…wants FG to enforce laws on perpetrators

BY INNOCENT ANABA

ABUJA-The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, described as an insult what it described as a “paltry” sum of N5 million offer by President Goodluck Jonathan for youth corps members who were killed in some northern states of the federation, following the announcement of result of  April 16 presidential election.

Consequently, the association called on the Federal Government to go beyond condemnations and panels in dealing with those involved in the recent killing of the corps members, saying “there are laws in our statute books that make it an offence for lives to be taken unlawfully by fellow human beings.

“Those laws must be enforced in our criminal courts and people responsible for this dastardly, cruel, barbaric conduct are brought to justice. Too many times, innocent Nigerian blood has been shed for no reason at all.”

President of the NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, who spoke at the Conference of experts, organised by the West African Public Interest Litigation Centre, WAPILC, the West African Bar Association, WABA, and Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, said “the President, a major beneficiary of the general election in which the slain corps members lost their lives, only on Wednesday offered each family of the corps members the paltry and, indeed, undignifying sum of N5 million.

“I don’t know what the sum represents but it appears to me an insulting response from the Federal Government.

“Even as a palliative, such a figure reflects the low premium or value placed on Nigerian lives. For us, we are certain that this is a matter the Nigerian courts must address,” he added.

On the suit by the association against the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he said “no malice or ill will is intended and Nigerian institutions and high holders must brace themselves and become accustomed to being sued where they erroneously maintain intransigent stance in the performance or non-performance of public duties.