Four Lawyers De-robed, Another Suspended for Five Years

Symbol of justice

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC)  Friday  in Abuja has directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike off names of four lawyers from the roll of legal practitioners. Delivering the directive, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), held that the decisions stemmed from findings of the panel that the lawyers were guilty of infamous conduct.

The affected lawyers are; Dominic Ntiero, Timipa Okponipere, G.C Monye, and J.A Agwuncha. However, Olawole Ajoge  Daniel, another affected legal practitioner was suspended for five years for similar offence bordering on professional misconduct.

$620,000 Bribe: Lawan, Emenalo Must Face Trial, Rules Court

Hon. Farouk Lawan

An Abuja High Court friday dismissed an application by the chairman and the secretary of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan and  Emenalo Boniface respectively, to quash the charges of receiving $620,000 from businessman, Femi Otedola to influence the report of the committee in favour of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited. Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi held that the two accused persons had a case to answer in the alleged $620,000 bribery charge.

Justice Oniyangi held that going by Section 185 (b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the prosecution needed not attach the witnesses’ statements adding that the only process provided for to be attached was the proof of evidence. He added that non- attachment of the witnesses’ statements does not make the charge incompetent.

Jonathan Orders Probe of Bama, Nasarawa Killings

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered a probe into the recent killings of civilians and security personnel in Bama, Borno State and that of policemen in Nasarawa State. He gave the instruction after hosting an emergency meeting of the National Security Council in the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja where he received further briefings from security chiefs on the killings.

Also yesterday, the federal government officially reacted to the concerns raised by the United States Government over the killings in Baga, Borno State with a promise that any case of misconduct would be brought to justice.

DELE MOMODU: MORITURI TE SALUTAMUS

PENDULUM  BY DELE MOMODU :Email dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Fellow Nigerians, once again I’m compelled to go into Roman history to seek a title for my column this week. I believe that most of us would agree with the Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, a veteran of many wars, both physical and metaphysical, that our country is indeed in a state of war. Those who live habitually in fool’s paradise may continue to delude themselves that all is well. Truth is, all is seriously far from being well. Nigeria is now permanently under siege. We are battling all manner of malevolent forces on all fronts. And it is unclear by what stroke of magic or miracle we hope to wriggle out of this evil grip on our nation. If anyone says he knows how this debilitating war of attrition would climax, let alone end, please help me tell such a prophet he’s a big liar. As the valiant Roman soldiers of yore would say to the Emperor before they took to the field of battle “we who are about to die salute YOU!” All I see before us is the destruction of gallant and courageous souls in the defence of the integrity of their beloved country.