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Supreme Court Rules 2024 will enhance efficient appellate justice delivery – Fagbemi
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said the new Supreme Court Rules 2024 will enhance efficient appellate justice delivery in the country.
Fagbemi said this at the special session to mark the beginning of the 2024/2025 legal year and conferment of the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria on the newly promoted 87 lawyers.
He said that the rules were prepared by a rules committee headed by the Chief Justice with all the well received and promising innovations introduced therein.
“The rules will now be seamlessly rolled out directly for use by practitioners in this court as the new legal year kicks off.
“I can only beseech my learned colleagues to quickly internalise and embrace the rules so that its many well thought out benefits can begin to manifest in earnest in justice delivery at the Supreme Court.
“I am most delighted that my Lord has hit the ground running by identifying some core areas requiring attention, including deployment of technology in the administration of justice.
“It includes also abuses, such as the vexed phenomenon of frivolous ex-parte orders, media trial by lawyers in clear breach of the principle of sub judice and rules of professional conduct.
“Not discounting possible reforms for insulating the Supreme Court from pre-election matters, I share in Your Lordship’s vision and do pledge my unflinching support thereto,’’ he pledged.
He said that the recent landmark judgment of July 11 on financial autonomy for local governments is still causing introspective reactions amongst stakeholders.
“This judgment which has been greeted with huge sighs of relief would certainly enhance socio-economic development and reduce insecurity at the local government level, which is the base of the pyramid.
The minister said that President Bola Tinubu also promised that the independence, autonomy, welfare and development of the judiciary will continue to receive priority attention under the current administration.
“I want to assure the justice constituency that this administration will live up to its pledge to accord obeisant respect for judicial decisions and the rule of law.
“This is in realisation of the fact that sound and just judicial pronouncements are enablers of the critical factors that drive socio-economic development.
“We will therefore continue to take proactive steps to avoid undue exposure of the government to legal liabilities,’’ he pledged.
He said that the nobility of the legal profession demands unwavering commitment to the principles of fairness, equality, and the pursuit of excellence in values.
“Thus, the conferment of the coveted rank of SAN is a fitting acknowledgement of the outstanding contributions of learned colleagues to the profession and to the nation.
“It is a testament to hard work, dedication, and commitment to the highest standards of legal practice.
“Your new, enviable status demands that you must be honest and maintain professional standards at all times within and outside the court room towards the judex, colleagues, clients, and the public.
“You must maintain a very high standard of professional conduct in the discharge of your duties,’’ he advised.
He equally warned that being a privilege also meant that it can be lost or taken away.
“It is worthy of note that under the new rules once a name is struck off there is no provision for restoration of the name to the roll.
“Therefore, you must continue to sustain the standards and qualities for which you were considered worthy of the rank ab initio.
“You are required to advance the course of justice, rule of law, promotion of the image or rating of the judiciary and legal profession, as worthy ambassadors’’.
He said that all the issues responsible for the lack of progress on the Legal Practitioners Act Amendment Bill have now been resolved and his office will proceed quickly to ensure its enactment into law. (NAN)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the suit filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to March 25, 2025.
The adjournment followed a submission by the respondents, who informed the court that they had not been served with the necessary documents.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her.
Treat my wife with respect, Natasha’s husband tells Akpabio
Delivering a ruling on the application on March 5, 2025, the trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, barred the committee from proceeding with the probe.
Details shortly…
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected gun runners and recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition.
The arrests were made during stop-and-search operations along the Warri/Benin Road and Asaba/Benin Expressway on separate dates.
On 3rd March, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry driven by one Peter James, 55, from Akwa Ibom State.
Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and 1,040 rounds of 5.1mm ammunition.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday, said that the suspect was arrested near Western Delta University, Oghara, after operatives intercepted a blue Toyota Camry with registration number PHC 257 NT.
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry, popularly known as ‘big daddy,’ was unusually small. This aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle had been modified for malicious purpose.
“The policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes.
“The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
In a separate operation on 6th March, police arrested Yahuza Magaji, 69, and Abba Sani, 17, from Kaduna State, and recovered seven pump-action guns and 1,600 rounds of live cartridges.
Edafe said that operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 arrested the suspects while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba/Benin Expressway by the National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo.
He said that police had intercepted a navy blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM, driven by one Yahuza Magaji, in the company of one Abba Sani, both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.
“They disguised as traders transporting palm oil and garri, but the police, who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered seven (7) pump action guns, five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. The suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
Commenting on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed delight that the marching orders he gave to all tactical commanders, area commanders, and DPOs to up their game were yielding results.
“We are determined to flush out all criminal elements in the state,” said CP Abaniwonda.
“I commend the effort and determination of our men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms,” he said.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.