OBAMA’S PRESIDENTIAL TRAVAILS

OBAMA’S PRESIDENTIAL TRAVAILS

It is ‘third time around’ for the homeboy! This time, for business: Global Entrepreneurial Summit, Kenya. Besides the scourge and travails of coming from one of the minority races in the land of opportunities, Barrack Obama pursued his dreams to power amidst numerous challenges.  There were successes recorded too; but none of them, according to his autobiographical account was given or thrust on him.  He achieved them by dint of hard work and detertmination that stood firm for success.

The tremendous work he did in Chicago attracted support to become the state’s congressman and later a senator.  Though he was not the first black senator but he became the first black senator that became the 44^th president of the United States of America in 2009.

Commentators on his ascendancy to power always refer to his speech at the California Democrat’s convention in 2004 to be the catalyst to his recognition of his capacity and political endowment to lead the party.  No other person than the present Secretary of State, John Kerry facilitated the momentum.

His citizenship and legitimacy to contest the presidency under US constitution was challenged to the Supreme Court and he won. Also his religious life was called into question, with his Church Pastor Jeremiah Wright castigated, when he was accused of making racial comment. The alleged racial comment adversely influenced many to believe that Obama being a member of his church  would be unsuitable to become neutral and unbiased president.

However, it was one of the Pastor’s sermon that Obama used with slight adaptation, as title to his best seller book: “Audacity of Hope”. Like the late minister and motivational author, Dr Myles Munroe noted: “Success is determined by the opposition a man has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”  The opposition against Obama’s candidacy was almost overwhelming, especially from Republican party and far right groups.  Yet Obama overcame all those odds.

Sometimes negative publicity meant to pull someone down do turn out to be beneficial.  Napoleon Hill, that great author of “Think and Grow Rich” said: “Every adversity, every failure brings with it the seed of even greater benefit”. Obama’s case proved that. When he rose from the ashes of that religious controversy and allegation  that he was not a Christian due  to his Kenyan family background, mostly non-christians, he became strong enough to contest the presidency.

His election thereafter broke the jinx that the White House was ment for white presidents.  His swearing-in was performed twice which made his presidency unique.  When a former White House staff, Sarah Fagen referred to him as “a lame duck” he looked the other way and went ahead to introduce a new tradition “Easter Prayer Breakfast” at the White House.  Christian leaders across American states gathered in attendance.

Obama administration has been stormy and challenging  especially assuming office at the peak of global economic melt-down.  Even though he commenced with democrat’s majority at the congress and representatives, he soon lost them to the Republicans due to mid-term elections.  He was fortunate to garner enough support to pass the Obamacare Health Insurance meant to extend health care to more ordinary Americans who could not afford better health care than ever before. Since the law came into force he had not slept with his two eyes closed because Republicans have threatened to repeal the law.  Litigations towards achieving the repeal commenced more than a year ago and just some weeks ago the president triumphed.  But John Borhner, Republican speaker inspite of the Supreme Court decision in favor of Obamacare , it is still “Aluta Continua”.

That is not the only success visible on the screen.  The first Latina Supreme Court judge in the name of Sonia Sotomayor  nominated  by Obama and confirmed congress came with criticisms which were also overcome.

His campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp where terrorist and dangerous suspects were detained lingered on into his second term because of much controversy that trailed the decision.  Yet he overcame.

No less controversial was his nomination of Loretta Lynch as Attorney-General. The criticism and opposition that trailed the nomination manifested in the dilatory atmosphere that pervaded the congress. As the nomination tarried, it became quite clear that the congress never liked Mr President’s candidate a bit.

As Obama visits Africa the third time he would be fondly remembered for being the first sitting American president to visit Ethopia. Besides, his administration has maintained a policy of strengthening and empowering regional and sovereign nations to embrace and practice liberal democracy, through training, collaboration and exchange of policies and ideas. Those are the value Africa must take from his visit.

Iyke Ozemena

IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO

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THE CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: THE CASE OF RIVERS STATE

THE CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: THE CASE OF RIVERS STATE
As Nigeria celebrates Africa Public Service Day with other nations, studies and keen observation have revealed the development of Nigeria’s political system and her constitutions since independence.  Tremendous progress have been recorded in terms of growth and stability in the application of the rules of engagement in a democracy, especially in the past 16 years of the Fourth Republic.  This was facilitated by the 1999 Constitution with all its frailties.
One of the challenges of public administration is therefore the inadequacies of the rules and  their provisions, in this case the 1999 Constitution.  Without referring to other states I deliberately chose  Rivers State where many of these inadequacies manifested. To acknowledge the aforesaid inadequacies of the constitution, it has gone through a fourth amendment so far.  Yet, there are many other sections glaring with unresolved controversies and remain un-amended till date, except the Supreme Court pronouncements on them.  I want to cite two major ones which are impeachment (removal) as provided in s.188 and defection in s.68(1)(g). There is hardly any of the 36 states that has not experienced  these phenomena.  The third challenge which is not provided by the constitution and therefore could not be resolved by amendment is high cost of governance.
As hinted earlier Rivers State witnessed many of the intriguing flash points and consequently rich opportunity for studies on  legal challenges in public administration.  Most, if not all commonwealth countries practice constitutional democracy, and it has become a global contemporary issue.
Perhaps the most critical point to start the discussion is a brief background of the election that produced Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amechi in 2007.  It was an election that produced a strange and unexpected result when the Supreme Court declared Amechi winner  having not contested or participated in the election.  He became governor by default, as Omehai who flew the PDP gubernatorial flag failed to comply with the rules.  The Supreme Court ruled that since the votes cast in an election belong to the party on whose platform the candidate ran, the runner-up in the race became the beneficiary of those votes thereby stepping into the shoes of Omehai.
The aftermath of the Supreme Court decision and the controversy led to calls for the amendment of the Electoral Act.  The amendment came through s.144 of Electoral Act 2010 to cure the effect of imposing candidates who did not fully participate in all electoral processes leading to an election.  Nevertheless, it has been argued that as long as votes cast at an election remain the proprietary rights of parties “participation” can be interpreted by the party concerned.
It was this controversial judgment that ushered in Rotimi Amechi as governor of Rivers State.  The controversy soon faded away since it was a pronouncement of the highest court in the land.  However, militancy was raging in the Niger Delta area including Rivers State and became controversial topical news.  The federal government’s response was confrontation.  Not much positive results came from this option raising the review for alternative options.
Therefore when Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was elected president in 2007 he opted for a constitutional resolution of amnesty under  s.175 of the 1999 Constitution.  However, granting presidential amnesty under that section is meant for convicted criminals. President Yar’Adua offered presidential amnesty without trial of those militants he offered to grant amnesty.  In Amechi’s view it was wrong and he said so eloquently at various fora that nominal charge and conviction were prerequisites for granting presidential amnesty; otherwise it would amount to odd application of the section.  Even as president Jonathan went ahead to implement the amnesty strategy without trial Amechi stood his ground on the issue.
One of the primary purposes of government is the provision of security to citizens and everyone in the state.  This power is vested in the Nigerian Police by s.214 of the 1999 Constitution.   In the same vein the governor becomes the Chief Security Officer of the state.  It is an irony that the governor at the pinnacle of this security organization chart in the state does not have constitutional backing to control police personnel posted and serving in his state.  The adverse effect of that manifested in Rivers State when Governor Amechi failed to control Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu when security challenges arose in the state.  It became obvious that the glaring disobedience of the governor’s directions and requests begs the question: could any of the commissioners appointed and serving in Rivers State disobey the governor and still remain in office?
The research I recommend for post-graduate studies on public administration is to find a balance between control of the police by the governor without making them state police. This subject is important if you consider the rise and fall of Senator Chris Ngige as PDP elected governor of Anambra state following the hedging  out of Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.  The subject assumed a more dangerous dimension when Governor Chris Ngige was stripped off police escort and security.  And you ask the question: how can a governor without security offer or provide security to the entire citizenry in the length and breadth of the state?
Then came the removal/suspension of Local Government Chairmen and councilors in River State, and of course across the entire country, were they constitutional? Maybe a few amendments to stem governors’ power to remove local government elected officers and replace them with transition staff.
In the course of hostilities at the state Assembly that led to fracas in the house and therefore ceased to perform their legislative duties.  How could they have performed their legislative duties when about a dozen of them were scattered at various  hospitals and medical centers  in Nigeria and abroad? The legal consequences of that was a take-over of its legislative duties by the national assembly under s.11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.  There was a major learning curve from the outcome of the court action when the Supreme Court ruled that the act was unconstitutional.
Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back was the National Judicial Council (NJC) and governor Amechi with reference to appointment of Chief Judge of the state.  The modalities of achieving this is set out in s.271(1) of the 1999 Constitution thus: “The appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the Governor of the state on the recommendation of the NJC subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state.” The interpretation of this section which eminent scholars have concluded to be political, gave rise to conflicts, litigation, suspensions, legislation (amendments) and logjam.
The issues that featured in the unfolding melodrama and diverse comments turned on “recommendation” and “appointment” being two different entities belonging to two characters in the scheme.  The analyses led to confusion that held sway as to whether Justice Peter Agumagu, then at the helm of affairs at the Customary Court of Appeal could be properly ‘transferred’  to head the State High Court as Chief Judge? The Federal High Court objected to that initiative.  It was not a voting matter of “Aye or No”? It would have been  easier to determine if the provision allowed the NJC’s advice and consent but that was not the case.
That the Chief Justice of the Federation went ahead to appoint an administrative judge to fill the vacuum was salt to injury.  In reaction the agitating  government amended the State High Court Procedure Rules assigning the functions of CJ and Administration Judge to the Chief Registrar.  That piece of legislation  is probably the first legal obstacle cleared by the Rivers State legislature on inauguration.
Before that ,  governor Nyesom Wike had in a swift provided by his inauguration appointed an Acting CJ, in accordance with s.271(4) president Customary Court  of Appeal.  He had also declared financial autonomy for Rivers State judiciary which judgment was JUSUN’s reason for going on strike for several months.  So in a jiffy all the logjam was swept aside leading to the conclusion in many quarters that the civil service, whether in uniform or civil failed in their responsibility as disciplined and neutral career civil servants.
The civil service is a very important institution from colonial days to the present time.  Each passing era has civil servants that held the government together in their efforts to serve the people that elected them or none elected dictators.  It is difficult to exonerate the civil servants in all the challenges  that faced Rivers State public service especially in the second tenure of Governor Rotimi Amechi’s administration. These are some of the challenges civil service face across the federation.

Iyke Ozemena

IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
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ENFORCEMENT OF EXTRA-TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND DEFENSE OF IMMUNITY

ENFORCEMENT OF EXTRA-TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND DEFENSE OF IMMUNITY

Article 9 of United Nations Declaration on Human Right provided that: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Individuals derive a form of immunity from this provision by international law. However, I intend to discuss the doctrine of immunity beyond the above provision, especially as it relates to government attorneys and representatives.

African Union  under the Chairmanship of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe,  held its 25th ordinary Session in Johannesbourg, South Africa with an Agenda of enhancing the economic, socio-political fortunes of member states. However, world attention shifted from these critical issues to International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC was established recently and heavily sponsored by the West. That the activities of this court regarding enforcement of extra-territorial jurisdiction has been causing stirs and ripples across the globe is no longer news. It has already left the world divided between those who support it and most African/third world countries who consider the court targeting them and so detest it. It may be an issue of perception since they are prosecuting war crimes most of which occur in the continent. But they cannot wish away the ICC, even if it a cruel necessity.

President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, a retired military officer who fought a civil war that lasted about eight years is not the first leader to be so accused of war crimes and against humanity. President George Walker Bush (jr) was once accused  after the invasion of Iraq, Charles Taylor ofLiberia was also accused after their civil war and exile etc.  So when President al-Bashir was attending AU meeting in Johannesbourg an attempt was made to procure Arrest Warrant to arrest him.  A similar call was made by ICC while he was on AU mission in Nigeria. The Attorney-General called upon to obtain Arrest Warrant and detain him reportedly argued that he was not on a private visit. These attempts call for thorough examination of the state of international law on the issue. A case in point is Democratic Republic of Congo V. Belgium 2002 regarding arrest warrant issued for the arrest Congolese Foreign Minister.

Previous messagehttps://dub118.mail.live.com/ol/clear.gifThis warrant was issued by an investigating Brussels Judge on 11 April 2000 against the arrest of the current Foreign Minister of Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC) Abdulaye Yerodia Ndombasi in 1998  who like, the South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, was alleged to have incited racial hatred among Congolese that caused the death of hundred of  persons.

The charges before the court emanated from the breach of Geneva Convention 1- IV (1949); Geneva Convention Additional Protocol I &11 (1977). They were considered grave breaches against humanity.

Even though Belgians were not victims nor was Foreign Minister Ndombasi in their territory, Belgium law authorities commenced action under Belgium law of June1993. It must be noted that under those Geneva conventions the crimes were under Universal Jurisdiction, so Governments and Interpol were aware and on alert.

Under Belgium law it did not matter that Ndombasi was acting on official capacity when he committed the offence. Therefore, Belgium alleged that they had instructed Congolese authority to prosecute Minister Ndombasi in 2000. And they responded by filing an application at the International Court of Justice for the annulment of the warrant of arrest for two reasons supported by Article 2 UN Charter.

(a)DRC claimed mutual non-violation of state sovereignty,

(b)Principle of equality of sovereign states, and disputed Belgium’s claim of universal jurisdiction which violated those two principles against DRC.

(2) DRC further argued that the warrant of arrest disregarded the current Foreign Minister’s immunity under customary international law.

(3) DRC also argued for the application of Art 48 of ICJ statute which provides for interim (provisional) measures of protection) to alleviate Mr. Ndombasi predicament who had been crippled from performing his duty as Foreign Minister.

When this application came up for hearing in November 2000 the attention of the Court was called to the effect that Mr. Ndombasi was no longer DRC’s Foreign Minister consequently Belgium applied for the case to be delisted since it has been rendered moot when he ceased to be Minister. However on December 8, 2000 the court ruled against granting interim measure to the Minister who now have been  transferred to another government function not involving frequent Foreign travel. But the warrant was still in force and therefore the case was not rendered moot.

In her submission in May 2001 DRC rescinded her argument against Belgium’s universal jurisdiction but pressed on her argument that Belgium had violated her rights under customary international law as regards Foreign Minister Ndombasi’s inviolability and immunity from criminal jurisdiction. And so requested the ICJ to so hold.

DRC further submitted that the violation of customary international law on which the warrant of arrest was based prevented any state including Belgium from enforcing it. Therefore Belgium was urged to recall and cancel the warrant of arrest and thereafter notify international community.    

Belgium on its side raised 4 objections against the ICJ jurisdiction to entertain the case. It also went ahead to invoke the doctrine of non-ultra petita with regards to the dropping of DRC’s claim that Belgium had wrongly conferred on itself Universal Jurisdiction as being of less importance.

Jurisdiction: Delivering judgment on 14th February 2002 the ICJ said it assumed jurisdiction based on the declarations of both parties pursuant to Art 36(2) ICJ Statute. (International Courts and Tribunas Jurisdiction and Admissibility of Inter-State Applications). It therefore rejected the 4 grounds of objections raised by Belgium. And the Court noted that those objections were based on the fact that Mr Ndombasi had ceased to be Minister.  The court assumed jurisdiction at the time of filing the case regardless of subsequent events. Even though the case became moot, however it did not take away the jurisdiction of the court on whether the issue and circulation of warrant of arrest was contrary to international law.

The Court further ruled that the date for assessing the admissibility of a case and whether it revolves on diplomatic protection was the date of filing the application.

However, the Court admitted that the doctrine of Non Ultra petita barred it from considering whether Universal Jurisdiction was in conformity with international law. But the Court felt not bound by anyone to consider if anyway.

ICJ considered the critical question of whether Minister was entitled to full immunity from criminal prosecution under Customary International law during this tenure as a Minister as submitted by DRC.

Belgium objected to acts of the Minister before his assumption of office because immunity cannot be taken for impunity; only acts in official capacity should attract immunity.

The ICJ further held the immunity of DRC Foreign Minister was not defined by international treaties. However, by analogy it noted that the New York Convention on Special Mission 1969; Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 provided guide to some aspect of immunity. But noted that Foreign Ministers enjoy full immunity under Customary international law to enable them perform efficiently well, since they represent their government as attorneys/negotiators in international arena. It was the view of the ICJ that Foreign Ministers acts should enjoy full immunity from criminal prosecution beyond official functions; but it certainly did not include those acts committed before assuming office.

The ICJ considered Belgium’s argument that official toga should not be a barrier for arresting a Minister or government agent that has committed war crime or crimes against humanity which Omar al-Bashir is accused of. Statutes were used to corroborate this argument including decided cases such as: Boeru V. Gaddafi, French Highest Court of Ordinary Jurisdiction- Paris March 2000; Regina V. BOW Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate, ex-parte Pinochet UK, House of Lords, 24 March 1999.

The Court noted that nothing in the Statutes and cases quoted above indicated any exception under Customary International law to the immunity of Foreign Minister. However its non-applicability in international Courts  does not necessarily follow suit in local Courts. In addition the cases were not binding precedents on immunity suits before local Courts and so in the Court’s opinion Belgium lost the argument. The ICJ ruled that extradition treaties imposed on States signatory to them does not take away the full immunity granted to foreign Minister under Customary International Law.

It noted the procedural nature of immunity which it observed did not amount to impunity since criminal responsibility is a substantive law. There, the immunities enjoyed by Foreign Ministers did not bar Criminal prosecution in four situations:

(i) If they are prosecuted in their own States.      

(ii) If their States waive their immunity.

(iii) If they cease to hold office with regards to facts committed prior or subsequent to their term of office, or during their term of office in a private capacity.

(iv) Before certain international criminal courts where they have jurisdiction such as ad hoc tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ICTY) (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ICTR) and (International Criminal Court ICC) by 13 votes to 3.

The ICJ therefore ruled that since Mr. Ndombasi did not fall within the four exceptions listed above, the mere issuance of an arrest warrant together with its international circulation violated his immunity as a frequent traveler on official duties.

It was also decided by 10 votes to 6 that Belgium should cancel the warrant of arrest and notify international community that received the circulation, even as the Foreign Minister had ceased to be in that office before the judgment.

There were 4 separate dissenting opinions on Immunities and Universal jurisdiction (extraterritorial jurisdiction).  The deduction from the case is that Omar al-Bashir could not have been arrested anyway.

Iyke Ozemena

IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO

Corporate Attorneys/Consultants.

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THE TRAGEDY OF PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL
While it is globally acknowledged  that law-making is a serious business, it is also a fact that the majority of members of the legislature are from  the elite. The main reason for this phenomenon arises from the cost of attaining the positions usually through hard-fought and expensive elections.  First and foremost it is a constitutional  assignment to represent a group or groups of people called a constituency.  Undoubtedly not many are ready and willing to sacrifice the material and intellectual resources demanded by the race. On getting to the legislature the second assignment becomes  that of law-making: initiating bills, motions, resolutions and drawing attention of the House to various national, regional or sectoral issues of importance.  The third function which are outside the legislature are numerous projects, institutions, processes and issues which the legislators are required by law to oversight, comment and report on.
Initiating a bill such as Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that has spent over a decade in the legislative House is one of the challenges of legislators.  Apart from the demand of extensive research on the legislators, it is also capital intensive.  It is on the realization of these facts that the delay suffered by the bill in the successive Assemblies can be assessed.
It can also be assessed through the mischief of the bill presented by the government summed up in terms of reference of Dr Rilwani Lukman’s led committee that was empaneled by president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to implement National Oil and Gas Policy (NOGP) thus: “Transform the broad provisions in the (NOGP) into functional institutional structures that are legal and practical for the effective management of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.”  Such a sensitive bill is one that should unite all legislators despite their political leanings, in ensuring a speedy passage bearing in mind Nigeria’s monolithic economy. Anything short of a speedy passage drains the scarce resource and the economy as successive assemblies considers the bill de novo.  What a tragedy!
One is not unmindful of the blockade mounted by International Oil Companies (IOCs) through conditionality that favour their investments to the detriment of indigenous oil and gas enterprises.  The challenge posed by the IOCs should not deter the legislators from passing the bill since the bill is coming on the mantra  of strengthening free-market enterprise.  It is now doubtful if the passage of the bill would sail through the 7th Assembly after the 2015 polls interruptions of the legislative process.
It may well be that the change that came to Nigeria affected the electorates adversely if the 7th Assembly fails to pass the PIB which the  bicameral assembly promised to bring to fruition before the disillusion. The assurance is important and valuable when you consider the number of years the bill has sojourned in the House.  The assurances to pass the bill into law were secured before the commencement of 2015 polls. Both the Senate president and the Speaker confirmed their commitment until the ‘change’ that swept the political and legislative landscape.
Through the activation of its auto policy, very soon Nigeria will begin the production of electric cars.  With this in place some of the provisions of PIB would be obsolete.  It would have been better for policy reason for PIB to be in force before electric cars that would have little or nothing to do with petroleum. On the global scale the demand of petroleum product  is predicted to considerably shrink  with USA achieving  self-dependence in energy supply in a couple of decades.  These reasoning can be gleaned from the anticipated commercial activities to be engendered by the ‘Act’ when passed.  It is also expected to promote indigenous oil and gas companies.
The ‘Act’ also proposes good corporate governance through responsible and responsive management..  Not only is it a producer, the Petroleum company would also regulate stakeholders to ensure environmentally-friendly policies , safe human right practices as well as consumer friendly.
The cost burden, would not be left for the company alone.  There would be a common contributory fund to care for the environment and economic development of the surrounding of exploration areas, called Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHCF) to prevent restiveness and sabotage by locals.  However, the host community stand a risk of forfeiting the contribution to PHCF if they allow vandalism, sabotage or damage of any sort to affect operators networks of fixtures and investments.  It is also public notice for them to mitigate circumstances  that may lead to damages or destruction.
Since the president-elect has been part and parcel of petroleum industry he now has the opportunity to take a holistic view of the Bill, especially the thorny issue of granting petroleum licenses which hitherto has been exercised by the Minister or by the President where the latter keeps the ministry in the presidency.  There are cases where these licenses were issued and traded off without any impact for which the licenses were issued in the first place.

Iyke  Ozemena

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LENDING A VOICE TO THE PASSAGE OF “PERSONS WITH DISABILITY BILL”
The speed with which executive bills are passed is for obvious reasons faster than private members bills. In the out-going seventh Assembly, just like its predecessors many important bills suffered undue delay.  Because of the rigorous processes of introducing private members bills it is highly unlikely to see the passage of bills from civil society organizations like ours or individual members of the public. The reason is just that for each bill to be listed on the legislative business of the day, priority has to be attached to the bill.  Unless legislators are lobbied and acquainted with the presentation of the bill no such priority can be accorded to the bill and therefore remains without any attention.  Besides, even if it gains any attention at all, it does so amidst pressure from other equally priority bills.
Some private members bills that have scaled through these preliminary hurdles and go for first reading may be opposed or talked out due to efflux ion of time. It may meet its Waterloo at debate stage when members might  not show any excitement  for the bill and consequent death.
When a couple of friends and I started a participatory civic platform called ‘Legislative Advancement Network’  we were just expressing readiness to contribute to the legislative processes and create a forum for political awareness especially among electorates.  The research demand was as enormous as its pecuniary commitment.  It was also a strategy to network with our legislators and constantly gauge the pulse of  their various constituencies.
We did that to show appreciation for those of us who consider ourselves free from disability although psychiatrist and psychopathic experts would disagree that individuals are totally free from any form of disability. That is why some traffic law breakers are sent to the psychiatrists after payment of N25,000.= fine in Lagos State. The offender ‘s brain would be ransacked to see what percentage of sanity is left!  That is a form of disability that a lot of  ‘healthy’ individuals would not like to admit.
In 2001 when we were excited by the nascent democracy,  we sent  a private members bill which sought legal protection for disabled persons across the nation; it also sought the mandatory audit and registration of these people; it also called the attention of legislators to their plight and unfriendly infrastructures and environment built and maintained by people without disability.  The second bill sought to decriminalize report of abandoned children and also sought protection, adoption and training for the victims.
We were sad that these modest effort to pay attention to our less-privileged fellow did not even fetch an acknowledgement, instead we were told that such proposed bills were required to be in large number of copies , probably the number of legislators in the house!  It is really sad if we can face  such situation.  It is in this context that the plight of people living with disabilities should elicit emotion and sympathy.  Why should  the bill suffer such long delay  when the world around us  are complying with UN prescriptions  on their welfare.  The passage of that bill is the minimum contribution our society is required to make towards the development of egalitarian community.
On this note we join those who have called on the legislators of the out-going assembly to include the “Persons with Disability Bill” among the urgent bills to be passed  before their exit.

Iyke Ozemena
IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
Corporate Atorneys/Consultants

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