Nigerian Bar Association Archives

Ahead of Valentine’s Day celebration, a former publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Douglas Ogbankwa, has warned that ladies who extort men risked 20 years’ imprisonment.

Ogbankwa in an interview warned women against false representation aimed at extorting men during the celebration.

He noted that “experiences by some male folks over the years, have shown that some ladies are deliberately poised for extortion during the Valentine season, all in the name of love.”

According to him, ladies, who ignorantly carry out acts of deceit, broken promises or extortion may be held liable under the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act (419).

Ogbankwa stressed that girls, who were in the habit of collecting money in advance in the guise of transport fare to visit men on such occasions, but deliberately failed to do so, could be charged with fraud and prosecuted under the Act.

He said: “It is important to note that many Nigerians are ignorant of this; for instance, a woman who collects money from a man as transportation fare to visit him, and then fails to show up can be charged with obtaining money by false pretence.

“Such persons could be prosecuted under Section 419 of the Criminal Code of Nigeria.

“Again, where a person obtains such money intending to collect more when she arrives, such crime has now transcended to Advance Fee Fraud and liable for prosecution under the Advance Fee Fraud (Prohibition) Act.”

Ogbankwa noted that suspects could consequently be charged to court and prosecuted by either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Ogbankwa, therefore, noted that while the celebration of Valentine’s Day remained historic for certain cultures and people, its purpose should not be abused.

Accordingly, he urged all to be guided since ignorance of the law was never an excuse.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has been lampooned by the Nigerian Bar Association, Edo State Chapter over his refusal to grant unvaccinated citizens access to public facilities in the state.

Pius Oiwoh in a statement expressed with grave concern the enforcement of the directive by the governor on the restriction of access to public facilities to persons who have not been vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Oiwoh, it is not in doubt that there is need to take the vaccine to protect members of the public from the effects of the pandemic and build herd immunity,
the government must be and indeed is duty-bound to also respect constituted authority.

He further explained that as officers in the temple of justice, they do not intend to delve into the substantive suit bothering on the legality or otherwise of the action of Government as same is sub judice.

“We shall however state that as a noble Profession under an umbrella body whose motto is ‘Promoting the Rule of Law’ and as the Peoples’ vanguard, the sanctity and integrity of the Judicial arm of Government must be respected. Accordingly, we release this statement for the following reasons which are of concern to the Bar”.

Corroborating, Oiwoh stated that Edo state is said to have a population of over 3 million people, the vaccines which have been sent to Edo state from publicly available information is at most 600,000 doses (this is a generous estimate). which most of these vaccines are double dose vaccines, which means that Edo State currently can vaccinate 300,000 persons assuming they take both doses.

“This, therefore, means that 2,700,000 persons will automatically be left behind even if they were all willing to take the vaccine.

“This represents more than 70 per cent of the Edo people. The mandate by the Edo State Government though “nobly-intended” is very premature for the simple reason that the vaccines are insufficient to go around. If and when the vaccines are abundant and available to go round, the vaccine mandates may therefore become logical”.

He however opined that the vaccine mandate be reconsidered for the above reasons. As a famous saying goes “a good intention is meaningless unless it is followed by a good action.”

Also, the decision not to obey the said court order will be tantamount to flagrant disregard of the rule of law and the Constitution which the Government operates.

“We further submit that Public health and safety cannot overide the fundamental rights of citizens especially when it tends to alienate and subjugate a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether rightly or wrongly given which enforces such right.

“The present action of Government will no doubt affect, limit and restrict members and citizens access to justice in the circumstances”. He added.

Nigerian Bar Association

Valentine’s Day: 20 Years Imprisonment Awaits Ladies who Extort Men, Lawyer Warns

Misplaced Priority: Obaseki denies Unvaccinated Citizens Access to public facilities inspite Vaccine Shortage