Benin NBA declares 3-day courts boycott – TheNigerialawyer

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, has declared a
three-day boycott of courts to protest the kidnap of Justice Chioma
Iheme-Nwosu.

Chairman of the Benin branch, Prince Collins Ogiebgean, who made
the declaration at a press briefing, said the boycott begins on
Wednesday and would end on Friday, adding that if by then the
abducted justice still remained in captivity, they would have no
option than to extend the boycott.

The NBA also set up a task force headed by Mr. Douglass Ogbankwa
to ensure compliance within all courts in Benin jurisdiction,
adding that the taskforce would liaise with chairmen of other
branches to monitor as well as ensure total compliance.

Prince Ogiegbean who was flanked by Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, the
immediate-past chairman of Ikeja branch of NBA; and Mr. Habeeb
Lawal, National Assistant Publicity Secretary of NBA, also called
on the state government and security agencies to be alive to their
responsibilities to ensure the protection of lives and properties,
which according to him, “remained the primary responsibility of
government”.

“We are calling on state government and heads of security
agencies to live up to their billing. Face the task squarely in
protecting lives and properties and to go the extra mile to see
that Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu is rescued and that this should be
the last time such will happen.

“It offends our senses as persons living in a society such as
ours. If the orderly of a justice can be shot and the justice taken
away in broad daylight what happens to those of us who do not have
security around us?”

“It is for this reason that we have resolved as a mark of
protest. Accordingly, with effect from Wednesday 6th of November,
we shall proceed on a boycott of all courts in Edo State. No lawyer
is permitted to appear in any of the courts. This is in solidarity
with Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu,” he said‎.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam‎
Mohammed, has said that operatives of his command were working hard
with other security agencies to secure the release of the abducted
judge.

‎Justice Iheme-Nwosu was abducted along the Benin-Agbor road in
Benin City last week and her police orderly killed in the
process.

Invest in Solid Minerals Mining, FG urges Local
InvestorsRu
The Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc.
Olamilekan Adegbite, has called on local investors to invest in
mining of solid minerals that are abound in the country, saying
that such investment would encourage foreign investors to put their
money in the Minerals and Metals Sector of the economy
The Minister stated this during a press briefing at the Ministry’s
Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, November 4, 2019, to herald the
3rd edition of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources
Development (NCMMRD) tagged: ‘Nigeria Mineral and Investment
Sector, Spectrum for Investment Opportunities for Economic Growth
and Development,’ holding from Wednesday 6th – Friday 8th,
November, 2019, at Trade Fair Centre by Fountain Hotel, Archbishop
Adetiloye Hall, Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said the theme of the Council Meeting is to make the investing
public and other stakeholders, especially Nigerians to be aware of
the opportunities that are abound in the Minerals and Metals
Sector.
“Opportunities are available in the sector to stakeholders and
investors to invest their money. When an investor is coming from
outside, the first thing to look at is what are the local people
doing.”
“If the local people are not putting their money, then it can’t be
lucrative. Basically that is what foreign investors look out for,
that is why we are urging local investors, no matter how small, to
come into the sector,” noting that this will encourage foreign
investors to put their money into the mining business.
The Minister also called on the State Governors to form companies
that would go into mining, as the law allows it, instead of the
usual interference in mining activities in the states in the name
of revenue generation.
He stated that mining is in the exclusive legislative list, but
that in their eagerness to deliver the dividends of democracy, the
governors often ‘jump into mining.’
“We are saying that rather than doing the way as they have been
doing, the law has allowed them to form a company that can go into
partnership or if they can, do it alone.”
Speaking further, he said the National Council Meeting, which is an
advisory platform, comprised of state commissioners and permanent
secretaries in charge of mining and mineral resources from the 36
states and FCT, including participants from the academia, private
sector security, practitioners and leaders of mining unions, will
be brainstorming on issues affecting all the stakeholders in the
sector and initiate policies that will boost the industry.
According to him, the Council Meeting in Ado Ekiti is very
appropriate as present Governor of the State, Dr. Fayemi Kayode,
who was a former Minister of the Ministry, and also Chairman of
Governors’ Forum, with his wealth of experience in the sector, is
in the best position to help the ministry achieve most of the
policy thrust and also to convince his colleagues to abide by the
existing mining laws.
The Minister highlighted some of the milestones achieved through
past Council Meetings, including development and implementation of
the roadmap; improved transparency in mineral title administration;
improvement in the ease of doing business amongst others.
He stated that the focus of discussions in this 3rd edition of the
meeting would deepen the awareness of opportunities that would
attract more investors into the sector.
The Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, in his welcome
address stated that the purpose of the briefing was to intimate the
public on the forth coming events and efforts being made to move
the sector to the next level.

Ekwugha S. Chinwe
ACIO
For: Director (Press)