Irked by the spate of general insecurity that pervades the entire Nigeria’s landscape, President Muhammadu  Buhari, via the instrument of executive order, revoked all the existing gun licenses. This development is a right step in a right direction. In this circumstance, no citizen, no matter how highly placed has no right to be in possession of gun or any fire arm.

Hence, this shall go a long way in stemming the tide of armed banditry, kidnappings and the related social vices that compromise our security network in Nigeria. The herdsmen who are reputedly noted for unleashing terrors on the defenceless citizens are partly the prime targets of this order. Hence,they are no longer entitled to hold firearms in the guise of protecting their cattle against the attacks from the wild animals.

Moreover, the political thugs who are readily armed by some unpatriotic political lords for spurious reasons do no longer have that privilege, including the local vigilantes as the case may be.

It is a matter for regret that Nigerians in possession of firearms or guns takes delight in abusing such rare opportunities. Records shows that these citizens resorts to extra judicial usage of these weapons to amass questionable wealth. Our society has lost innocent lives of promising citizens to the malevolent conducts of these evil minds. Ranging from armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry to land grabbing, the uninspiring and gory tales of death are touching and unpleasant.

The citizens need to complement the efforts of the law enforcement agents in curbing the menace of the gun runners. They can achieve this by giving adequate information to the police and other relevant agencies regarding the nefarious activities of the recalcitrant gun runners. It is only in this way that our society could be freed from the violent activities of the dare devil gun runners and murderers.

On the part of the government, it is not yet Uhuru on this matter. The punitive law for gun running should be reviewed upwardly. As against terms of imprisonment which has failed to achieve the desired goals and objectives, capital punishment should be prescribed for gun running and the related acts. This shall bring about the desired positive effects and reduce the disturbing menace.

Suffice stating here that drug addictions in various forms induces violent crimes in Nigeria. While commending the efforts of NDLEA in reducing the influence and bad effects  of drug addiction in our society, the concomitant punishment prescribed for the offenders have inconsequential effects on the menace of drug addiction, most especially, among the youths. In this connection, stiffer punishments need to be introduced via the appropriate laws to deal effectively with this social absurdity.

Besides, the media, parents, NOA, schools and other relevant bodies should contribute their quota towards reducing the bad effects of drug addiction. Also, government’s social investment schemes should be expanded to accommodate more youths as beneficiaries.

One is at sea seeing most of our law enforcement agents still finding it difficult to apply modern technology in resolving issues in their professional assignments. This means  that they have not been exposed to the state of the art trainings in the acquisition of relevant skills in their professions.

Hence, most of them are not able to apply computer systems in information processing, ‘coding and decoding’. This missing link adds up to their inefficiency at work. As a matter of urgency, our government should expose our military and paramilitary personnel to the required training and retraining programmes in line with the standard global practices.

This is necessary to enable them meet up with the prompt realisation of the set goals and objectives. Furthermore, it is observed that most of these personnel are ill equipped. Often times, they carry weapons which are superbly inferior to the ones being carried about by the criminals. This dampens their morale, zeal and commitment to their jobs. They are ready casualties in serial engagements with the criminals such as armed robbers, bandits, terrorists, including common hooligans.

This amounts to an irony of tragic proportion. The government must as a matter of duty, on periodic basis make available for the usage of  our military and paramilitary personnel the modern weapons that are superior to the ones in possession of the criminals.

The post OPINION: Revocation of gun license by the federal government |By Akeem Adebiyi first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post OPINION: Revocation of gun license by the federal government |By Akeem Adebiyi appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The group in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, on Sunday said the order banning the alleged high-profile corrupt Nigerians from travelling abroad is arbitrary, repressive and illegal, saying it breaches constitutional rights and the country’s international obligations, which protect the rights to freedom of movement, to leave one’s country, to privacy, and to due process of law.

“A travel ban by its nature is an interference with the right to leave one’s country. It is neither necessary nor proportionate to prevent dissipation of stolen assets or stop politically exposed persons (PEPs) from tampering with any such assets. The ban should be immediately lifted and the order rescinded,” the statement read in part.

SERAP maintained that the travel ban rather than performing its declared objective of preventing dissipation of stolen assets would undermine the government’s expressed commitment to combat corruption and violate the country’s international human rights obligations.

“The travel ban will play right into the hands of high-profile corrupt officials by feeding into the narrative that the fight against corruption is targeted only at political opponents.

“The travel ban and mass surveillance will distract the authorities from taking legitimate action to recover stolen assets, effectively punish high-ranking corrupt officials and portray the government as unwilling to embrace the rule of law in its fight against corruption, thereby making it difficult to obtain the necessary support and cooperation of countries keeping stolen assets.”

SERAP in the statement also noted that the travel ban will strain the government’s relationships with partner countries, on whom it will inevitably rely for vital asset recovery cooperation, undermining the effort to bring them closer.

“The travel ban cannot achieve the objective of depriving the 50 Nigerians suspected of corruption of their ill-gotten gains.

“It is absolutely important that the government is guided by the provisions of Article 31 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party, and which authorises states parties to take preliminary measures to seize, freeze or otherwise immobilise property for the purposes of confiscation/pending investigation and litigation,” the human rights group said.

The Federal Government had on Saturday banned 50 high-profile Nigerians from travelling abroad following the implementation of the Executive Order 6 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The post FG’s travel ban on 50 high-profile Nigerians breaches constitutional rights – SERAP first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post FG’s travel ban on 50 high-profile Nigerians breaches constitutional rights – SERAP appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Interestingly, no fewer than thirteen former governors and seven former ministers facing corruption trials, were among the 50 men and women accommodated in the travel ban list under Executive Order No. 6 issued by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.

This restriction enjoyed the judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the order

The watch-list and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of the cases against those affected.

The ex- governors barred from leaving the country are: Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); and Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina). The affected governors belong to both APC and PDP.

Also on the list, is the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd),

Two female former ministers , Nenadi Usman and Jumoke Akinjide along with Bashir Yuguda, Bala Mohammed; Abba Moro; Femi Fani-Kayode; and Ahmadu Fintiri, also made the list.

The list also had, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; ex- Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A. D. Jibrin; a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar; a former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero; and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Chairman Emeritus of AIT/ Raypower, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; Waripamowei Dudafa (a former Special Assistant (Domestic) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan); a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike; a former judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia;

The list further include, a former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh; Chief Jide Omokore; Ricky Tarfa; and Dele Belgore (SAN).

Most of the affected Nigerians are currently facing trial for alleged corrupt practices in different courts.

The post {SEE FULL LIST}: 50 men, women on FG’s travel ban first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post {SEE FULL LIST}: 50 men, women on FG’s travel ban appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.