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SENATE SETS WEDNESDAY FOR CONFIRMATION OF NEW DEFENCE CHIEF AND SERVICE CHIEFS

The Nigerian Senate has scheduled Wednesday for the confirmation of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-General Olufemi Oluyede, and the recently appointed Service Chiefs. This decision follows a formal request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who sent two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The letters were read during plenary by Akpabio. In his request, President Tinubu cited section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act cap A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as the basis for his appeal and sought expeditious consideration from the Senate for the confirmation of the military chiefs. Following the reading of the presidential requests, Senate President Akpabio referred the matters to the committee of the whole and announced that the screening and confirmation process would take place on Wednesday. Recall that President Tinubu had on Sunday appointed the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Olufemi Oluyede, as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. The President also appointed Major-General Waidi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke as the new Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff.

SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DSS SCREENING OF NEW SAN DESIGNATES

Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, FCI Arb (UK), Life Bencher and Past General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, has expressed strong opposition to the recent requirement for newly cleared Senior Advocates of Nigeria to undergo screening by the Department of State Services (DSS). In a statement, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro described the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria as a professional recognition rooted in the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and administered solely by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC). Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, said subjecting this process to external security vetting after rigorous scrutiny has already been undertaken by the LPPC is an intrusion that undermines both the independence of the profession and the sanctity of due process. “The strength of the Bar has always been its autonomy,” Akinboro emphasized. “If we allow institutions outside the profession to insert themselves into its core processes without legal basis, we open the door to a precedent that may one day compromise not only the rank of SAN but also the independence of our courts, our appointments, and ultimately, our ability to dispense justice without fear or favour,” Akinboro added. The senior lawyer called on the Nigerian Bar Association, the LPPC, and the Body of Benchers to rise to this moment and defend the legal profession’s independence. “This is not about individuals; it is about protecting the very framework that gives legitimacy to the rule of law in our country,” Akinboro stressed. He further warned that remaining silent would amount to acquiescence, which could have long-term consequences for the profession. “To remain silent is to acquiesce, and acquiescence today may cost us the profession we hold dear tomorrow,” Akinboro cautioned.