Date: 2019-01-17

A non-governmental organisation, Save Kwara Group, has called on the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, to rescind his decision to ban street rallies and processions in the state. Also, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said the ban on street rallies and processions in the state is an attempt to cow the opposition. Ahmed had, in a special broadcast on Tuesday, announced the ban on street rallies to check the activities of political thugs who were attacking innocent people in some parts of Ilorin. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the convener of Save Kwara Group, Mr Oyinloye Dairo, described the ban as illegal, anti-social and undemocratic. He said the ban infringed on the fundamental rights of the citizens of the state. Dairo said, "Although we condemn the violence, we are calling on the government to review the ban and allow security agencies to do the work that they are being paid for. "The government should re-arrange the security architecture in the state." The APC, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Folaranmi Aro, described the ban as a clampdown on it members in the state. He said, "The clampdown is a naive attempt to curtail our party, the APC, from spreading the gospel of change in the state. "The broadcast by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, which tends to prevent a recurrence of the political violence in a laughable art of governance through the ban on street rallies and political processions is baffling, considering the fact that elections are fast approaching and political rallies and processions are vital in political reawakening." Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: More in Home Dangerous precedents are being set in CJN's trial –Falana NBA, SANs, CUPP kick as FG orders freezing of CJN's bank accounts Buhari's campaign coordinator returns to PDP in Akwa Ibom Fountain varsity probes don for attacking student who refused to cut grass Boko Haram insurgency may spread to Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Bishop warns DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON Receive Alerts on: Whatsapp: +2349090060943, Twitter: @MobilePunch, BBM: C003D3DC0 Share your story with us: SMS: +2349090060943, Whatsapp: +2349090060943, Email: FOREX,BITCOIN, BINARY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: We guarantee 37% weekly profit by professionally trading your Forex, Cryptocurrency, Binary Accounts for you. WhatsApp:+2348030797998. click here for details. www.standardfx.org 2019 CAMPAIGN Comments TODAY IN HOME Dangerous precedents are being set in CJN's trial –Falana NBA, SANs, CUPP kick as FG orders freezing of CJN's bank accounts Buhari's campaign coordinator returns to PDP in Akwa Ibom Fountain varsity probes don for attacking student who refused to cut grass JUST IN Boko Haram insurgency may spread to Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Bishop warns A nation's crying shame Imo APC faction sues Oshiomhole as Nwafor suspends Nlemigbo Buhari, Tinubu set for Jos $217bn taken out of Nigeria illegally in 38 years – EFCC Lawmakers to consider budget for second reading today Edo restricts movement for Buhari Nishikori overcomes Karlovic in Australian Open thriller Wawrinka falls to Raonic at Australian Open Dokubo warns against racketeering Federal might will fail in Akwa Ibom – South-South govs Fourth seed Osaka surges into Australian Open third round We're not giving PVCs to APC govs – INEC PSC warns policemen against being friendly with politicians METRO PLUS READ MORE MC Oluomo discharged from Lagos hospital, travels abroad Couple, child die in Ondo road accident Police arraign bus driver for raping 78-year-old woman Police hunt for hit-and-run driver who crushed four family members Ogun hijab: Traditionalists seek to join suit Two friends swindle trader of N8.5m Bookseller bags two years for piracy SPONSORED/PRODUCT REVIEW READ MORE Booking.com – the hidden gems that can save you money in your next booking Lufthansa launches New Year Super Saver Promo for flights to Europe POLITICS READ MORE Don't abandon legislative duties for elections, Saraki begs senators BUSINESS READ MORE Power distributors owe NBET N108bn in three months NNPC is a mafia organisation, I'll privatise it – Atiku How to profit from subdivision of your land Why Nigerians are not feeling impact of economic growth — DG Budget PUNCH VIDEOS VIDEO: The 9-year-old superstar saxophonist VIDEO: Several injured as train derails in Lagos [VIDEO] Arraignment: I'm not fit to travel to Lokoja, Dino Melaye says VIDEO: Meet Baddo, 10-year-old boxing champ and his sister VIDEO: Lagos welcomes first babies of 2019 VIDEO: Preventing road accidents during Christmas Next Section Just In Classic version marfeel logo © 1971-2017 The Punch newspaper 3' BAR/BENCH NEWS Dangerous precedents are being set in CJN's trial –Falana Published January 17, 2019 Oladimeji Ramon Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has expressed concern about the 'dangerous precedents' being set in the charges filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Water Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Falana, while speaking on Tuesday in Lagos during the 15th Gani Fawehinmi annual lecture, observed that some of the legal issues already settled by the Supreme Court in the case of Saraki vs Federal Government were being reopened in Onnoghen's case. He noted also that the speed with which the various suits filed to challenge the charges against the CJN were heard and ruled upon by the courts was unprecedented. Falana said, "The most dangerous aspect of what is going on now is that our laws are in trouble. Issues that have been settled by the Supreme Court in the Saraki vs FRN case are being reopened now. "The question of the appearance of the accused, the question of service; it came up in Saraki's case. Once you are aware, you have been served. But we are opening it afresh. "I just saw another disturbing one, the National Industrial Court has waded in to say that the Chief Justice shall not be arrested. Who is talking of arrest? What is the locus standi of the National Industrial Court on the affairs of a judge? "We are now being told that the Chief Justice is an employee who should be protected by the National Industrial Court. The other one happened yesterday (Monday) when I discovered that a case that was filed at the Federal High Court yesterday (Monday) was processed yesterday, assigned yesterday, heard yesterday and an order was made yesterday. In the last 20 years, it has never happened in any court in Nigeria. "Please, let us know that we are setting dangerous precedents. And that is why sentiment should not come in." He added, "When I said that the proper procedure has not been followed and that the government should withdraw the frivolous charge, I wasn't talking about the substance of the case, because for me, if you catch an armed robber red-handed and you decide to chop off his hand, you have lost your case; you still have to take him to court and that is what should happen in this case. We must go through the proper channel for dealing with complaints against judges." READ ALSO: NBA, SANs, CUPP kick as FG orders freezing of CJN's bank accounts More in Home NBA, SANs, CUPP kick as FG orders freezing of CJN's bank accounts Buhari's campaign coordinator returns to PDP in Akwa Ibom Fountain varsity probes don for attacking student who refused to cut grass Boko Haram insurgency may spread to Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Bishop warns Theresa May reaches out to rivals in Brexit deadlock Meanwhile, an Igbo group, Nzuko Umunna, has condemned the planned arraignment of the CJN. The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Ngozi Odumuko, said, "The circumstances of this planned trial leave much to be desired, not the least because the trial may occasion clear constitutional breaches. "In particular, sections 153(1), 271 (1), 292(1)(a)(ii) and Paragraph 21 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution are to the effect that any judicial officer accused of an offence must first be subjected to investigation and disciplinary action by the National Judicial Council prior to any trial." Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON Receive Alerts on: Whatsapp: +2349090060943, Twitter: @MobilePunch, BBM: C003D3DC0 Share your story with us: SMS: +2349090060943, Whatsapp: +2349090060943, Email: FOREX,BITCOIN, BINARY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: We guarantee 37% weekly profit by professionally trading your Forex, Cryptocurrency, Binary Accounts for you. WhatsApp:+2348030797998. click here for details. www.standardfx.org ONNOGHEN'S TRIAL Comments Classic version marfeel logo © 1971-2017 The Punch newspaper