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NBA Confab Begins In Owerri, Today …Lawyers Face Screening For Ebola
The 2014 Annual Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) will open today in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The conference, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 participants from across the 36 states of the federation, will witness to hand over by the Okey Wali-led excutive to a new team elected in Benin City, the Edo State capital early this month.
The delegates, who began trooping into Owerri yesterday for check-in and other formalities, are expected to appraise the performance of the NBA in the last couple of years, review achievements and challenges, address certain issues affecting the profession within the context of the national political environment, and the place of Nigerian lawyers in global legal practice.
Earlier, the Federal Ministry of Health has given the NBA the green light to proceed with the conference, amid concerns that the meeting may provide the grounds for the spread of Ebola.
The NBA President, Okey Wali, said that after a “fruitful” meeting with Health Ministry officials, the NBA was given the go-ahead for the conference.
Wali said the ministry was now working with the association to curtail the spread of the deadly virus that has killed five people in Nigeria.
“We put our thoughts across to them about what we were doing. The preventive and safety methods put in place – sanitiser and temperature pens, and they were very impressed, and also gave a couple of suggestions to us about one or two things we should look at, and we agreed to work together even beyond the conference,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed that the government was satisfied with measures put in place by the NBA for the conference.
“The NBA has made provisions for spraying the hall with family sanitizer, they have provided additional mobile toilets and have made arrangement for spacing of the sitting arrangement,” Nwomeh said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof Chidi Odinkalu, had urged the NBA to suspend the conference until the Federal Government has been able to curtail the spread of the virus.
Odinkalu, who is billed to give a speech at the conference, said he was staying away after being placed on observation of possible Ebola infection having been treated as an outpatient by one of the doctors who had contact with the Ebola index case, Patrick Sawyer.
“It will be ill-judged to continue with the conference in the circumstances of the present public health emergency prevailing in the country,” the NHRC boss said in a statement.
The NBA conference attracts large number of lawyers from across the country. Odinkalu said it could pose public health risk as the country is battling to contain the spread of the virus.
But Wali, said the Ministry of Health has agreed to send its officials to the NBA conference to help sensitise members of the association.
“Because the NBA has a very good reach with members all across the nation, they are disbursing some materials to us like leaflets and posters on how to check Ebola in the conference. In fact, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health would be attending the conference on Monday to give five to ten minutes talk on Ebola. It was very fruitful. In fact, we are all very happy with the way things turned out.
“But the most important thing is that we have put a lot of measures in place and the Federal Ministry of Health officials were very impressed with the steps that we have taken. In fact, they have said they wished that other organisations or people organising such thing would take a cue from what the NBA has done,” Wali said.
He added that the NBA is also working with the Imo State Ministry of Health, which has also set up an arrangement to sensitise the lawyers on preventive measures against Ebola.
He praised Odinkalu for the advice but said it was an isolated case.
“We are thankful to him that he was honourable enough to disclose the fact that he was under observation and will stay away from the conference but that is one case,” Wali said.
It would be recalled that Nigeria has recorded five deaths so far since the outbreak of the disease in July.
Eight people who have tested positive for the disease are still receiving treatment at the isolation centre in Lagos.
Over 200 people are being monitored. Last week, 61 persons were released from the observation centre after being certified by health officials.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference holding in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, from August 25 to 29, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Chukwuma Umeh, has said that the participants will undergo screening on Ebola virus.
Over 10,000 legal practitioners are attending the conference.
The Attorney General told reporters in Owerri that various points from the airport to the venue of the conference, which is the Imo International Convention Centre, had been earmarked as screening points before gaining access into the hall.
He also said that the state government was well prepared for the programme and had put adequate measures in place to ensure the security of all participants and the smooth success of the programme.
Umeh further debunked allegations that there was a court order restraining the government from using the venue of the programme.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.