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Your rank will be permanently withdrawn if you misbehave – AGF warns new SANs

Published

6 months ago

November 28, 2023

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN

Your rank will be permanently withdrawn if you misbehave – AGF warns new SANs

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has issued a stern warning to newly sworn-in Senior Advocates Of Nigeria (SANs) to uphold the highest ethical standards and adhere strictly to the 2022 Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocates Of Nigeria.

Fagbemi warned that failure to comply with these guidelines could result in the permanent withdrawal of their rank.

He stated this during the Supreme Court legal year ceremony, emphasizing that unlike the 2018 Guidelines, which allowed for the restoration of rank after a three-year withdrawal period, the 2022 Guidelines provide no such provision.

This means that once a SAN’s rank is withdrawn for misconduct, it cannot be regained.

“Whether or not you have read the paragraph, let me seize this opportunity to bring it out.

“One of the highlights of the new Guidelines is that unlike the 2018 Guidelines which contains provisions for discipline of erring holders of the rank and for the restoration of the rank after three years of withdrawal upon the fulfilment of certain conditions, the 2022 Guidelines makes no provision for the restoration of the rank after withdrawal,” Fagbemi told the new lawyers in the presence of a host of SANs, lawyers and judges both serving and retired.

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The AGF maintained that once the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 26(4) of the Guidelines withdraws the rank from any holder who may have breached the provisions in sub-paragraph (a)-(h), the withdrawal is final and the rank cannot be restored afterwards.

“It therefore behoves on any Senior Advocate of Nigeria to strive to conduct himself in utmost professional standards and to avoid running foul of the Rules of Professional Misconduct for Legal Practitioners,” Fagbemi advised.

Fagbemi encouraged the new SANs to subscribe to the mentorship of the very senior elders at the Inner Bar.

“Law is a dynamic profession. We learn every day and the seniors are there to play the role of mentors. You are therefore in a unique position of still being mentored by the elders in the Inner Bar while at the same time acting as mentors to the younger colleagues at the Bar,” he said, while urging them to also serve as good mentors by showing good examples in and outside the court room.

“To the new silks, I warmly welcome you to the inner bar. It is indeed a remarkable privilege to be chosen and decorated with honour amongst your colleagues. As the name of the LPPC implies, the conferment of the rank of SAN is a privileged position for the deserving only,” Fagbemi congratulated the new silks.

The AGF leveraged the situation to call for speedy promotion of judges into the Appeal Court and Supreme Court bench, adding that vacancies in judicial offices can cause disruptions in the judiciary and rule of law.

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Fagbemi said, “I am aware that the process of filling the vacancies for the Justices of the Supreme Court has begun. I would however like to use this opportunity to urge the leadership of the National Judicial Council to fast-track the process of achieving a full complement of the Supreme Court and to also concurrently put in place the process of filling the consequential vacancies that will be occasioned at the Court of Appeal to avoid undue delay and minimize disruptions at that level.”

For the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau SAN, he said members of the bar who claim judges/ justices collect bribes, “should quit being cowards and make bold to present the evidence to law enforcement agencies, even when the bribes are allegedly given by or through them. It is a sacrifice we must make to save the nation.”

He therefore called on the judge who alleged that a senior counsel attempted to bribe the Tribunal in Kano to forward the particulars of the counsel to the NBA for disciplinary action.

” If this cannot be done, because the allegation was unfounded, the Bar demands an apology just as I have severally done for the unwarranted hurt
caused your lordships by members of the Bar, ” he added.

Your rank will be permanently withdrawn if you misbehave – AGF warns new SANs

News

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

Published

4 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

The Army Headquarters on Saturday said it has ordered investigations into allegations of overcrowded cells in its barracks and poor feeding of detained personnel following a viral video showing some detained soldiers protesting.

A statement by Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, titled, “Army’s Response to Viral Audio Visual Footage of Soldiers Protesting Overcrowded Cells, Poor Feeding” made this known.

It reads, “The Army headquarters has taken note of a report and audiovisual recording circulating on social media produced by some of its personnel held in custody at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility.

“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to say the least, and in line with his leadership style.

“The COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.

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“While the service regrets and has gleaned some lessons from the incident, it will, however, not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance.

“Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such.

“As such, as Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all NA detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the Service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities.

“And if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively.

“While the Service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body.

“As such, the Service remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed.

“This commitment underscores the NA’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.

“The NA appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies.”

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

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Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Published

4 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

CNG buses

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Ahead of the roll-out of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mass transit buses meant for commuting nationwide, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, has inspected the assembly plant where the vehicles are being put together.

He expressed optimism that the buses when they hit the road would ease transportation and lead to a substantial slash in fares.

He expressed this view during his visit to the JET Motor Company Assembly Plant in Lagos.

The CNG buses are being mass produced under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) as part of measures to reduce the high cost of living and curb inflation after the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Federal Government has promised to launch the first set of the CNG buses and tricycles by the end of this month (May).

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, quoted the minister as saying, “I have come to see the CNG buses that Nigerians are asking about. I have seen them. “I have tested them and driven them. I have seen them being assembled. The benefits will soon be available to Nigerians.”

Edun highlighted the significant cost savings that CNG buses offer compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.

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“Two critical aims will be achieved. Whereas it costs about N55,000 to fill a 15-20 seater bus with petrol, it will cost between N12-15,000 to fill a CNG bus of the same capacity. This is three times, if not four times less.

“This is a huge savings that will help reduce transport costs and at the same time help reduce inflation,” he said.

According to him, the PCNGi is all about mass transit that is affordable, and praised JET’s employment of local talents in the assembly of the vehicles.

The Chairman and founder of JET, Chidi Ajaere, took the minister round the assembly plant during the visit.

Also on hand were the CEO of JET motor company, Engr Derek Ewelukwa, and other members of the JET team such as Sanjay Rupani of the Technical Development Department and Ebimo Ofongo, the plant manager.

Present also were Tosin Coker, Commercial Director at the PCNGi, and Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Development and Design Council.

Ajaere commended President Bola Tinubu for his initiative in promoting local production of the CNG vehicles and the entire PCNGi team’s resolve to make the project a success.

JET was established in 2018 to build Electric Vehicles (EV) vans, pickups and CNG/Petrol buses tailored to meet Nigeria’s unique transportation needs.

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

News

NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti state command, has arrested a 27-year-old man, Ojo Afolabi, for allegedly defiling a four-year-old girl.

The suspect, who lives on Olujoda Street, Ado-Ekiti, was arrested after the mother of the girl made a formal complaint at the office of the NSCDC in Ado-Ekiti.

The four-year-old victim, while narrating the incident, alleged that the suspect removed her underwear and had carnal knowledge of her sometime in late April, 2024.

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The mother of the girl, who spoke to journalists, also said that her daughter informed her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied the allegation, saying he was being indicted unjustly.

The NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Tolu Afolabi, said a medical report had confirmed that the hymen of the girl had been broken.

Afolabi stated that investigations were ongoing.