Law is not a marketplace profession
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO SAN: HISTORY MAKER?
One
of the most exciting aspects of Democracy practice in Nigeria in the last one
year is the emergence of Yemi Osinbajo, a barrister at law, silk, a professor
of law and also a pastor, as the running mate to General Muhammadu Buhari, the
presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the All Progressives
Congress in the forthcoming March 28 2015 elections.
Considering
the professor’s relatively low profile and his antecedents, compared to the
much better known, more colourful and more influential personalities like
Babatunde Fashola, Governor of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Rivers
State, Adams Oshiomole, Governor Edo State all touted to be in contention, it
was quite a surprise to see the “little giant” come up tops.
However
those who are aware of the quality of the personality of Yemi Osinbajo who
became an Associate Professor of Law in 1990 at the age of 33years realized
that his choice was astute.
With
his selection as the running mate to General Buhari, Osinbajo has effectively
become a politician, a front-line one at that. Almost immediately after his
elevation, the professor, who is also a Pentecostal clergy man, hit the hustings
strongly, dazzling and charming audiences with his deep knowledge and sure
footedness. A compelling speaker, his brilliance and deep knowledge is all too
evident, but his panache is devoid of the boisterousness of bravura or the
excitability of the derring-do, rather it burnishes more appealingly on a
velvety poise of calm candour and soothing sobriety.
As
Professor Osinbajo goes on his campaigns either by himself or with his
principal, the General, the Nigerian voting public was seeing an uncommon politico
but the big question is - will he become the Vice-President of Nigeria?
The
answer to the question should ordinarily be an easy “Yes,” considering the
widespread popularity of the Professor’s party-the All Progressives Congress.
So strong on ground is the APC, that it is commonly believed that the party
would have easily won the presidential elections if the February 14 2015 polls
had held and was not postponed.
However
in Nigeria, one cannot be too sure of anything because of the activities of
entrenched patriotic interests who always prefer their parochial and selfish concerns
above national interests.
In
the event of victory at the presidential polls by the APC, then Professor Yemi
Osinbajo SAN would have scored at least two firsts in the political history of
Nigeria.
First,
he would be the first legal practitioner to become an elected Vice-President of
Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo the only other Nigerian lawyer who became
Vice-President of Nigeria, was not elected to the position. Chief Awolowo was
appointed as the Finance Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Military
Council of the General Yakubu Gowon regime. Incidentally Chief Awolowo was from
Ikenne, Ogun State, just like Yemi Osinbajo, who is married to Dolapo one of
the grand children of Chief Awolowo.
It
should be noted that though Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Vice-President of Nigeria
from 1979 to 1983 is a lawyer, he became a legal practitioner after his time in
office as Vice-President.
Secondly,
professor Osinbajo, would become, if the APC wins the presidential contest, the
first clergy-man to occupy the seat of Vice-President, Nigeria.
NBA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2014: HOW THE DIE IS CAST?
Vol. 14 No.14 (14th July, 2014)
T he second drag on the Alegeh’s
candidacy is his perceived closeness to the outgoing president of the NBA, Mr.
Okeychukwu Wali SAN.
Nigerian Bar Association historians
cannot recall any presidential election of the association before 2014 where
contestants number up to five. The highest number previously was four and that
was I 2004. The presidential aspirants then were- Bayo Ojo SAN, A. B. Mahmod
SAN, J. B. Daoudu SAN and Phillips Umeh Esq.
In the 2014 contest, the contestants
are: Justy Erhabor Esq, Dele Adesina SAN, Funke Adekoya SAN, Niyi AKintola SAN
and Austin Alegeh SAN.
Yet another peculiarity of the 2014
presidential election is that it is the first time since the ‘birth’ of the
controversial and unofficial zoning system in the Association in 2002 that the
zone of privilege (this time the West) failed to present a preferred single
candidate to the larger electorate.
In 2002, the zone of privilege then,
being the West presented Wole Olanipekun, Esq SAN as its presidential choice
over Segun Onakoya. Olanipekun won. In 2004, North the zone of privilege
presented its choice – A. B. Mahmoud SAN J. B. Daodu SAN and Bayo Ojo SAN, Mahmoud
lost. In 2006, the East, the zone of privilege presented Olisa Agbakoba SAN,
over Chris Uche SAN, Agbakoba won. In 2008, the West presented Rotimi Akeredolu
SAN and suppressed his rival Dele Adesina’s ambition. Akeredolu thus ran
unopposed. He won because he couldn’t have lost. In 2010, the North presented
J.B Daodu over J. k. Gadzama as its choice, Daodu won. In 2012, the East the
zone of privilege present Okechukwu Wali over Emeka Ngige as its choice. Wali
won.
In 2014, West the zone of privilege “failed, neglected or utterly refused”
to present a choice out of the four candidates coming from its axis, to wit
Funke Adekoya, Niyi Akintola, Dele Adesina and Justy Erhabor. None of these
candidates is in the race with any special western caucus anointing.
The inability of the Western Forum
locally called Egbe Amofin Yoruba (Association or Society of Yoruba Lawyers) is
a sure reflection of the extremely poor quality of leadership it has. Led since
about 2000 by Bandele Aiku, Esq S.A.N. the Egbe’s leadership is a bullying and
overbearing gerontocracy as well as a capricious oligarchy.
Drawing heavily on the cultural mode of
the Yoruba to give uncritical even near slavish obedience to elders on account
of seniority, the cabalistic Aiku leadership which used to include prominent
Yoruba lawyers like Wole Olanipekun, SAN and Chief Aluko-Olokun SAN ruled and
reigned in the Egbe Amofin from 2002-2010, imposing candidates on their
subjects (read executives of the branches of the NBA in the Bar) at will and
turning the chairmen and secretaries of the branches of the NBA in the West into
mere rubber stamp parliament.
The height of the success of the Aiku
leadership was the presentation of the NBA presidency to Rotimi Akeredolu in
2008 on a platter of gold. The cabal had by a tincture of blackmail, cajolement
and false assurances bundled Dele Adesina SAN from the presidential contest. In
2008, it was only Akeredolu and Dele Adesina that were in the race.
The Aiku cabal had eased Adesina out of
the race with the blandishment of an automatic presidential ticket come 2014
(six years away then) if he would withdraw from Akeredolu.
Adesina who was 51 years old in 2008 and
who had just attained the silk the same year was told to shun over-ambition and
go to the proverbial patient dog who ate the fattest bone to learn wisdom.
Adesina believed the cabal and pulled
out of the race to the shock and embarrassment of many of his admirers.
Tick, tock, soon 2014 came. That was
when the promise of automatic presidential ticket to Adesina by the Aiku led
Egbe Amofin turned hollow.
The leader of the Aiku cabal, was not
prepared to anoint Dele Adesina as the presidential candidate of the Egbe Amofin.
Interestinly his deputy Wole Olanipekun was keen on making good the 2008
promise to Adesina-the inevitable result was crisis as the two main opponents
of Adesina from the West to wit Niyi Akintola and Mrs. Funke Adekoya were not
prepared to withdraw from the race.
Even when it became apparent that
Adesina was the most popular of the candidates coming from the West, the Aiku
faction of the now dis-united Egbe Amofin was adamant in opposition to the
Adesina candidacy. The Aiku faction preferred choice was Funke Adekoya.
Adesina’s tactic of rebellion soon turned into efforts at reconciliation with
Aiku but it proved all in vain.
With Justy Erhabor incumbent 1st
Vice-President now fully thrown into the race ostensibly running also on the
platform on the West, even though ethnically a Mid-Westerner, it became an
all-comers affair.
All the political dis-order and stress
is one very big reason why none of the contenders from the West (Akintola,
Adesina, Adekoya and Erhabor) may clinch the presidency.
The presidency may very well go the way
of Austin Alegeh. Initially considered a light weight and a mere stroller in
the political park, Alegeh (from Benin) and running on the platform of the
Mid-West Forum has become a potent force.
While the Westerners were squabbling
amongst and dissipating energy and goodwill Alegeh prospered, campaigning
quietly but effectively, selling himself to the larger electorate of the East
and North as the least rancorous of the presidential candidates. His push for
acceptability is also based on the need to consider that either as an
independent forum or part of a larger West, it is only fair and equitable that
the Mid-West be allowed to produce another presidential for the NBA. The last
time the president came from the Midwest was 1998 in the person of Chief James
Okpoko SAN.
Tall and sizeable and blessed with a
gentle and benign mien, Alegeh’s campaign backed with a huge war chest,
probably the biggest of all the contenders has simply caught fire with the
electorate, outside of the West.
However his candidacy suffered two main
set-backs, the first is his relative inexperience in the NBA vis a vis the
other candidates.
Before 2010, very little was known or
heard of Austin Alegeh in the NBA especially at the national level. His
political bio-date consequently is slender compared to the much fatter ones of
his rivals, particularly Dele Adesina, Funke Adekoya and Justy Erhabor.
There is serious concerns whether Alegeh
has the necessary cognate experience to lead the Bar well at the national level
having not paid quality dues before.
Wali at best is a controversial
president and presented by many, despite his amiability and gentle outlook for
running the association “oppressively”. Criticised for not allowing robust
debates on issues at NEC meetings and regularly shutting out perceived contrary
opinions, Wali is nick-named rather infamously as President “Approve? Approve!” for his penchant
for hurriedly declaring at NEC meetings that his administration’s policies or
perspectives have been approved by NEC once put to them.
Wali himself in 2012 was harmed in the
2012 elections with his perceived closeness to his predecessor, J. B. Daodu SAN
who was certainly an iron glove president.
The peculiarity of the Alegeh’s
candidacy is that he stands a good chance of winning the presidency but also
stands robust chances of losing miserably. Where the Eagles from the West
(Adesina, Adekoya and Akintola) squabbled to the very last. Alegeh will most
likely make it especially if, Adesina, the biggest Western Eagle has his ‘kill’
stolen away in parts by his rivals.
As for Adesina, he ordinarily has the
brightest chance of all to become the next president of the NBA. His
credentials as a Bar Man at all levels are not in doubt. His experience in the
affairs of the Nigerian bar is deep and his contacts in the Bar are wide. Also
apart from being a hardly and very mobile campaigner, he has a lot of political
goodwill and sympathy going for him for it is public knowledge that he withdrew
his candidacy in 2008 for Rotimi Akeredolu to become NBA president. Many
believe that if he had run in 2008 he would have won the race.
The main threat to Adesina’s success is
from his back yard, the West. The implacable oppostition of Mrs. Funke Adekoya
and Niyi Akintola to his supremacy will certainly eat into Adesina’s votes,
leaving him vulnerable to become a ‘first runner up”. This is because why both
Adekoya and Akintola ordinarily should not equal or surpass Adesina’s votes,
the quantum they will take away may very well bring him below Austin Alegeh’s
votes in the end.
Analysts are finding it hard to predict
victory for either Mrs. Funke Adekoya and Niyi Akintola. Inspite of their best
efforts, the persistent image of them before many of the voters is that of “also rans” and “spoilers”.
Intelligent, professionally versatile,
decent and experienced, Adekoya is yet a hard-sell to the majority of the
electorate for the persistent image of her as “strict stiff and narrow”. An image borne over the years. Even
female folks, the image are present. In the West, the only notable support for
is from the Lagos Bar and Badagry. Some older lawyers may vote for her but whereas
the Bar does not appear to mind to be led by a woman it is very doubtful whether it is the Funke Adekoya type that
they want. There are fears in certain quarters that it is dangerous to hand
over the tyranny prove presidency of the NBA to a strong willed and emotive woman
like Adekoya.
Niyi Akintola perhaps the most exuberant
and most verbally announced of all the candidates may yet win the NBA
presidency but almost certainly not in 2014.
In the West where he hails from, his
candidacy has not impressed most people. A successful lawyer no doubt and
perhaps the candidate with the most natural common touch, yet Akintola’s
boastful assertiveness and garrulous bluntness lower his attractiveness despite
his easy generosity and open nature. His candour often laced with self-praise
repels rather attract and many people believe he is lacking in adequate
gravitas and poise to lead the Bar.
The last and the least of the
candidates, except a huge Gemany 7
Brazil 1 miracle happens, is Justy Erhabor. The main problems of Erhabor’s
candidacy are that he lacks the profile to present the change in the NBA
politics that he purports to represent.
Is the NBA ready to have once again
after almost two decades a non-silk as president? The answer is ‘well, and may
be?’ The next question is “Is Justy Erhabor the type of non-silk the Bar wants
as president now? The answer is no.
Having served successively in the
controversial presidencies of J. B. Daodu (2010-2012) and Okey Wali (2012–2014)
as 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President, Erhabor is
seen more of a journey man and an opportunistic careerist in many quarters.
To make matters worse, candidate Erhabor
has no political base. His ethnic constituency (Mid-West Forum) is not for him
while in his practice base (Egbe Amofin) he is considered a joke. With a very
slender purse to pursue his presidential ambition, Erhabor is just beating the air.
In the estimate of this magazine an Erhabor win in the July 15 election is the
most unlikely scenario.
SUMMARY
OF PREDICTIONS:
Dele Adesina - Most likely to win or
drop to 2nd place
Alegeh - Next mostly likely to win but
may drop to 3rd place at the worst
Adekoya - At best ends up 3rd place,
at worst 4th
Akintola – At best ends up 3rd
place, at worst 4th
Erhabor – First from the bottom of the
ladder, or rise up to 4th place.
THE G.O.K AJAYI SAN COMPENDIUM (SPECIAL EDITION)
Vol. 14 No.13 (7th July, 2014)
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NIGERIA'S SWEETEST LAWYER
EXCERPTS:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NIGERIA'S SWEETEST LAWYER
EXCERPTS:
NBA IKEJA ELECTIONS 2014: SQUIB PREDICTIONS 2.LAGOS GOVT. RESORTS TO SELF HELP
Vol.14 No.11 (28th April, 2014)
COVERSTORY2: LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT RESORTS TO SELF HELP: TAKES OVER LAND UNDER ADJUDICATION BY FORCE
COVERSTORY2: LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT RESORTS TO SELF HELP: TAKES OVER LAND UNDER ADJUDICATION BY FORCE
Sunday, April 13, 2014
JUDGEMENT (DELIVERED BY JOSEPH SHAGABOR IKYEGH, JCA)
VOL.14.NO.8 17-03-14
The
interlocutory appeal is from a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos (the court below) by which it granted an order of temporary
injunction restraining the appellants from collecting the increased Bar
practicing fees (practicing fees) from practicing members of the legal
profession of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), pending the determination of
the substantive suit filed at the court below by the respondents against the
appellants challenging the legality of the increased practicing fees.
SHAME: ANOTHER CORRUPT LAGOS MAGISTRATE BITES THE DUST
VOL.14.NO.7 10-02-14
In a move
that stunned many observers, the Lagos State Judiciary chopped off twenty-two
members of its magistracy on account of corruption and allied misconduct in
2001.
EGBE AMOFIN AND THE WIND OF “DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION” 2: TIGER BAR HOLDS 10TH FAWEHINMIISM LECTURE
VOL.14. NO.6 20-01-14
18th
of January 2014 has come and gone but watchers of the Western Nigerian Lawyers’
Forum, called ‘Egbe Amofin’ know that it was no ordinary day
DELE ADESINA SAN: THE POLITICS OF ADOPTION AND REBIRTH OF EGBE AMOFIN (SOUTH WEST BAR FORUM)
VOL.14 NO.5 23-03-13
They were
lawyers, Nigerian lawyers called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,
not yesterday or last week or last year, but many years, even decades ago, but
a moment came when they threw gravitas, sobriety aside and exhibited their
excitement vigorously, openly and spontaneously.
FUNKE ADEKOYA SAN: BUILDING A BETTER AND STRONGER NBA
VOL. 14. NO. 3 11-11-13
One bright
November morning this very year 2013, in a quiet corner of Abeokuta, a group of
legal practitioners, eventually totaling seventy-three, gathered to a sumptuous
intellectual feast,
LAGOS STATE JUDICIARY MARKS 2013/2014 NEW LEGAL YEAR
VOL.14 NO. 1 07-10-13
Your Lordship,
Good
morning sir. I believe that you still enjoy excellent health, courtesy of his
Grace. We remain grateful to God for your life.
I
feel constrained to write this letter to you, not only because you are a former
(not retired) justice of our nation’s apex court, or because you are now an old
man, a gallant elder at those that may be properly regarded as fathers in the
law.
I
have been at a few for a where you spoke on the state of affairs of our nation,
particularly vis a vis the legal profession.
On
these different occasions, the distinct impressions I took away from your
contributions were that you are one jurist who is an incurable champion of
justice delivery, justice promotion, ethnical and responsible conduct on the
part of judges and lawyers alike.
Thus
I was absolutely shocked even bewildered to see you on the ripened morning of
Thursday 24th October 2013 at the Foyer, of the Lagos High Court
Igboseere, playing the role of Chairmanship at the launch of a book dedicated
in honour of Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips, the Chief Judge of Lagos State.
I
really thought a jurist of such a high should not be caught at such a function!
Are
you surprised sir at my contention? You may wonder at my taking you to task
over your presence a boo launch in honour of a judge?
My
grouse sir, is not with the Book that was launched, the bodies who launched
same and the worthy in whom honour of whom it was dedicated.
My grouse is the timing of the launch –
11.00am on a working day! Sir what do you think the goddess of justice thought
of such an event holding in the heart of her hours?
As
you would agree with me sir, aside the honouree of the day, to wit Hon. Justice
Ayo Phillips herself, there were no less than forty serving Lagos State High
Court judges and several magistrates in attendance.
Clearly
the programme which essentially was a private affair of the publishers of the
book (ENTITLED “A REFORMATORY APPROACH
TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA) disrupted the administration of
Justice in Lagos State on Thursday 24 October.
Out
of the fifty high court judges in Lagos, less than fifteen sat on that day. And
of thus number, not up to four sat for more than an hour or two.
And,
all for what?-The affected judges and magistrates shut their various temples of
justice to spectate on a fund Raising Ceremony.
And
where is the money raised at the Book launch going to? Coffers of the Lagos
Judiciary or the Lagos State Government? Of course the answer is ‘no’
The
proceeds go to the account of the publishers of the book. Now because of the
book launch hundreds of litigants and their respective counsel could not have
their day in court. Some came even outside jurisdiction. Some came with great
difficulty and cost but almost all would have came with reasonable expectation
of adjudication on their matters.
Alas
most went home disappointed-the judges were not there for them. And only for
the reason that the judges had left their courts for a social event!
I
really feel that your Lordship as an elder of a commanding height ought to have
counseled against holding the Book Launch on a work day and if it Must be a
work day then certainly not before 3.00pm, thus, so that our judges and
magistrates would have done first things, first.
In my candid opinion that Book Launch of
Thursday 24th October 2013 that started about 11.00am and ended at
about 2.00pm was insensitive, abuse of office, abuse of privilege and smacks
quite strongly of what Yoruba people call “Iwa a wa lawance, ta ni o mu wa? (we
are in power and who dare challenge us?) and overall unjust.
One
may like to ask what example was the Chief Judge setting by allowing a book in
her honour to be launched during at the peak time of office hours in a work
day.
Would
the Chief Judge have approved such a programme of any other judge, magistrate
or any judiciary staff?
Thank you sir
for your kind and patient perusal of my feeble writing.
I only hope it
makes more sense than nonsense to your Lordship
Very faithfully
yours
Adesina Ogunlana
Esq.
Friday, April 11, 2014
“I AM NOT A LOOTER” AKANDE C.J TELLS LAGOS GOVERNOR OVER ALLEGATIONS OF VANDALISATION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
VOL 13 NO 17 15-07-13
It was fairly common knowledge in the Lagos State judiciary
between year 2009 and 2012 when Hon. Justice Inumidun Akande was the Chief
Judge that the relationship between her and her immediate subordinate then,
Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips was a far cry from amity.
Informed watchers of the Lagos Judiciary knew that the (needless)
competition that arose between the two jurists in the (needless) race to
succeed Adetula Alabi J. as Chief Judge contributed hugely to the discord.
And so it was that when Akande J. eventually became the Chief
Judge, the two jurists just had to manage themselves, forever mutually
suspicious of themselves.
Unfortunately, as the Squib can authoritatively reveal, even with
the exit of Akande C.J from the system upon her retirement from office in June
2012 the unfriendly and unhealthy relationship between the duo has not
abated.
The latest source of the “war of attrition” and discord between
the two Chief Judges is located at No 4 Thompson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, the
official quarters of Lagos State Chief Judge. Extra-judicial and multi-faceted
geckos briefed the Squib’s Gecko Intelligence Agency (S.G.I.A) that the said No
4 Thompson Street, which was renovated under the supervision and control of the
Ministries of Justice and Works sometimes in 2011 at the cost of one hundred
and thirty nine million naira, in the regime of Akande C.J has once again
undergone another renovation in 2013 in the regime of Phillips C.J at the
alleged cost of three hundred and sixty nine million naira.
According to our impeccable sources, Ayo Phillips J the new Chief
Judge of the State ordered the latest renovation upon findings showed that No 4
Thompson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos as used and left by her predecessor in office was
in a sorry state of disrepair, looted, vandalised and grossly unbefitting to be
the official quarters of the Chief Judge of Lagos State.
The Squib gathered that when Inumidun Akande C.J who retired in
June 2012, vacated the residence in February 2013 heard claims from certain
quarters that she left the official quarters in poor and sordid condition, she
forwarded a petition to Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, restating her
innocence and calling for a probe. According to sources in the Governor’s
office and the ministry of Justice the Governor was surprised and embarrassed
to receive the former Chief Judge’s letter.
Akande in her letter asserted that she never looted or vandalized
No 4, Thompson Street in any form or take away any government
property. She said she surrendered the keys to the Quarters on the same
27th February 2013 when she moved out, to the incumbent Chief Judge
through the office of the then Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court,
Mr, now Honourable Justice Gani Safari.
She further asserted that she requested for an inventory of the
house to be taken by the new administration with her representatives present
but that no such exercise has ever been carried out. She further stated in her
petition that her own investigation showed that it was the Chief Security
Officer of the incumbent Chief Judge and some other persons who actually
stormed the house to effect the removal of government property in the house by the
truck-load to unknown destinations, after she had vacated the house.
The petition of the former Chief Judge was said to be backed up
with several pictures of the condition of the house, especially furniture,
electronic gadgets, carpets, blinds in various parts of the house as at the
time of her exit, painting a credible picture of leaving No 4, Thompson Avenue
in a very tenantable state.
The Squib further gathered that even before the aggrieved ex-Chief
Judge dropped her petition with the Governor, the Governor had caused an
investigation of the situation at 4 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi Lagos.
Sometimes in late April 2013 or early May 2013, the Governor invited Akande,
ex-Chief Judge and Phillips C.J to his official residence to a meeting. Neither
of the jurists knew the other was coming.
Other people at the meeting, we gathered were Mr. Ogunlewe, the
Head of Service, Mrs. Oguntuase, the Chairman of the Lagos State Tenders Board
and Mr. Ade Ipaye, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice
Lagos State.
The Governor at the meeting, expressed his great displeasure and
embarrassment at having to call a meeting to look into a matter involving two
very senior judges of the state and upon allegations bordering on misconduct
and criminality.
He called for a report from officers of state who had gone to
inspect 4, Thompson Avenue. The report stated that the place was at the time of
visitation and investigation, in shambles. After hearing the committee out and
asking a few questions, the governor ‘ruled’ that the report was untenable in
view of the claims and assertions of Inumidun Akande Chief Judge in her
petition.
The Governor was particularly surprised to learn that despite the
alleged massive looting and vandalisation of the residence, the new Chief Judge
had not only renovated same but had moved in already within two months and was
demanding for the sum of three hundred and sixty nine million naira for the
said renovation when it as only in 2011 that the very house was renovated at
the cost of one hundred and thirty nine million naira.
Government sources told the Squib that due process in awarding and
executing government contracts for developing and renovation of government
properties, is a long and rigorous one, designed to eliminate or reduce
arbitrary decisions, mismanagement and misappropriation of government funds.
The due process in renovation of such government property must involve the
Ministry of Works, the State Tenders Board as well as the office of the Governor.
Even the Governor himself must pass through the State Tenders Board once a
contract (to be executed) or a project cost more than ten million naira.
At the end of the meeting which saw the two antagonists sitting
far apart, Akande spoke asserting and reiterating her innocence while her
successor, the normally ebullient Phillips C.J, declined any comments.
The Governor there and then set up a new Investigating Panel into
the matter to be headed by the Commissioner of Works, Doctor Hamzat. This new
panel ordered by the Governor to submit its reports within two weeks however is
yet to do so.
The S.G.I.A has however learnt that the Hamzat committee had made
some significant discoveries is in the course of their work which included
interviewing the contractor who renovated 4, Thompson Avenue in 2011. The
gentle-man is said to have submitted to the Hamzat Committee.
(1) Photographs of the house before he started renovation in 2010.
(2) Photographs of the house upon full renovation in November
2011.
(3) Photographs of the house on March 3 2013 (four days after the
exit of Akande C.J from the house) to the panel.
Geckos equipped with infra-red eyes specially deployed to the
state Government Secretariat assure that the pictures for the 2001 contractor
tallied with the pictures of the house affixed to the petition of Akande C.J to
the Governor.
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