Law
UNICEF, EU, KDSG collaborate to provide access to justice for children
UNICEF, EU, KDSG collaborate to provide access to justice for children
The UNICEF and the European Union (EU) are collaborating with the Kaduna State Government to provide access to justice for vulnerable children, and those on the move, including the Almajiri child.
Dr Wilfred Mamah, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Kaduna Office, made this known at a media engagement on Sunday in Kaduna.
He explained that the project was being run through the state Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to provide protection for children, who lacked parental care and were often neglected by society.
Mamah said the project was a global partnership, and would also run in Kano and Sokoto states.
“This intervention is a partnership with UNICEF, and European Union working to strengthen access to justice in six countries, including Nigeria.
“One of the greatest challenges is the issue of Almajiri children, who are also children on the move.
“Children on the move are often exposed to violence, abuse and neglect because they do not have parental care and they struggle to have access to justice.
“Even as survivors, they struggle to have access to justice, even when violated or fall victim in conflict with the law,” he said.
According to him, when children are deprived and lack parental or societal care, their likelihood of offending the law becomes high.
The child protection specialist explained that the project would provide alternative care to vulnerable children, and those on the move in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, and Igabi local government areas of the state.
He said that centres would be set up in the four local government areas to provide correctional aid and treatment for children that commit offences.
“We expect that if we succeed in this, it will be replicated in other local governments.
“Every community should know that when children commit an offence, it’s not just to go and imprison them, but should be handled differently. Imprisonment should be the last resort,” he said.
According to him, a Justice for Children Forum has been inaugurated comprising key actors in the justice system in the state, to coordinate the project.
The UNICEF official said that the coordination forum was mandated to be an advocate for justice.
“We have achieved greater success in that direction with the establishment of the state Family Court.
“The family court will be handled by trained professionals, called Assessors or social welfare experts, who will give therapist response to the crime.
“In that therapy, the law is looking on how to handle these children differently from the way adults are handled, starting from the point of the investigation,” he said.
He added that with the establishment of the court, the children will have a functional and friendly justice system.
Mamah appreciated the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, for championing the partnership, which facilitated the establishment of the justice for children coordination forum.
He called on the media to play its role by making society understand that children, who committed offences, should not be treated as adults or imprisoned.
The specialist also urged the media to continue advocating for the state government to always have a budget line for children’s issues, to enable the ministry to handle children’s welfare effectively.
Mamah said that when children on the move were captured early, they could be turned into a resource for the development of the state.
Rimingado Remains Substantive Chairman, Kano Anti-graft Agency – Court Declares
By Our Reporter
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has declared Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, as the Substantive Chairman of the agency.
This is contained in a judgment delivered by the court, presided by Justice Oyejoju O. Oyewumi in Abuja.
Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado had instituted a case before the court challenging his illegal and indefinite suspension from office since July 2021, for rejecting the posting of a GL4 officer as an accountant to the commission and other sundry investigation activities involving the first family of Kano State.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi ruled that up till date the appointment of the Claimant by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has not been terminated because no further action or letter of termination of appointment has been given to the complainant, hence Rimingado remains the chairman.
The court further ordered the 1st defendant in the suit (Kano State Government) to pay the Claimant (Rimingado) the sum of N5,713,891.22, being his 17 months salary arrears from the date of his suspension to the date of the judgment (Dec. 14, 2022). The court added the complainant should be paid his monthly salary from the day of the judgment to the date of his reinstatement.
According to the judgment sighted by our correspondent, the suspension letter of the claimant did not specify with or without salary.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi also ruled that the suspension of Barr.Muhuyi Rimingado should not be a permanent deprivation of right, unlike termination which required giving the employee an opportunity of being heard.
The court however struck out the relief of Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado to quash his suspension because of a similar case pending before a Kano High Court.
The court also faulted the harassment and intimidation of the embattled anti-corruption czar by the Kano state police command where he was arrested with a warrant that discloses no offence.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi viewed such molestation an act of impunity without legal justification and therefore restrained the commissioner of police (the 6th defendant) “perpetually from meddling in the affairs of the claimant in any matter affecting his work place”.
Rimingado Remains Substantive Chairman, Kano Anti-graft Agency – Court Declares
Federal high Court jos declares Patrick Dakum winner of the governorship candidacy tussle
By Bodunrin Kayode
The Jos Division of the Federal High Court has dismissed a suit filed by Amb. Yohana Margif seeking the court to declare him as the lawful candidate of the Labour party.
With this development Dr Patrick Dakum was declared as the legitimate Gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Plateau State for the upcoming 2023 General Elections.
Justice Ageshi affirmed that Margrif withdrew his candidature by virtue of the documents tendered by Dr. Dakum in court.
Federal high Court jos declares Patrick Dakum winner of the governorship candidacy tussle
Alleged defamation: Court to hear N1bn suit against Ned Nwoko Feb. 27
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has adjourned a N1 billion defamatory suit filed by Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie against Mr. Ned Nwoko until Feb 27 for hearing.
Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the matter after counsel for the parties stated their positions on their resolved to explore an out-of-court settlement.
When the matter was called for hearing, Ogbechie’s counsel, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, informed the court that the out-of-court settlement had broken down as the defendant had not reached out to him since the last adjourned date.
But Onyeka Nwokolo, who appeared for Nwoko, told the court that he had not been able to proceed with the planned reconciliation because his client had been indisposed.
Nwokolo, who said that he discussed the possibility of the settlement with his client, said he was still convinced that the window for settlement could still be explored.
He admitted that he had not been able to communicate the outcome of their discourse with the claimant’s lawyer.
Ohwovoriole, however, disagreed with Nwokolo’s submission, stating that the defendant had 180 days from May 30, the last adjourned date, to explore the avenue.
The lawyer said he was ready to proceed with the case.
Justice Oji agreed with the submission of Ohwovoriole and called for commencement of hearing in the suit.
She however advised both parties to explore the out-of-court-settlement option before the next hearing date.
The judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 27 for further hearing or report on the outcome of the reconciliation.
Ogbechie, in the writ of summons marked: CR/560/2021, had sued Nwoko as sole defendant.
In the suit, Ogbechie is claiming, among others, a retraction of the defamatory publication allegedly made by Nwoko, a written apology and the sum of N1 billion as damages.
Alleged defamation: Court to hear N1bn suit against Ned Nwoko Feb. 27
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