Articles

The articles below were part of weekly contributions of Obruche Ayeteni Esq., for Daily Times Newspapers in Nigeria between 2000-2001, a lecture presented to the Rotaract Club of Ikeja in 2001 and recent publications in the Punch and Daily Independent newspapers in Nigeria.

The Functionality of The Legal Regime of Broadcast Licencing

Licences obtainable in this respect relate to radio, television, cable TV and satellite broadcast licences.

The regulatory agency is National Broadcasting Commission established by Section 1 National Broadcasting Commission Act CAP N11 Laws of the Federation 2004. The procedure for obtaining a broadcast licence is spelt out in Sections 11-13 and the 2nd & 3rd Schedules of the said Act. [ more ]

That Attack on Atlas Cove

It was reported to have lasted 3 hours. That is 3 long hours, the attack by agents of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND on the facilities on Atlas Cove here in Lagos. Media reports indicated that the attack was also lunched on a Naval base and offices, killing 1 officer and 2 ratings. While responding to the incident, the group managing director of the soon to expire Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC stated that the facility had a comprehensive security cover. The chief of the Nigerian Navy confirmed the loss of his men, adding he stated that the generations of the deceased men would not forgive the (so-called) militants. He had no comment on the generations of those the Nigerian Navy had brought bereavement to. [ more ]

The Hunted Hunter

These indeed are regular features in the daily intrigues that manifest in the republic called Nigeria. What is/was the actual figure poured to the Energy sector by the administration led by General Obasanjo. President Yar-Adua spoke of some US $13 billion. It is believed that the President knew exactly what he spoke about. The Rt. Hon. Bankole also spoke about a US $16 billion. There are quite a number who believe that the Rt. Hon. Bankole gave a well informed position. Again, those who should know in the Ministry & Parastatals gave a different figure of under US$ 4 billion. [ more ]

The Best Elections in Nigeria

The 2007 general elections have been severally described. To the “winners” and electoral body it was free, fair and the best ever held in the country. Similar comforting sentiments emanated from His Excellency the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. After-all he would be making history again, this time as leading a civilian to civilian transition. [ more ]

The Best Elections in Nigeria

The Escape Route

Some one added in the Meeting of 3rd of April, it is another ploy to draw the attention of the people away from the 3rd term agenda. Infact there are going to be several of diversionary ploys by senior government officials. He was contributing to the issue which the writer drew the attention of the Ikeja Bar to. The Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation had stated and to use the exact words in the publications [ more ]

My Lords For The Sake of the Gabriel's of this World

The caller stated that his name was Gabriel. To His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic, he put the startling question. What does the president intend to do about injunctions granted at odd times with the sole intention of frustrating the polity? [ more ]

Still on the Crashed Presidential Aircraft

It no longer news that Vice President Atiku Abubakar's 20-year-old falcon 900 aircraft crash-landed to the embarrassment of Nigeria, in far away Tenerife, Spain. 15 members of staff attached to his office were also aboard the plane had similarly disgraced the country in Lisbon the Portuguese capital, which country the plane had no business flying to. The Vice President was on official visit to the former country. [ more ]

A Lost Mission

For an apostle of deregulation, this write up is disturbing. The broadcast industry was deregulated during the (infamous if you like and in view of the Oputa Commission) regime of President Babaginda. New entrants were brought into that industry. A number of professional or specialist jobs were by that policy, directly or indirectly created and developed (never mind that many such beneficiaries go without salaries for several months). [ more ]

Squib Magazine & the Quality of Justice in Lagos Judiciary

Monday the 29^th of October 2001, I appeared before mama as she was fondly referred in her Court; in a probate and family matter. Sitting then with a pupil judge, and on the strength of the cause list informing that mine was listed as first for the day. She did sit in good time, although the profession preaches 9:00' clock as the hour of the court. There was some forty something matters listed for the day. From experience I knew mama would treat only a few. Mine being the first, was gratifying. When eventually it was time for business, a senior advocate Mrs. Adekoya mentioned before me. [ more ]

Still on the Electoral Bill

Before the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there was that of 1979. Both documents sought to regulate the affairs of men in this part of the world. The preamble to the 1979 Constitution stated that much in the following manner, "To provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of Freedom, Equality and Justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the Unity of our people: �.. Do hereby make enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution. The 1999 Constitution appears to have copied word for word the above provisions. [ more ]

Much Ado about N.E.P.A.

X is a principal officer with the Nigeria Electric Power Authority (NEPA), he was at his bank for some transaction recently. Ordinarily, such transactions last minutes, not that day. Despite the banks explanation that the delay resulted from power outage, X would have nothing to do with the bank. According to him, the bank is too slow. Someone should tell your management to restructure along lines likely to produce rapid response. He closed his account, doing so with abuses to staffers of the bank. [ more ]

Much Ado about Federal Road Safety Commission

The administration of lbrahim Babaginda saw to the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Commission. It was a well thought out government agency designed to ensure that traffic on our roads flows. The Commission was privileged at inception to be under the leadership of Nigeria's only Noble laureate Wole Sonyinka. At the time, the Commission was incorruptible. Traffic offenders were made to pay fines in distant places, which served as deterrent against further traffic offences. [ more ]

Our Friend's Father

There she was, with all that being said behind her that was in her university days. One cannot confirm whether anyone was bold enough to confront her with the rumor or should we say, the negative joke about her up bring. It is to be added however, that one could not come to the level of joining the accusation. It was unimaginable that her up bring was being discussed without regards to her parent's position in the matter. One of the things they said was, "if at all, then she must be the product of accidental discharge", there where some semblance of the father in her. Whereas they all believed their parent wanted to have them; they doubted or refused to be that generous to her. [ more ]

Victimology: the Administration of Justice as against the Victim; the way forward

A convenient take off, would be an attempt to define the concept for discussion, in doing so, deliberate attempt has been made to avoid recourse to the several legal dictionaries, for purposes of clarity and to ensure that the issue does not become more abstract than it was before the lecture. [ more ]