– Lagos Assembly urges NASS to criminalise acts against Parliamentary independence

– wants more recognitions for past Speakers

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday called on governors in Nigeria to avoid seeing state legislatures as appendages of the executive but instead, treat lawmakers as partners in the progress and development of states.

The House, which described the legislature as the bedrock of democracy, further called on the National Assembly to criminalise any action that violates the independence of the parliament.

The House passed the resolutions in commemoration of the 2024 edition of the International Day of Parliamentarism celebrated on June 30.

The House further urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to recognise past speakers of the Lagos Assembly for their contributions to the state’s growth and development.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, emphasised the significance of honouring past speakers who have served and contributed to the development of the state.

Dr. Obasa asserted that without the parliament, there is no democracy. He highlighted the institution’s crucial role in governance through lawmaking, motions and resolutions.

He described the International Day of Parliamentarism as a day to “do more to draw the attention of Nigerians to the importance of the legislature.”

While congratulating parliamentarians across the country for their contributions toward the nation’s development, Obasa said: “It is also important to note that a government has three arms, and if one is missing, there is no government.

“Since 1979 when this House was established under Alhaji Lateef Jakande, none of the past speakers have been celebrated.

“We should celebrate those who have represented us well and convey to the National Assembly the need to allow Houses of Assembly to practise what the constitution says about the parliament effectively and to provide the necessary support.

“The governors should also give the political will to the parliament to enable it to perform its duties as stated in the constitution,” Dr. Obasa added.

Other lawmakers who contributed supported that the parliament should be celebrated while applauding the leadership of Speaker Obasa.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa constituency 2, said the role of a parliament cannot be overemphasised.

“Democracy is all about the parliament. It is a bridge between the people and government, but we are sometimes underappreciated as representatives of the people. There is no gap between the parliament and the people. There is no type of government that can exist without parliament,” he said.

Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere ) noted that nothing occurs in a state without the input of the parliament while Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh described parliamentarians as stabilisers of the polity who deserve to be celebrated.

Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu urged that the House should consider being a part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

*UNITED KINGDOM ATLANTIS*

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY BRIEFING TO UKA CITIZENS BEING MONDAY THE 1ST OF JULY 2024

Fellow citizens, I send you my royal greetings,
Recalled in my last Salah greetings, promised that I will be coming your way again to brief you on our progress so far, as
well as success we have achieved towards the realization of our objectives.

Let me inform you that tremendous progress has been made and that very soon reocation to our promised land wil
commence.

Below are some of our successes recorded so far:

RECOGNITIONS OF UKA BY THE UNITED NATIONS.

Our Country has now been formally recognized by the United Nations.

The UN has also approved UKA to supervise/coordinate all Humanitarian activities in the 194 countries in the world. We have also been approved to start operating as a country, pending our fina relocation.

In addition, registration of United Kingdom of Atlantis in England United Kingdom, was highly successful.

Also,Atlantis nations and Empire registration in USA, and finally Atlantean crown E-currency registration with Lithuaniain view.

UKA DEVELOPMENTAL STRUCTURES.

We now have in place a draft constitution which has been sent for review by the constitutional committees, and soonest

it wil be ready for impementation.
In addition,I would like to inform you that UKA now has a ful developmental structure with myself as the Emperor/ Head of State and Commander-chief of the Armed forces.
Then, we have the UKA Supreme Counci, The Executive, The Parliament and Judiciary arms, the Service Chiefs, Heads of Ministries including the Royal Bank Governor, and other Heads of Parastatals.

These structures put in place are now expected to start drawing up workable plans for impementation.

UKA DIGITAL CROWN AS WELL AS FIAT CURRENCY.

For better knowledge of our digital crown, we encourage you to regularly check our web site and be rest assured that UKA shall operate bothdigital and fiat currency, in other words, to promote ease of doing business and to push forward rapid development of the kingdom.

These currencies have already been approved and adopted by parliament as currency and Medium of exchange for our dear sovereign country.

VISITATION OF UKA OFFICIALS TO OUR PROMISED LAND called UKA Territory.

Fellow citizens, I am happy to also inform you that in a very short time, some of our officials shall be traveling to have
physical meetings with the navigator for the purpose of the said territory, for onward activation and to commence immediate construction and transformation of the said territory” caled UKA.

We assured you that by the Grace of God Almighty, allbarriers impeding our movement to our promised land have been overcome, we are at the top of the completion stage, and I will like to assure you that in short distant time, you wil begin to witness swift accelerated steps being taken in other to actualize our dream.
Various engagements by foreign Affairs are being held with relevant solution partners, organization, and we expected to come out with concrete plans that will ensure peaceful, secure and orderly movement of our citizens from around the
world to our promised land.

The movement will be systematic. Very soon, Our Supreme Council together with our Kings and Queens will be traveling to possessthe land, host ourflag and announce us to the world.

Subsequently the gradual movement will start with our strategic partners providing the necessary assistance.

After that we expect this initial movement to be followed by our Security arm (service chiefs, Intelligence, Police etc.)
Thereafter, the Heads of Government and ministers, and other heads of Parastatals/Agencies.

Finally, other government officials and citizens of our dear country will gain access to our territory.
I want to thank you al for your continued patience and your prayers in actualization of our dear nation.

*Rivers: Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plots By Ex-Lawmakers To Compromise Judiciary, Buy Court Rulings*

The Citizens Advocacy Against Corruption (CAAC) has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by former members of the Rivers State Assembly to compromise the judiciary.

At a press conference in Abuja, the group claimed that these political actors are attempting to buy court rulings and undermine the confidence of citizens in the judiciary.

The CAAC specifically highlighted the transfer of cases challenging the defection of the 25 former members of the state assembly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Federal High Court 4, Port Harcourt, to Court Two, presided over by Justice E. O. Obele.

The group expressed concerns that the transfer may be a strategy to delay the cases and allow the former lawmakers to continue parading as lawmakers, potentially leading to a crisis in Rivers State. They also fear that the transfer may be seen as an attempt to shop for a judge or court that will provide a favorable ruling.

The group urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to take measures to discipline any erring judge who allows themselves to be compromised while also calling on Nigerians to be vigilant and ensure that the judiciary is not compromised by political interests.

Read full press statement below:

Citizens Advocacy Against Corruption (CAAC) finds it imperative to urgently raise the alarm over the ominous clouds gathering for the future of democracy in Nigeria given the series of events unfolding in the polity. The darkest part of this cloud hovers over Rivers State, where Nigerians are being reminded daily that judgment can be bought and sold, leaving the masses without justice and hope.

We have had cause to raise the alarm over untoward scheming by desperate political gladiators, who have concluded that the best way to have their way is by compromising the judiciary. They will then proceed to buy court rulings as if they were commodities to be traded at the peril of citizens. Even if the contrary were true, how these political actors throw the federal might around in judicial matters threatens to undermine the confidence citizens have in the judiciary.
This concern was revived and heightened when the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, transferred cases challenging the defection of 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is of note that the cases were transferred from Federal High Court 4, Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Steven Dalyop Pam to Court Two, presided over by Justice E. O. Obele. It should be noted further that we have nothing against the CJ transferring cases as he deems fit but the cases in Rivers State carry the taint of the boasts by the former lawmakers and their political camp that they are backed by federal might and would secure whatever kind of judgment is necessary to return them to the parliament after they carelessly lost their seats.

Even though former Speaker. Martins Amaewhule, a defendant in the matter, had petitioned to request that the cases against him be transferred to another court, we fear that it is a strategy that can tarnish the Chief Judge because of all the snide utterances that have been coming from his camp. The CJ is now simply appearing like someone falling into a snare set by these political actors.

This trap includes delay tactics that allow the former lawmakers to continue parading as who they are not to foment trouble, which is a strategy they adopted to grind down Rivers State into crisis after it became glaring that they could not return to the House of Assembly having willingly given up their seats. The transfer of the case therefore has implications for the peace of Rivers State and by extension the peace of the entire Nigeria.

A further implication is that, though it is within the rights of citizens to ask Judges to vacate sitting on cases they are not comfortable with, this one suggests to common sense that Martin Amaewhule and his cronies are out to procure the judiciary to answer to their wishes. This amounts to the defendant in this case creating the impression of shopping for a judge or court that will sell him a favourable ruling. This cannot be healthy for democracy in any way should he find such a judge.

The judiciary and all well-meaning Nigerians must be vigilant of the plot by these political elements to compromise the Nigerian judiciary. As Nigerians, we must wake up to the reality on the ground and be vigilant to ensure that nothing strange happens in this case since the handling of the cases involving these former members of the Rivers House of Assembly will influence the future direction of citizens’ representation in parliament and also the stability of the polity.

We nonetheless commend the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, who allowed the transfer of the case even at great risk to his reputation considering the nonsense that the former speaker’s political camp has been spewing. We praise the steadfastness of the former trial judge, Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, whose insistence on fairness and equity put the fear of the Lord in those who discovered that they could not buy him over even after repeated attempts. He did well by adhering to his oath of office and refusing to pervert justice.

We believe that the presiding judge of Court Two, Justice E. O. Obele will avail himself of the precedence set by the Chief Judge and Justice Pam and not jettison his oath of office. He must be mindful that he is dealing with a bunch of people who will stop at nothing to create the impression that they have settled him and that he would be pliant in their case.

Furthermore, the Citizens Advocacy Against Corruption calls on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to remain awake and set all machinery in motion to discipline any erring judge who allows him or herself to be misled or swept off the course of justice by the political tide in any part of the country.

Lastly, we call on Nigerians that now is not the time to be indifferent to what is happening in the space where politics and the judicial processes intersect. Nigerians! Beware, be vigilant!
God Bless Nigeria.