By lgbotako Nowinta
It is really possible for Justice Umar to go down for his alleged assault and violent attack on Clement Sagwak, in a system, where despotism, nepotism, religionism, kidnapping, Fulani ethnic rascality and terrorism have brought our country to a new level of hopelessness? Will Clement Sagwak get Justice in a system spiraling out of control into the dark abyss of democratic irresponsibility; with operators who have bluntly refused to re-imagine or amend our obsolete Constitutional frame work? Only time will tell. The Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges & Public Petitions currently handling this matter must be extremely careful, as Nigerians and the global community are closely watching this unfolding development. Because, we are experiencing colossal blunders of epic proportions in every governmental policy initiative, Nigerians must stand up against injustice. Like Clement Sagwak, thousands of our hapless people being oppressed daily must learn to come alive fearlessly, to demand their fundamental human rights uncompromisingly, more than ever before, to confront brazen impunity, stark criminality and recklessness in our polity. What of the administrative barbarism displayed by a now retired Registrar of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who served Vice-Chancellors Oshodi and Orunwense?
On March 29, 2021, Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) unconsciously tore his garment of judicial respect and sanctity to pieces, when he descended on one Clement Sagwak, like a possessed tiger.
By descending recklessly and violently on the 22-year old private security guard, whose only offence was telling his Lordship, to park in authorized lane within the Banex Complex, Abuja, Nigeria, Danladi Umar only exposed his real personality.
In revealing his actual inherent personality in public, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has made himself a subject of public scorn.
More seething is the fact that, Justice Danladi Umar, has remained remorseless and unapologetic, given his response so far to the barbaric treatment he gave to Clement Sagwak.
It is a development that has drawn the ire of many well-meaning Nigerians, including notable professional and human rights organizations across the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Because the fundamental human rights of Clement Sagwak, has been mercilessly trampled upon by a man who was supposed to have displayed the greatest caution in his relationship with fellow Nigerians, a pragmatic frontline rights activist, Chief Patrick Eholor, Global President of One Love Foundation, has dragged him before the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges & Public Petitions.
In sponsoring this fantastic humanitarian gesture, by leading a team of lawyers, to demand the redress of the fundamental human rights of Clement Sagwak, Patrick Eholor and company have demonstrated positive sense of citizenship and altruism.
Justice Danladi Umar’s gutter behavior by pouncing on Clement Sagwak, as it was recorded by the video that went viral recently, is a sad reminder that most public officers holding sensitive positions in Nigeria are genuine hypocrites, inconsiderate and unaccommodating personalities.
There is no doubt that these are self-centered people who see themselves as demi-gods; moving about with the absolute consciousness of being above the Law, the Constitution and societal Due Process.
If not that we are living at a time of almost instant social media phenomenon, Danladi Umar would have easily gone away with what he did.
Looking at the shameless spirited attempts he has made to exonerate himself from the stark barbarity he unleashed on an ordinary security guard, trying to eke a living from the paranoid totalitarian system, we regrettably have today, it is very clear that Justice Danladi Umar’s actions, mock public concern about almost daily remote catastrophic attitudes, and behaviors of a chunk of highly placed individuals in our society.
We must profusely appreciate the efforts of those who fought the odds, the inconveniences and the financial constraints prevalent within the Nigerian system, to pull His Lordship, Danladi Umar before the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges & Public Petitions, for breaching Code of Conduct.
Even, as this case is ongoing in the Senate, it is a misnomer, an error for this shameless jurist, this officer in the Temple of Justice, to continue to preside over public officers accused of breach of code of conduct.
We expect him to have been suspended by relevant superior authorities in the country by now.
We have not even forgotten his controversial handling of the breach of conduct matter, brought against the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was finally left off the hook, in spite of huge damaging type of allegations levelled against him.
Who says that the hammer of suspension would befall Justice Umar, when he was the one that issued the controversial ex-parte order, on behalf of the present Federal Government, for the suspension of the ex- Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen?
It is really possible for Justice Umar to go down for his alleged assault and violent attack on Clement Sagwak, in a system, where despotism, nepotism, religionism, kidnapping, Fulani ethnic rascality and terrorism have brought our country to a new level of hopelessness?
Will Clement Sagwak get Justice in a system spiraling out of control into the dark abyss of democratic irresponsibility; with operators who have bluntly refused to re-imagine or amend our obsolete Constitutional frame work? Only time will tell.
The Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges & Public Petitions currently handling this matter must be extremely careful, as Nigerians and the global community are closely watching this unfolding development.
Because, we are experiencing colossal blunders of epic proportions in every governmental policy initiative, Nigerians must stand up against injustice.
Like Clement Sagwak, thousands of our hapless people being oppressed daily must learn to come alive fearlessly, to demand their fundamental human rights uncompromisingly, more than ever before, to confront brazen impunity, stark criminality and recklessness in our polity.
What of the administrative barbarism displayed by a now retired Registrar of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who served Vice-Chancellors Oshodi and Orunwense?
This character tried desperately and demonically to destroy one of my clients, who l had taken to the Committee of Public Petitions of the House of Representatives, Abuja, where we eventually secured a Re-Instatement Letter,” back to the University of Benin.
It took the intervention of the then Governing Board of UNIBEN, that warned former Vice- Chancellor, Faraday Orunwense of the dire consequences of ignoring the verdict of the House of Representatives, before my client was reinstated, after his appointment was maliciously and unjustly terminated for close to six (6) years.
What of the case of a former Commissioner in Delta State, Kenneth Gbagi, who indecently molested a female worker in one of his hospitality outfits in Warri, Delta State, not too long ago? One can go on and on? Kenneth Gbagi is trying to evade justice today!
Until the likes of Justice Danladi Umar, within the length and breadth of our country, are not only constantly and vigorously challenged, but appropriately punished for their uncivilized behaviors we will continue to be objects of mockery all over the world.
Nowinta wrote, Where We Are: A Call for Democratic Revolution in Nigeria.
