By Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS — Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, and other eminent legal practitioners, yesterday, condemned the kidnap of the wife, daughter and driver of  a Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, as the whereabout of captives remained unknown four days after they were abducted.

Chairman of the National Human Right Commission, NHRC, Professor Chidi Odinkalu; former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba; Mahmood Magaji, Sebastian Hon and Dr. Ameachi Nwaiwu, also expressed shocke over the kidnap.

It will be recalled that Justice Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, daughter and driver were kidnapped on Friday, along Benin-Ore road, on their way to one of his daughters’ wedding in Benin, Edo State.

While Fashola and Justice Phillips spoke at a two-day workshop organised by NBA for legal practitioners in the state, with theme The Rule of Law: The Bedrock for sustainable democracy and development, others spoke to Vaguard in Abuja.

Fashola said: “What is this country turning to?  It is time for the lawyers in this country to stop theory and be practical in our activities in the society.

“I know that this will not be easy because majority of the impunity that we see in the country benefits some people.”

He urged the judiciary to urgently formulate strategies that would help deal with issues affecting the country.

On her part, Justice Philips said “The beauty of the lawyers is to ensure that the laws of the country are protected. Law. In most society, people are always scared of committing crime because they know the repercussion of it. But the situation isn’t like that in Nigeria, where everything seems to have since gone worst.”

Magaji said: “They kidnappers should, in the name of whatever they believe in, release them. He is just rendering his own service to the nation and to the advancement of the law.”

Odinkalu said: “I would rather not comment at this time. I just pray they are found and returned safe.”

Agbakoba added, “It is shocking and high time security agents got into action,” while Sebastian said “I condemn the abduction in the strongest terms and call on the perpetrators of this heinous crime to release the victims immediately and unharmed.”

If they have any grievance they should channel it to the right source. Resorting to violence will not in any way solve their problem. I join the rest of the country to wish the family of the learned Justice a safe return home.”

Nwaiwu said: “I am speechless. I surrender all and hand over the situation to God almighty who is the author and perfecter of our fate and life.”

… as PENGASSAN says insecurity’s revolt

By VICTOR AHIUMA-Young

LAGOS — PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has described the upsurge of violence in the country, especially the recent killings and attacks on security personnel in Bayelsa, Borno, Nasarawa and Benue states as acts of revolt against the Nigerian state.

Speaking in Lagos, President of PENGASSAN, Babatunde Ogun, charged the Federal Government, especially the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and the Director of the Department of the State Security, DSS, to ensure that perpetrators of the evil killings were brought to book.

He called on politicians to stop heating up the nation’s polity by their utterances and actions,but concentrate on issues that could bring development and improve the standard of living of the citizens,

Ogun advised politicians to let their actions be people and development driven rather than witch hunting and campaign of calumny.

PENGASSAN President argued that the wrangling among politicians was unnecessary and tasked them to channel their efforts and strength towards developmental projects and ending criminal attacks and other insecurity issues threatening the stability and survival of the Nigeria entity.