who killed Major Nzeogwu?

WHO Killed Major Nzeogwu? MAX SIOLLUN maxsiollun@yahoo.com Tuesday, August 4, 200 A GRIM ANNIVERSARY Last week marked the 42nd anniversary of the death of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. Nzeogwu died in the final week of July 1967. While there is consensus that he died, exactly how he died and at the hands of whom has remained in dispute. In conspiracy rife Nigeria, all manner of rumours and apocryphal stories have alleged that Nzeogwu was murdered in a Machiavellian plot engineered by Ojukwu to eliminate him or perhaps that he was killed while trying to defect to join the federal army. As always, the truth is much more mundane. NZEOGWU IN PRISON For his role in Nigeria's first military coup, Nzeogwu was imprisoned by the military regime of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi at the notorious Kiri-Kiri maximum security prison in Lagos.  His co-conspirators were also initially detained there but many of them were later moved to prisons in the Eastern Region: including Majors Ifeajuna (Uyo prison), Ademoyega, Onwuatuegwu (Enugu prison), Captain Gbulie (Abakaliki prison), Major Chukwuka, Captain Nwobosi (both Owerri prison).  Nzeogwu was the only officer among the plotters that was moved to Aba prison.  After Ironsi was overthrown in July 1966, Nzeogwu remained in prison until he was released in March 1967 by the Eastern Region's Military Governor Lt-Colonel Ojukwu.  NZEOGWU’S RIFT WITH OJUKWU However after his release his activities were curtailed.  He and Ojukwu did not see eye to eye. Nzeogwu was never enthusiastic about secession. As late as 1967 he articulated in an interview with Dennis Ejindu his view that: “secession will be ill-advised, indeed impossible. Even if the East fights a war of secession and wins, it still cannot secede. Personally, I don’t like secession and if this country disintegrates, I shall pack up my things and go. In the present circumstances, confederation is the best answer as a temporary measure. In time, we shall have complete unity." The interview did not go down well with Ojukwu and Nzeogwu’s words to Ejindu were the last official statements attributed to him before his death.  Relations between Ojukwu and Nzeogwu deteriorated further as Nzeogwu made no secret of his desire for a united Nigeria.  Even though war between Nigeria and Biafra was imminent, in April 1967 Nzeogwu was suspended from all military activities by Ojukwu.  The immediate pretext was Nzeogwu’s involvement in a battle simulation military training exercise in Abakaliki and other towns in the Eastern Region.  Recalling that Nzeogwu had turned the night time training “Exercise Damissa” into a full blown coup the previous year, Ojukwu banned all such further exercises. Relations between Ojukwu and Nzeogwu got bad enough for Ojukwu to consider putting Nzeogwu back in prison. In a June 17, 1967 letter to his friend Olusegun Obasanjo, Nzeogwu confessed: “You have no doubt heard a lot of rumours about my relations with Ojukwu. We obviously see things quite differently after what he did to my supporters in January 1966. He is also worried about my popularity among his own people. I was to be put back in prison, but he was afraid of repercussions. Right now I am not allowed contact with troops nor am I permitted to operate on the staff. One gentleman’s agreement we have is that I can carry on with what ever pleases me.” Amazingly even at this late stage, Nzeogwu was still entertaining fantasies of Nigerian unity and reintegrating the Nigerian army: “I will create a new Nigerian army inside Biafra!! With Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and all other ethnic groups.” Nzeogwu inspired and frightened with equal measure. A personality cult bordering on hero worship grew up around him in the Eastern Region and he was being feted as an immortal indestructible warrior. Although Ojukwu gave Nzeogwu the Biafran rank of Brigadier, he was not given any formal command in the Biafran army. Despite not officially being part of the Biafran army command, Nzeogwu was not the type of character that could remain idle.  His impulsive nature and rebelliousness towards superior officers has been documented.  Lt-Col Patrick Anwunah went so far as to describe Nzeogwu as: “a radical and an inwardly insubordinate young officer…..(who was) full of his own ideas and probably thought he had the answers to all problems. His statements and comments at that time gave me the impression that he could become insubordinate as he had no regard for senior officers.” Frustrated at his exclusion from military duties, Nzeogwu took to informal ad hoc guerilla raids against the federal army. He would impulsively conscript other soldiers to join him during these raids.  It is not certain that these raids and conscriptions were authorised by Ojukwu. Nzeogwu was admired and feared in equal measure. He was admired for his intelligence, warmth and charm. He was feared because of his suicidal courage.  Junior Biafran foot soldiers were reluctant to be conscripted by Nzeogwu. Conscription by Nzeogwu meant being taken to the front line and faced with grave danger.  Nzeogwu was brave enough to cross behind enemy lines, carry out reconnaissance and engage the federal army in close quarter combat. In late July 1967, his courage took him a step too far. THE DEATH OF NZEOGWU Nzeogwu had gone out on a reconnaissance mission in the Nsukka sector. He was travelling in an improvised armoured vehicle (known as a "Biafran Red Devil") that had been converted by the ingenious Biafran engineers from a Bedford truck. The vehicle was cumbersome despite its impressive ingenuity. The vehicle became immobilised and was surrounded by federal troops of the 21st battalion at a roadblock near the University of Nigeria Nsukka campus.  The troops were led by Captain Abubakar Gora, and they opened fired on it. The vehicle's improvised armour withstood their bullets until it was attacked with the fearsome 106mm recoilless rifle which pierced its body.  Ironically, the 106mm recoilless rifle was the same anti-tank weapon that Nzeogwu and other soldiers used in January 1966 to attack and destroy the official lodge of the Sardauna of Sokoto. At this point, the accounts diverge. Olu Mamdap (former military driver to General Domkat Bali) witnessed the incident and claims that Nzeogwu and the other “two or three” occupants in the vehicle were killed while still inside the vehicle.  Mamdap claims that it was not known that Nzeogwu was inside until the corpses were dragged out.  However Major-Generals Mohammed Shuwa and Abdullahi Shelleng (who were not present when Nzeogwu was killed but saw his corpse) claimed that while being fired on, Nzeogwu jumped out from the vehicle, shouted in Hausa and identified himself as Major Nzeogwu but was shot dead anyway. Ojukwu's mixed race half brother Tom Biggar was also killed along with Nzeogwu.  Biggar was the child of Ojukwu’s mother with a European named Biggar. Nzeogwu's corpse was identified by Lieutenant Abdullahi Shelleng who ordered that it should be stored firstly in the University of Nigeria campus at Nsukka. However, by the time Shelleng arrived, Nzeogwu's eyes had been plucked out in what appears to have been a ritual mutilation. According to Shelleng the soldier who shot Nzeogwu was ironically Nzeogwu's former batman. The corpse was later sent to 1 division headquarters in Makurdi where the 1 division commander Colonel Mohammed Shuwa informed the head of state Major-General Gowon. Despite the fact that Nzeogwu was now technically an enemy soldier killed in combat against the Nigerian army, Gowon ordered that Nzeogwu's body should be flown to Kaduna and buried with full military honours – even as the war raged on in the Eastern Region. Even in death, Nzeogwu was still respected by federal and northern troops.  Domkat Bali referred to him as: “a nice, charismatic and disciplined officer, highly admired and respected by his colleagues. At least he was not in the habit of being found in the company of women all the time messing about with them in the officers mess, a pastime of many young officers then….we believed that he was a genuinely patriotic officer who organised the 1966 coup with the best of intentions who was let down by his collaborators….If we had captured him alive, he would not have been killed. I believe he probably would have been tried for his role in the January 15 coup, jailed and probably freed after some time. His death was regrettable.” http://maxsiollun.wordpress.com/my-book/

Simply surprise yourself yonder

hi,

its been long since i posted on this page. i am so sorry for my inconsistency, i initially had issues accessing my account, but that has been soughted  out. i am so inconsistent very bad. i think i should add 'consistency '  to my new year resolution for 2012.

Schooling in Nigeria!

I really cant remember when i started my LLM Programme, at the Lagos State University( LASU), neither do i know when i will finish this programme. Today the Marine Insurance Class was a joint class, a combination of LLM 1(First yr) Maritime Law students and LLM2(Second yr) General law/corporate law( my own class). After lectures , a student in LLM 1  Maritime turns around to face me and he asked me these questions:

‘ please when did you start this programme’

 ‘ honestly i cant remember’

I had to think twice, do some calculations, some arithmetic before giving an answer.

‘ ok i think i enrolled for this course  late 2009 , just when we were about to start classes ASUU ( Academic Staff of Universities Union) went on strike, so we resumed in 2010, and just when we were about to start our 1^st semester examination around October, ASSU went on strike again, the school was shut down, we resumed in 2011. Immediately we resumed we wrote our exams and thereafter resumed 2^nd semester, luckily no strike since then. This is the beginning of 1^st semester for the 2^nd and last session’

‘Waoh! So when will this session end’

‘ honestly i don’t know, i cant guess, i cant tell’

This  what schooling in Nigeria is like, no certainty, strike upon strike, no stable programme for the session, its any how, any way you see it, you take it’  

Now back to the class, the next lecture for my own class is LANDLORD AND TENANT. The lecturer comes in and demands for our seminar papers. Apparently i am the only student who has a seminar paper ready to deliver. My class mates begin to complain that it is suppose to be a group work. I did not know that, i thought everyone in my group was suppose to prepare his or her own  work. Anyway at the end of the day, i am allowed to deliver my paper titled MESNE PROFITS, COMPENSATION AND OCCUPATION A MYTH OR A REALITY, my classmates criticized some of the issues i had raised. At the end of the day it was an interesting and interactive class. Most of all i am happy that i have cleared one seminar paper for the semester.

As the lecturer leaves the class, another lecturer walks in to teach the same course. What! This lecturer is actually the main lecturer, the ‘authority’ (very conversant in an area of law)in landlord and tenant, but refused to take the course, claiming that he was cheated in the last promotion exercise. According to him, he ought to have gotten a promotion. His approach to his classes is cool: we are going to study and review the new law on tenancy, LAGOS STATE TENANCY LAW 2011. 

 ‘ok i don’t get it!  Why did he put us through all this stress, OMG!, It took me like four days to put my seminar paper together, now i have to write another one for him OMG! This school sulks! My only consolation is this ; now i have to be honest here, the lecturer is really an ‘authourity’ (very conversant in an area of law) in Land lord and tenant . His lectures very cool! As for my last seminar paper, i have no regrets!

My dear readers this is what it takes to study in a Nigerian University. No consistency! For those who have the time and money its better to school abroad, or attend a private university here in Nigeria. But one thing i like about schooling here is that references are made to Nigerian laws and as post graduate students we are expected to proffer solutions to  several issues  in Nigeria.  

REFLECTING ON LIFE AND........

REFLECTING ON LIFE!

Yesterday i had my high points and low points. I woke up just feeling happy and grateful to God, bounced into my office with a camera on one hand, i needed to take some pictures. My staff had a good time laughing, i allowed them to laugh their heads out, as i took different pose. I could be the strict boss but today, i just played things down a little. After much laughter we got down to business and thereafter had lunch together. I insisted we ate together, for me i don’t see anything about this life, whether you are rich or poor, big or small we are  all equal in the eyes of God.

Patience is a peculiar staff, the first time we had lunch together she was just 3 days old in my firm, we both ordered for our separate meals, when it was served, she lamented about the quantity, and asked if mine was ok, for me, i replied that it was ok for me. Patience just nodded her head and said ‘ Barrister please don’t be offended, this food is just too small for me, i need more’ No problem, you can ask for more. She did ask for more, and as she ate, she just kept talking about her huge appetite for food. I like people like her who are honest, down to earth and open. I am happy that i have her working for me.

Now back to yesterdays’ activities, my low point began when i received a call reminding me of Engr Nwankwo’s service of songs taking place in the club house. Engineer Nwankwo died two weeks ago, his death was a shock. This man had attended the estate monthly meeting, which takes place every last Saturday of every month at the club house. Our last meeting was on the 30^th Sept 2011, he died two weeks  after that meeting in a motor accident on his way to Abuja, leaving behind a wife, children, mother and siblings. At that meeting his voice was heard, his contributions considered and implemented. If anyone had told us that,  this would be the last time he would be having a meeting with us, none of us would have believed.

The invitation to attend the service of songs just brought back memories of my deceased loved ones, very recently was Mr Darlington, my Aunt, my grandfather. I decided to play some lawn tennis before attending the service of songs. While playing lawn tennis, that’s when i began to really reflect on life. What’s the hustle and struggle for? Why do we hate one another? Why do we keep malice? Why are we jealous of one another? When at the end of the day we cant live forever on earth. Why do we find it difficult to give and forgive? Why do we accumulate so much wealth on earth, when one day you die and leave everything behind? Why are women crazy about gold? Why are we crazy about cars, a big house, expensive cloths? Why? To me there is nothing in this life. The whole thought going through my head began to really affect my game, then when i heard the Christian mourning songs flowing from the club house into the lawn tennis court, I almost broke down in tears.

I asked myself a sincere question can i really attend this service of songs. If i get there i am very sure that i would cry more than the bereaved. My tears may not be just for late Engr Nwankwo, it will also be for my dear friend, my aunt and my grandfather. Sometimes i wonder, do people really see life the way i see it. Life is easy, if we take things easy. Life could be fun,  if we learn to relax our mind and body and let God take control, life could be filled with challenges but with patience, your challenges become history. Life is a gift, a blessing an opportunity to reach out to people.

Unfortunately i was not tough enough to attend the Service of songs my hubby did, but when i got home, i had my bath, prayed, and listened to verses from the Quran. I love meditating, this was the time to do so. I prayed for everyone, my family and my loved ones (deceased), especially Engr Nwankwo and his family.

I sincerely believe that to please God, all you need to do is to help others and love your neighbours as yourself. Giving water to people attracts huge blessing from God, giving shoes, cloths and food to those who need it is awesome. Remember that as you count your designer shoes, some don’t even have slippers to wear, as you lament about your poor wardrobe, some don’t have cloths to keep warm. Lets learn to love one another, and ask for forgiveness from God, because no one is perfect, no matter how hard you try, you cant be 100% correct with God. This is my view on life, i keep reflecting, praying, meditating ................. God please direct us, forgive us, bless us, grant us long life on earth, and open the doors of paradise for us after our time on earth is over. Ameen!

STAY BLESSED

  

PICTURES TAKEN TODAY: Freestyle!

THE ENTREPRENEUR (DARA'S EFFECT LTD)

THE ENTREPRENEUR (DARA’S EFFECT LTD)

Today i am meeting with one of my youngest client, Dara. I am actually registering a company for her: Dara’s effect ltd. I am so impressed with this young entrepreneur. Dara is a make up artist, one of those few Nigerians who have decided to take the bull by the horn, by creating a job for herself. I dedicate this write up to her and others like her. She does make up for some of the big time movie stars, currently she is one of the makeup artist for MTN. Her story is inspirational. Aside our business talk, Dara would be teaching my cousin the make up artistry, all negotiations have been concluded and she starts classes today.

I also want to commend my Aunt who listened to me and agreed to have her daughter learn this art. Almat her daughter loves to draw and her mum is a bit worried  about her gift. Every parent wants his/her child to work in a bank or a big company, her fears are that with her passion for art, no industry may require her services. i asked if Almat must work for someone. She has to learn now, how to become an entrepreneur, learning the  Artistry of makeup is a good start. 

Tara one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artist is a lawyer. Sleek another make up /beauty product company, is owned by two sisters, one is a lawyer and the other a medical doctor.  Both have practised extensively in their various fields before going into the beauty industry. TY Bello a graduate from UNILAG, is also one of Nigeria's best female photographer .

Every year, our Nigeria universities produce lots of graduates. With no jobs, most are frustrated. There are some who have been home for years waiting for that dream job, that seems to be so far from their reach. There  appears to be no end to hardship. No jobs and no source of funds to start their own business.

Its based on this that i advice graduates seeking for employment to get started , learn a skill and be like Dara. Start a consulting firm, sales representatives, property agents ,photography, modelling agency, catering(baking), event management, cleaning outfit, day care centre, outdoor bar  etc these are some of the different kinds of businesses  that one can start without huge capital.

The unemployment situation in Nigeria is so sad, but the only way out is for us to help ourselves .

This piece is for all the entrepreneurs whether big or small. Lets keep pushing!

BUYING LAW BOOKS

I have always wanted to have my family members watch me do my thing in the court room, unfortunately that has never happened, today i felt i was close to having that family attention in the court, when my hubby agreed to take me to the Ikeja High court, the only difference was that i wasn’t in court, dressed in black, i just needed to buy some law books. It was fun having him around, showing him the courtroom where Rev king was tried, the pastor who constantly molested his female members, his last crime was when set them ablaze. It was for his last issue that he was charged to court. The man had so much force around his members. Also showed him some of the court rooms that i had appeared in.

At the back of high court is the location where law books are sold, i needed to get the new Lagos state Tenancy Law and other books to enable me prepare my seminar paper. I picked the first book, valued at twenty Thousand Naira, my hubby shouted 20k! Yes oh! I replied, then as i asked the book seller for the price of another book, my hubby replies if this one is Twenty Thousand Naira, then this one should be forty Thousand Naira, the book seller started laughing, the price was actually close to it. for each area of law needed, the book seller was fast to give me references, she could pass for a lawyer herself. My hubby made jokes out of the whole thing, ‘madam u ought to be a lawyer oh, you are so good, you know all the books ’ ‘ its too late, honestly if i had known i would have read law, but now i leave it for my kids’ she replied.

I bargained, bargained, bargained, sampled prices and at the end of the day paid for some good books.

Law books are quite expensive, but ‘wetin person go do’ if you don’t buy them how will you know the position of the law on different issues. Books are every lawyers greatest assets. We cant help but buy them. I enjoyed this outing with my hubby he made the whole buying and bargaining fun.

THE ORIGINAL MAD LAWYER on the streets of Lagos!

THE ORIGINAL MAD LAWYER on the streets of Lagos!

Today i snapped

This wasn’t suppose to happen

Some clients just push that button

They drives you crazy, like so crazy

This one: he made me mad

Every single advice have given

None was implemented,

None even considered,

Now the chips are down

I the adviser whose advise was never adhered to,

Receives the whole blame.

In just one minute i snapped.

Its your fault i roared out at him

You would not listen to me

You always want things done your way

When things get bad,

You say i cant handle the situation,

Me Halima Musa-Bakwunye

Daughter of Col. B. O Musa

The woman that fears nobody

The child of ibienafe,

Wife of Peter C. Bakwunye

I am  the unshakeable lawyer

The original mad lawyer on the streets of Lagos

I am the no nonsense lawyer.

Anger flowing through my veins

I simply cut the line!

Today started good and well for me

After my  game of lawn tennis

I feel super, ready to go,

Then client spoils it for me

Today is TGIF

Today is happy day

Not sad day

Not easy dealing with people

Not easy at all!

I drive out to place some newspaper advert

Halima cool down , Halima Cool down

Ok i cool down, but my head is still spinning,

Take panadol, but i have no panadol

Ok listen to music

But the sound is making my head go bam! bam!

Ok rest your head

I rest my head before my staff returns

Without the parcel from the courier/Chisco

What! i snap again!

God please help your child

This roll over anger is becoming crazy!

My lap top just fell off!

 I send her off again.

I am a gentle soul

But once i am angry its sickening

I become a mad woman,

Am cooling off

I have just drafted one agreement

Written two letters

Also writing this note

Writing helps me to heal

I pray not to repeat this again!

I pray, i pray, i pray.

LAGOS STATE TENANCY LAW 2011( MY VIEW)

LAGOS STATE TENANCY LAW 2011.

I have been receiving calls from my clients asking one or two questions on the new Tenancy Law of Lagos State. Unfortunately i have not been able to give a definite answer as i had not yet gotten a copy of the law. Though the bill was passed into law in August 2011, it took some time to get it into publication and thereafter circulation. Luckily for me i was able to get a copy today. As a practising lawyer  there is no end to reading and  research. I have taken i quick glance at the law, and i noticed the following, that the law does not apply to the following areas:

1.  Apapa

2.  Ikeja GRA

3.  ikoyi

4.  Victoria Island.

Now i am wondering, if this new law repeals the rent Tribunal Law of 2007,  and at the same time  excludes its application in Apapa, Ikeja, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, then which law would be applicable in those areas?

Also what’s the rationale behind excluding the four areas mentioned above?

The law recognises mediation as a means of settlement see section 32 TL 2011, but does not provide a solid frame work for enforceability of  a mediation award. How practicable is this?

ADVANCE RENT!

Section 4 provides as follows:

1.  It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from a sitting tenant rent in excess of 6 months from a monthly tenant and 1 year from a yearly tenant in respect of any premises without prejudice to the nature of tenancy held at the commencement of the tenancy

2.  It shall be unlawful for a sitting tenant to offer or pay rent in excess of 1 year for a yearly tenant and 6 months for a monthly tenant......

3.  It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from new or would be tenant rent in excess of 1 year in respect of any premises.

4.  It shall be unlawful for a new or would be tenant to offer or pay rent in excess of 1 yr in respect of any premises.

5.  Any person who receives or pays rent in excess of what is prescribed in this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000.00k) or to 3 months imprisonment.

one aspect i feel, the law failed to cover, is the issue of placing rental value on houses in various area, without this, the landlord is free to charge whatever he likes as rent for his house, thus at the end of the day, one wonders the positive effect of the one year rent.

what do i expect from Government! aside making all these laws? i expect that Government tackles the issue of housing for its citizens more effectively. we should have housing schemes spread around so that most people can have access to houses. i commend  Jakande one of the ex governors of Lagos State, the man had foresight, his legacy with regards providing housing schemes remains unbeatable.

 Housing for all is possible and it can be done. in the past so much funds was directed towards the stock market, when it crashed, we lost billions. those  in the Oil and gas  industry also enjoyed and still enjoy lots of loans, though most of them also crashed. the banks give loans only to industries that bring in fast money without considering their shortcomings. Housing is good investment, its hard to loose your investment in mortgage, only thing is that the loan is spread, to be paid in years. its that patience our banks and Government don't have. ours is a cash and carry kind of economy. 

This is just a peep into the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, i shall however continue with my analysis in my subsequent write up on this subject matter.

For practicing lawyers there is a new EVIDENCE ACT 2011 and  freedom of information Act 2011.

 i would appreciate your views on this subject matter. cheers!

THE END OF A TYRANT! Beginning of a new LIBYA

THE END OF A TYRANT! Beginning of a new LIBYA!

Today marked the end of the world’s one number tyrant. Moamar Ghadafi of libya and his son finally said good bye to the world, in the most horrific and shameful way. He was dragged on the floor, brutally beaten, as he begged for mercy before he was finally shot. Imagine a man who killed many without mercy begging for mercy. Unfortunately no one lives twice, it would have been good to wake him up to face a trial, and finally get punished. Whichever way  today marks the beginning of a new  a Libya.

First it was   Ben Ali of Tunisia, then Hosni Mubarak of Eygpt, and now  Moamar Ghadafi of Libya. The people in these three countries started a revolution against their tyrant leaders. Tunisians chased their president out of the country, followed by the Eygptians who insisted that Mubarak stepped down, initially Mubarak tried to resist the people, by organizing pro Mubarak fighters to fight the people, but this did not in any way discourage the people, after one month Mubarak stepped down. Tunisia and Egypt taught the world that a dictator could be made to step down in the most peaceful demonstration ever to be witnessed in the world.

The people of Libya, started a peaceful protest Eight months ago, initially they intended to make it a peaceful protest just like the Egyptians, but Moammor Ghadafi assured his people, that he was going to fight till his last breath. He promised that he was ready to die in Libya  for what he believed in. Ghadafi was a tyrant, a dictator, who had held his people hostage for four decades. he came into power at the age of 27 years.

It is a shame, for the Ghadafi and his family. This serves as a lesson to other African leaders who see their political positions as their birth right. I commend all the brave men who fought during the revolution, my heart also goes out to the families who lost, their loved ones during the revolution. They made a huge sacrifice for the victory that we are all celebrating today.   

I pray that Libya and Africa would never experience this kind of leadership, i pray that this marks the beginning of change for the Libyans. I pray that this revolution serves as a lesson to others. I pray that Almighty God heals the heart of families that lost loved ones before and during the fight. I pray that God answers all our prayers for this people. Ameen!

I FEEL LIKE KIM KARDASHIAN!

I have always liked exercise, whether i am loosing that weight or not, i love to work out. yesterday morning, my lawn tennis trainer called me to find out if i would be interested in a game of lawn tennis. i wondered whether that was a question or just a comment. off course i want to play Lawn Tennis. Lawn Tennis is good sport, requires a lot of stamina, swift movement, its not an easy game, it took me approximately 3 months to learn even though i have been playing for about 10 months now, i feel that there is still room for improvement. if i am not physically playing lawn tennis on a  lawn tennis court, then i am playing it in my mind.

This morning as i prepared for my aerobic class, i took a look at my self in the mirror, wearing a red shirt, with  a  black stripe on the waist line, with black joggers, i said to myself aloud ' I LOOK LIKE KIM KARDASHIAN' Lol!. well i may not look exactly like Kim, but i felt good about myself. i feel strong, healthy, happy, confident, proud of who i am, how i look, big, bold and beautiful typical Nigerian woman!

Exercise just brings out the best in you. it makes you feel refreshed and happy. I believe every woman should work out, no matter how busy you are with work and family, try to make out time for just you, pamper yourself a little bit. thirty minutes a day is not bad. also working out at least three times a week is good too!

i strongly believe that everywoman must look good all the time, make your hair, do your nails, make up, dress well, eat healthy, lots of fruits, and drink lots of water. no matter what you are going through push issues aside and just care for yourself.

Beauty lies inside of you. your health depends on how you care for yourself. Exercise is healing and medicinal for the body and the soul. meditaion relaxes the mind.

the best way to show love to others  is by learning to love and appreciate yourself and who you are

i love u all

ORIGIN OF CORRUPTION IN AFRICA!

CORRUPTION is an issue , a problem and a disease that has eaten deep into the skin of  our elected leaders. We celebrate these people whom i like to call thieves. How else would one describe a situation where a thief who was sentenced to 2years in imprisonment for stealing our money, is celebrated with a huge party' RELEASE PARTY' followed by 'Thanks giving' in A CHURCH. Ours is a sick society. Sometimes i ponder, how did things get this bad, how did things get this bad. i have my theory, it may not be acceptable by all, but i believe that corruption was gradually introduced into Africa during the Slave trade.


This is how i believe it started, the whites used our village heads to capture slaves, in exchange for the slaves, they were given, guns, cloths, mirror, plates, and some junk food. nothing precious was ever given in exchange of human lifes. that is why today our leaders take so much from us and give us very little in return.

Now after the abolition of slave trade, the whites gathered again and said what do we do now, these people have gotten smart enough to know that slave trade is bad, but we cant leave them just like that. there were arguements back and forth. Africans have gold, oil, gas, diamond, cocoa, rubber, oil, solid mineral, we have nothing, we need these people'Africans'. there has to be a way. then they came up with Colonial rule, a perfect way to exploit us, and to protect themselves they had to build  solid structures on ground, army, police, prison  and basicly be in charge of everything.

The colonial rule is the begining of the 2nd stage and highest level of corruption, and introduction of corruption into our land they stole our resources and in return, resold our processed raw materials back to us  THEY USED OUR RESOURCES TO DEVELOP THEIR WORLD that is corruption. EUROPE UNDERDEVELPOED AFRICA! EUROPE TAUGHT AFRICANS THE CORRUPTION OUR LEADERS PRACTICE TODAY! EUROPE KILLED AFRICA. Now they mock us more because we fell for their scam! By taking so much from us and giving us so little, they taught us that some people could be superior to others once in position and that the superior group could take advantage of the inferrior group. Africa was a practicing ground for them and they succeeded in it. whereas it was so easy for them to enter Africa and steal from us, its difficult for us to do same.  EUROPE OWES US AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THEY CAUSED.!
 Africa my Africa 
pure, clean, Africa
developing at its own pace
then came the inflow of filt and wickedness
destroying the purity of  our mother land
Europe murdered Africa
Now my Africa is crying
Africa is bleeding 
trying to pick up the broken pieces.


This is straight from my heart, a theory i created and believe in so strongly. i welcome crticism!

TODAY AT THE POLICE STATION

Have you ever visited a Nigerian Prison? hmm! if you haven't i can assure you that its a horrible place and worse place to ever find yourself in. i always tell people if you intend to get into any form of fight or trouble with anyone, try to visit one of our prisons or police station and then you may just be thinking twice. the prisons are a reminder of our colonial past no form of improvement has been made on the structures after what our colonial masters did. The buildings are completely worn out, the state of living of the inmates is appalling. if you are awaiting trial, you are put in a cell with about twenty people, you may not have your bath in months, that's why most times when prisoners are brought to court, the court room begins to smell within few minutes of their arrival.

This morning i got a call from a client who was arrested and detained in the police station. i quickly get dressed and drove to the police station. I  was able to get to the station in good time, but we all had to wait for the complainant. While waiting i start to talk with the DPO. The complainant comes in later with his brother, and they begin to narrate their ordeal. in fact after narrating their story, and listening to my client's side of the story, my lips  just drop open, its like the ground should open for me to bury my head. how on earth would my client have done such a thing, i know this guy well , quest for money can make some men go an extra mile, but to be honest its not worth it. how would he have collected rent from the complainant for property that was not under his care. the former tenant told him he was relocating to a better apartment, and that he had unexpired rent. He fell for the trap by agreeing to let out the place on his behalf without consulting with the landlord or his agent, now after collecting the money from the complainant, the first tenant is no where to be found. And  to make matters worse, the landlord has sold the entire house, and the new buyer had given all the old tenants one year to vacate the premises. 

The police officer/DPO began to shout on top of his voice, 'you committed a crime and you went to call a lawyer. what is your lawyer going to do, i will detain you in my station until you cough out the money'. 

Before i could  alter a word, he was told to take off his cloths, he was left with only his boxers on, and pushed into a cell. that's what we call JUNGLE JUSTICE! no investigation to ascertain the truth, you are just sent straight into the cell. straight to HELL!

while my client is locked up in the cell, i go the office to discuss with the Police/DPO. i am told amongst other things that he would be realised once he is able to at least make some deposit of what he owes the complainant. if not the matter would be charged to court.

Up till now, his family has not being able to raise the money, so he is still in police custody, he has refused to eat, but that's to his own detriment. Also, whereas bail is free, the police has given us their bill too. Niger police!

dont judge a book by its cover

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

just reflecting on my intellectual property class! hmm still wondering why most of my class mates would prefer MARINE INSURANCE to intellectual property, Gush what do i need Marine Insurance or Islamic Law of Succession for . As for me, its intellectual property . now back to the class, the lecturer goes on talking about the meaning of intellectual property, its all about an individual's idea and protecting his/her excluive rights to that idea. intellectual property is like real property( land, cars, houses, stocks, shares, bonds etc), its one area that has not been properly explored in this part of the world, though we have laws like, Copy right Act, Patents &Design Act, Trade Marks ACt, a lot of people have lost millions due to infringement of thier copyright here in Nigeria.

The lecturer looks at us and ask., i know that almost all of you here have cars, land and houses, but how many of you here HAVE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY? before any of us could respond , he gave an answer@ i guess none of you here has intellectual property, and none of you here has spent less than 15 years acquiring some form of education. intellectual property would not cost u money to acquire, just your effort, talent and inspiration from God, look at Steve Jobs,Apple, Facebook etc

I raised up my hand to oppose the lecturer, another person also raised up his hand, but i spoke first,
'please sir, i have intellectual property'
'what have you done'
'i have written and published a book, i have published articles, i have 2 un published books'

The other student equally informs the class that he has a Collection of peoms, he did not mention if  they are published or not.

the lecturer was impressed, but he lashed out on my other classmates, in a class of about twenty students only 2 people here have intellectual property, thats very bad, then he asked why is this so. the class is quite, as usual i raise my hand up again, please read my response carefully;

 WRITERS DO NOT MAKE MONEY HERE IN NIGERIA BECAUSE OF PIRACY, IT APPLIES TO OUR ARTIST, RECENTLY WHIZ KID A POPULAR NIGERIAN ARTIST CRIED OUT ON THIS SAME ISSUE, HE HAS NOT RELEASED HIS AUDIO CD, YET HIS AUDIO CD IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE WHO IS MAKING THE MONEY? i went ahead to inform the class that people no longer read, and if they must buy story books, they go for the cheapest ones in the market.
contributions began to flow in as the lecturer was amazed , for example most of us were hearing for the first time from others that our Artist( musicians) actually encourage the pirates to sell thier works. that by selling their songs they become more popular, and thereafter stand the chance of getting contract with GLO, MTN, SAMSUNG, etc, secondly they get to be invited for shows, were they actually make their money. SO SO SAD, SO SAD MY HEART IS BLEEDING! IS THIS THE MENTALITY OF THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN ARTIST!

we also talked about Chinua Achebe, and the offer he rejected fron 50 cents, when the American Artist offered him 50 million dollars to use the name THINGS FALL APART, in acting a movie. Chinua Achebe rejected the offer on moral grounds. i told the class that it was cazy, and the lecturer equally concurred to. He said intellectual property is like real property, you sell a bit or all of it, this must be reduced into writing, he also said that the sale of the title would have created more money for Chinua Achebe as it would have boost the sales of his book. we all agreed that our writer did not have a lawyer to advice him properly. 

Trademark is another area that should not be taken for granted, once you have a mark or a phrase, that you feel is peculiar to you, its important that you get it registered. brands like 'CLOSE UP' 'LG' 'SAMSUNG'
'UBA' etc are examples of trade marks.

please note that once you have an idea reduce it into writing, then protect it, if you share your idea with someone or a friend , and that person goes ahead to implement it before you, may be even registers it before you, then that person would have right over you. i hope u get the gist.

 now back to the question of the day: DO you have intellectual property? if you do, have you protected it?

please dont copy my work, instead create your own!

cheers!

SCHOOL / THE TENANTS

SCHOOL/ THE TENANTS

Presently i am a post graduate student of law. we just resumed a new session and i am so excited about the courses i would be offering. My focus for this session would be:

1.  1. Intellectual property

2.  2 .Land lord & Tenant

3.  3. International Trade.

I was so impressed with the intellectual property lecturer, wondering why most of  my class mates are avoiding this class. The post graduate studies now is more about research work, and interaction, imagine where lawyers are gathered in one class. Its not just the lecturer teaching his students , the lecturers also  learn from the students.

Landlord & Tenant class was equally interesting too.

While in school, i am receiving calls from Tenants occupying a property under my care. I don’t know what these tenants want from me, they are requesting that i join then in a meeting tomorrow. Very funny, i have told them that unless they return the tenancy agreement in their possession there will be no meeting. My client who is the owner of the property really asked for it, when he gave lenient conditions that appear to be bouncing back. I am so happy that i am offering  LANDLORD & TENANT as a course, i need to broaden my knowledge on this area of law. Lol!

I dey harsh oh !, after shouting / talking to the tenants on the phone, one of them finally comes to see me, how on earth would this woman have been ordering me around. I gave her the apartment based on those who stood on her behalf, she was suppose to see me, to collect her agreement, now she is calling that i come to see her for a meeting. [ that is SO SICK, SO SO CRAZY] I spoke to her gently but  authoritatively in a way she would never forget, i know she will tell others about our meeting. Watch out, guys i am your no nonsense Lawyer!