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THAT SOLUDO’S LAW ON OKE-ITE
By Chijioke O P Emeka, SAN
The Anambra State Law clamping down on pretences of supposed ‘money ritual’, be it as oke-ite, ọgwụ-ego or aja-mmili by a dibịa, onye-oke-ọgwụ, eze-nwanyi, aka-na-asa-ụchụ, prophet etc, is in my respectful view constitutionally valid in the interest of public safety, public order, public morality and for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of Ndị Anambra under section 45 of the Nigerian Constitution. I will hold this view until there is a contrary decision of Court on that law.
The supposed ‘money ritual’ has never been part of the African Traditional Religion known to my part of Nigeria. It only existed in legends. There is no Chi in Igbo cosmology known to accept rituals and give money out of the blues. Omenani supports interventions by Chi in fruitful blessings through aka-ọlụ, ịgba-mbọ, ichu-uchu and ike-ọlụ (the virtues of handwork, enterprise, adept skills and hard-work). It was never by money-churning ritual or magic.
It is the same as in the Christian theology where God is presented as having the ability to give one the power to make wealth but never through any magical prayers, rituals or mediums. God is believed to bless the work of one’s hand even as the person is encouraged to give and receive. Neither the ATR nor Christianity properly-so-called teaches that massive wealth can come by performance of rituals. My generation was scammed.
The quest for ego-mbute, ego-nghani-enu and ibute-ike (a.k.a. money na water) has taken murderous dimensions and turned our cities and villages to desolate lands. As Agụnaechemba and its security forces collaborators dig in harder, the bushes are giving up their skeletal cadavers and the toll on human life is high, gory and blood-curdling. The envied State has become the laughing stock of the world. Tụfịakwa! Ndị Anambra sị kwọnụ ọbụlụ ọgwụ olee!
Soludo’s government is on the right track. The enforcement should be thorough, firm, and fair in terms of investigations, arrests and prosecutions of suspects irrespective of the religion they purport to manifest under section 38 of the Constitution (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion). It is not an absolute right.
No religion should be allowed to support, promote or encourage the scourge of insecurity ravaging our society today under any guise. No responsible government should detract from combating evil, promoting public order, public safety and public morality by succumbing to the supposed need to respect religious practices that have shown to promote insecurity, and in my opinion even a scam.
Chijioke O. P. Emeka, SAN
Vincent II Law Place
Lekki Scheme 1, Lekki
9th February, 2025
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Breaking: Court of Appeal rules in favour of Turaki -led PDP candidate for Osun governorship election
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in Osun State was validly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.
The court also ordered INEC to list the PDP logo on the ballot ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
The Court held that access code is neither a creation of the Constitution nor the Electoral Act; rather, a creation of INEC’s guidelines and cannot, in any way, override the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 288 of the Constitution does not specify the method for nominating candidates; it only states that the names of candidates should be forwarded to the Commission.
The court further held that the defendant (INEC) should take steps to include the name of the appellant on the ballot paper.
Additionally, the court ruled that the primary election conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was a valid primary election in law.
The three-man panel of justices—Justice Mahmud, Justice Jaro, and Justice Ankawere, was unanimous in its judgment.
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Breaking: NHRC sets up situation room to monitor and document hate speech, intimidation, threat to life ahead 2027
The national Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has set up a situation room to monitor and document all incidences of hate speech, intimidation and threat to life by politicians and other actors ahead of the 2027 general election.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.
He said the situation room would enable the Commission harvest data, analysis and document persons, agencies and others involved in the negative statements in order to ensure they are properly tracked and brought to book by relevant agencies.
Ojukwu also took journalists on a tour of the newly set up situation room.
Details later…..
News
Breaking: NHRC expresses concern over rising incidences of hate speech, threat to life ahead 2027 elections
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
At a press conference in Abuja Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, recalled statements credited to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Sheikh Yahya Jingir and described the das dangerous with capacity to set the nation ablaze.
He called on politicians, religious and traditional rulers, among other stakeholders to call their supporters and faithful to orders.
He urged government to act before rhetorics turn to violence, saying the forthcoming election in Osun State should serve as example of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct political contest in compliance with international best practices.
Details later…..
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