Jiti Ogunye, a lawyer and human rights activist, acknowledged the challenges confronting the anti corruption agencies especially the dangerous environment in which their personnel operate. He sued for encouragement for all anti corruption agencies in order to reduce the pressure on EFCC.
While calling for commitment and synergy among civil society groups, Dr. Joe Odumakin of Women Arise, said “this is not a day to agonize but to organize and put our strategies in focus. Enough of the diversionary tactics employ by those who hate the commission. We must put our house in order, and create more awareness in the communities on the dangers of corruption and how we can mobilize the common people for support”.
Civil society leaders who spoke at the forum called on the Commission to improve its prevention awareness campaign by creating communication strategies that will motivate the masses to join the anti corruption crusade.
The Executive Director of International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Moji Makanjuola has challenged Nigerian Journalists to position themselves to embrace and broker change whenever necessary to engender development.
According to her, Journalists need to stay in the place of knowledge, trust, truth and growth.
She made these remarks in her opening and goodwill message at a training workshop on Reporting Trending and Development Journalism holding at Minki Suites and Conference Hotel in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
According to her, no true development can take place without partnership with the media and urged the media to always report from the point of knowledge adding that the media has the onerous task of passing the message succinctly and unequivocally to the populace.
Mrs Makanjuola who was a former President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) commended the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) for sponsoring the workshop .
In her remarks, one of the resource persons at the workshop, Janet Mba Afolabi, a CNN award winning journalist and Publisher Scroll Report, an online publication, stressed the need for the activities of operators of social media in the country to be properly monitored .
According to her, the activities of the unregistered social media is affecting journalism profession and the image of the country, as most of their news items are of no standard, and written by quacks.
Mrs. Afolabi expressed worry that many people rely on what is published by the social media than even the traditional or the conventional newspapers, hence the need for government to urgently check their excesses, so as not to mislead members of the public.
The Resource Person who defined NEWS as North, East , West and South stressed the need for journalists to be accurate, fair and do a lot of research before publishing or broadcasting their news reports.
Another resource person, an International Journalist and Media Specialist, IIiya Kure who spoke on Understanding Journalism, condemned the idea of propaganda in news reporting and appealed to journalists to go extra mile to go into research and ask probing questions.
According to him, any event that is not reported in any media is not news and that anything that is written for internal consumption is not journalism and therefore appealed to journalists to water down any news item no matter how objective if it’s for the sake of peace.
Mr. Kure urged journalists to ensure that they are current and social media compliant so as not to be out of journalism practice.
Journalists were drawn from all parts of the State to attend the two-day programme.
The National Assembly has been called upon to put into law a policy that will make it mandatory for every community in Nigeria to have a health facility that has a midwife or qualified medical personnel so as to ensure the safe delivery of pregnant women.
