News
Alleged Assault: Women groups visit 71 year old widow in Bayelsa hospital, demand arrest of vigilante members
…our mother was threatened with 50 strokes of cane for false accusation —Son
Coalition of Women led organisation in Bayelsa State have visited the 71 years old widow, who was allegedly chained to a pole by some members of the Vigilante groups in Korokorosei community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the State, on her hospital bed, condemning the act and demanding for those involved to be arrested and prosecuted for alleged assault.
The 71 years old widow, Madam Sudinah Andrew was last week chained to a pole at the Market Square in Korokorosei Community by some members of the community Vigilante group provoking outrage among women groups in the state.
The Coalition of Women Organisations in the State, made up of Groups involved in campaign against violence of the girl child and women, said the visit to the hospital is to assure the widow that they are supporting her and are calling for the arrest of individuals involved in her public embarrassment and tying to the pole.
Among the members of the Coalition of the Women groups are Vice Chairperson of the Dise ogbise Foundation Selekere Preye, Team lead of the End Violence against Women and Children Tari Youdubagha, Hon Joy Salo of Friday Konyefa Foundation, Prince Osain of Okpoitari Diongoli, Lady Stella Doumo of Kosiate Boy Child Foundation and Revrend mrs Roseline Egbesu of the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (South-South).
The Leader of the Do Foundation Team. Barr. Dise Goddy Harry, while speaking during the visit, said the various advocacy groups in the state were in the hospital to give moral support to the hospitalised widow and called on the Nigerian Police, the State Government and the Bayelsa Non-Governmental forum (BANGOF) to summon the vigilante members involved to explain their roles in the public disgrace of the Elderly woman.
Barr. Dise Goddy Harry,” we were told that she was dragged through the market square and tied to a pole like a common criminal. We are calling on the Bayelsa State Government and the Nigerian Police to investigate the incident.”
The action of the vigilante members is an infringement on the fundamental human rights of this 71 years old widow. There is no beliefs or culture that is above the Nigerian constitution. As a woman, we stand by you.”
She also called on Traditional Rulers and Community heads to review some beliefs and traditions that are inimical to the welfare and well being of women and child in their domain, urging that women needs to be protected against maltreated and unfair conducts.
Also speaking, the Team lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC), Tari Tina Youdubagha, also condemned the action of the members of the Vigilante group, declaring that the coalition of Women groups are demanding that those behind the dastardly act be brought to justice.
Hajia Balikis of the Federation of women Muslims association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bayelsa State Chapter, also assured the widow of the support of the Muslim women, ” You are our mother. What they did to you is wrong. What they have done is injustice to every woman.”
Mr. ThankGod Bukuromo Andrew, the junior brother to the widow, described the incident as a sad one to the entire family,” we were shocked to hear that she was dragged through the community. If we had protested ,there would have been crisis in the community. But as peace loving people, we approached the police and women organisations.”
” She was accused falsely that she was caught trying to machete her niece and we were asked to pay N50,000 and was threatened with 50 strokes of cane.”
Also speaking, the Son of the hospitalised widow, Dr. Ebimobotei Mao Bunu, also expressed sadness over the incident and said despite the release of her mother following a police order, ” when I got to the community, I saw my mother tied to a pole with slave chains and some elderly women were playing draft as if they were happily enjoying her suffering.”
“For me, if I want to take law into my hands,it will promote crisis. Now, they have started tagging us as breakers of law and order.”
Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, was on Wednesday acquitted by a London jury of six bribery charges, after a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.
Alison-Madueke was minister between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan.
She stood trial charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.
Prosecutors alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.
But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said she never took any bribes and had no real influence over awarding of lucrative government contracts.
After a trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their investigation into corruption allegations against Alison-Madueke more than a decade ago.
Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with his sister relating to payments made to Agama’s church.
Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also acquitted by the jury. (Reuters)
The Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Nigerian Army, Doma, Maj.-Gen. Olurotimi Awolo, has inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) to try 12 soldiers accused of various offences, including alleged murder, assault and aiding criminality.
Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday in Doma, the Commander, represented by the President of the General Court Martial, Col. Salihu Ibrahim, said the convening order was issued pursuant to powers conferred on him by Section 131(2)(d) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He said the court was constituted to hear the cases of all accused personnel and determine each matter strictly on its merit.
“The court will be guided throughout the trial by the principles of natural justice as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“We are also mindful of the cardinal principle of criminal justice that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“Where the prosecution fails to establish any allegation beyond reasonable doubt, the court will discharge and acquit the accused person.
“Conversely, where an accused person is found guilty, the law will take its course in accordance with the provisions governing such offences,” he said.
He assured all parties of the court’s commitment to fairness, justice and professionalism, urging prosecution and defence counsels to avoid unnecessary delays and frivolous adjournments.
The court president maintained that speedy disposal of the cases would serve the interest of justice and ensure confidence in the military justice system.
However, trial could not commence immediately after the inauguration as six of the accused persons present in court were declared medically unfit to stand trial.
The court’s Medical Orderly, Sgt. Audu Ahmadu, informed the panel that five of the six accused persons had elevated blood pressure levels.
Following the development, the prosecutor, Capt. Shamsondeen Sadiq, urged the medical orderly to ensure that the affected personnel received adequate medical attention to enable the trial to commence.
The President of the court subsequently adjourned proceedings to a later date, which would be communicated to all parties.
Speaking with newsmen after the inaugural sitting, Barr. George Illah, counsel to one of the accused persons, commended the Command for constituting the court martial.
He expressed confidence in the competence of the panel, noting that the president of the court, other members and the Judge Advocate were qualified to discharge their responsibilities.
“As a defence counsel, I will do my best to ensure that the soldiers standing trial before this honourable court martial get the justice they deserve.
“It is important for people to understand that military personnel standing trial before a court martial are entitled to all constitutional and legal rights guaranteed under the law, and we will ensure that those rights are protected,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the General Court Martial include Col. A.A. Buhari, Lt.-Col. Victor Yamu, Lt.-Col. A.K. Karma and Lt.-Col. S. Abdullahi.
Others are Maj. J.M. Usendeng, Maj. A.D. Ahmed, Maj. U. Ahmed, Maj. S.L. Sagu, while Capt. U. Nna serves as Judge Advocate. (NAN)
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the stay of execution of the judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
*In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, berated Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for flouting an order it made on May 22, which directed him to suspend proceedings before him.*
*The appellate court held that Justice Lifu’s action amounted to an affront on the hierarchy of courts.*
*It held that the lower court’s action was “the highest form of judicial impertinence,” stressing that the Supreme Court previously held that a judge who acted in such manner “is unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality.”*
*“Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court. The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.*
*“This court has the duty to invoke its powers in ensuring that its orders are made.*
*“The application for stay of execution is here yet granted. The enforcement of the judgment is stayed,” the appellate court held.*
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