NIS orders passport offices to work on Saturdays over backlog – Newstrends
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NIS orders passport offices to work on Saturdays over backlog

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2 years ago

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has directed passport offices across the country to work on Saturdays to clear the backlog of passport applications.

This is contained in a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr Tony Akuneme, in Abuja on Saturday.
Akuneme said that the Comptroller-General, Idris Isah Jere, who gave the directive also approved the deployment of Passport Controllers to Ondo and Ekiti states.
He said the directive was to enable the Service to reduce the backlog resulting from the 2020 and 2021 prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The CG has directed that passport offices across the country with a high volume of pending applications work on Saturdays.
“The period for this exercise is expected to be every Saturday commencing from Dec. 3, 2022, to Jan. 28, 2023, between the period of 10am and 2pm. This is to enhance our service delivery to our esteemed clients.
“The Saturdays preceding the Christmas and New Year holidays are exempted, ” he said.
The spokesman said passport offices that fell within this category should contact him by Monday for further details.
Akuneme stressed the resolve of the CG to make passport services available and stress-free to the travelling public, especially during the festive season.

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Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation

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1 day ago

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March 15, 2025

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Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation

A civil society organisation, Women for Change Vanguard, yesterday held a peaceful protest at the United Nations House, in Abuja, urging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide concrete evidence to prove her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The group, led by Mrs Irene Imoh, expressed concern over the damage that has been caused by ‘unsubstantiated allegations’ against public figures in the country.

Imoh stated that while accountability was critical in cases of sexual harassment, allegations must be thoroughly scrutinised to prevent misuse of such claims.

“We gather here today at the esteemed UN House to express our support for His Excellency, the President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Over the past few weeks, he has faced significant reputational damage due to unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment made by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

She emphasised the importance of providing evidence when making such weighty allegations of sexual harassment, noting that the burden of proof lies with the accuser.

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“It is important to remember that in any allegation of misconduct, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. If Senator Natasha claims to have been a victim of sexual harassment, we urge her to come forth with credible evidence to support her accusations. The gravity of such claims demands accountability.”

The group also warned against the potential misuse of sexual harassment allegations, expressing concerns about the #BelieveAllWomen movement being applied without due process.

“We are particularly troubled by the growing trend of misusing the #BelieveAllWomen mantra, which can inadvertently shield unfounded accusations against men. This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.”

The Women for Change Vanguard stressed that false or unverified accusations not only harm the accused but also weaken the credibility of real victims of sexual abuse.

The group further stated that their protest was not just about supporting Akpabio but about ensuring that both parties are held accountable.

“Our peaceful protest today is not merely about demanding justice, it is also about holding both parties accountable. Senator Akpabio must have the opportunity to clear his name, while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must show evidence that she was sexually abused.”

Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as, “We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment not people who weaponise it” and “The burden of proof lies with the accuser”, among others.

The protesters, who submitted a petition to the UN were received by the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor, Adwoa Kufuor, who promised to channel their grievances to senior UN officials.

Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation

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Abuja sex workers lose case seeking to legalise prostitution

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3 days ago

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March 13, 2025

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Abuja sex workers lose case seeking to legalise prostitution

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declined to legalise prostitution in the country, even as it dismissed a suit that sought to enforce fundamental rights of commercial sex workers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, while describing prostitution as an immoral act that is alien to cultural values of all the ethnic groups in the country, said it found no reason to stop the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and security agencies, from arresting those that engage in such illicit business.

According to the court, prostitutes have no legal rights to enjoy under any known law or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/642/2024, which the sex workers filed to bar the FCT Minister and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, from harassing, intimidating, arresting and prosecuting them.

Aside from Wike and the AEPB, other respondents in the legal action that was initiated on behalf of Abuja-based prostitutes, by a Non Governmental Organisation under the aegis of Lawyers Alert Initiative for Protection of Rights of Children, Women and Indigent, were the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, andAttorney-General of the Federation, AGF.

The applicants had through their team of lawyers led by Mr. Rommy Mom, prayed the court to enforce their right to prostitution, in line with all the fundamental human rights that inure to them from the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Specifically, they urged the court to determine whether the duties of the AEPB under Section 6 of the AEPB Act, 1997, extends to the harassment, arrest, detention and prosecution of women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.
As well as, whether by the provision of Section 35 (1) (d) of the AEPB Act, 1997, women can be regarded as articles or their bodies regarded as goods for purchase.

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Upon the determination of the questions, the applicants sought a declaration that a charge the AEPB entered before the FCT Mobile Court, which referred to arrested women suspected of engaging in sex work as “articles” and considered their bodies as “goods for purchase,” was discriminatory and a violation of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution.

They sought a declaration that the duties of the board does not extend to the harassment, arrest and raid of women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.

A declaration that neither Section 6 of the AEPB Act, 1997, nor any extant laws of the country, authorise the board to arrest women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.

The applicants also prayed the court to restrain the AEPB, its agents or privies, from harassing, arresting and raiding women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.

As well as to make an order, directing all the respondents to ensure proper application of the provisions of Abuja Environmental Protect Act, 1997, by the 1st respondent, AEPB.

However, in his judgement, yesterday, Justice Omotosho held that under the criminal law also known as the Penal Code, commercial sex workers are liable to be arrested and prosecuted for a jail term of two years.

Application incompetent

He held that their application was incompetent as it did not fall within the confines of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

It was also the position of the court that the reliefs were not grantable, even as it dismissed the case for want of merit.
Justice Omotosho said: “This court wonders what kind of message the applicant is sending when it decided to bring an action to protect prostitutes.

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“A reasonable person would have expected that the applicant would instead occupy itself with developing the girl child and protecting the sanctity of womanhood instead of promoting immorality and the spread of sexual diseases. It is indeed shameful that the applicant should file an action such as this.

“The women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja or prostitutes or vagabonds are by their actions committing an offence and thus their fundamental rights can be legally breached by the 1st respondent.

“Holding a different opinion would mean that a person arrested in the process of robbing others can claim to be entitled to his fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom.

“This would cause anarchy and chaos in the society. Assuming that prostitution is not an offence in the FCT, the rights of these prostitutes can legally be violated under Section 45 of the constitution which allows the breach of a person’s right on grounds of defence, public safety, public health, public order and public morality.

“It is a known fact that prostitutes are some of the clearest examples of indecency in the society and they are champions of immorality through their immoral dressing, exposing sensitive parts of their bodies, their use of vulgar language as well as the chief culprits in spreading sexual diseases.

“Allowing prostitutes to have free reign on the streets of Abuja will, in no time, destroy the moral fibre of the city and turn it to a hotbed of immorality.

“This court will not allow such to happen,” he said adding that the court was not unaware that prostitution had been legalised in some western nations, including in the Netherlands where prostitutes are now entitled to pensions and other benefits.

“This is not so in Africa. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which is one of the Statutes enforced by the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, is clear on what fundamental rights are in Africa.”

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He held that looking at the preamble to the charter, the culture of Africans must reflect in their idea of what constitutes human rights.
He said: “This philosophy is what is known as cultural relativism in the framework of human rights.

“The counterpoint to this is universality, which posits that human rights should be the same in all places and should apply to persons irrespective of their culture, religion, race, gender or other differences.

“The idea behind universalism is to ensure uniformity in human rights development. Universality of human rights directly led to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is the first global human rights document.

“While it is theoretically sound, universalism if applied would offend the unique cultures of some people.

“For instance, the right to same sex marriage, which is acceptable in Western nations like the United Kingdom will be deeply unacceptable to conservative and religious nations like Arab nations.

“Thus cultural relativism means that these nations can choose which of these rights to adopt or not.

It’s alien to our culture

“This explains why some conservative nations exercise their right to reservation regarding several sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which are in conflict with their cultural beliefs.

“I daresay that prostitution is alien and has never been part of our culture. Prostitution or ‘Olosho’ and ‘Ashewo’ as the Yorubas call it, ‘Akwuna-Akwuna’ as the Igbos call it, ‘Karuwa’ as the Hausas call it or ‘Hookup’ as the young people say it, is alien to our culture.

“It has been frowned upon as a deeply immoral act worthy of shame.The fact that civilisation and westernisation has taken some root in Nigeria still does not make it right. Even in some Western countries, prostitution is still seen as an immoral act.

“In the United States of America for instance, apart from a few counties in the state of Nevada, prostitution or sex work is illegal in the other 50 states of the US.

“There is absolutely no justification for prostitution in Nigeria in the context of our cultural norms and tradition and in fact prostitution is an anathema in Africa.”

Justice Omotosho held that prostitutes, which the group sought to protect “are vagabonds” and the AEPB is well within its right to arrest and prosecute them as they constitute nuisance in the FCT and are clearly committing an offence by parading themselves as “women of easy virtue.”

“I therefore hold that this application filed by the applicant has no basis and the rights claimed are unenforceable in light of the provisions of Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Preamble to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,” the trial judge added.

 

Abuja sex workers lose case seeking to legalise prostitution

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Portable: Monarch frowns on ‘King of Street’ chieftaincy title, demands revocation

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2 weeks ago

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March 3, 2025

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Portable: Monarch frowns on ‘King of Street’ chieftaincy title, demands revocation

 

Controversial singer Habeeb Olalomi Okikiola, popularly known as ‘Portable’, is in the eye of a storm again. This time, it is about the conferment of “King of Street” chieftaincy title on him by the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo.

Another monarch, Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has expressed disappointment about the title and demanded its reversal.

He described the action as an abuse of the institution of traditional rulers.

Oba Akinyemi, in an open letter he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, said the title as bestowed on ‘Portable’ was strange to all palaces in Yorubaland, and must be reversed to avoid chaos.

The traditional ruler said his colleague Oba should not have generalised the title, but ought to have limited it to his jurisdiction by naming the title “King of Itori Street”.

He called the attention of Chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland to the untraditional and illegal installation done by Olu Itori.

He added that the decision by Oba Akamo to confer the chieftaincy title on Portable was not well thought out, at a period the singer was being tried before an Ogun State High Court over alleged assault on some government officials.

The open letter read in paer, “The title “King of Street” which Olu Itori gave the controversial musician at His Majesty’s 21st Coronation Anniversary is absolutely unknown in all palaces of Yoruba Land, so given such a title to honour any personality is not only illegal, but a call for chaos if not reversed.

“Using the title “King of Street” can be interpreted as the King of all Streets in the State. This is unacceptable. Olu Itori ought to have limited the title to his domain. Kabiyesi ought to have titled it “King of Itori Street” and the musician would know that his title is only confined to Itori Kingdom.

“All streets in Ogun State have their Kings and they know how they choose them, so this generalization of the title Street should be reversed to prevent any problems in the State and beyond”.

“Apart from the wrong title given to Portable, His Royal Majesty’s decision to install the musician as a Chief was not well thought out because of the unruly and questionable behaviour of the singer who is currently facing a trial in a competent court in Ogun State.

“Giving him a chieftaincy title is like encouraging him to wreak more havoc. An effort that will make the musician live a better life is what is necessary.

“In fact, the unruly self-made kings in the fuji industry have caused lots of divisions among themselves which is entirely different from the love and good legacy the pioneers left behind. Portable is one of the self-made kings who need to refine their lives.”

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