SPACES FOR CHANGE has petitioned the Nigerian National Judicial Council (NJC) to dismiss and prosecute Justice Marcel
Awokulehin of the Federal High Court, Asaba for the ostensibly biased roles he played in the handling of the corruption cases involving former Delta Governor, James Ibori. In 2009, Justice Marcel Awokulehin quashed all 170 count charges of corruption
and money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Justice Marcel
Awokulehin absolved Ibori of any wrongdoing despite the overwhelming evidence of corruption and money laundering presented by the EFCC, and refused to consider the matter on its merits.
In sharp contrast to Justice Awokulehin's kangaroo trial, Ibori has been convicted, and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by a Southwark Crown Court in London
for the same offences. In his verdict on the matter, Judge Anthony Pitt of London
Southwark Court said that Ibori’s sentencing would be followed by the consfication of his properties through
another legal process and that consequences might arise if there was
problem with that. In 2007, the London’s Metropolitan Police Service secured an order from a London
court to freeze $35 million worth of his foreign assets,
including a private jet.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed its satisfaction with the conviction of Ibori and the 13 years jail sentence. In a recent statement, the EFCC said it “welcomes the conviction which is the icing on a tortuous
investigative and legal odyssey for all actors invoved in the Ibori
saga. It is reassuring that the sentencing of Ibori was based on the
foundation of the case built by the EFCC in 2007 which unfortunately
was thrown out by the Federal High Court, Asaba for lack of merit. The
same fate has lately befallen other EFCC cases, notably the Erastus
Akingbola, Ndudi Elumelu , Dimeji Bankole and Gbenga Daniel
matters.They were all thrown out by the courts purely on technical
grounds without consideration of the subtantive issues.
“The fact that a case which supposedly lacked merit in Nigeria could
fetch a 13 year jail term in the UK after a landmark guilty plea,
brings to fore the need for a reassessment of the nation’s justice
delivery process. We must strenghen our judicial instituitions if we
are to make any headway in the anti- graft efforts. Once again, his fate has proven that there is no safe haven
abroad for politically exposed persons who looted state funds entrusted
in their care”
Dismissing and prosecuting Justice Awokulehin would represent a step forward in tackling judicial corruption, and attest to the seriousness of the Nigerian Judicial Council to insulate judges from political manipulations and control. Without an honest criminal justice system, the wealthy, especially the corrupt, can escape the consequences of their crimes.
SPACES FOR CHANGE believes that punishing Justice Awokulehin would not only serve as deterrent to other erring judges, but also help in restoring the rapidly eroding public confidence in the judiciary as the last bastion of hope for the common man.
SPACES FOR CHANGE welcomes the Federal Government's suspension of the public officials involved in the stealing of the police pension funds. In a statement issued yesterday, April 19, 2012 in Abuja, by Tope Ajakaiye, Deputy
Director Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Head of the
Civil Service of the Federation,
the Federal Civil Service Commission, (FCSC) approved the
suspension of the five civil servants allegedly involved in the police
pension fund scam with effect from March 29, 2012. The
affected civil servants include Atiku Abubakar Kigo (a Permanent
Secretary), Ahmed Inuwa Wada (Director), John Yakubu Yusuf (Assistant
Director), Veronica Onyegbula (Cashier) and Sani Habila Zira (ICT
Officer). All five officers are currently standing trial before an Abuja High Court.
Spaces
for Youth Development and Social Change (SPACES FOR CHANGE) launched a petition on Monday, April 9, 2012 demanding the Federal Government to relieve the indicted officers of their positions with immediate effect until investigations and trial are concluded. We maintain that allowing the indicted officials to return to their respective posts
while investigations and trial are still going on would grant the suspects
unfettered access to interfere with evidence in the ongoing trial.
Please view Spaces for Change's petition via the link below...
Honourable Minister Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, Nigeria
Attention: Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke
RE: PASSAGE OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL (PIB)
We, the undersigned concerned citizens and members of the Spaces for Youth Development and
Social Change (SPACES FOR CHANGE), write to enquire about the status of
the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). SPACES FOR CHANGE is
a non-profit, human rights organization working to infuse human rights
into social and economic decision-making processes and platforms in
Nigeria. Using the human rights framework and youth-centred strategies,
the organization works to increase the participation of the youth,
marginalized groups and communities in public decision making, and
empower them to become strong advocates of social and economic justice.
Recalling that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources set up a
committee on January 17, 2012 to accelerate the passage of the PIB, and
make such inputs to the Bill that address the challenges of both the
downstream and the upstream sectors of the petroleum industry, we are
deeply concerned that months after the setting up of the committee,
there is very scanty information regarding the progress made, and
current status of the work undertaken by the Committee towards
actualizing the passage of the Bill. Since its introduction
over 4 years ago, the PIB continues to face persistent setbacks to its
passage despite the Bill’s enormous prospects for improving the
technical, operational and regulatory efficiency in oil industry
operations, and through enhanced efficiency expected to reduce oil
waste, corruption and environmental degradation. In addition, the new
regulatory ethics offers systems and mechanisms that balance a wide
variety of technological, economic, political and social interests with
the goal of maintaining a forward-looking and broad-based environmental
polity. We recognize the passage of the PIB as a catalyst for
the entrenchment of probity, transparency and accountability in the
Nigerian oil industry. Due to the gravity, range and magnitude of the
human rights abuses and risks associated with the oil industry
operations, we respectfully request the Committee’s processes and
activities to be made more inclusive, participatory and
all-encompassing in order to ensure that the voices, concerns,
priorities and perspectives of the oil bearing communities, the youth
and critical stakeholders are reflected in the final document.
We would appreciate a prompt response. For comments or questions,
please contact SPACES FOR CHANGE via spacesforchange.s4c@gmail.com and
info@spacesforcchange.org. Ma, as we look forward to your response, please accept our assurances of high regard for your office and person.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully, For: SPACES FOR CHANGE This letter is endorsed by the following people and organizations:See more
SPACES FOR CHANGE (S4C) is offering free legal representation to 60 year old Mrs. Elizabeth Farimade, whose 34 year old fashion designer daughter, Martha Farimade, was murdered by her jealous boyfriend, Adeola Agborin on January 6, 2012. The death certificate and autopsy revealed that the deceased died of asphyxia and fracture-dislocation of the cervical vertebrae.
Mrs. Elizabeth Farimade approached SPACES FOR CHANGE for
legal aid on March 4, 2012. The boyfriend of the deceased wrongfully suspected that
she was seeing someone else. After killing her on the night of January
6, 2012, he put her in a wheel barrow, covered her up with refuse, and
then dumped her body at a gutter beside her house in the early hours of the
morning.
Adeola Agborin has been remanded in prison custody
following the confessional statements he made at Panti Police Station.
He was almost set free by the Ilupeju Police Station until the Homicide Section of the Nigerian Police Force at Panti, Yaba intervened.
On March 5, 2012, S4C visited the beareaved family, the crime scene and the Panti Police
station to get a fuller grasp of the issues surrounding the murder. S4C represented the family at a court hearing on March 22, 2012 at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos, and continues to follow up with the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure an early issuance of the Legal Advise in the matter.
A: Elizabeth Farimade. B. The deceased. C. The deceased and Adeola Agborin when the going was good.
The unprecedented level of corruption in Nigeria assumed a frighteningly alarming dimension with the recent promotion of the indicted deputy director involved in the police pension fund scam!!! About N600m was allegedly found in one of the personal accounts of the former deputy director, who had just been promoted, while his sister was also found to be operating about 500 illegal pension accounts, in which fake pensioners’ money was regularly paid into.
The PUNCH Newspapers, a widely-read Nigerian daily authoritatively confirmed this development from the Information and Media Officer of the Pension Reform Task Force (PRT), Mr. Hassan Salihu. Ever since the PRT commenced investigation into the management of the pension fund, cash and assets worth over N159 Billion Naira have been confiscated from suspects comprising mostly of directors and permanent secretaries of the Federal Civil Service.
However, the suspects have been granted bail by the Abuja Court, and allowed them to return to their respective offices in the federal ministries. To make matters worse, one of them has been promoted from a deputy director to a director.
Spaces for Youth Development and Social Change (SPACES FOR CHANGE) condemns in very strong terms, this promotion of an indicted public officer. Allowing the indicted officials to return to their respective posts while investigations are still going on would grant the suspects unfettered access to interfere with evidence in the ongoing trial. Not only that, promoting a person facing such weighty allegations amounts to a condonation of corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria, and provides an incentive for continued plundering of national resources. In addition, the promotion ridicules both the commitment of the Nigerian government to tackle corruption as well as the public sector-led efforts to entrench transparency in governance. This incident and many others have contributed significantly to the rapidly eroding confidence in the public decision-making and governance processes in Nigeria.
SPACES FOR CHANGE is calling on all Nigerians at home, and in Diaspora to pressure the Nigerian government to overturn this promotion and relieve the indicted officers of their positions with immediate effect until investigations and trial are concluded. We strongly demand the Nigerian government to use the police pension fund scam as a test case to demonstrate its sincerity to visibly and effectively advance the fight against corruption, and to restore public confidence in the country’s leadership.
Please support this campaign by rebroadcasting it, and using every available means to bring this statement to the attention of the Nigerian Government.
SPACES FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL CHANGE (SPACES FOR CHANGE) is deeply concerned about the continued detention of 25 year old Lawrence Lilo who has been languishing in the detention facility of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Shadawanka Baracks, Bauchi State, Nigeria, since March 29, 2012.
He was among the residents of Bacha community in Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi State that were arrested and unlawfully detained for allegedly resisting the March 29, 2012 eviction attempts by the army authorities. The inhabitants of Bacha community are mainly teachers of the Command Secondary School, Bauchi and low-income families, young artisans working in unskilled, unprotected and low-wage informal service industries and trade. They pay rents annually to the military authorities, and many of them had lived there for several years ranging from 7 – 18 years.
On that day, the OC intelligence led the team that invaded and terrorized the community with eviction threats. 9 men were beaten in front of their wives and children, arrested and whisked off to the 33 Artillery Brigade at Shadawanka Barracks where they were detained overnight.
Lawrence Lilo was particularly ordered to pack his belongings by one soldier named, Dan Sokoto of the 211 Artillery Brigade. Dan Sokoto and Lawrence Lilo are known to be neighbours with a history of relationship difficulties. Dan Sokoto allegedly seized the opportunity provided by the eviction operation to make good his threats "to deal with Lawrence one day". In the process of packing, Dan Sokoto and a colleague descended heavily on him, beating, maiming and seriously wounding him in the process. Several eye witnesses that saw Lawrence bleeding from his nose and mouth alerted SPACES FOR CHANGE.
Some concerned residents reported the incident to the military police section of the Artillery Brigade. Some officials of the military police rushed down to the scene and whisked Lawrence away. At their office at the 33 Artillery Brigade, Lawrence was subjected to even more intense beating and torture. He received a total of 125 strokes of cane in three days! The severe beatings were accompanied with hard labour such as digging pits, sweeping and fetching water for soldiers. Lawrence is still detained at the detention facility of the 33 Artillery Brigade where he is serving series of punishments despite his frail health.
He is the first child in a family of 12. Having lost his father at an early age, he assumed the role of the family breadwinner, and could not further his studies. His family and dependants have had difficulty in feeding and sustaining themselves due to his absence.
SPACES FOR CHANGE strongly condemns the continued detention of Lawrence Lilo, the brutish intrusion into people’s privacy and massive due process breaches that characterized the eviction attempts by the military authorities. First, by failing to issue appropriate notices, and holding meaningful consultations with residents; second, by directly harming people’s rights through violent attacks, arrests and unlawful detention; and third, by not taking adequate measures to ensure the constitutional rights and liberties of citizens are respected and safeguarded, the actions of the military authorities constitute threats to public peace and safety and gross violations of fundamental human rights, including the social and economic rights of citizens espoused in wide-ranging national, regional and international standard setting documents.
By this statement, SPACES FOR CHANGE is appealing to the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the military invasion, arrests and unlawful detention of innocent citizens with a view to identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. In particular, we demand for the immediate release of Lawrence Lilo.
We demand the 33 Artillery Brigade to immediately halt the unjustified attacks on helpless community residents, including all planned forced evictions and demolitions of people’s homes, churches, schools and businesses without recourse to due process and the rule of law. We also call on all human rights groups, the media and well meaning Nigerians to press on the 33 Artillery Brigade to immediately release Lawrence Lilo from detention.
SPACES FOR CHANGE is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of the populations affected by the arbitrary detentions and planned evictions, and is fully determined to utilize all democratic and legitimate options to vindicate their trampled rights.
Signed
Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri Executive Director Spaces for Change
"I want people to know that you don't have to be an organisation before you can make an impact in the world - that just you as an individual can make a whole lot of difference in the world," Kaptin Idoko told BBC news.
Idoko is behind the popular Gidi Traffic tweets that regularly and consistently informs motorists in Nigeria's largest city of Lagos of the traffic situation across the state. With a strong following on Twitter - more than 16,000 people - he provides constant, reliable information to assist motorists on the ever-congested Lagos roads to make informed decisions about safe and alternative routes to their destinations. Perhaps most telling is that Idoko does not get paid for what he does!
His identity has remained unknown until he was nominated for the Life-Saving Hero award at this week's Shorties - regarded as the Oscars of the social media world. Although he did not win, he says that "Making it all the way down to this ceremony was a big recognition for me," he told the BBC's Leslie Goffe afterwards.
"I'm the first African in this category so that is a great win already for me and the Gidi Traffic family of followers, Nigeria and Africa..."A lot of people think Gidi Traffic is some computer programme yet it's actually just me," Mr Idoko said.
This is yet another testimony that you can engage your passion to be the one who makes a difference.
Ime Anwana, a Batch "A" corps member, posted to serve in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Niger State has demonstrated that the youth have the capabilities to make significant contributions to the communities in which they live.On Nigeria's popular television network programme, the NTA Newsline, it was shown how the village of Kaffin Koro rolled out the drums to honour Miss Anwana for her work in the community. The District Head of the village, Alhaji Abubakar Mamman cowned her with the chieftaincy title, "Jekadiyan Kaffin Koro (Ambassador of Kaffin Koro)" and also gave her a piece of land in the village.
Even though the state (Niger State) is home to two extremely rich, former military rulers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar - the state remains under-developed, with majority of citizens living in abjectly poor conditions, and having limited access to basic services such as roads, housing, healthcare, potable water and so forth.
When Ime Anwana learned that a local girls' secondary secondary in the nearby village of Kaffin Koro had no chemistry teacher, she volunteered to teach the students chemistry every Friday evening - free of charge! Piqued by the deplorable hostel accommodations in the school, she took steps to bring positive change by mobilizing resources for the construction of an ultra- modern student hostel. In sum, she raised a total of 3.8 million Naira and supervised the building construction to finish stage. In addition, the hostel was equipped with 40 double bunk beds complete with mattresses.
Not even the motorbike (Okada) accident that she had during one of her routine supervisory visits to the construction site could dampen her spirit and determination for change. The Okada rider she was riding with was killed, while she sustained life-threatening injuries, spending three weeks in a coma, and bed-ridden for three months. Still, Ime would not let her dream project die!
Through her action, millions of young people in Nigeria have been inspired to take action, and initiate specific hands-on projects they feel will make their communities a better place to live. She has also proved right the popular saying that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders!
SPACES FOR CHANGE’S (S4C’S) INTERVIEW WITH HONOURABLE PATRICK OBAHIAGBON
In a no-holds-barred online chat with SPACES FOR CHANGE on Sunday, March 25, 2012, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon, the former lawmaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, who represented Oredo Federal Constituency in Edo State enlightened on the rudiments of lawmaking, the legislative processes and procedures at the National Assembly. Known for his progressive contributions to legislative proceedings as well as his famed use of grandiloquent grammar, he outlined opportunities for engaging the various committees of the National Assembly.
The current face-off between Herman Hembe and Arunma Otteh demonstrates the need for citizens to understand the nature and scope of the legislative powers that lawmakers can exercise, and how
citizens can engage the various committees of the National Assembly in their pursuit for transparency and accountability in governance. This interview was conducted under the auspices of SPACES FOR CHANGE's PGI (Project Get Involved) program which seeks to inspire the youth to embrace new ways of thinking and acting by helping them understand the significance of their contribution and participation in public decision-making.
The interview was moderated by Allwell Okpi, a correspondent with the Punch Newspapers
Here are the excerpts:
S4C: Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. Considering the House members and the senators are representatives of the people, how do people of a particular constituency ensure that their representatives reflect their opinions exactly on every issue? Simply how can Nigerians hold their representatives accountable?
Obahiagbon: The starting point of holding our representatives accountable is to ensure that we vote in those with the requisite capacity for the job. We must question their sybaritic modus vivendi when they are in office rather than adoring and hero worshiping them. In other words, we must not masturbate their egoless ego.
We must also take advantage of the recall process enshrined in the constitution and we must be guided by the Burkian apothem that "evil men progress only when good men fold their hands and do nothing”.
S4C: There have been several scandals in the House of Representatives and no one seems to have been convicted in court or sentenced. In light of the recent scandal involving the Securities and Exchange Commission, do you think the National Assembly can stand against corruption as a reflection what the Nigerian people want?
Obahiagbon: True, the National Assembly has been buffeted with graft allegations bordering on defalcation and malversation. This gives copious room for mental pabulum given the fact that the National Assembly is supposed to be the moral police man of our society. But the bitter truth however is that corruption has become a national gangrene and must be dealt with holistically.
S4C: Sir, what do you mean by 'national gangrene' and how do you think this can be dealt with? For example, what can Nigerian people do about the situation?
Obahiagbon: The National Assembly has no business asking agencies of government to sponsor its probes. That is the beginning of compromising it's attempt at cleansing the Augean stables. And more fundamentally is the fact that the anti corruption agencies must be extricated from executive suzerainty, and be independent to deal with both the plebeians and political patriachs without fear or favor.
By the way, national gangrene means national cancer.
Nigerians must habiliment themselves with a toga of recusancy
S4C: Is there a programme of induction in place that seeks to bring 'non legal' members of the honourable house (lower and upper chambers) to speed on the components of the constitution. For instance: How laws are written; Why laws are written; How to understand and interpret the laws. It does appear that majority of those elected come across as 'bench warmers' as quite a number of them have been caught sleeping, 'chatting away on mobile phones', 'exchanging pleasantries', 'chewing gum', and the like.
There is no serious program of induction to get non-lawyers to acclimatize with the nuances of parliamentary work. Little wonder most parliamentarians are like fishes out of water.
S4C: The National Assembly asked the Executive Arm of Government to reverse the pump price of petrol to NGN65:00/litre and this was not done. What further actions is the National Assembly doing about it or is just gain saying to show to Nigerians that you people are working?
Obahiagbon: Resolutions of the House consequent upon a motion does not have the force of law. It's only persuasive on the executive and that was why the House resolution on fuel subsidy was treated with levity by Mr. President even though in advanced democracies, resolutions of parliament are accorded utmost respect by the executive organ of government.
S4C: But there is no provision for the legislature to compel the executive to listen to the people?
Patrick Obahiagbon: The legislature can bring this about when they stop passing frivolous motions that are most times deficient in moral and national fibre.
S4C: Can you now help us out with what we can do the make the National Assembly do exactly what the people want, and not what their political parties or godfathers want?
Patrick Obahiagbon: Maybe we should be hostile to zombie parliamentarians rather than indulging them. Yes it has reached that level.
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