{"id":8302,"date":"2013-08-13T21:39:49","date_gmt":"2013-08-13T21:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/lagos-goes-to-supreme-court-over-al-mustapha-shofolahan\/"},"modified":"2013-08-13T21:39:49","modified_gmt":"2013-08-13T21:39:49","slug":"lagos-goes-to-supreme-court-over-al-mustapha-shofolahan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/lagos-goes-to-supreme-court-over-al-mustapha-shofolahan\/","title":{"rendered":"Lagos goes to Supreme Court over Al-Mustapha, Shofolahan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2022 Defends eviction of Badia residents<\/strong><\/p>\n

AFTER what it termed careful review of the decisions of the Court of Appeal which upturned the conviction and death sentence slammed on Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to late General Sani Abacha and Lateef Shofolahan by a Lagos High Court over the death of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, the Lagos State government has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

  The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ade Ipaye, told newsmen Tuesday during the monthly briefing at the state secretariat, Ikeja that the appeal filed on Monday was predicated on the state\u2019s view that there were strong bases of appeal which the apex court should have an opportunity to consider.<\/p>\n

  According to Ipaye, the action by the state, which prosecuted the matter, will ensure that all issues are fully articulated and that the victim\u2019s family, the defendants and the society are not deprived of the last window of opportunity provided by the constitution for the resolution of the case.<\/p>\n

  Reacting to insinuations that the prosecution botched the trial, Ipaye said the prosecution went about the case with the highest level of commitment and professionalism.<\/p>\n

  He, however, agreed that the defendants might have capitalised on the delay in the nation\u2019s justice delivery system to secure a favourable verdict from the appellate court.<\/p>\n

  On the Amnesty International Report on Badia East community released by the human rights group in Lagos on Monday, in which Lagos State was accused of rights abuse, the commissioner said despite contrary suggestions in the report, the state government is committed to the welfare of Badia residents and the protection of their rights.<\/p>\n

  Ipaye, however, expressed regret that large number of false claims and inflation of figures were hampering the process of assistance to the residents as the government is working hard to identify genuine claimants before compensations are effected.<\/p>\n

  He said: \u201cWhile we are in the process of organising assistance for affected persons, the rights come with responsibilities and it should not be assumed that anyone can set up residence anywhere without necessary approvals and compliances with planning and public health laws. <\/p>\n

   Badia, he said, is one of the nine identified slum areas earmarked for regeneration under the World Bank funded Lagos Metropolitans Developments and Governance Project  (LMDGOP) through which Lagos is exhibiting her commitment to the welfare of the residents.<\/p>\n

According to him, Lagos has the largest human rights protection programmes in Nigeria and is committed to maintaining their effectiveness.<\/p>\n

  Ipaye, who disputed claims that the residents were not consulted before embarking on the development of the area, said even Governor Babatunde Fashola on April 26, 2009 and October 2, 2012 personally led other senior state officials to visit the areas and discussed governments\u2019 plans with the occupiers, who were even there illegally.<\/p>\n

  These visits, he said, were followed by several other stakeholders meetings between the state government, traditional land owners and residents and representatives in the community concerning government\u2019s intention to regenerate the area and to curb the menace of insecurity and threats of terrorism emanating from there.<\/p>\n

  On the controversy surrounding the deportation of destitute from Lagos State to Anambra State, the commissioner said the exercise was not a punitive measure but a social support extended to people who actually had no support and relations but desired to re-unite with their families.<\/p>\n

   He called for constructive suggestions on how best to handle challenges of destitute in the future rather than over heating the polity.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: Guardian Newspaper<\/p>\n

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