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Orji Uzo Kalu rules our compensation for pipeline victims. So fellow Biafran and Umuigbo of all ages, we should not fold our arms and allow this injustice to take place. This multi national oil companies can be sued in the western courts. So I am asking all the lawyers in the house, to please look into this and let us know. Please share your thoughts.
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biafra: You beat me to it. I wonder why such an incident that consumed over 100 lives (Igbo lives) took place and most of us here didn't find it news worthy to discuss and profer ideas to forestall future occurence.
Though I am not a legal practitioner, nevertheless, my understanding of what is on the ground in Nigeria, vis-a-vis, the multi-national oil-prospecting companies and the oil producing communities is that the first blame should go to the Nigerian central government that signed these oil proepecting aggreements with those foreign companies. Those of us who live the west need not be told that what the governments in the west and other developing counries with good and responsible government does is to set the modalities to which any all of these comnpanies MUST opereate within. Apart from that, the income sharing ratio is 70/30 for the host government and the oil prospecting company respectively. Buit sadyly in Nigeria like in other african countires, its 10-20% for the host government and the rest for the foreign oil company. So that's why most oil-producing communities in Nigeria are in the sorry sate they are; something you hardly find in the west where the interest of the citizens is the utmost in the mind of their leaders.
Even here in Germany where there's no oil beneath the earth, its a punishable crime (rules and terms of punishment prescibed and carried out by the government) to litter the road with oil or petrol. But in Nigeria and other African countries with western puppert leaders, what you see is oil-filled pinelines running over farmlands at the risk of lives and property of the locals. You can be sure that if the Nigerian government did not allow such abuse of its citizens lives and rights, those oil companies wouldn't be stupid to do in Nigeria what they can never dare do in their countries of origin.
What I am saying in summary is that the Federal government of Nigeria that signed these contracts without taking the welfare of its citizens are the number one CULPRIT. So if and when a case is made either to correct the aforementioned anomalies as regards oil prospecting in Nigeria or for compesation to not only the victims of the Umuahia deadly incident but also to such as the victims of Jesse (in Delta State) oil explosion, the NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT should be the prime accused while the foreign oil-prospecting companies be joined as co-defendants. Because any case made without including the Nigerian central government as part might bring the concerned oil-producing communities in Nigeria the much needed economic relieve, but it will not improve their aqua-nature environment in the long term.
If we look at this matter with LONG-TERM solution in mind, there's no doubt that the latter is more important, both for the good health and longivity of the present generation of the oil-producing people and will also be more beneficial to their unborn generation and those who might chose to live there in the future.
What ever is the case, there's no doubt that something must be done to reverse the situation and to stop another Umuhia explosion from occuring. All hands must be on deck to achieve mazimum result.
Posts: 997 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2001
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What are you calling on the lawyers for when the scoopers ain't done yet? Expect more drama!
___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
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Where the lawyers at? We know your handles and this might be your oppotunity to make a name for yourself and get off filing papers for your clients here in the states.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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Also, who are the clients? Are they and their families ready to step forward? Are Igbo people ready to set up a legal defense fund to pay the bills?
Posts: 59 | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote: Are Igbo people ready to set up a legal defense fund to pay the bills? Big Guy
Chinyere and Big Guy, Abi na joke be that? DO I write like a lawyer? I think not but I have great respect for the profession, maybe when I grow up, I will be one, TSU dey for korner here now.
Sorry to digress but the Lawyers here can take the case on a contigency. They may even constitute a group and also go after both that SABO governor that blamed the dead and the chiefs but also use the opportunity to let the world see the type of a person that rigged the election allover nigeria, you know the OO of a guy. Let the world see what has been going on under his watch and how he simply looks away after all, they did not vote for him and he still won by over 100% of Oil produing areas vote.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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Brother Nwa Aro. Thank you for that well thought out write up. You are absolutely right, the central Government is responsible for this catastrophy. First of all only in stupid Nigeria can you mined oil and travel 3000 miles to refine it. Those pipelines doesn;t belong there to begin with.
To the lawyers in the house, all we asking here is for you guys to evaluate this situation, and tell us. Unfortunatelt WIC is the weakest link, for that I guess Igbos have to do this by individual efforts.
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This In-fighting Must Stop:Where are the Igbo brains?
Here was an interesting topic introduced by Biafra seeking intelligent debate from people with expertise in the field but we got nothing.
Thread after thread, nothing educative comes after it. People come in and destroy the entire topic in question. A case in point was the "Wabara/Dan Imo" thread which was turned upside down.
I am afraid, if this trend continues as it is on this forum, Igbos are finished in Nigeria. Where are those Igbo brains? Where are you? Please, come out and rescue this message board and turn it into a research center where people can come and learn more, based on contributions from people with differnt academic backgrounds.
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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Welcome to BNW. If you want undiluted Igbo brains, you should go to Igbo Forum. This is BiafraNigeriaWorld where all the Igbo/Biafra Super brains are neutralized by the Nigerian knuckle heads. Posts: 397 | Registered: May 2001
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quote:I am afraid, if this trend continues as it is on this forum, Igbos are finished in Nigeria.
I understand that this forum has become very powerful. But, must this forum and the people in it be responsible for everything that needs to be done in Igboland? What is wrong with the other Igbo groups? A friend of mine told me that people in this forum delivered more money for the Ojukwu and APGA campaign than any other source.
In this issue of oil disaster, we need more than lawyers. What about the social workers, the people on the ground who witnessed the events, the doctors who should treat the victims? Have all those people been mobilized?
___________________ Freedom, Justice, Equality Posts: 16 | From: London, UK | Registered: Mar 2002
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If you are Igbo, check out this Think Tank. I have learned that many of the positive things you see in Igboland today were conceived there.
Posts: 199 | From: Saratoga, CA. USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
This is for our legal professionals to follow up with. The nigerian "show" which has taken a more dangerous turn if not checked stand to do us in which makes it more urgent for something, how little notwithstanding, to be done by all. You may forward this letter to as many associations and or International bodies you know as possible, nothing is too small to be overlooked. Does the types of bunkum that drop from these semi-illiterates’ mouths not bother you guys, even the ardent one-nigerianist? Is it probable that someone stand to be cut down just for exercising his/her democratic rights or for being Igbo? While MASSOB members are hounded and killed, our neighbor's outfit that was birthed in violence is given free reign yet it does not shake you, that is those with conscience? While Chief Ralph Uwazurike is languishing in detention for absolutely nothing, for commiting no crime against the banana republic, Dr. Frederick Fasheun, a Yoroba has been granted bail despite the mayhem OPC unleashes on the population. While Mazi Asari Dokubo's fate is hanging by the thread, Chief Gani Adams another Yoroba too was granted bail by a Lagos court, still one nigeria, you say? This is an appeal for every decent person to do something about the bare lopsidedness of the evil master’s governance.
Ladies & Gents, please, please forward this to as many organs as you could. The importance cannot be overemphasized.
quote:Nigeria Bar Association: Plot 1261 Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
I write on behalf of the Biafra Actualization Forum to point out certain facts which have a bearing on the practice of law in Nigeria, how the Nigerian Bar Association may be perceived outside of Nigeria, and how the Nigerian Justice system itself is viewed. These facts are drawn from two recent events as reported in local Nigerian Newspaper(s). Do, pardon my method of submission and communication for I am ignorant of any special formats for this process.
The first event has to do with a recent statement credited to the Delta State Commissioner of Police whereby he announced to the public and to the Press that henceforth, MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) members found in his State will be treated as “armed robbers.” Clearly, even he understood and understands that MASSOB members are not armed and are not robbers; as such, the Commissioner of Police has already signaled and telegraphed the intent of the police under his command to use false and trumped up charges against innocent parties. Since the practice of the Nigeria police is to summarily execute armed robbers without arrest or trial, the implications are that MASSOB members in Delta State will be routinely shot and killed by the Nigeria Police on sight, without accountability, and on false pretense by the Nigeria Police.
We believe that the Attorney-General of Nigeria should have investigated this statement and that such a high ranking Nigeria Police official should be disciplined for this statement and forced to relinquish his post and duties, and probed for previous such actions. We believe that since even the Attorney-General of Nigeria has not reacted to this matter, the Nigeria Bar Association ought to go on record to set things right.
The second event involves the same Delta State Commissioner of Police, and is contained in the same report. The Commissioner was parading a prisoner, one Igwe Clement of Akwuru quarters, Mc-Dermot Road, Warri, a member of MASSOB, who was arrested for possession of Biafra money, by the Commissioner’s own admission, in October (presumed October 2005), in Warri. From the Commissioner’s account, this prisoner was never charged to court, never convicted, but has remained a prisoner of the Nigeria Police since October, being dragged about and paraded before the public and before the Press by the police. There exists International law against such parading, humiliation and dehumanization of prisoners.
We believe that this is a gratuitous display and humiliation of a human being, by the same Delta State Commissioner of Police, and by itself, is a contravention of International laws. The fact that for at least several weeks, this prisoner of the police has not been charged to court is another contravention of even the laws of Nigeria. If the Attorney-General of Nigeria is not responding to these acts of the police which clearly are contrary to the law, it is the professional and moral duty of the Nigeria Bar Association, we believe, to take the Nigerian legal system to task and perhaps, dissociate itself from such practices. The Delta State Commissioner of Police should also be recommended to face trial at the International Court of Justice for this brazen and unlawful act.
The next several events are taken from the recent abduction and imprisonment of Ralph Uwazurike, the leader of MASSOB, and six other members of MASSOB, and their legal treatment while in the custody of the abductors, the Nigeria State Security Services (SSS). The facts are bulleted below:
Ralph Uwazurike was imprisoned for 13 days by the Nigerian SSS in the SSS’ cells before he was arraigned in court for charges. We do not know how long it was for the other six, but they were similarly imprisoned.
None of the seven were allowed to see their lawyer (nor a doctor, nor family members or friends for that matter) during that time
The seven were arraigned in a court of law without a defense counselor, because the SSS had specifically refused them even their own legal counsel provided by MASSOB.
The seven reported to the judge that they were “maltreated, detained underground and chained” in SSS cells, even though they are not known to be dangerous. Nothing was done by the judge about this.
Based on this inhumane treatment, the seven requested that the judge order— not their release, not bail, but—a transfer to prison cells; but the judge “ignored” their request.
It was the Attorney-General of Nigeria himself who personally formally entered the charges against these seven persons in that court, even with the full knowledge of the above facts regarding the treatment of the prisoners.
All this, in the face of an active injunction by an Owerri High Court against the arrest and harassment of the MASSOB leader and members of MASSOB.
We have given you the facts from the second event, facts which are easily corroborated by reports in local Nigerian Newspapers and we have enclosed electronic copies. We believe that the Attorney-General of Nigeria, who is first and foremost, a lawyer, and who is (we presume) a member of the Nigeria Bar Association, has not acted professionally by his willing and knowing participation in a process such as the above, a process that contravenes basic legal codes and jurisprudence. We believe that it is up to the Nigeria Bar Association to speak for legal justice in this event.
In just one week’s period, the Legal and Justice system in Nigeria has been laid wide open for the world to see. What we see is bad and ugly, a huge travesty. If no one else and no group else in Nigeria speaks up, at least, the Nigeria Bar Association should, because, ultimately, a collective blemish resulting from this will also tarnish the image of the Association. Yet, this is not the worst thing that could happen: a worse effect is the unnecessary and brazen victimization of human beings whose only offence now is to be found in Nigeria.
We strongly urge you to take a professional stand and action on this matter, for the sake of the victimized persons caught in the legal web, trap and nightmare that is the Nigerian Justice System.
Sincerely:
Oguchi Nkwocha, MD Moderator, Biafra Actualization Forum
Cc: Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF).
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
From what I have read about Oguchi Nkwocha, MD, he is seeking to eat his cake and have it too. Many people in this forum were expelled from the very mailing list from which MeBiafran got the appeal by Nkwocha. It seems to me that Nkwocha should content himself with appealing to the yes men that he has left in his mailing list.
From what I have been able to gather, the lawyers at BNW employ their own legal methodologies toward the actualization of Biafra. In most cases the two camps are completely at odds. Some time ago, Oguchi Nkwocha announced that he and his cohorts alone could provide for MASSOB, and that all other groups were unwelcome meddlers in the affairs of Biafra.
However, I am sure that the lawyers at BNW are already engaged on this issue, and they do not need this late appeal from Nkwocha. Certainly, it would be unprofessional for the lawyers at BNW to collaborate with Nkwocha considering his track record.
___________________ AJ Posts: 44 | Registered: May 2003
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Thanks for allowing me the benefit of a novice by sharing the history without making a villain out of me. Some folks would have turned this simple request upside down and inside out to make it look like I was wrong for sharing something that affects all of us. If Mazi Oguchi Nkwocha had done what he’s been accused of doing, you can bet your last dough that I did be number one person to tell him he’s wrong. It can’t be excused.
This is an aside issue for all, there's this thing that disturbs and annoys me at the same time, the concealment of the identity of a fourteen year-old boy who in some cases raped or murdered multiple persons. What is the rationale for this madness? This to me is sheer dumbness by the know-it-all U.S. government. A criminal is that; be he, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or 100. As I was watching the news late last night, the newscaster announced that the serial rapist who's has raped about eight women ranging from 16 to a 32 year old lady has been caught and the authorities are not releasing his name due to his age. That sent me through the ceiling, guys!! The MAN is 14, fourteen!! If these freaky American so called boys can impregnant a forty year-old woman as they usually do, they can be called men. Age does not determine manhood with me, sperm does!! Ah ah! Back home and growing up in Biafra/Igboland, it was a taboo for a kid to carelessly steal from his parents or the hawkers outside the school gates/fence. The punishment for such minor infringement is a well deserved public humiliation which does wonders to check the next guy that may want to commit the same offence. It worked there and should work here too, I can’t be left to remind them how too much of everything as the saying goes is not only bad but dangerous too. The U.S. authorities should watch this their yeye civilization because any boy or man that did such to a female relation of mine is as good as killed.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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