The legislature-civil society interface

CULLED FROM THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

 The legislature-civil society interface

THE leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly deserves some praise for creating a popular forum of interaction with the civil society. In a society where the civil society is often regarded in antagonist terms by state actors, this initiative is to be applauded. Military regimes and democratic rule are not the same. Elected representatives need to be constantly engaged by the people and civil society institutions as a process of legitimacy renewal. It is important to note that there is a relative weakness of the legislative arm of government in many transition countries with authoritarian hangover. Thus, policy advocacy work directed towards legislators thus becomes important if the goals of good governance are to be achieved. As representatives of the people, the legislators need to channel the views of their constituencies and translate them into concrete policies. An interaction between the legislature-civil society can help fulfill this goal. Let me throw some light on the role of these two bodies – legislature and civil society.

Lagos lawmakers pass confidence vote in Ikuforiji

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday in a move to douse tension over the pending case of the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, passed vote of confidence in its leadership, insisting they have been able to work satisfactorily despite the challenges.

The House took the decision after a motion raised by Yinka Ogundimu, Agege Constituency 2, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.

According to Ogundimu, “My intention is very clear on this motion, based on the performance of the leadership of the House in spite of all the traumatised period, a vote of confidence is declared for Mr. Speaker and the leadership.”

Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu Constituency 1, cautioned his colleagues over making judgemental statement over a case that is already in court, saying “when a matter is adjourned sine die, the court still bars a public pronouncement over it.”

While reacting to Agunbiade’s comment, Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Kolawole, who presided over the proceedings, stated that the matter is still open for debate, but enjoined members to restrict themselves to the political aspect of the issue.

Mufutau Egberongbe from Apapa Constituency 1, said the country needed to be careful as a nation, as the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

He added, “if such an institution is haunted, it is going to spell doom for the nation.”

culled from Daily Independent newspaper

ACN NATIONAL CONVENTION 2013

ACN NATIONAL CONVENTION 2013

On Thursday, 18th April, 2013, The Action Congress of Nigeria held its last National Convention to deliberate on the State of the nation and to make salient resolutions on the way forward. Not fewer than 4,761 delegates from across the entire 36 States of the federation including those from Federal Capital Territory (FCT) attended the Convention. A major landmark of this historic ACN convention was the decision to adopt the new merger opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby changing the identity of ACN to APC. With this decision, the ACN leaders had demonstrated their commitment to the merger and had led by example by adopting the APC. It is understood that the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) shall be holding their own convention in May this year to adopt the APC. Some of the ACN leaders at the Convention were Chief Bisi Akande, National Chairman, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National leader, ACN, Chief Tony Momoh, Chief Achilike Udenwa, former Governor of Imo State, Senator George Akume, former Governor of Benue State, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, Chief Olusesgun Osoba, Chief Niyi Adebayo and Governors Babatunde Fashola, Adams Oshiomhole, Ibikunle Amosun, Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Rochas Okorocha and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Imo and Osun States respectively. Also at the event were General Mohammed Buhari, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson and Lolo Queen.

RT. HON ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI ALONSIDE SOME OTHER HON MEMBERS PAID A CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE HOME OF THE LATE DEPUTY GOV. OF EKITI STATE AT HER LAGOS HOME

RT. HON ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI'S WORD OF CONDOLENCE CULLED FROM THE NATION NEWSPAPER OF MONDAY 8 APRIL, 2013.................
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said: “Considering the superb family, academic and professional background that Mrs. Olayinka brought into office as deputy governor in 2011, it is sad that we lost such a charming and priceless jewel to the cold hands of death.”

EFCC PROSECUTOR WITHDRAWS FROM IKUFORIJI'S TRIAL

EFCC PROSECUTOR WITHDRAWS FROM IKUFORIJI'S TRIAL 

This is how http://www.punchng.com/ is reporting it.............

Chief Godwin Obla, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lead counsel in the money laundering charges preferred against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has withdrawn from the prosecution team.

Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, are standing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly accepting over N500m from the Assembly without passing through a financial institution.

Obla, in his letter dated April 5, to the court’s registrar, said the manner in which the court fixed dates for the trial would deny him the ability to prosecute diligently the case.

On Tuesday, the withdrawal of Obla, a private lawyer, from the case forced the presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, to cancel 13 dates earlier fixed for the continuation of the trial.

The counsel was not present in court on Tuesday and at the previous proceedings of March 25, 2013 when the dates were fixed.

Obla added that the court, in fixing the days, did not consider his commitment in other cases.

He said, “It is important that I draw His Lordship’s attention to the fact that, regrettably, the new dates didn’t take into consideration the dates that I was previously committed in other legal proceedings before various courts and tribunals which dates were communicated in my letter of March 22, 2013.

“The new dates clearly conflict with those long-scheduled obligations.”

He stated that the development “will considerably constrain” his ability to diligently prosecute the matter, and thus advised EFCC to engage another lawyer whose calendar “can accommodate His Lordship’s itinerary”.

Mr. Alli Yusuf, Head of EFCC’s Legal Department, who took over  from Obla, said he was hurriedly drafted into the case following  Obla’s withdrawal.

 Ikuforiji’s counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), while accusing the anti-graft agency of handling the case with levity, urged the judge to dismiss the case for lack of diligent prosecution.

“This is a case where the accused person is begging to be prosecuted and the prosecution is running away,” Oyetibo said.

However, the judge, who on March 25, had turned down a similar request, rejected again the application.

The judge, who is due for retirement next month, adjourned the matter till April 24 after Alli sought an adjournment for three weeks to enable him to study the files transferred to them by Obla.
Source: 
THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER