27TH FEBRUARY - 2ND MARCH 2012

SQUIB DIARY

MONDAY 27TH FEB.

Had two matters on the Island. One at the Magistrate Court, Igbosere, the other at the High Court (TBS). Neither went on. And, to think of the “kirakita” to make the courts in good time. The High Court in question has now become very notorious for lateness and absenteeism .

TUESDAY 28^TH FEB.

Was at the Federal High Court for a ruling. Ruling reserved till 1.00pm, later 1.30, later 2.00pm, later 2.30pm. finally delivered at 3.04pm.

Earlier in the day, witnessed the formal opening of the corporate headquarters of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) at Ojuelegba Lagos.

WEDNESDAY 29^TH FEB.

Came to the Court of Appeal Lagos, Panel 2. Saw an “action lady” in charge of the place. The court is no longer a “sleeping theatre of justice.”

THURSDAY 1^ST MARCH

Again at the Court of Appeal. Heard about a laughable scene of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who wanted to eat his cake and have it. He was in Panel 1 and wanted to take a judgement in Panel 2. And yet wanted Panel 1 to recognize his presence in his absence via the proxy of his junior colleague in chambers.

What a wonderful extension of privilege. Bros, I doff my hat! Noticed that the cooling system in Court 2 works epileptically. This does no help to the nerves of the lawyers already under strain from the mock hectoring of the presiding judge.

When it was time to leave, got a shocker! One of the front tyres of my car had been taken out and off. The assailant left a note: “your tyre has been taken away because of your careless parking. Come to the Cricket office to collect it.”

To make the matter more interesting, the permanent “police patrol” there, just three or four paces away, claimed they did not know when the removal happened! Wonderful indeed.

FRIDAY 2^ND MARCH

Was at the Ikeja High Court. For a judgement. Judgement not delivered. Went to the Tiger Bar Secretariat. The new and permanent one started in 2005 by the Adekunle Ojo administration. Just about three weeks ago, the Tigers moved out of their Temporary Lair at the Ikeja High Court, to make way for the emergency Open Registry of the Ikorodu High Court.

Despite the newly erected perimeter fence of the Secretariat, wafts of weed (marijuana) smoke floated into the Secretariat. Just imagine. ‘Wee-wee’ practice behind a Bar Centre and in the premises of the courts! Just imagine.

MEETING GOVERNOR FASHOLA - WITH LETTER OF PROTEST

On 20th January 2012, NBA Ikeja branch members were received by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola S.A.N and the Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye.



The branch chairman, Adebamigbe Omole on behalf of the branch first commiserated with Governor Fashola on the recent loss of his uncle and then stated its concerns: embarrassing developments in Lagos State - specifically the presence of soldiers on its streets which was a breach of the fundamental rights of the people and which was uncalled for, there being no state of emergency to warrant their (soldiers) presence and so something had to be done.


Branch Chairman Omole, a senior branch member - Mr. Femi Falana and the branch’s General Secretary, Adesina Ogunlana then presented the Letter of Protest to Governor Fashola. Thanking the Bar for coming, the Governor stated that he had written to the President on the matter. He said politicians must learn to tolerate criticism of their policies and that the story about the soldiers being members of Operation MESA (a team created and funded by the Lagos State Government) was untrue. “Operation MESA does not occupy streets and they go about their duties in their branded vehicles, “ he stated. Governor Fashola added that Lagos state was doing something about the situation and people should remain calm and peaceful that the people of Lagos had fought and won many battles and this would be no different.

TRUNCATED STRIKE

NBA IKEJA PRESS RELEASE AT:
http://www.nbaikejapressrelease.blogspot.com


Monday, 16th January, 2012 at about 11.30 a.m, NBA Ikeja branch members got to the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota. There we discovered that a ring of police, navy and army officers had cordoned off the Park. We demanded access into the Park as it was our constitutional right to be able to assemble there and we were directed down the lines to their leaders until we got to one Lt. Col. A.A. Alabi. We read him Section 40 & 41 of the Constitution. We told him that their Commander-in-Chief had sworn an oath to obey the Constitution. He was polite but unyielding – they had been instructed not to allow people into the Park. We then went to the Labour House at Yaba. We were still there when we heard the announcement that the leadership of the NLC/TUC had called off the strike!



OUR POSITION: The NBA Ikeja intends to sue the Federal Government for preventing us from exercising our fundamental rights as well as seek the possibility of extending opposition to the N97 fuel price which is unacceptable.

8th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture +Fuel Hike Strike Update

Yesterday’s, ‘8TH CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI ANNUAL LECTURE’ was very well attended with a packed hall. The people (from Lagos and Oshun states) who followed the Guest of Honour, Governor Rauf Aregbesola alone numbered over a hundred. All the invited Guests including Justice Pius Aderemi (Chairman) and Professor Omotoye Olorode (Guest Speaker) came in good time.



The programme started with an inter-law faculty quiz among 4 universities. This year’s Lecture was one of the best ever in terms of scholarly depth and analysis of the topic which was made from the socialist perspective of the Nigerian situation. The Guest Speaker (Prof. Olorode) concluded that revolution was inevitable in Nigeria ; rebellion against the status quo arrangement of the economy and politics. According to him, “Nigeria is being run by leaders brainwashed by western world perspective which is the perspective that can only lead to further exploitation of the Nigerian state.” The Lecture was received with a standing ovation. Governor of Osun State, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola on his own part warned against the hijack of the struggle by military forces which would only pull the nation back. At the programme’s end, a hundred people smiled home with 3 free books (including law reports) each.


THE STRIKE CONTINUES. HOWEVER WHETHER SIT-AT-HOME AND/OR RALLIES? NBA IKEJA MEETING AT THE BAR CENTRE BY 7 A.M TODAY 16TH JANUARY, 2012.

FUEL PRICE HIKE PROTEST DIARY (DAY 5 OF STRIKE)

Morning of 13th January 2012, we went to Labour House – the Secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at Yaba. From there, a Fuel Price Hike Protest Procession to Mushin on foot, was organized. Our numbers swelled to about 3000 as we proceeded. We stopped at various points along the way to address the people and the message was very well received. At Mushin, Labour leader and former ASUU President, Dr. Dipo Fashina once again addressed the crowd. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch chairman, Adebamigbe Omole also spoke.
Thereafter, we joined a motorcade to Oshodi. There was nobody to address as the usually ever busy Oshodi was deserted (everyone was probably in Ojota). We disbanded to allow the muslims in the motorcade go for Jumat service.
We got to Ojota around 2p.m by which time the Save Nigeria Group had announced the suspension of the Protest until Monday but we still met about 3 million protesters who refused to go home - it had a carnival like atmosphere. Stayed about 40 minutes and returned to our Ikeja High Court base. SUBJECT TO OUTCOME OF TALKS GOING ON WITH THE GOVT., FUEL PRICE HIKE PROTEST RESUMES ON MONDAY 16TH JANUARY, 2012.

FUEL PRICE HIKE PROTEST DIARY (DAY 4 OF STRIKE)

Thursday morning (12th January 2012), saw an increase in the number of lawyers that turned up at the Ikeja High Court for the Fuel Price Hike Protest.
We joined the NLC/TUC train on a condolence visit to the family of the murdered Ademola Aderinto at Ogba.
Two boys masquerading as part of the train of protesters were arrested by the crowd while robbing passersby. The train moved to Agbotikuyo junction at Agege and held a rally there. The rally was addressed by Dr. Dipo Fashina, a.k.a “Jingo.” His message was clear: Resistance to the fuel price hike must continue. “Enough is enough!,” reiterated Dr. Fashina.
We then made our way to the the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja to

stage a protest; saw many intending passengers who appeared stranded.
All through the city, there was total compliance with the strike order of the NLC/TUC. There were masses of protesters gathered in many areas of Lagos - from Lagos Island to LASU. However we heard reports of some small criminal gangs in a few neighbourhoods setting up roadblocks for extortion or even outright robbery of passersby.
The NLC/TUC train decided to move on to Ikorodu but we went to the Gani Fawehinmi ‘Freedom Park’ at Ojota. The crowd of protesters there was even more than the previous day; at least 3.5 million! The police there were so overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that they just sat in their vans while some people made fun of their barking dogs. Never before has such event recorded a crowd of such gargantuan proportions! Crowd control at this Ojota rallying point has been almost entirely in the hands of the Save Nigeria Group and by self policing, while the NLC/TUC Group has been

quite strategic, carrying out sensitization campaigns to various parts of the metropolis.
We eventually made our way back to our ‘war camp,’ the NBA Ikeja Secretariat for victuals. Around 4p.m, Mr. Femi Falana showed up and commended the bold stand of the NBA Ikeja. PROTEST CONTINUES TODAY, 13TH JANUARY, 2012. EXPECTING YOU THIS MORNING TO JOIN US.

FUEL HIKE PROTEST DIARY – 11TH JANUARY, 2012 (DAY 3 OF STRIKE)

Yesterday 11th January, we (NBA Ikeja branch members) proceeded to Ogba where there was an initial hesitation of mourners to hold a rally for Ademola Aderinto, the slain youth, as it was rumored that they would be cracked down upon by the police; however we encouraged the rally to hold. There, Adebamigbe Omole, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch chairman assured them that we would ensure that Ademola’s case was not swept under the carpet and that his killer would be prosecuted. We went on to Gani Fawehinmi Square, Ojota to join protesters there. By about 2 p.m, our chairman, Omole addressed the crowd – no less than 2million in number, encouraging them to continue with the protest: 65 naira per litre or nothing; the government was elected by the people and if the majority of the people say they do not want a particular policy, the government must listen. From Ojota we went to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) Panti. There we met with the head, Deputy Commissioner of Police Yuguda Abdullahi who said that the trigger happy Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Segun Fabunmi, who shot Ademola was in his custody and assured us that that he would indeed be prosecuted. WE CONTINUE WITH THE PROTEST TODAY, 12TH JANUARY 2012.