MULAN President- I will never call for the abolishment of SAN title

Barrister Olori-Aje Adam is the newly elected chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) and principal partner of A.O. Olori-Aje & Co law firm based in Abuja. He was called to the bar on January 23, 2001 and was elected chairman of MULAN in April this year.

In this interview, he discusses MULAN, capital punishment and the need to ignore calls to abolish the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title.

What is your view on capital punishment?
From the point of view of the human rights activists, it’s some kind of punishment that is too harsh and barbaric.

However, you’d discover that countries with capital
punishment are the ones maintaining some level of sanity.

The essence of that law is not in the execution itself; the essence is in the deterrence and the impression. Some people complain that Islam advises the amputation of the hand for stealing but during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, the total execution of amputations was only twice because people knew if they steal, it is punishable by hand amputation. The prophet himself said that ‘even if it’s my daughter that does something that would warrant her hand being cut, I’ll cut it’. It’s the fear that will keep people
in line, which is why I think capital punishment should stay.

Some people have called for the abolishment of the SAN title. Do you think it should go?
To cut the head is not the solution to a headache. The best thing to happen to you as a lawyer is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I will never call for the abolishment of that title. If there is a problem with the method of appointment or confinement, let us fine-tune it and restructure it to accommodate those who we believe are qualified and may not have been conferred.

Regarding discipline among the members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), are you satisfied with the disciplinary mechanisms within the association?
The disciplinary mechanisms within the NBA are perfect but we can say that there is room for further development and improvement. To the best of my knowledge, what they do now is if there is any allegation against a member of the bar, the person who is alleging misconduct or any other offence
forwards his complaint to the chairman of that branch. The chairman of the branch will look at it and may call for a response from the affected member. They will send you a direct copy of that allegation and put a forwarding letter on it stating the complaint and the date of the complaint with a time limit for a response. If they are satisfied with your response then they will arrange for a meeting with you and the complainant to settle the issue. The complaint can be passed on to higher stages depending on the complexity.

Once the complaint is filed, there is no going back so the complainant withdrawing the filing can’t stop the
investigation. As it is today, I believe we have a considerably perfect disciplinary measure.

The NBA has introduced Stamp and Seal. Some people feel that the Stamp and Seal Policy is discriminatory. What is your opinion?
I agree with the Stamp and Seal policy. I believe it’s in the best interest of lawyers in Nigeria. Before, we usually see people in places like business centres preparing documents in their systems and putting the name of a lawyer who may be their uncle or brother in Lokoja, Ibadan or even Lagos who isn’t aware of the transaction. If a problem erupts, one wouldn’t know where to trace it to. It’s the best thing to happen to the Nigerian bar. It gives us a sense of belonging and protects the integrity of the bar. You’ll think twice before putting your seal on any document.

The NBA is the umbrella body for lawyers in Nigeria and MULAN is a sub group. Can you tell us more about MULAN?
Alhamdulillah. MULAN is more of a streamline of a bigger body called the NBA. The NBA is a larger body with a larger responsibility to cover thousands of lawyers in Nigeria by taking care of their welfare and practice. It is productive to have a body that will take care of specific interests and therefore MULAN was introduced to look after the welfare of Muslims who are lawyers; how they do, how they practice, what kind of practice they do, what kind of welfare they
need, and so on. We have other groups like CLASSFON (Christian Lawyers Association of Nigeria). Now, even ethnic groups are coming up. We have the Yoruba and Igbo groups as well as the younger generation of lawyers.

We started at state level before coming together to formally launch the association in the year 2005. There was the need for us to protect our religion, to protect our practice and to have a closer look at our welfare. That was how we virtually came together and since then we have been up and doing.

What achievements have this association made so far?
Within the short period of our existence, we have gone for prison visitations as part of our activities and offered financial assistance to our members, including the payment of penalties and fines depending on the situation. We visit hospitals and IDPs (internally displaced persons). In fact recently, we visited some IDPs and donated a whole lot of things to them. Those are examples of things we do for the welfare of our members. We are currently working on a project that will be very marvelous by the time we unveil it.

Olu of Warri: Prince Eroro assumes regent as Olu designate goes into seclusion

WARRI – The Olu designate of Warri kingdom, Prince
Godfrey Ikenwole Abiloye Emiko has gone into seclusion following his selection to become the 20th Olu on the throne.

Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, Mr. Edward
Ekpoko, while explaining the implication of Olu in waiting’s action in Warri, Delta state said yesterday that it is in line with the tradition of the land.

Ekpoko, who is also Chairman, Warri Study Group said, “I have been bombarded with media enquiries to meet
Abiloye since he was chosen Saturday. The simple
response is that he cannot be reached until passage rites of HRM, Atuwatse II, his predecessor are concluded.

“It is at that point within the next 90 days that his
coronation commences that he comes out of seclusion. In his absence Prince Eroro Emiko, Olori-Ebi (Head) of the royal family assumes regent of the kingdom. He will start receiving visitors coming into the royal family in due course.”

Ekpoko also clarified that Chief Yaya Pessu, Ojomo of
Warri kingdom who took the role of Ologbotsere when he broke news of the passage of HRM, Atuwatse II and
announced his successor in one breath was not a chief
priest.

“Neither the Ojomo or Ologbotsere is Chief Priest. Also
note that the last Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom was
Chief Ogbemi Newe Rewane and not his sibling, Alfred
Rewane as reflected in some reports”, he further clarified.

Court Adjourns Saraki's Trial to October 21

The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, has been adjouned to October 21.

Earlier, the trial of Dr. Olubukola Saraki took a dramatic turn when he refused to mount the dock.
The trial tribunal, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, called up Saraki’s case at exactly 10:32am.

Where is the prosecution, is the accused person here?”,
Justice Umar who was looking directly at Saraki from his vantage post, queried.

“Mr lord I cannot see him. I think the first thing is for him to enter the dock first, then we will announce our
appearances. After which the charge will be read to him”, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs submitted.

“With profound respect to the chairman and member of
this tribunal, I agree with my learned brother that we
should enter appearances first. The order of this tribunal was that the accused should be produced today. It was not for his to enter his plea. The case was earlier adjourned for mention”, counsel to Saraki, Mr. J.B. Daudu, insisted.

Daudu vehemently opposed the idea of Saraki entering
the dock, relying on an Appeal Court decided case law in Igbeke vs FRN, 2015, 3 NWLR.

Eventually, Saraki entered the dock and pleaded not guilty to the 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the federal government.

The Tribunal adjourned sitting to October 21, 2015.

Dangote to bankroll 15 new professors for Kano University

KANO – The pro Chancellor, Kano University of Science
and Technology, Wudil, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has offered to bankroll salaries and emoluments of 15 new Professors for the state owned tertiary institution for 4 years.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu
Musa told Reporters during an interactive session to mark its 15 years anniversary, explained that the philanthropic gesture was part of effort to boost manpower of the science based institution.

Professor Musa revealed that the pro Chancellor has also elected to provide 15 housing units to accommodate the new hands settled for academic rigour.

The Vice Chancellor said Aliko Dangote has also completed arrangements to provide the university with industrial bore holes that would cater for 30,000 population.

He disclosed that Dangote has further made necessary
provision that would link the University with Integrated
Power Project, pointing out that before now, the science based Institution was being powered by stand by generator.

Professor Musa while cataloguing Dangote’s gesture to the University further announced plan by the business mogul to sponsor the schools Agriculture master plan that would accommodates 1 million farmers.

The Vice Chancellor commended TETFUND for its high
impact intervention totalling N3billion, further stressed
that the University currently boast of 56 capital projects He said private individuals had also contributed to the University success story, as he added that Kano State Government alone invested N7billion on capital project at the institution within the past 12 months.

Commenting on the challenges confronting the University, Professor Musa revealed that the institution is been threatened by flood and erosion.

But he however disclosed that adequate representation
has been made to ecological Fund for its intervention
adding that “at the moment we need emergency
intervention from the ecological fund to save the institution”.

Former Governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso established the University during his first term in office in year 2000.

Buhari reluctantly approves N70m for Independence celebrations

ABUJA-APPARENTLY disturbed by the dwindling revenues of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari approved only N70million for this year’s Independence celebrations.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF made this revelation.

According to the SGF, Buhari reluctantly approved the
N70m after complaining that he would have preferred the money is diverted for the payment of workers salaries.

He said the president had argued that the money was too much to be spent on frivolities such as celebrations when Nigerians are grappling to survive the present day economic stress .

He further explained that “this year’s celebration is,
indeed low key because the present administration
appreciates the economic hardship that Nigerians and the nation is confronted with today and he almost slashed it downward from N70m”.

“To address the situation, government has adopted a
general policy to be very prudent in the management of
our financial resources, so this year’s celebration is,
therefore, in consonance with the cost-saving policy
direction of this administration”.

Towards a successful celebration the SGF said “four
events have been approved by the president to manage
the entire celebration process”.

“The events are: Jumat prayers, international
thanksgiving service, ceremonial change of guards and a children’s party”.

“Apart from these four events the president will also
address the nation on Oct 1”.

“To ensure a successful commemoration, four sub-
committees have been constituted to handle the
preparations for each of the four events”.

Obasanjo writes children story book on peace

ABEOKUTA – Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, launched a children’s story book on peace to celebrate the the 2015 International Day of Peace, The former president said he decided to launch the story book entitled, “Peace Story for Children” to ensure the entrenchment of sustainable peace in the country.

Obasanjo, while launching the 14-page booklet illustrated with various cartoons at an event held at the OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, attended by pupils from different secondary schools in the state, said that it had become imperative to sow the seeds of peace in the minds of children whose minds were more receptive to ideas.

Obasanjo, who was represented at the launch of the
booklet by the Director of the OOPL Centre for Human
Security, Prof. Peter Okebukola, noted that since the
youths were the leaders of tomorrow, imbibing the
essence of peace when young should be vigorously
pursued.

Addressing the pupils from the various schools who also participated in a debate with the theme, “Whose
Responsibility Is It to ensure peace? Is it the people or
the government?”, Okebukola disclosed that Obasanjo
called him overnight to tell Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of peace while still young.

Commissioner–nominees, others to write aptitude test

Nominees for appointments as commissioners in Cross
River State are to undergo mandatory integrity and
aptitude test, even as the state governor, Prof. Ben
Ayade, has already set up a selection committee to
oversee the process.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said the nominees would have to undergo the aptitude test before their names would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

The statement disclosed that appointment of chairmen and members of boards, agencies and parastatals and even special advisers would go through the same routine.

“Governor Ayade wants all nominees for appointments as commissioners to undergo integrity test. They will also write an aptitude test,” the statement said
According to the statement, the governor believes that
every would-be appointee in the state must be subjected to ethical measurement to ascertain whether or not they can function in the new order, where accountability and transparency are the watchwords.

Consequently, the governor has set up a selection
committee to oversee the process.

According to the statement “Renowned Abuja-based
lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, is the chairman of the
committee which has prominent woman leader and
politician, Mrs. Grace Ekanem and Chief of Staff to the
Governor, Mr. Martin Orim as members.”

In another development, Governor Ayade has terminated the contract for the evacuation of refuse in Calabar.

This follows the inability of the contracted firms, PATSON and PACLISON to evacuate refuse from the streets of Calabar.

It will be recalled that during a tour of the metropolis
shortly after assuming office, Governor Ayade had given the contractors a three-month ultimatum to improve on the sanitary condition of the metropolis with a view to restoring its rightful status as the cleanest and greenest state in the country.