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Showing posts with the label Politics

Tsaragi-Bacita bridge is an impending disaster- says group

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Kwara Must Change wishes to call attention of the Kwara State government and the general public to a death trap called bridge being used by motorist between Tsaragi and Bacita community in Kwara State. The image attached to this message is a plank bridge constructed by the people of Tsaragi and Bacita community to enable them cross to each other for daily businesses and other activities. The plank bridge is also being used by vehicles as seen in the attached picture and we see this as an impending disaster. Kwara Must Change is of the view, it is shameful that Kwara state has a government that could allow such a disastrous development occur without feeling any sense of shame or responsibility. The fact that the people has lost so much confidence in the state government to an extent that they resorted to such a remedy says a lot and we sympathize with the people for their helplessness. While we maintain that the continuous use of this disastrous bridge, especially by vehicles is...

Intolerance, discrimination and sentiments By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

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In a multi cultural and multi religious society like Nigeria, violation of basic rights breeds chaos and disobedience. While discrimination, especially on the basis of religion causes disunity among people, sentiments on the other hand, causes fracture and motivate the feeling of revenge. This is why every lover of peace and unity must at all times, be sensitive to the basic rights of others and not be seen as obstacle for no just cause. Following my publication on the hijab controversy at the Nigerian law school few days ago, titled ‘’Nigerian Law School and the need for change’’, several people had reached out to me to give their views on the subject matter. In view of the numerous messages, I feel that i owe them further explanation in the interest of public good. So, this publication is a follow up to the first one, hoping that people might learn to understand the implication of their actions and its effect on peaceful coexistence, which will directly or indirectly have eff...

It’s been 50 years since Britain left. Why are so many African judges still wearing wigs?

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The British gave up their last colonies in Africa half a century ago. But they left their wigs behind. Not just any wigs. They are the long, white, horsehair locks worn by high court judges (and King George III). They are so old-fashioned and so uncomfortable, that even British barristers have stopped wearing them. But in former British colonies — Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Malawi and others — they live on, worn by judges and lawyers. Now, a new generation of African jurists is asking: Why are the continent’s most prominent legal minds still wearing the trappings of the colonizers? It’s not just a question of aesthetics. The wigs and robes are perhaps the most glaring symbol of colonial inheritance at a time when that history is being dredged up in all sorts of ways. This year, Tanzanian President John Magufuli described a proposed free-trade agreement with Europe as a “form of colonialism.” In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe still refers to the British as “thieving colonialists...

Nigerian Law School and the need for change

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By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat Amasa A Firdaus A law graduate or lawyer that cannot defend his or her own basic rights as contained in the constitution does not deserve to be called a legal practitioner. Why because, such person is not fit to defend the right of others. You can’t defend the right of others, if you can’t defend your own rights. This is why I have always maintained that there are very few lawyers in Nigeria who deserve to be called legal practitioners, what we have are business men and women who trade in the legal profession. If not, the abusive system in the Nigerian Law School could not have been tolerated for this long without much resistance. It appeared lawyers are now trained to be docile, so they could not defend human right,but to wear wig and collect certificate. For the Nigerian law school, which has become notorious in flagrant violation of basic rights of many Nigerians, including female Muslim Students who have been consistently denied their right to decent ...

The 3 criminal charges against Bukola Saraki explained

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Kwara Must Change is pleased to bring back to the fore, the 3 criminal charges Senator Bukola Saraki must contend with at the Code of Conduct Tribunal as ordered by the Appeal Court in its recent judgement ordering the Senate President back to the CCT to enter his defense. Justice Danladi Umar of CCT had in June 2017 dismissed all 18 count charges against Saraki for what he described as lack of evidence. However, the higher court has ordered Saraki back to CCT to enter his defense on 3 criminal charges that the appeal court said has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt with sufficient evidences. The Court of Appeal in Abuja reversed Saraki’s acquittal of false assets declaration charges. The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel, led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe Wilson, ordered Saraki to return to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for the continuation of his criminal trial. The appeal court held that the prosecution has proven beyond any reasonable dou...

Kwara Group React To Appeal Court Judgement Ordering Saraki Back To CCT

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PRESS RELEASE. Kwara Must Change welcome the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the Senate President, Bukola Saraki back to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to enter his defense on 3 criminal charges and account for his false asset declaration. The people of Kwara are convinced that the undeclared assets were probably bought with looted funds from Kwara State treasury and we look forward to diligent prosecution of those 3 charges and the safe return of the properties to its rightful owners. We recall that when Justice Danladi Umar led CCT upheld the no case submission of Mr Saraki and dismissed the 18 count charges months ago, Kwara Must Change was one of the groups that appealed to the Federal Government to appeal the judgement in the interest of justice, which they did to wide jubilation among Kwarans. After the notice of appeal was filed, Mr Saraki claimed at the time that the appeal is futile effort against him since he believed he has successfully bought ...

Amnesty International launch global campaign to free man jailed for posting on Facebook

A man simply known as Mahadine, who bravely spoke out against the Chadian government on Facebook is now in prison, and living in dire conditions. In a global campaign by Amnesty International Write for Rights, Leonor Rebassa said Mahadine is a father of seven and an online activist. According to Amnesty International, ''Mahadine told us that after he posted videos online criticizing the government, he was arrested and detained. He was beaten, electrocuted and starved of food and water for days. His health is deteriorating and if he does not receive treatment soon, his life will be at risk. The organization is asking people to sign a petition and demand the Chadian government releases Mahadine immediately. The freedom to say what we think about our governments is something we all have the right to do. He has done nothing wrong. More and more people are being punished for speaking out against the government in Chad. If we do not protect those who are being punished,...