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Re: Rejoinder: Powerful Lagos, Powerless

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2023

By Bola Atanda Lawal, Abeokuta

I wish to add my own voice to the ongoing healthy discourse on the above by pointing out some contradictions in one Mr Adedayo Oshodi’s rejoinder to Dr Lasisi Olagunju’s Monday Lines column on the proposed appointments into the Supreme Court.

Mr Oshodi submitted (or admitted) that Lagos and Ogun States were paired for appointments into the Supreme Court, yet he admitted that when Justice George Oguntade from Lagos State retired in 2010, he was replaced with Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour from Lagos. Shouldn’t that slot have gone to Ogun State or could it be that Ogun was too illiterate to have a qualified candidate for a seat in the Supreme Court? Indeed, I have just been told that the last Justice from Ogun State judiciary to be at the Supreme Court was Justice Ebenezer Babasanya Craig who retired in 1989 (34 years ago). Lagos has monopolised the joint slot of the two states for going to 40 years!

Note that Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, whom Mr Oshodi claimed stopped the rotation of Supreme Court seats among states, became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in July 2012. She retired in November 2014.

In anycase, Oshodi’s claim that Justice Aloma Mukhtar stopped pairing of states when she took over as CJN is difficult to believe. Why did he think the Federal Judicial Service Commission put state of origin in front of each of the names it recommended last week?

I also find it curious that Mr Oshodi is justifying the choice of a Lagos-born Justice for the extant slot because, according to him, “the slot available was vacated by a Lagosian in the person of Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, who retired on 22nd March, 2021 after he was appointed on 16th September, 2010.” This argument is rather funny especially coming from a lawyer. So, when Justice Olufunlola Adekeye from Ekiti State retired in 2012, why was she not replaced with another justice from Ekiti State? Why did that slot go to Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun from Lagos?

Mr Oshodi in his concluding paragraph argued that the nomination of the two gentlemen from the South West was based on what he called “merit and the time honored tradition of the Nigerian judiciary for seniority.” This is against the facts that are in public domain. The seniority list at the court of appeal shows that the No. 2 man in that court is from the South West (Osun); No. 3 is from the South West (Ekiti); No. 14 is also from the South West just as No. 15 South West (Osun). So, where is “merit and seniority” and justice in jumping over these seniors to pick No. 22 as the priority candidate for the zone?

Mr Oshodi, a lawyer, claimed that balancing in the judiciary is based on the “six geo-political zones (NW,NE, NC, SW, SE, SS) not based on states as suggested by Olagunju.” Could that mean that our judiciary at the highest level does not know that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not recognise zones? No where in the constitution is Oshodi’s so called zones mentioned. What the constitution recognises are states.

Oshodi rightly stated that the constitution mandates govt agencies to respect what he called “fulfilment of federal character principle” to avoid lopsided “appointments into national institutions”, yet he took a position that did violence to that provision of the constitution. If there are four slots for a highly educated region like the South West, how can one state out of six take two and a lawyer working for a senior advocate will put pen to paper to justify it? Haba!, It is sad that we are discussing the Supreme Court here. Now we know that, indeed, gold rusts.

News

Jonathan To Meet Tinubu Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention — Sowore

Published

2 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, said former President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to engage President Bola Tinubu on the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore disclosed this on Friday via his X handle after meeting with Jonathan in Abuja.

According to him, their discussion centred on the “urgent and compelling need” to address Kanu’s case “decisively and justly.”

Sowore said, “Earlier today in Abuja, I met with former President @GEJonathan (Goodluck Jonathan) to discuss the continued incarceration of Mazi @NnamdiKanu

“President Jonathan agreed that there is an urgent and compelling need to address this matter decisively and justly. I thank him sincerely for recognising the importance of resolving Kanu’s case in the interest of peace, fairness, and national healing.

“Particularly assuring was that he promised to meet @officialabat (President Bola Tinubu) to discuss this issue as soon as possible.”

He noted that with this development, Jonathan joins a growing list of Nigerians who have called for justice in Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

“A list that already includes ex-Vice President @atiku, Femi Falana SAN, Senator @ShehuSani, and many others across political and regional divides,” Sowore said.

The activist reiterated his call for Kanu’s release, saying the IPOB leader “remains in detention today because he took up the just cause of confronting the long-standing issue of marginalisation in Nigeria.”

He also urged political, cultural, and religious leaders, including Peter Obi, Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti, Francis Nwifuru, Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodinma, Oby Ezekwesili, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s John Mbata, to join the campaign for Kanu’s release.

Kanu has been in detention since 2021 after being re-arrested abroad and returned to Nigeria to face trial on charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.

Several court orders granting him bail or ordering his release have yet to be implemented.

News

Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, Others Demand Live Broadcast Of INEC Chair Screening

Published

2 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have appealed to the Senate to ensure that the screening of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is broadcast live to the public.

According to the groups, a live broadcast of the screening would promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the process of appointing the head of the nation’s electoral body.

In a statement made available to The Guardian on Friday, they emphasised that, given the crucial role INEC plays in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, citizens have a right to witness and assess the integrity, competence, and independence of the nominee being considered for such a sensitive position.

The CSOs include Yiaga Africa, Women Rights Advancement Protection Alternative (WRAPA), International Press Centre, The Kukah Centre, Centre for Media and Society, TAF Africa, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Nigeria Women Trust Fund, Accountability Lab Nigeria, and YERP Naija Campaign.

According to the organisations, live coverage would help dispel any suspicion of bias or backroom dealings, while allowing Nigerians to engage more meaningfully in discussions about electoral reforms and leadership within the electoral body.

“We call on the Senate to ensure that its confirmation hearings are transparent, televised, and inclusive of citizen and civil society input through memoranda, petitions, and participation in the confirmation hearings.

“The Senate should undertake a rigorous examination of his competence, public records, vision for electoral reform, INEC’s institutional strengthening, as well as his capacity to resist political interference and uphold electoral integrity.

“The Senate should also interrogate the nominee’s plans to address systemic challenges, including voter registration, result transmission, and enforcement of INEC’s regulations and guidelines.

“Nigerians expect the Senate confirmation process to be open to citizens’ participation in line with the Framework for Citizens’ Engagement in the INEC Appointment Process previously submitted to the Senate by the undersigned civil society organisations. This includes full disclosure of the nominee’s credentials, public service history, and capacity to manage elections without political interference,” the statement reads.

While acknowledging Professor Amupitan’s academic and professional accomplishments, they declared that they have no objection to his nomination, even as they tasked him to “demonstrate moral courage and resistance to political interference,” if confirmed by the Senate.
(GUARDIAN)

News

Recruitment: NCS sets Date For Final Exam

Published

2 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that the final computer-based examination for all successful Superintendent Cadre applicants will hold on Tuesday, 14 October, across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

According to a statement posted on the NCS recruitment update portal, the examination will be conducted simultaneously in designated states and centres based on candidates’ states of origin.

The service advised shortlisted applicants to log in with their National Identification Number (NIN) at https://updates.customs.gov.ng](https://updates.customs.gov.ng) to access their examination details, including assigned centres. Candidates are required to print their coloured examination slips for presentation at the venue.

The designated centres for the examination include Lagos and Osun (South West), Enugu and Abia (South East), Rivers and Edo (South South), Abuja and Kwara (North Central), Bauchi and Adamawa (North East), and Kaduna and Sokoto (North West).

NCS warned that failure to report at assigned centres could result in disqualification. Further details and specific instructions will be communicated through the recruitment update portal.

The agency stressed that the stage is strictly for successful applicants under the Superintendent Cadre category.