General
#EndSARS: Rinu Quits Lagos Judicial Panel Over Insincerity
By Dipo Olowookere
One of the members of the judicial panel set up by the Lagos State government on police brutality and the infamous October 20, 2020, shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate, Ms Rinu Oduala, has stepped down.
The human rights activist announced her decision to quit the panel on Friday, citing insincerity on the part of the government as the rationale behind her action.
Ms Oduala, a prominent member of the #EndSARS campaign, said it was now obvious to her that the “government is only out to use us for performative actions.”
She said the decision of the five of the nine-member panel on February 6, 2021, to allow the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to reclaim the toll gate when investigations were still ongoing was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
The activist, who is one of the two representatives of the youth in the team, wondered why “commercial interests and vested interests” would be placed above “calls for justice,” pointing out that when this happens, “it calls into question the legitimacy and integrity of the entire affair and the impartiality of the proceedings.”
She submitted that, “Without a final panel report or actionable steps, we are returning to the status quo,” emphasising that “I refuse to be manipulated into gas-lighting the people and attaching my name to a rubberstamped and foregone conclusion.”
“My stand on the reopening on the toll gate is clear; the state government and the private organisation operating the toll have not been cleared of collusion with elements allegedly deployed by the federal government to target citizens on home soil during a time of peace, without provocation.
“Justice has not been served, and as a representative of the Nigerian citizenry, my only recourse is to stay the course of justice. What I will not do is be part of a cover-up,” she further said.
Ms Oduala said after her exit from the panel, she would be spending “the next few months reconnecting with these people (victims), documenting their stories, and empowering the children and family of the deceased SARS victims who are not alive to fulfil their dreams.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the pilot phase of its Management Information System (MIS) and Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) at the PTML Area Command, Lagos, as it pushes its modernisation drive aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, operational efficiency and service delivery.
The pilot launch was led by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Mrs Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi.
She commended the PTML Area Command for its exceptional level of preparedness, describing its readiness as a testament to the collaborative efforts and commitment of officers towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
“Modernisation and digitalisation are no longer optional. As the lead agency in border management, the Nigeria Customs Service cannot afford to lag. If we don’t move with the cloud, we will be left behind. This pilot phase reflects our commitment to building a modern Customs Service that meets global standards,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Acting Customs Area Controller, PTML Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Nura Miko, said the command continues to prioritise trade facilitation while maintaining a balance with revenue generation and national security.
He disclosed that PTML, which currently achieves cargo clearance within two hours, is working towards reducing the clearance time to one hour through digital innovation and improved operational processes.
“At PTML, trade facilitation remains our priority. Having achieved a two-hour cargo clearance time, we are now working towards reducing it to one hour through the deployment of these digital platforms and continuous process improvements,” Mr Miko said.
The event featured a live demonstration of the MIS and ECTS by the Service’s ICT Unit, which explained that the in-house developed applications are highly scalable and designed to support indigenous technology development.
The team showcased key modules, including the Duty Roster, Internal Roster, File Tracker and Posting Management, while disclosing that officer onboarding, user training and deployment of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System are already underway as part of the pilot phase.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed six iron and steel manufacturing companies in Ikorodu over alleged environmental violations.
The agency said the operation was carried out at the Odogunyan Industrial Layout on the directive of the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab.
It said the exercise was part of the Lagos State government’s efforts to protect public health and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
The affected companies are Germini Steel Nigeria Ltd., Top Steel Nigeria Ltd., Pulkit Alloy Nigeria Ltd., Landcraft Steel Nigeria Ltd., Sunflag Steel Nigeria Ltd., and African Steel Nigeria Ltd.
According to LASEPA, inspections revealed emissions of brown dust, black dust, mill scale, shredded dust, dead dust and other non-metallic particulate matter, noting that the emissions posed significant risks to air quality, public health and the environment.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Mr Babatunde Ajayi, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws across the state, urging industrial operators to adopt sustainable production processes and install effective pollution control measures to prevent harmful emissions.
“The Lagos State government remains resolute in its determination to protect residents from the adverse effects of industrial pollution. We will continue to take decisive action against facilities that fail to comply with established environmental standards,” he said.
Mr Ajayi urged industries operating in the state to comply with environmental regulations, saying environmental responsibility was essential for sustainable industrial growth and the well-being of Lagos residents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over allegations of failure to meet constitutional requirements.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court held that the order issued by the Federal High Court on June 15 was a nullity.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court held that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction and issued the order based on an incompetent suit filed by a non-juristic entity.
According to the court, there was no valid suit before the Federal High Court that could have warranted the consequential order directing INEC to deregister the affected political parties.
The appellate court noted that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence before it, stressing that proof showing the parties had won elective positions in previous elections was ignored.
It further held that the lower court acted in defiance of an order directing it to stay proceedings in the matter, ruling that the Federal High Court ought to have dismissed the substantive suit for lack of jurisdiction and merit.
Consequently, it held that all the affected political parties remain duly registered.
The appellate court allowed the separate appeals filed by the political parties and awarded costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which instituted the suit against them.
Apart from the ADC, the other parties whose registrations were restored are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The Court of Appeal had, on June 16, ordered a stay of execution of the High Court judgment and criticised the trial judge for disregarding judicial hierarchy.
The panel faulted Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly disobeying an order it issued on May 22 directing him to stay proceedings in the case pending the determination of an appeal filed by the parties.
It noted that despite being notified of the order staying proceedings, the trial judge proceeded to deliver judgment.
The appellate court described the action as “a form of judicial impertinence,” noting that the Supreme Court had previously held that a judge who acts in such a manner is “unfit for the bench,” as such conduct amounts to “judicial rascality.”
Justice Lifu had ordered INEC to deregister the five political parties, holding that they failed to satisfy the constitutional requirements necessary to justify their continued existence and participation in future elections.
The trial court also restrained INEC from granting further recognition to the parties, accepting nominations of candidates from them, or recognising their activities for participation in the 2027 general elections.
Justice Lifu further directed the parties to stop presenting themselves as registered political parties, having found merit in the suit filed by the NFFL.
In the suit, the NFFL asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance thresholds prescribed under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations.
The plaintiffs argued that the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.
According to the former legislators, the requirements include securing at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or winning at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections conducted by INEC, failing to secure seats across key levels of government.
The litigants maintained that the continued recognition of the ADC and the other affected parties was unlawful and undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
