Currency swap: We’ll reconvene before elections if.... Gbajabiamila

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the House would have no option but to reconvene before the February 25 elections if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) failed to address the hardships Nigerians face due to the currency swap policy.

The speaker said the House would continue to monitor the CBN’s implementation of the policy closely following the Green Chamber’s meeting with the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the issue.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with some ethnic groups in Surulere, Lagos, on Sunday, Gbajabiamila said he was on the verge of signing an arrest warrant against Emefiele following his initial failure to appear before an ad hoc panel of the House.

“The House of Representatives intervened on several occasions. We summoned the CBN governor the first time and again, but he refused to answer, because we had many hard questions for him.

•says Tinubu stands with Nigerians

“It was until I issued the threat of warrant of arrest before he came, and I would’ve signed that warrant; it would’ve been the first time in the history of National Assembly that a CBN governor would be arrested. I would’ve done it.

“Many have argued on the independence of CBN, the autonomy of CBN. That does not make CBN above the law. The constitution gives the House the power to issue an arrest warrant against anyone, we can summon anybody, and that was exactly what the House was going to do until the CBN governor came.

“So, we are watching, and we are monitoring very closely. If need be, we will reconvene the House, even though we’ve all been away for our elections. I will call the House back, if need be.”

Gbajabiamila also said that amidst the ongoing hardship, the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified with Nigerians and faulted the implementation of the policy at this time, which necessitated the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old currency.

“On the currency swap, let me explain something to you. We are all very intelligent people. Many are suffering, we have paid your salary, and you cannot withdraw it; people cannot eat, what kind of thing is that?

“But I have news for you. There’s one man who is running for president of this country, and that man has courage and audacity. This man came out boldly and identified the problem, that the fifth columnists, in cooperation with the PDP are the ones trying to sabotage this election.

“Many have said he’s talking about Buhari, but he told them ‘no, I’m not talking about Buhari; I’m talking about fifth columnists.’ If you don’t know the meaning of fifth columnists, go and check your dictionary. Fifth columnists infiltrate people, they even infiltrate families, otherwise how do you explain this type of policy?

“The president, being a compassionate person that he is, has asked for a few more days to look at everything that is going on and see if anything could change. We pray that things will change. If nothing changes, we will intervene again, but be sure of one thing: that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands with you and stands with Nigerians in their suffering.

“He was the first to shout that what is going on? He has cried, he has begged, he has screamed that people are suffering, what did the PDP candidate say? He said, ‘no, CBN don’t listen to them; you must not extend this thing; let people continue to suffer.’ That is what the PDP candidate said. He said it publicly.

“So, you have the tale of two presidential candidates: one who stands with the people and says this currency swap must stop; the second one says,’ no, it cannot stop, it’s a good policy. CBN, don’t listen to him. Let the people continue to suffer.’ I leave the rest to you to determine who is with you and who is against you.”

Ugboma: Temple of justice being desecrated by ministers’ blood – Lawyers

Some members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday expressed worry at the killing of their colleagues across the country.

They described it as desecration of the temple of justice.

The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the killings had become too many.

NAN reports that the Chairman of a Customary Court in Oguta Local Government area of Imo, Mr Nnaemeka Ugboma, was on Feb. 3 reportedly shot dead by yet-to-be identified gunmen at the court’s premises.

Before Ugboma’s murder, several lawyers had been attacked and murdered in Imo and some other parts of the country.

NAN reports that on Dec. 25, 2022, a pregnant female lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, was shot dead in Lagos State.

Raheem was allegedly murdered by a police officer in Ajah while she was returning from a Christmas outing with her family.

In November 2022, Steven Eke was killed by unidentified gunmen in the Federal Capital assassinated senior lawyer, in the presence of his wife and son.

The Chairman of NBA, Lagos Branch, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, told NAN that every citizen possessed the right to life.

“The killing of lawyers across the country does not portend well for the NBA neither is it a good omen for the legal profession nor Nigeria.

“It is sad, dehumanising, barbaric and uncalled for, for any person to be killed anywhere in Nigeria.

“Attacks on lawyers are something we cannot leave like that, it is a situation we must oppose and condemn in its entirety.

“We need to oppose and condemn it clearly, whether it is in Ejemekuru where a chairman of a customary court was killed, or in Lagos where a lawyer was killed or in Sokoto where a lawyer was killed, or in Calabar where a judge was killed.

“We need to all stand up and condemn this; it is our humanity that is at stake.

“We need to stand up and defend our humanity and ensure that everyone is able to respect life which none of us is able to provide,” he said.

A former Chairman of NBA, Jos Branch, Mr Yakubu Bawa, told NAN that the trend portended a bad omen for the nation.

“It appears that lawyers have become an endangered specie,’’ he said.

According to him, the common man will be wondering what will be his lot if lawyers who can fight for their rights can be attacked and killed.

“I think that this is the right time to adopt a radical approach to addressing this issue. It is not confrontational or illegal but an effective measure.

“There is, therefore, a need for the NBA president to convene a meeting where these issues will be discussed.

“As lawyers, we must also be vigilant in terms of security, and take care of ourselves. It is sad that we have become an endangered specie.

“We must all put our hands on deck to deal with this plague,” he said.

The Chairman of NBA, Ota Branch, Mr Wale Adegoke, also regretted murder of some lawyers in recent times, saying that it could weaken the judicial institution.

“Regretfully, the temple of justice is being desecrated by the blood of the priests/ministers.

“Consequently, by the show of brute force on her personnel, the judicial institution is being weakened.

“We cannot afford this gory state of affairs in the interest of nation building and our collective wellbeing,’’ he said.

He called on state governors to beef up security in all court facilities.

“All visitors to these facilities should be subjected to searches for enhanced security for our judicial officers and legal practitioners,” he urged.

Adegoke also advocated collaboration and effective networking among security agencies in each state to upscale intelligence gathering on judicial facilities.

A constitutional lawyer, Mr Spurgeon Ataene, said that attacks on lawyers and judges had become a huge cause for concern.

“All over the world, we are held responsible for some malfeasance and misfeasance.

“It is ludicrous to see us, lawyers, bearing the brunt of society’s undoing.

“There was the belief in the ancient times that, in order to have a quiet society, you first have to do away with lawyers.

“As absurd as that saying is, some members of society actually see lawyers as their problems rather than those who resolve crisis.

“I, therefore, advocate establishment of lawyers and judicial officers’ safety corps.

“I am of the opinion that if established through legislation, every law firm and judicial officer or lawyer will operate under the radar of the sophisticated security system to ensure their safety,” he said

Ataene urged NBA branches to emphasise security and welfare of their members at all times. (NAN)