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Olanipekun swears in new lawyers, amid NBA protest

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Olanipekun swears in new lawyers, amid NBA protest

Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun, in Abuja, yesterday, called 4,711 law graduates to the Nigerian Bar, amid protest by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by Mr. Yakubu Maikyau.

The NBA had, in a statement dated December 4, asked Olanipekun to step aside as chairman and not preside over the call to bar of the new lawyers.

The statement, signed by Maikyau, reads: “I requested the chairman of the BoB to recuse himself from presiding over the call to bar ceremony scheduled for December 6 and 7, 2022, for reasons clearly articulated therein.

“I sent the letter to the chairman and all benchers by email on December 4, 2022. I also submitted a hard copy of the letter on December 5, 2022 to the secretary of the BoB, along with 150 copies of the letter for circulation to all benchers.

“It would be recalled that my predecessor-in-office had, on July 22, 2022, written to the chairman of the BoB to recuse himself from office on the same grounds set out in my letter. But the chairman refused to acknowledge the said letter or bring it up for consideration, more than five months since its delivery to the BoB.

“My present letter is to bring to attention the earlier call made by my predecessor and emphasise the damage being done to the legal profession by reason of our collective silence over such devastating issue, with the expectation that the chairman will see reason to show remorse, and for the BoB to ask the chairman to recuse himself knowing that no one is bigger than the legal profession.”

However, during yesterday’s ceremony, which was presided over by Olanipekun, the NBA President was said to be “absent”. Olanipekun, in his speech, said it was necessary to clear some “misconception” about the BoB, which, according to him, is a creation of statute, responsible for the formal call to bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners.

He said the BoB, as a body corporate with perpetual succession, has its own seal and is also imbued with power and jurisdiction to make regulations for itself and the legal profession.

He said: “The term of office of the chairman is only one year, from March of the preceding year to March of the following year, and the chairmanship of the body is rotated between the bar and bench, that is if a member of the bar is the chairman, the vice chairmanship automatically devolves on the Bench.”

While observing that it is a tradition met and sustained for years, Olanipekun said: “Our transition is always seamless and has never been rancorous.

“The Body of Benchers is not an appendage of the federal government or any government, institution or agency. It is an independent and autonomous body, and its meetings, affairs and decisions are not influenced by any power or authority whatsoever.”

Olanipekun also explained that though the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), responsible for the discipline of lawyers, is a committee of the BoB, the LPDC is a juristic personality on its own, independent of the body, not controlled in any way or manner by either the body or chairman.

The senior lawyer seized the opportunity to caution: “Proceedings before the LPDC should not be politicised, sensationalised, publicised and advertised in advance or while the proceedings are ongoing by complainants for whatever reason howsoever, as so doing, negates the principle of fair hearing, which all lawyers subscribe to.”

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FRSC warns truck drivers against speeding, reckless driving

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Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Area Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Division, Lagos State, has warned truck drivers against speeding and reckless driving.

He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeju-Lekki on Tuesday.

The FRSC official, who blamed speeding on the ghastly vehicle accident that occurred at Aiyetoro market in Epe
which claimed several lives and left some injured, said that with careful driving, such accident could be avoided.

He added that “the accident was as a result of speeding, reckless driving and loading of truck beyond its capacity.

“All these are factors responsible for accident when drivers are not conscious of the driving rules.

“Vehicle can develop technical fault at any time, therefore, speed limit and caution need to be applied while driving.”

He said FRSC had been sensitising drivers on the need to install speed limit device and be road conscious while driving, in line with the mandate to instill decent use of road.

Ibitomi also advised passers-by and the public to be safety conscious while walking on roadsides to avoid falling victim of accidents.

He attributed major road crashes on roads to speed limit violation, urging drivers to respect the sanctity of human life by obeying traffic rules.

He added that the FRSC had evolved measures to ensure accident-free yuletide and new year festivities in 2024

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.

At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”

“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”

Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.

“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.

In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.

As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.

“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.

Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”

While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.

“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.

The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.

The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.

Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.

Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”

Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.

Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”

The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.

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