… as Aguata Branch of NBA honours her as “Amazon of the Frontline Bar”

The Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, has bagged “Amazon of the Frontline Bar” award; courtesy of the Aguata branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

The award, presented during the 2024 Law Week of the association, was in recognition of the Justice Commissioner’s “positive support, hospitality and motivation to the Bar”.

Receiving the honour and dedicating same to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Professor Ifemeje announced that the end-to-end full automation of the 31 High Courts in Anambra and the Ministry of Justice, when completed by the end of the year, would make the state the first to achieve such feat in the Nigeria justice sector.

She stated that innovative, disruptive and transformative projects going on in the state justice sector are in line with Governor Soludo’s promise of expeditious dispensation of justice.

Other achievements of the state government in the justice sector, according to the Commissioner, include solar installation in all the High Courts, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and Court of Appeal in Anambra, as well as all four Correctional Service Centres in the state.

She recalled that the Soludo administration has equally deployed virtual hearing facilities in all the High Courts and four Correctional Service Centres in the state, and has also embarked on massive renovation of all the Ministry of Justice Outstations in Nnewi, Awka, Onitsha, and Otuocha.

Earlier while welcoming participants to the event, the Chairman of Aguata Branch of the NBA, Victor Ezeonwumelu Esq., noted that the Law Week, which has been a biennial celebration in the branch, was not held since after that of 2020 due insecurity within and around the Old Aguata Region of the state, reason he commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration for doing alot to curb the unfortunate tide through good governance.

Noting that the Aguata Branch has since inception continued its search for a revolutionizing role for the law profession in the seemingly impracticable task of reshaping and re-routing the Nigerian nation through rich and robust indepth lectures, Barrister Ezeonwumelu explained that the 2024 Law Week with the theme, “Interrogating the judicial responses to the application of ICT as a panacea to electoral malpractices in Nigeria”, was yet another modest contribution to the “Nigerian Project”.

He congratulated award recipients at the event, and challenge them to continually justify the honors bestowed on them by further investment in integrity and industry in the years ahead.

… as Anambra govt plans establishment of juvenile Correctional Centers

Having specialized courts or specific days for criminal and civil matters will ensure speedy trial and determination of criminal cases, thereby helping to decongest Correctional Centres in the state, as well as upholding rights of inmates awaiting trial.

Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, announced this as the decision of members of the Anambra State Steering Committee on Implementation of International Idea/ROLAC II Programme during its meeting in Awka.

At the meeting, members of the committee were briefed on challenges, expected targets and action plans for the next quarter of the year.

Professor Ifemeje, who also said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is committed to having a Correctional Centers for juveniles in conflict with the law in the state, explained that the absence of the centers has been creating problems in character reformation in a congested facility.

She explained that the amendment of the constitution of the federal government that included Correctional Centers in the Concurrent Legislative List has enabled the Anambra State Ministry of Justice to initiate Correctional Service Bill to help the state in proper facility management and possible expansion; given that criminality rate is on the increase in present-day society.

Professor Ifemeje, who also chairs the steering committee, commended RoLAC for being helpful in reforming the justice sector of the state and strengthening its anti corruption drive.

On his part, a member of the committee and Chairman of Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie, said that access to justice requires that attention be given to speedy trial of criminal cases, which he said will ensure that those in awaiting trial are not allowed to stay long and be badly influenced by convicted inmates.

He noted that the concept of correction suggests that people who break the law get reformed and reintegrated into the society for a better life, reason he said there is the need for separation of those who actually needs to be rehabilitated from those who need to be “locked away” to serve their jail terms.

Earlier in her remark, the Anambra State Cordinator of RoLAC, Mrs Josephine Onah, called for increased state support for better project outcomes.

Other members of the steering committee present at the meeting were a Senior Magistrate, Mike Anyadiegwu, Deputy Chief Registrar, Inspectorate, Anambra State High Court, Vivian Udedike, state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu, Permanent Secretary, Office of the state Head of Service, Mr. Adebayo Ojeyinka.

Members of Civil Society Organizations, including the Executive Director, Civil Rights Concern, Mr. Okey Onyeka, Executive Director of Victorian Clarion Foundation, Mrs Uju Onyendilefu, State Cordinator, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Barrister Amaka Maduabuchi also attended the meeting.

…labels Tinubu administration real terrorist government.

The Biafra De Facto Customary Government (BDFCG) has firmly condemned recent events unfolding in Oyo State, where Yoruba nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government secretariat in the Agodi area.

The group said the agitators, purportedly members of the ‘Ominira Yoruba,’ a secessionist group led by Modupe Onitiri Abiola, have taken a misguided approach in their pursuit of self-determination.

Reacting to the development in a statement issued by BDFCG Spokesperson, Prosper Odinga, the Pro-Biafran group said while it acknowledges and supports the aspirations of various groups seeking liberation from the shackles of oppression and tyranny, it vehemently denounces any attempt to undermine democratic processes and institutions.

It said “The audacious move to forcefully take over government facilities without due process sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the very principles of democracy and the rule of law”, and called upon Yoruba counterparts in the solemn quest for political independence from the “unworkable fake union called Nigeria” to reconsider their methods and join forces with other like-minded agitators across the contraption.

BDFCG maintained that “The struggle for freedom from the colonial vestiges of Nigeria requires unity and a coherent strategy that respects the rights and aspirations of all ethnic groups”.

The group expressed belief that the Nigerian Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents the true face of terrorism, adding that the administration, “with its iron grip on power and disregard for the welfare of its citizens, has become a puppet regime serving the interests of a few ruling elites and their foreign collaborators”.

BDFCG insisted that the only viable solution to challenge these oppressive forces is through a democratic process that empowers the masses and allows for peaceful mobilization towards a common goal, urging all agitators and lovers of freedom to reject violence and embrace the power of unity and collective action in the quest for true freedom and self-determination.