Land Use Act: Save Lagos Group cautions police, DSS, others against infringing on citizens’ rights

*Demands immediate repeal of laws on land use act, environmental sanitation, court bail

A civil rights organization, the Save Lagos Group has cautioned security operatives in Lagos State to show caution in the exercise of their duties to residents of the state, saying they (security agents) must not be seen to be infringing on the rights of the people.

This is coming just as the Save Lagos Group has also urged members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to commence actions that would see to the repeal of the three critical laws that have in no small way impacted negatively on the lives of the people of the state.

In a statement issued by the Convener of the Save Lagos Group, Comrade Adeniyi A. Sulaiman on Saturday at the end of an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the group in its Ikeja office, the Save Lagos Group stated that the disposition of the security agencies, particularly the police in recent times have tend to suggest that they are out to curtail the rights of the people of that state to ventilate their grievances against the state government’s policies that are inimical to their progress and wellbeing.

Sulaiman in the statement singled out the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgar Imohinmi, saying the decision of the police to abort a planned protest by some people of the state over the newly enacted, yet draconian land use act as leaving a bad taste in the mouth.

“How do you justify a situation whereby a police commissioner drafted to a state will elect to fragrantly seek to curtail the rights of the people to lawfully organize themselves to protest against a law that was enacted by the state House of Assembly, which they consider as inimical to their wellbeing?” Sulaiman asked.

He added that the right of the people to peaceful protest against policies and programmes of a government is clearly spelt out in the 1999 Constitution, specifically in Section (40 &41) (as amended).

“I remember a case that was won by late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the Supreme Court who stated emphatically that it is not condition precedent for a permit to be obtained by protesters before embarking on peaceful protest against government’s policies and programmes that they consider against their wellbeing.

“This is even more apt today as we tend to have a tyrannical government headed by Mr. Akinwunmi ‘Dapo Ambode who seems not to be in anyway interested in the collective welfare and wellbeing of the people that he is presiding over, rather is more occupied with raising money to subsidise the lifestyles of those in government.” He stated.

Sulaiman warned the heads of the security agencies, particularly, the police and the DSS not to lend themselves as tools in the hands of greedy politicians but rather be agents of the people whose taxes are being utlised for kitting them and for the payment of their salaries and emolument.

He stated that for peace to reign, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgency repeal the Land Use Act 2018,Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 as well as strict administrative condition for securing bail for those charged in the state government funded courts.

“We are calling on members of the State House of Assembly to commence the processes for the repeal of the laws, saying the contents and implementation are not in anyway beneficial to the people of the state. We condemn the decision of the both the executive and the legislature to embark on tokenism in their response to public outcry over these issues.

“We flay the decision of the state governor to ‘reduce’ the fees payable by the people as he has not in anyway demonstrated enough good faith. To us, both the executive and legislative arms of government should commence the processes for repealing the laws and not to embark on a jamboree and smokescreen exercise called public hearing and summoning of officials to appear before the house.” He stated.

On the next line of action for the group, he stated that the two month ultimatum that has been given by the group to occupy the seat of government in Alausa in Ikeja still subsists and that “We have not backed down on our plan to occupy the Alausa secretariat for complete two months.

“As we write this, we are already making contacts with likeminded groups to give vent to the plan should both the two arms of government decides not to listen to voice of caution and reason. Currently, our members both Christians and Muslims are observing the Lenten and Rajahab fasting and we promise to storm Alausa immediately we finish should the state government refuses to listen to the cries of the people.” Sulaiman concluded.

BUSTED: London Wellington Hospital Disown Metuh’s Dr Casey

....  Says Not Our Employee!

In a new twist, the doctor's medical report which was tendered as an exhibit in an Abuja Court, a letter allegedly from the reputable Wellington Hospital in London on behalf of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Mr Olisa Metuh has been disowned by the hospital.

Dr Adrian T. H. Casey had claimed that he is a Neurosurgeon working with Wellington Hospital in London. He therefore tendered a letter from Wellington Hospital to affirm that the former PDP spokesperson, Metuh needed to be treated urgently in the United Kingdom.

An investigation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United Kingdom revealed that the said Dr. Casey is not an employee of the hospital as claimed in the court proceedings.

In an email correspondence between the UK party anti-corruption unit and the Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Hospital, the hospital clearly disowned Dr Casey and went further to say that the hospital never employed consultants.

It is obvious that the hospital is not aware of letter tendered in Abuja court in its name and this suggests that Dr Casey appears to be just a private consultant to Mr Metuh and not employed by Wellington Hospital.

Mr Metuh who is facing corruption charges had arrived Abuja division of the Federal High Court, in a wheelchair for the continuation of his trial before the court.

The country’s corruption watchdog, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission had alleged that Mr Metuh had before the 2015 Presidential election, received N400million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, without executing any contract.

According to Vanguard Newspaper, at the resumed proceeding on Wednesday, Metuh through his lawyer, Mr Emeka Etiaba, SAN, applied to be allowed to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Metuh’s lawyer told the court that his client’s health had deteriorated in the past two months.

He posited the worsening situation of his health would require urgent medical attention from his doctors in London, UK.

Group wants FG to stop Rivers State Neighborhood Corps

*As Chidi Lloyd, others threaten counter armed group, says 200,000 cults, militia groups exist in Rivers
*Threatens to set up another safety corps

Some prominent sons of Rivers state, under the platform of Free Rivers Development Innitiative (FRDI) have called on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to urgently stop the Rivers state governor Nelson Wike, from inaugurating the Neighbourhood Safety Corps in the state.

Recall that the governor on Thursday last week assented to the Rivers State Neigbourhood Safety Corps Bill 2018, which is meant to provide security across the state.

But the group alleged that the real intention of the governor was to use the Corps to intimidate his political enemies, adding that if the inauguration of the Corps is not stop they will rather set up their own and armed them to watch each other.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, President of the group Engr. Ngerebala Sampson, said already about 200,000 cults and militia with arms, groups of all shades, exist in the state, saying arming the youths under the guards of vigilante group was an attempt to create a private militia for political purpose.

He also said it was evident that the Governor of Rivers state “has no regards to Court processes; when in the face of the pending suits before the Federal High Court, he signed the Neigbourhood Safety Corps Bill into law.”

Engr. Ngerebala, who was supported by Hon. Chidi Lloyd, Hon. Asita Honourable and Prince Tonye Princewill on behalf of the group, said the recent history of vigilante activities and its aftermath in Borno, Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra and Ondo states are experiences that should not be repeated.

The strong support by Senate Minority Leader, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio to the motion moved by Senator Dino Melaye against the establishment of similar vigilante group in Kogi state in the red chambers gives credence to our position

“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police and other Security Agencies to take steps and stop the River State Governor from inaugurating the Rivers State Safety Corps.

“Whereby our call is not heeded to, our reaction will be to also set up our own Neighbourhood Safety Corps to watch Wike’s neighbourhood Safety Corps. We shall cloth them with uniforms and apply for arms for them through the police, then the 2 Neigbourhood Safety Corps will police each other. We cannot allow what happened before, during and after the 2015 general elections in Rivers state to repeat itself in 2019.”

“You all know that before, during and after the 2015 general elections, Rivers State experience unprecedented number of political assassinations, were members of our party were gruesomely murdered in cold blood; their offence being that they were members of All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Those killings continued until recently, when the Federal Forces killed some of the death merchants of Governor Wike. The rate of violence and killings that occurred in Rivers state during the period under review, led to Rivers State being described as a theater of war.”

The group also said it raised alarm to the danger of such law when it was at the bill stage before the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Rivers state has over 200,000 cults and militia with arms, groups of all shades, arming the youths under the guise of vigilante group is an attempt to create a private militia for political purpose.

“Despite all these concerns Governor was adamant and desirous of getting the bill passed into law as unconstitutional as it was. Two suits were filed at the Federal High Court Port Harcourt challenging the bill and seeking for an order of injunction restraining the governor from giving assent to the bill. The said suits were duly served on the governor, but governor ignored the suits and purportedly signed the bill into law.”

While narrating his experience, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, said the state government has tried several times to prosecute him but withdrawn it because the government could not substantiate any allegation against him.

Breaking News: CHRSJ writes National Assembly over plan to picket telecoms, pay television firms over poor services

*Gives affected firms October 1st deadline to offer quality service

A civil rights organisation, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has expressed its readiness to picket and disrupt business activities in telecoms and pay television service providing companies in the country.

In a statement issued by the Executive Chairman of the organisation, Comrade Adeniyi A. Sulaiman on Thursday, a petition has been sent to the National Assembly to act in the interest of the Nigerian masses.

The petition dated Monday 18th of December, 2017 was written to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara was also copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu.

Also copied include the Chairmen of both the Senate and House Committees on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS).

In the statement, the CHRSJ specifically listed companies to be affected to include MTN, AIRTEL, 9Mobile and GLO while the affected pay television to include Strong TV, DSTV, Startimes and GOTV.

Sulaiman on behalf of the CHRSJ specifically accused the companies of extorting Nigerians via provision of poor services and high fees, saying the trend would come to an end after the expiration of an ultimatum it gave for the companies to change their operational mode.

The organization had in December 2017 wrote that the affected companies risks having their operations disrupted should they continue to milk the Nigerian people via poor and exorbitant fees.  

Also, the CHRSJ flays the telecoms operators for habitually failing to redeem promo offers to their customers who are usually ripped off as some of the claims are bogus and never enjoyed by the people.

In the statement, the group stated that apart from the petition, its members are expected to stage series of rallies and protest marches across the country with a view to sensitizing the public on the need to preserve and secure their rights for quality service.

Sulaiman added, “We have written and fine tuned our petitions to the National Assembly, the Presidency the ministers responsible for supervising the activities of these companies and organizations.

“After that, we have mobilized our members to be on standby as we will also stage peaceful rallies in the premises of the affected ministries, which would last for a year terminating on October 1st, 2019 based on our engagement diary and timetable.

“We are also engaging the National Assembly with a view to ensure that they do the needful by siding with the masses of Nigeria in this struggle and that they must respect and act on the petitions that we have written to them.”

Sulaiman listed some of the grouse of his group to include unsolicited messaging, over billing for terminated calls from telecom services as some of the ways they have been fleecing Nigerians, saying the situation would no longer be condoned.

For Ikeja Electric, Sulaiman accused the company of unduly fleecing the people through bogus and phony estimated billing system, which he said has left many people poor, saying the company should commence aggressive metering drive of its customers otherwise it would incur its wrath.

He listed participating group that would participate at the planned protest marches and rallies to include the following; Apata Ayeraye Socio-political Volunteer Group, De Mainstream Independent Campaign Group and we, the facilitator, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice.

Others include, Centre for Constitutional Rights and Counter-Corruption Crusade, the Conscience Mainstream, African Masses Voices for Survival, The Christian Youth for the Peoples Rights and Development

Sulaiman also listed the Coalition Against Illegal Arrest and Unlawful Detention, Islamic Movement for Muslim Rights, Veteran Group for Operation Clean Crusade, Divine Nigerians Liberators for Peoples Fundamental Rights.

Others are Passengers Fundamental Rights Group in Africa, The Christian Volunteer Group for Good Governance in Nigeria, The Islamic Political Awareness Group, the Christian Awareness Mission Group and Centre for Socio Justice and Equity.

 “We are urging these companies to desist from their illegal and unlawful activities of milking the people of this country. We will not relent in our efforts at ensuring that we make them do the right thing by utilizing all legal and lawful means to send them out of the country should they continue in their evil ways of subjecting the people to poverty and misery.” Sulaiman concluded in the statement.