Border Closure Economically Senseless, Illegal, And Immoral ― Falana SAN

* Says closure has not stop smuggling

A human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN has declared that the
All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government was allegedly
misled into having the erroneous impression that only border
closure can guarantee food security and economic development in the
country.

Speaking with newsmen in Ilawe-Ekiti during the burial
procession of Mrs Ibijola Falana, the lawyer said it was wrong for
President Muhammadu Buhari to have closed the border indefinitely
without taking cognisance of the fact that such would inflict
serious pains on the already burdened Nigerian citizens.

He said, “I don’t support the closure because it is illegal,
immoral and economically senseless. It cannot be defended under the
ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods. Punishing
millions of community citizens for the offence of a few smugglers
is immoral. Contrary to the claim of the federal government that
smuggling has stopped the criminals involved in the nefarious trade
have merely changed tactics.

“Following incessant trans-border crimes including armed
robberies and smuggling of vehicles from Nigeria to the Benin
Republic in 2003, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration closed the
land border between Nigeria and the Benin Republic for about a
week. Before the border closure, the federal government had
investigated and confirmed that one Mr Ahmadu Tijanni, a highly
influential citizen of Niger Republic based in Cotonou was the
mastermind of the trans-border criminal activities. Even though he
was a sacred cow in the Benin Republic, Mr Tijanni was arrested by
a team of the Nigeria Police.

” Tidjani was tried, convicted and jailed for armed robbery by
the Ogun State High Court. In view of the fact that the Customs
Service in the Benin Republic is hampered from collaborating with
its Nigerian counterpart to stop the smuggling of goods from the
Benin Republic to Nigeria, the Federal Government ought to report
President Patrice Talon for using a private company to manage its
Customs affairs. This is the only way to stop smuggling, not border
closure alone,” he said.

Falana added that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional
powers to promulgate any law under the guise of Hate Speech, saying
such was not captured under the exclusive and concurrent lists of
the 1999 constitution as amended.

He said, “The attention of the national assembly members ought
to the fact that the Penal Code and Criminal Code applicable in the
Northern and Southern states respectively have made provisions for
hate speech because it is a state offence. Hence, the House of
Assembly of each of the state has enacted laws against incitement,
false accusation, sedition and criminal defamation.

No doubt, the constitutional validity of the hate speech bill
will be challenged in court if it is passed by the national
assembly and assented to by President Buhari.

“Unfortunately, while the attention of Nigerians is fully
concentrated on the hate speech bill, APC and PDP governors are
using the Terrorism Prevention Act, Cybercrime Act, penal code and
criminal code to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression
in the country. The authorities of Cross River State, Akwa Ibom
State, Kano State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Delta State and
Zamfara State have charged opponents of governors with criminal
offences including terrorism and treasonable felony.”

Kwara Governor Appoints Yinka Aluko Special Duties
Adviser

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has appointed
Mallam Yinka Ahmed Aluko as the Special Adviser Special Duties.

PRNigeria^[1] gathered that the
appointment of Yinka Aluko who was a former Special Assistant
Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Adviser on Security to the
Government of Kwara State between 2003 and 2013 was conveyed in an
official letter by the Secretary to the State Government.

Aluko attended Mount Carmel College, Ilorin before he proceeded
to Kwara State College of Tech (now Kwara Polytechnics) for both
National Diploma and Higher Diploma Certificates.

He also obtained Masters of Business Administration from
Kensington University, Glendale, USA 1995; Masters in security and
strategic studies (M.A) University of Ilorin 2013 and conducting
doctorate programme in Security and strategic studies in
Unilorin.

Other positions he held in the past included A Consultant at
Lagos State Accelerated Revenue Program (ARGP) 1996-1997, Senior
Manager, Corporate planning and strategy, PHCN HQ 1997-2003,
Director Kwara State property and investment company (2000-2003),
Yinka Aluko also served as Chairman Federal Medical Centre, Jani,
Abuja 2014- 2017.

He also had a stint at Kwara state Ministry of Finance (ITF)
1984-1986; Union Bank plc, Ilorin (Supervisor) 1986-1990, Group
Merchant Bank, Ikoyi lagos (NYSC) 1992-1993.

The new Special Adviser is a member of several professional
bodies. He is a Fellow of Certified Board of Administrators of
Nigeria (FCBA), Member Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM),
Ambassador, Centre for Peace University of Ilorin and Patron, Kwara
Youth Network (KYN).

He was also conferred with Award of Distinguished personality,
Postgraduate Students Association (POGSASS); Award of Excellence by
National Youth Council of Nigeria and Icon of Service of Kwara
State Security Vigilante and Distinguish personality, Wesley cup
2010.

By PRNigeria^[2]