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Contempt: Fresh trouble for Bawa as over 250 Constitutional, human rights lawyers ask NJC to direct all courts to reject EFCC cases

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Contempt: Fresh trouble for Bawa as over 250 Constitutional, human rights lawyers ask NJC to direct all courts to reject EFCC cases

Contempt: Fresh trouble for Bawa as over 250 Constitutional, human rights lawyers ask NJC to direct all courts to reject EFCC cases

.Say he can’t enforce anti-corruption laws as a convict

.Urge aggrieved parties, candidates in 2023 polls to seek judicial redress, avoid sponsoring crises

 

 

 

 

 

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, may be in for fresh trouble as over 250 Constitutional and Human Rights lawyers have called on the National Judicial Council to direct all courts in Nigeria not to entertain cases brought before them by the EFCC.

 

 

Contempt: Fresh trouble for Bawa as over 250 Constitutional, human rights lawyers ask NJC to direct all courts to reject EFCC cases

 

 

The lawyers, who said this was part of the resolutions reached at the end of their Annual Conference, with the theme: “Democracy and the Rule of Law”, held in Abuja between March 20 and 21, 2023, said it would only be appropriate for Nigerian courts to entertain EFCC cases when Bawa must have purged himself of contempt by obeying all subsisting Court orders binding on him.

They made the call during the presentation of their annual communique on Tuesday just as they called on political parties in Nigeria and their candidates to be conscious of the need to preserve Nigeria’s democracy by adhering to the provisions of the law guiding post-election matters.

Reading the communique, the newly elected President of the Judicial Integrity Lawyers (JILAW), Barrister Idoko Godwin, said, “Politicians were advised against sponsoring crises across the nation to demonstrate their grievance as sponsoring post-election crisis will negate the supremacy clause of our constitution as stated in Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

“Rather, every aggrieved individual or groups of individuals who which to govern nigeria or any part thereof should give total consideration to  Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution and anything to the contrary will amount to subversion of the supreme law of the land. Thus any aggrieved individual should seek judicial redress as enshrined in the constitution.”

The lawyers observed that the timing of the conference was of great importance, considering the fact that the nation was still battling with the fallout of the various elections, adding that many salient issues regarding the place of the rule of law in Nigeria’s “struggling democracy” had been thrown up.

They noted that the persistent abuse of power by public officials in Nigeria was an aberration, which had attained notoriety as part of the fabric of the Nigerian society, insisting that equality before the law was the only true protection against the spectre of oppression and undue influence that those in positions of authority would otherwise dangle over the heads of ordinary Nigerians.

About 25 lawyers, representing the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria jointly presented the communique on behalf of the over 250 lawyers in JILAW.

The communique stated, “You will recall that it took the direct intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to obey a lawful judgement of the Supreme Court, the highest Court in the land, on the naira redesign policy of the CBN. This was after the flagrant disobedience to the preliminary judgement of the same Supreme Court before the presidential elections were held.

“Even now, our meeting agreed that the Federal Government has not fully complied with the judgement with regard to other aspects of the policy, which has continued to put Nigerians through untold hardship.”

On the EFCC boss, the lawyers maintained that an official whose conviction was made by an order of a Court or Courts of competent jurisdiction, was not considered fit to continue presiding over the affairs of a law enforcement agency, especially one constitutionally set up to fight corruption.

“Our over 250 members have therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, within the limited time left in the life of his administration, urgently address the dangerous culture of disobedience to the rule of law, assault on our Judiciary and ultimately ensure appropriate sanctions for the violators of the dictates of our constitution,” they said.

The Communique read in part: “In conclusion, we are stating that a country that has no regard to the decisions of its court is heading toward anarchy. Hence, we call on the National Judicial Council to direct all courts in the country to henceforth not entertain any cases brought before them by any agency of the government that disobeys court orders, especially EFCC, until the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, has purged himself by obeying all subsisting Court orders binding on him.

“As an official whose conviction was made by an order of a Court or Courts of competent jurisdiction, we do not consider him fit to continue presiding over the affairs of a law enforcement agency, especially one constitutionally set up to fight corruption. You cannot use the corrupting influence of power to enforce anti-corruption laws.

“We consider it a ridiculous aberration that a convict would be in charge of getting others convicted when he should be serving time for contempt of Court and when there has been no superior judgement against the conviction.”

The lawyers seized the opportunity to announce the constitution of a new leadership thrown up after the JILAW election held on Monday.

They are: Barrister Idoko Godwin, President; Barr. Suleiman Gwamba, Vice President; Barr. Gaius Inalegwu, Secretary; Barr. Genesis John, Publicity Secretary; and Barr. Ann Ikwuta Onyeke, Welfare Officer, among others.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Good Friday: Ambassador Ajadi’s Bold Call for Nigeria to Embrace Christ’s Sacrifice to Overcome Corruption and Injustice

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April 18, 2025

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Good Friday: Ambassador Ajadi’s Bold Call for Nigeria to Embrace Christ’s Sacrifice to Overcome Corruption and Injustice

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

As Christians across the globe commemorate Good Friday today, April 18, 2025—a sacred day marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Chairman and CEO of Bullion Records, has extended a heartfelt message of reflection, urging Nigerians and the international community to draw enduring lessons from Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

In a statement made available to The Merit Newspaper and other media platforms, Ambassador Ajadi described Good Friday as more than a religious commemoration. According to him, it is a day of deep moral introspection and a call to purposeful sacrifice, love, and justice—principles sorely needed in Nigeria’s current socio-political landscape.

“Good Friday reminds us of the depth of love and sacrifice that Christ showed to humanity. He gave His life not for a select few, but for all mankind—regardless of race, tribe, or religion. It is this level of selflessness that our leaders, especially at the federal level, must emulate in service to the people,” Ajadi stated.

He noted that at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and insecurity, the message of Good Friday should challenge those in authority to govern with compassion, humility, and a genuine heart for service.

“Christ didn’t die for Himself. He died for the weak, the poor, and the oppressed. That lesson should not be lost on those in power today. The federal government must place the needs of the suffering masses above personal or political interests,” Ajadi emphasized.

The music executive and philanthropist also appealed to citizens not to lose hope but to remain committed to doing good in their communities. “If every Nigerian—Muslim, Christian, or traditional believer—embodies the sacrificial spirit of Christ by showing love, tolerance, and respect to others, we will rebuild a nation we can all be proud of,” he added.

Reflecting on his own contributions through entertainment, Ajadi revealed that Bullion Records remains committed to producing music that uplifts, unites, and educates. “As we reflect on today’s spiritual significance, let us also appreciate the role of art and culture in healing society. Our artiste, Harcher, will be releasing more inspirational tracks aimed at promoting peace and national consciousness.”

Good Friday, observed during Holy Week, is a solemn reminder in the Christian calendar of the pain and price of redemption. Across Nigeria and the world, it is marked by church services, fasting, and prayers—particularly emphasizing forgiveness, humility, and hope in the face of adversity.

Ajadi went further by calling on both the government and citizens to renew their commitment to nation-building. “The resurrection story teaches us that even after pain, there can be restoration. Let us rise from this moment of hardship with a renewed resolve to serve one another, speak truth, and live in love,” he said.

This call from Ambassador Ajadi, a respected entrepreneur and patriot known for his vocal support for youth empowerment and national development, comes at a time when Nigeria is searching for healing, unity, and visionary leadership.

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There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria’s Lost Promise

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April 18, 2025

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There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria's Lost Promise

There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria’s Lost Promise

 

By George Omagbemi Sylvester
When Chinua Achebe published There Was a Country in 2012, he did more than write a memoir of the Biafran War. He issued a damning verdict on Nigeria’s descent from promise to peril—a once-hopeful post-colonial state now defined by corruption, ethnic strife, impunity, and the persistent betrayal of its founding ideals. Through a blend of personal recollections, literary reflections, and searing political critique, Achebe chronicled the tragedy of a nation that lost its soul to tribalism, mediocrity, and greed. More than a personal account, his work is a national epitaph and a warning that remains as relevant today as it was over a decade ago.
Achebe begins by reminiscing on Nigeria’s early days, when a generation of dreamers imagined a country that could stand tall among nations. As a young man, he had every reason to be optimistic. Nigeria’s independence in 1960 was greeted with joy and international acclaim. The country was rich in human and natural resources, boasting an educated elite, a vibrant press, and a federal constitution that promised unity in diversity. But Achebe, ever the realist, understood that these were fragile gains. The cracks were already visible in the foundation.
There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria's Lost Promise
The seeds of Nigeria’s unraveling were planted by colonial rule and hastened by post-independence mismanagement. The British had left behind a deeply divided society: a North shaped by indirect rule and Islamic conservatism; a Western region dominated by Yoruba culture and political sophistication; and an Eastern region led by an industrious, commercially successful Igbo elite. This artificial federation, created for imperial convenience, lacked a cohesive national identity.
Achebe’s Igbo heritage played a central role in There Was a Country. The book reflects the trauma of the Biafran War (1967–1970), during which the Eastern Region attempted to secede from Nigeria following pogroms against the Igbo in the North. Achebe writes of the horror of starvation, the bombing of civilian targets, and the silence of the international community. Over two million people—mostly children—died in the conflict. Achebe, who served as a Biafran diplomat, watched with sorrow as his country turned on its own, driven by what he described as a “failure of leadership.”
Perhaps no phrase in There Was a Country is more enduring than Achebe’s declaration: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” He argues that the post-independence generation of politicians, many of whom were products of missionary schools and early nationalist movements, quickly abandoned the principles of service and justice. Instead, they embraced tribalism, nepotism, and opportunism. Merit was sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity, and elections became contests of identity, not ideology.
There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria's Lost Promise
Achebe’s indictment of successive Nigerian governments is unrelenting. He condemns the military coups of 1966 and 1983, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won by Chief Moshood Abiola, and the rise of what he called “an ignoble class of millionaires who are neither industrialists nor farmers nor professionals.” He viewed Nigeria’s oil wealth not as a blessing, but as a curse—a source of unimaginable corruption that enriched a few while deepening the poverty of the many.
The relevance of There Was a Country in contemporary Nigeria is sobering. Over a decade since its publication, the problems Achebe decried have only worsened. The country is still grappling with insecurity—terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, secessionist agitations in the South-East, and kidnapping-for-ransom across the country. Nigeria remains among the top 10 countries with the highest number of out-of-school children. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2023), over 63% of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, while youth unemployment hovers around 40%.
Corruption remains endemic. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (2024) ranked Nigeria 145th out of 180 countries, reflecting a lack of progress in tackling systemic graft. Public infrastructure has decayed. The power sector still generates less than 5,000 megawatts for over 200 million people. Universities frequently shut down due to strikes, and the health sector has been hollowed out by the exodus of professionals. The Nigerian dream, once luminous, now flickers dimly.
There Was a Country: Chinua Achebe’s Testament of Nigeria's Lost Promise
Achebe’s reflections on the civil war also serve as a warning about the dangers of unresolved ethnic tensions. Nigeria has never fully reconciled with its Biafran past. History was removed from school curricula for decades, and official narratives often ignore the suffering of Eastern Nigerians. As Achebe wrote, “A people without knowledge of their history are like a tree without roots.” Today’s South-East youths, many of whom feel excluded from national politics, are increasingly attracted to separatist movements, echoing the unhealed wounds Achebe documented.
Internationally, Nigeria’s image has suffered. Once hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” it now battles negative headlines—ranging from cybercrime to human trafficking. The failure to project soft power, coupled with diplomatic missteps and internal instability, has eroded its regional leadership. Achebe warned of this decline, noting that a country that cannot manage its diversity, reward merit, or provide security, risks becoming irrelevant on the global stage.
Yet, There Was a Country is not a book of despair. Achebe believed in the possibility of redemption. He admired young Nigerians who defied the odds, who built businesses, won scholarships, and used the arts to challenge injustice. He called for a return to core values—honesty, empathy, accountability, and service. For Achebe, the soul of Nigeria could still be reclaimed, but only through courageous and ethical leadership.
His call is more urgent now than ever. As Nigeria prepares for the next round of elections in 2027, Achebe’s words should guide both leaders and voters. The nation must abandon the politics of tribe, money, and manipulation. It must invest in education, rebuild its institutions, and reward competence. Most importantly, it must tell the truth about its past so it can chart an honest course for the future.
Achebe’s legacy is a challenge to all Nigerians—to remember that there was a country, full of promise and possibility. The question is whether there still is, and if so, what must be done to save it. He wrote not as a cynic, but as a patriot who loved his country enough to tell it the truth. As he once said, “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.” In a world of compromised ideals and broken promises, Achebe’s voice remains a clarion call to conscience.

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Celebrity journalist, Ajibade Alabi, gets new appointment

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2025

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Celebrity journalist, Ajibade Alabi, gets new appointment…Appointed as Media Director of Omolaja Solidarity Forum (OSF) and National Director of Publicity of National Liberation Patriots (NLP).

 

Celebrity journalist and international award winner, Comrade Samson Ajibade Alabi (aka Murphy) has been appointment as the Media Director for Omolaja Media Team which is a Committee of the Omolaja Solidarity Forum (OSF), a political support group under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The versatile journalist with over 25 years in print journalism that spread across Nigerian newspapers like Nigerian Tribune, Compass Newspapers, Daily Times, Westerner Magazine, Leadership Newspapers, Daily Newswatch among other established national newspapers, is also appointed as the National Publicity Secretary of National Liberation Patriots (NLP), another prominent support group under the same Party (SDP). In addition, Comrade Ajibade Alabi is also the National Publicity Secretary of the Coalition for Sustenance of Democracy still under the same Social Democratic Party. In an appointment letter that was signed by Professor Muhammad Omolaja, the Ike Mba 1 of Africa, the triple appointments start immediately.”Your appointment starts with immediate effect. Your first official assignment will be at the forthcoming meeting of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Henceforth, any official journey I am to make, you will be physically present with me. You will be assisted by Comrade Abdulsalaam Yusuf, another good hand, from Niger State. Congratulations on this laudable appointment. I hope you will always do good jobs on this journey of professionalism”.
Responding, Comrade Samson Alabi, the Nigeria Media Award Winner in 2014 (Entertainment) accepted the challenges and promised to justify the appointment given to him:”Even though I am still ruminating on the euphoria of this noble assignment, I will rather delay the celebration till when I have delivered on what I was given to do, which is to place the ambition of Prof. Muhammad Omolaja for his political race under the Social Democratic Party he might contest for. I want to appreciate Prof. Muhammad Omolaja and the team for entrusting on me the task of paddling the canoe of the media sector of the political group”Comrade Ajibade Alabi is currently with the Daily Monitor newspaper as their entertainment and society line editor.

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