The Leadership of Civil Society and Labour in Edo State have risen in condemnation of the detention of the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana with the leadership of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) calling for a probe by the National Judicial Council, while the Nigerians United for Justice, a coalition of Political Parties, Labour and Civil Society Organisations in Edo State calling for the dismissal of Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court, Benin over what the group described as “abuse of Judicial Powers and obvious disregard for due process and the rule of law”.
A statement from ANEEJ in Benin City yesterday and signed by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, a copy of which was made available to Weekend Observer noted that “the detention of the Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice was not only a reckless exercise of Judicial muscle but a violation of his fundamental human rights.
“ We understand that government is a continuum but it is absurd to punish an ACN Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for an offence committed by his PDP predicessor in office, without deeming it necessary to draw his attention to the matter vide Forms 48 and 49 which were never served on him,” the ANEEJ statement queried warning that “any nation with a politicised judiciary is finished because the judiciary ought to be an unbiased arbiter.”
“ANEEJ wishes to call on the Nigerian Judicial Council to investigate the decision with a view to determining what led to such abuse of powers exhibited by Justice Adamu Hobon.” Rev. Ugolor said.
Nigerians United for Justice in a statement titled “A Call for the Dismissal of Honourable Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court Benin Over Abuse of Judicial Powers and Obvious Disregard for Due Process and the Rule of Law in Maliciously Committing the Person of Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Edo State to Prison over a state matter with no personal wrongdoing traceable to him,” endorsed by nine Labour and Civil Society Organisations, including Comrade B.S.Kadiri, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Edo State; Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, Chairman, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance, Comrade Ogba Edward Victor, Chairman National Conscience Party (NCP), Edo State, and Comrade Enohuwa Obamwonyi, State Chairman, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) among others condmned in strong terms the haste in committing Comrade Obayuwana to prison.
“From the facts available to us and from the records of the court, it is worthy of note that Dr. Osagie Obayuwana became the Attorney General of Edo State in 2009, about six years after the said order was made. It is also worthy of note that when he became Attorney General in 2009, he was not personally served with the said order of court, neither was he personally served with the notice of consequence of disobedience to court order called Form 48; he was also not personally served with the notice to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for refusing to obey the order called Form 49 as statutorily required.
“Despite all these, the Judge personally mobilized over 25 armed mobile policemen to the court ahead of the proceedings where he requested the personal attendance in court of Dr. Osagie Obayuwana in preparation for the execution of his pre-determined action of committal. It is also abundantly clear and from the records that Dr. Osagie Obayuwana was not put in the dock and was not allowed to take his plea and was not given any fair hearing as all attempt to explain that he had no knowledge of the said order and that he was never personally served with the order and statutory forms fell on deaf ears. The Judge brushed all of these aside and made an order remanding Dr. Osagie Obayuwana to prison until the state Government comply with the said court order.” Nigerians United for Justice said.
“When has it been that a man be punished for no wrongdoing by him? When has it been that a man be punished merely because of his official status? What is the level of involvement of Justice Adamu Hobon with Churchgate Ltd, the plaintiff in the said suit No: FHC/B127/2003 in whose favour he strenuously acted with total disregard to the established rule of law and due process and to the embarrassment and injury of Dr. Osagie Obayuwana who is not a party in the action, but merely for his official status?” the group queried among several questions raised in their statement.
The group equally demanded a enquiry into these burning and pertinent questions just as it called for an urgent action to redress this injustice to the psyche of Nigerians. They demanded the dismissal of Justice Adamu Hobon from the nation’s Judiciary.
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Indecent dressing simply means dressing in a way that is likely to shock or offend people. Now what is likely to offend people?
Pats of your body (usually sexual organs that normally should be covered, which for girls should be their breast,