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UNN Faculty of Law Leaves Over 70 Graduates in Limbo, Prioritizes 2022 Finalists for Law School Admission

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UNN Faculty of Law Leaves Over 70 Graduates in Limbo, Prioritizes 2022 Finalists for Law School Admission

By: Michael Mike

The Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has announced that some of its 2021 graduates will not be attending Law School, despite their legitimate qualifications.

Out of the 217 graduates from the 2021 Law Class who were cleared of any outstanding issues and officially graduated in November 2022, only 147 have been selected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

The decision to leave about 70 legitimate graduates behind has sparked outrage as the faculty intends to give preference to 73 members of the newly graduated 2022 final year class, who just defended their undergraduate projects two weeks ago. This 2021 class was originally set to graduate in 2021, but due to incessant strikes, their graduation was delayed to November 2022, resulting in a prolonged study period of 6+ years for a degree that should take 5 years.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 ASUU strike that lasted from February to October, the faculty rushed the 2021 graduates to complete their degree program in a little over one month to meet the Law School’s resumption dates in January 2023. Despite the tight timeline, the faculty failed to prepare the results of the 2021 Law Class for Law School on time.

Adding to the controversy, rumours circulate that an administrative waiver might allow the 2022 law class, who just finished their exams in July 2023, to gain priority admission to the Law School, leaving legitimate graduates waiting for another year without any proper explanation.

The impact of this decision has been devastating for the affected students. With no guarantee of admission in the future and their dreams of attending Law School shattered, they are left in a state of limbo. Additionally, many of these graduates are ineligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, which further jeopardizes their career prospects.

One of the reasons behind this controversial decision is the administrative waiver that will allow the 2022 law class, who recently finished their exams in July, to secure priority slots for Law School admission. This move has raised questions about fairness and the lack of communication from the faculty towards the affected graduates.

The consequences of this decision are far-reaching. Students who have already spent six to seven years pursuing their law degrees are now at risk of losing another year, with no guarantee of admission to Law School in the future. Furthermore, these graduates are ineligible for the Nigerian Law School due to not having first-class or second-class upper degrees and may have to forego pursuing their careers as lawyers entirely.

The faculty’s criteria for selecting 73 students from the 2022 finalists, out of a class of over 340 students, remain unclear, leaving many in the dark about their fate. Graduates with extra years of study are also deeply affected, as they find themselves excluded from Law School despite meeting the quota expected by the Nigerian Law School.

In response to this situation, concerned individuals and alumni have called for equitable treatment, emphasizing that priority should be given to the first in time, and that students who have graduated with second-class lower degrees have successfully excelled at the Nigerian Law School in the past.

As of now, about 70 law graduates remain displaced from attending the Nigerian Law School, and the faculty has provided no explanation for this decision or any reassurance regarding future opportunities.

The Faculty of Law’s actions have stirred unrest and raised serious questions about fairness and transparency in the selection process for Law School admission. Graduates and supporters are urging the university’s administration to reconsider this divisive decision and provide a clear plan for addressing the concerns of the affected graduates.

The fallout from this controversy has the potential to create further chaos within the Faculty of Law at UNN, with many anxiously awaiting resolution and accountability from the authorities involved.

UNN Faculty of Law Leaves Over 70 Graduates in Limbo, Prioritizes 2022 Finalists for Law School Admission

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Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

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Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 3, operating under the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted a major assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State.

The attack, which involved the use of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED), ended in a decisive victory for the Nigerian military.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the insurgents launched their attack with the SVBIED leading their assault team. However, the swift and strategic response of soldiers from the 101 Special Forces Battalion neutralized the immediate threat, triggering an intense gunbattle.

During the engagement, several ISWAP fighters were killed, while the terrorists were forced to abandon significant amounts of equipment and supplies as they fled.

The troops received air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which carried out precision strikes on retreating ISWAP fighters. This aerial reinforcement helped to consolidate the military’s dominance, forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray.

While the exact number of casualties among the insurgents remains undisclosed, troops recovered several pieces of equipment.

A Military intelligence sources said that ISWAP may attempt to regroup and retaliate, potentially targeting reinforcements or military bases using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or ambush tactics.

Troops have therefore been advised to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in anticipation of a possible attack on the military base in Malam Fatori.

Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

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EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery

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EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery

By: Michael Mike

A gathering of more than 25 state Judiciaries and key stakeholders in the field convened in Ilorin at the weekend, pinpointing inadequate interagency collaboration within the nation’s judicial framework as the primary cause for the sluggish pace of justice administration in the country.

This was the highlight of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) Conference organised by the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of International IDEA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ).

The Conference noted that the deficiency of modern technologies has been recognized as a significant contributing factor to the substandard execution of justice in Nigerian courts and law enforcement procedures, as indicated by reports emerging from the conclusion of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) retreat in Ilorin.

The JTRTs conference, spanning three days, united various criminal justice institutions to deliberate on justice sector reform, advocate for reform models, and establish new objectives for enhancing justice delivery in Nigeria. 

Representatives from the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committees (ACJMCs) were also in attendance. Over time, RoLAC and the FmoJ have hosted JRTs with the principal objective of fostering coordination in justice delivery.

Advocates of the retreat assert that these network meetings provide platforms for exchanging experiences and knowledge-sharing, leading to a wide array of reforms, including the adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws by all 36 states in the federation.

Speaking at the end of the Conference on Thursday, Dr Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, Project Manager Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform of the RoLAC II Programme, International IDEA, spoke on the need to speed up justice delivery and decongest the correctional facilities.

Badejogbin said: “It is evident that congestion in correctional facilities and delays in criminal case prosecutions, as well as civil justice proceedings, stem from the lack of coordination within the criminal justice system.

“When crucial agencies fail to communicate effectively with one another, critical aspects are overlooked. One agency expects the other to fulfil certain responsibilities, while the other anticipates reciprocal actions, resulting in a breakdown of processes.”

“For instance, when the police and the Department of Public Prosecution fail to synchronize their efforts, criminal case files may not be submitted, or they are not returned to the police with the essential legal guidance. Consequently, suspects languish in custody, with no clarity on the status of their cases, leading to prolonged detention in correctional facilities.

“However, when there is seamless cooperation between these agencies, such gaps are mitigated,” he elucidated.

The RoLAC II coordinator highlighted that the primary objective of the retreat was to identify existing gaps and address them effectively by the conclusion of the justice reform team session.

“We anticipate that critical actions will be formulated and implemented, particularly at the state level, following this justice reform team gathering,” he remarked.

Further elaborating on the retreat, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, a facilitator with RoLAC II, emphasized the added advantage of inclusivity, as the retreat engaged not only stakeholders from the Judiciary but also various other entities in a coordinated manner. 

“The emphasis on coordination, harmony, and collaboration rendered this retreat distinct.

“Throughout the three-day event, a diverse range of initiatives across states aimed at enhancing the administration of justice, particularly in criminal justice, were scrutinized. 

“RoLAC has been striving to harmonize these developments among states, ensuring adequate support for optimal outcomes. 

“The dissemination of lessons learned to other stakeholders will facilitate the widespread benefits of these endeavours across the country,” the professor said.

Earlier on Tuesday Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, AFG, and the Kwara State governor, Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emphasized that essential reforms are integral to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s strategic agenda.

Fagbemi articulated: “As you are cognizant, the reform of the justice sector occupies a central position in this administration’s strategic agenda. 

“A key facet of our Renewed Hope Agenda is to drive judicial reforms to foster sustainable socio-economic growth and investment, underpinned by the rule of law, and to address the impediments hindering the dispensation of justice in our nation.

EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery

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Ngala: Zulum assesses flood destruction, shares relief to victims

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Ngala: Zulum assesses flood destruction, shares relief to victims

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, was in Ngala Local Government Area on Sunday to assess the destruction caused by flooding in the region.

Gamboru Ngala is a market town on the shores of Lake Chad near the Cameroon-Nigeria border.

Zulum also shared relief items to victims that were cut off by the high volume of rainwater and flooding for nearly four months.

The governor travelled to Ngala on Saturday, spent the night there and sympathised with the affected community. He assured that his administration, in partnership with the federal government, will provide the needed solutions to avert future occurrences.

“Gamboru Ngala, headquarters of Ngala Local Government, was cut off from the rest of the country for about four months as a result of this years flood and heavy rainfall.”

“We came to examine the extent of damage and look into the possibility of supporting the victims. You can see a greater percentage of the town is submerged in water. However, I still want to appeal to the people to desist from building houses on waterways.”

“The situation is very obnoxious and both the federal and state governments will look into the possibility of supporting them. Most importantly, the town cannot be accessed, thereby cutting the community from food supply. So during our visit, we will also distribute food items donated to the state by the federal government.”

“We will also examine the situation and see how we can address the flooding issues here. We will take some immediate measures and ensure medium and longer-term solutions are implemented to prevent future occurrences.

The governor was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, a member of the House of Assembly representing Ngala, Alh: Bukar Abatcha and the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele.

Others include Bukar Mustapha Dalatu, a Former member of the House of Assembly, and Dr Mohammed Barkindo, the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), among other senior government officials and political party members.

Ngala: Zulum assesses flood destruction, shares relief to victims

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