Opening ceremony of the FIDA Nigeria 2nd Quarter National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) held at the Meena Event centre Kano state on the 27th of June 2024, and set the tone for a memorable NEC meeting. The ceremony was well attended with notable dignitaries which included the noble Chief Judge of Kano State, Hon Justice Dije Aboki, the Attorney-General/Commissioner of Justice ably represented by Hussaini Hassan the DCR; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and the Disabled, Hajiya Aisha Lawal Sajiranu; SSA to the Governor on Special Assignment to Women, Hajiya Fateema Amneef; Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, ably represented by SCS Nana Fatima Mohammed; Chairman NBA Kano State Branch Mr Sagir Gezawa, Chairman NBA Mr Mohammed Jibrin; Chairman NBA Ungogo Branch, State Coordinator ROLAC & International Idea, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello; State Coordinator Neem Foundation, Alhaji Abba Bello; Coordinator for Policy Advocacy in Kano state, Hajiya Maro Bello; Research Fellow National Judicial Institute, Gender and Child Justice Administration & UNICEF Consultant, Comfort Olubo Umaru; Chairperson Planning Committee of the 2024 NBA Annual General Conference, Oyinkan Bajejo Okunsanya; distinguished members of the National Executive Council; delegates and other notable personalities. Chairperson of the host Branch, FIDA (Nigeria) Kano state, Bilkisu Ibrahim Suleiman set the tone with a warm welcome speech while the Country Vice President/National President of FIDA Nigeria, Amina Suzanah Agbaje gave her opening remarks followed by remarks from the Chief Judge of Kano state, Hon. Justice Dije Aboki, who doubled as the Chair of the opening ceremony and who officially declared the program open. Thereafter, a paper presentation by UNICEF Consultant and Research Fellow National Judicial Institute, Comfort Ulobo Umaru on ”Justice for Children: The Role of Diversion and Rehabilitation for Children in Conflict with the Law” followed immediately. Her presentation focused on SGBV and conflict-related sexual violence against children in the context of terrorism. The session ended with an engaging Q&A session with delegates making it a truly educative voyage. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session which is a hallmark of every FIDA Nigeria National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in the afternoon of the 27th of June 2024. It was a platform where delegates were further trained on evolving and emerging areas of law as pertain to global best practices. Papers were presented on ”Effective Communication Skills, Best Practices for the Fidan” by Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the High Court of Kano state and ”Legal clinic and case management, Best Practices for the Fidan” by Hon. Justice Maryam Sabo Mni, ably represented by Chair emerita of FIDA Abuja Branch, Rachael Rekia Adejo Andrew. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating the impactful work that FIDA Nigeria is doing to expand access to justice for indigent women and children.
FIDA Nigeria Kicks Off 2nd Quarter NEC Meeting with Welcome Cocktail: An Evening of Bonding and Conviviality
To unwind from the stress of travel and also connect with fellow delegates, the host branch for the NEC meeting, FIDA (Nigeria) Kano State Branch, hosted a welcome cocktail for delegates in the evening of the 26th of June. It was an evening of fun, relaxation, catching up, sharing of experiences and an opportunity to further strengthen bonds under an atmosphere of general conviviality. Laughter and profound conversations set the mood for the evening, and by extension the tone for the 2nd Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. FIDANigeria 20242ndquarterNECmeeting welcomecocktail accesstojusticeforindigentwomenandchildren
FIDA holds debate for stakeholders towards developing a policy statement on the unconstitutionality of the provision of section 396 (7) of the ACJA in Kano State
In attendance were representative(s) of the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State, NBA Chairman, Ministry of Justice, PCACC, ICPC, Police, Corrections, Faculty of Law BUK, legal aid council, PWAN, and other partners. Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, was coined to abolish delay of trials occasioned by the elevation of a sitting judge to a higher court, however, this section was decided unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Udeogu v FRN & Ors. Premised on this, FIDA Nigeria on Wednesday the 24th of May organized a workshop in Kano State with the support of MacArthur Foundation, for stakeholders to debate on the effect of the unconstitutionality of section 396(7) as decided by the Supreme Court, with an objective to provide a platform for Criminal Justice Actors to discuss the implications the unconstitutionality of this section has on litigants in respect of speedy trials especially relating to corruption cases across various courts. Inputs from Criminal Justice Actors will be collated, incorporated from discussions ranging from challenges in conclusions of speedy trials, recommendations and practical solutions in enhancing speedy trials taking into cognizance uniqueness of focal states peculiarities and independence in adopting the ACJA. In attendance were representative(s) of the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State, NBA Chairman, Ministry of Justice, PCACC, ICPC, Police, Corrections, Faculty of Law BUK, legal aid council, PWAN and other partners. The findings of the workshop will form part of the policy document being developed which will serve as an advocacy tool to relevant stakeholders at the National Level by outlining ways forward in ensuring the intention of the provision to aid the speedy dispensation of justice is preserved
FIDA Nigeria organized a one-day validation workshop on the proposed Kano State ACJL rules towards improving the speedy dispensation of corruption cases
FIDA Nigeria with support from MacArthur Foundation in implementing a project on “Strengthening collaboration among Criminal Justice actors to deepen the Criminal Justice Architecture to ensure the effective implementation of the ACJA/ACJL” in 6 States of the Federation, as one of its activities sought to provide technical support in the development and or review of the practice directions on the ACJL in its implementing states, in line with the project’s goal of effective implementation of the ACJL as well as improving Judicial transparency, accountability, and Anti-corruption. On this premise, FIDA Nigeria on the 18th of January 2023 held a validation workshop on the proposed draft of the Kano State ACJL Rules of 2022 resulting from the workshop held on the 1st of December, 2022. Upon validation by all stakeholders present, it was agreed that the clean copy of the document be forwarded to the Honourable Chief Judge of Kano state for his signature. FIDA Nigeria will through this process across its other implementing states, support the development and review of the State’s practice direction on the ACJA/ACJL, to aid quick dispensation of justice, particularly in corruption cases.
FIDA, NBA Train Young Legal Practitioners On Ethics, Discipline In Kano
The Kano State branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has trained 100 young lawyers on professional ethics and discipline. According to the FIDA state chairperson, Bilkisu Ibrahim Suleiman, the training, which was held at the NBA state secretariat, was aimed at developing the capacity of the young legal practitioners in areas they are having problems. She said the upcoming lawyers would not only need to practice but to mingle and learn from experienced and senior members in the profession so they can improve in handling legal proceedings. Speaking, Chief Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa, who deliver a keynote presentation on filing processes for civil and criminal proceedings, advised FIDA to be revisiting cases at correctional facilities for review of convicted cases tried outside the jurisdiction. “I was opportune to visit the prison when I was a Senior Magistrate and my jurisdiction was to impose a fine of N15,000. To my surprise, I met a woman who was convicted and a fine of N50,000 was imposed on her by a magistrate of grade II.
FIDA KANO CELEBRATED THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
FIDA Kano in conjunction with Isa Wali empowerment celebrated the 16 days of activism 2019 by visiting four remote villages each in the local governments of Rano, Warawa, Dawakin tofa, and Bichi. They were educated on Persons with Disability Law, Human Rights, Children and Young Person’s Law and also Rape (preventive measures and steps to take after occurrence). More than ten thousand hijabs and caps were distributed and also more than twenty thousand flyers and stickers