Jude Igbanoi and Kayode Ketefe
1 June 2009
(Page 3 of 3)
While the melodrama was going on, messages were said to have been sent to Professor Guobadia to intervene at some point to say some words to diffuse the situation. She was reported to have said and maintained the stance that Professor Nwabueze as a Nigerian, a distinguished academic and a senior citizen was entitled to his opinion.
It took the Attorney-General of the Federation's request to be allowed to respond to Nwabueze's remarks in the lecture to at least douse the visibly tense atmosphere. It was at that point clear that a whole lot of damage had been done to the highest institution of justice in the land.
The view of those close to both the Supreme Court and NIALS is that Nwabueze's remarks were bad and ill intentioned for two reasons. For one, Nwabueze was counsel to Buhari in the appeal he was criticising. A few were even of the opinion that Nwabueze's comments easily constituted contempt ex facie curae.
The brouhaha that resulted in the musical chairs at the 30 year old Institute has left in its wake some fundamental changes that will likely remain permanent.
The Man, AZINGE
The new man in the saddle, Azinge is a 51 year old Professor of law from Delta State. He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos and holds a Ph.D in Comparative Constitutional Law from the London School of Economics.
He lectured at the University of Benin for over ten years before moving to NIALS in 1992. Called to the Bar in 1980, he has been Research Professor and Director of Studies at the Institute.
He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2006.
Azinge who has over 30 publications in various areas of law to his credit is a Knight of St John (KSJ) and an avid golfer. He was appointed last year as the chair of NBA/SBL Committee of Sports.
He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Supreme Court Review.
What The Law Says
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES ACT
Section 8
(1) The Director General shall hold office for four years in the first instance, renewable for a period of four years at a time thereafter, on such terms as to the emoluments of his office, and otherwise as may be specified in his letter of appointment.
(2) The remuneration, tenure and conditions of service of other employees of the Institute, including the Director General shall be as those applicable to staff in Nigerian Universities or otherwise as may be determined from time to time by the Federal Government.
UNIVERSITIES (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2003
Section 3 ( c ) (8)
The Vice-Chancellor may be removed from office by the Visitor after due consultation with the Council and the Senate acting through the Minister of Education," with the following words-
The Vice-Chancellor may be removed from office by the Governing Council on grounds of gross misconduct or inability to discharge the functions of his office as a result of infirmity of the body or mind, at the initiative of the Council, Senate or the Congregation after due process.
Section 7
'For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of subsection (6) of this section shall -
(a) only be applicable to those appointed to the office of Vice-Chancellor after the commencement of this Act;
(b) Not confer on a person serving a first term of office as Vice-Chancellor before the commencement of this Act, any right to the renewal of the appointment for a further term of four years.
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This Aodonkaa or I dont care fellow is a disgrace to the legal profession. As the NBA said he has exhibited gross incompetence bothering on outright stupidity on several occasions. Every time there is a news item about him he never disappoints by saying or doing something extremely nauseting. God, where does Yaradua get this clowns from. Unfortunately, PDP (People's Destruction Party) is filled with clowns ala the Deputy Chairman that recently berated the US.