Headlines
Legal justice unattainable without social justice – Osibanjo
Nasiru Yusuf
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has expressed concern over the legal processes in Nigeria, saying that without social justice, legal justice is ultimately unattainable.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Vice President was speaking on Monday, in Bayero University, Kano at the 53rd Nigerian Association of Law Teachers’ Annual Conference with the theme: Law, Democracy and Electoral Process.
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
Osinbajo reiterated that the whole idea of democracy is the people who determine who their leaders are and the electoral law must bow to the will of the people and that the appropriate interpretation must favour them.
He stated that the social justice refers to the economic and social right of the people to include the right to shelter, employment, education, reasonable minimum living wage, care for elderly, employment benefit and welfare of the physically challenged.
The Vice President, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said it was the federal government’s commitment to improving the electoral process, noting that the bill is in the process of being passed into law. He added that it has been a robust engagement between government and civil society groups, noting that it is hoped that it would be one with the broader consensus of all the stakeholders.
Osinbajo called on the INEC to improve its capacity by deploying the appropriate technology to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
The Vice President, however, unveiled NALT’s Manual on Legal Research Basic Guide for Law faculties and legal research institutions in Nigeria. The book was adopted in 2015 and revised in 2021.
The Chairman of the occasion, A.B Mahmoud, said the choice of the theme was apt as it captured many issues concerning the interpretation of electoral process, legal system and democracy in Nigeria, saying that he was confident that the conference would critically address them.
In his remark, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje expressed appreciation over the NALT’s decision to hold its 53rd Conference in Kano, saying that the theme was all encompassing as far as electoral process and democracy are concerned. He said democracy would not thrive without a strong and viable legal process for sustainable development.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
The Governor said there must be a concerted effort among all the relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
In his remark, the Vice Chancellor, Sagir Adamu Abbas, said the topics drawn from the central theme of the conference are deliberately aimed at tasking our legal scholars towards providing workable interpretations of our electoral laws to facilitate the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas
“As we all know, conducting a free and fair election is one of the cardinal principles of democracy and also a pillar that sustains democratic governance and norms.Nigeria has been facing serious challenges in the conduct of free and fair elections leading to political instability, social unrest and numerous litigations. It is, therefore, my hope that the outcome of this year’s NALT Conference will serve as a panacea to the lingering problems bedeviling electoral processes in this country,” he said.
Prof. unveiling NALT’s Manual on Legal Research Basic Guide for Law faculties and legal research institutions in Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Usman Muhammad Shuaib Zannuraini, while welcoming participants to the conference, said 25 scholarly papers would be presented and discussed by various legal and other experts drawn from from various faculties of law, related institutions and other agencies dealing with election matters.
Zanuuraini, who is the President of NALT, particularly paid tribute to the Vice President, Governor of Kano, A.B Mahmoud, Chairman Board of Trustee of NALT, Popoola and many other dignitaries, as well as the participants for gracing the occasion.
The Conference will last for three days, from 8th to 10th February, 2022.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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