Opinion

Opinion: Empowerment for Peak Performance (Pt.2)

Published

3 years ago

August 20, 2021

Eric

By Tolulope A. Adegoke

“Sacrifice is the scar(s) we endure while we go through life with our crosses in the hope of earning our crowns.” — There is no such thing as a star without a scar! Every star has the scar of sacrifice on its limb. There is nothing else like it! It is just the ticket to unlocking the door to new possibilities. Contrary to popular belief, sacrifice requires your complete and total attention, as it is an intentional or deliberate act of provoking desired timely results without negotiating or dining with slothfulness and excuses. Don’t be fooled, sacrifice necessitates your complete and total dedication, as it is an intentional or deliberate act of provoking desired timely results without negotiating or dining with slothfulness and excuses.” – Tolulope A. Adegoke

Sacrifice means going the extra mile, paying the extra price, and taking the extra steps to deliver your mandates! Your extraordinary inputs determine your extraordinary impacts! You need to go the extra mile in your ‘disciplined’ life. You must pay the extra price for your ‘diligence’, then the star in you emerges! Do not envy success, envy sacrifice! Many around the world are embodiments of extra-ordinary potential and gifts, but have found themselves in fields that are different from their real (divine) calling (s). For example, some are gifted footballers by having found themselves in the engineering sector… Not until they subject themselves to the diligent sacrifices of football training and timing (age-wise), such people will not manifest or fulfil their original destiny. They would only be engineering stars by chance or by force. It takes sacrifice for the star in us to manifest!

You can not eat your cake and have it! You can not make an omelette without breaking eggs! Not even faith is a substitute for sacrifice. Vision is not a substitute for sacrifice! Sacrifice is a covenant requirement for every kingdom star! The Apostle Paul in the Book of Philippians1:21 (KJV) said: “For me to die is gain, for me to live is Christ.” I would rather die than allow anyone to make my glory in Christ vain. is a typical description of the term Sacrifice. Being crucified with Jesus Christ is a Sacrifice!

Every star has a story of sacrifice to tell!

“If you do not improve where we live, then you are a failure!” -Bishop David O. Oyedepo

The above means that you must wake up from your slumber and invest your time in creating the future that you desire! Until you do what others do not do, you will still remain in the same spot as others! You must therefore wake up and tell yourself the bitter truth and design for yourself a new programme and do not end the year without a schedule for next year and a lifetime goal… This would show that you are really a serious entity on a mission to save your world from its aches!

Even Jesus Christ, the most anointed, said in Luke12:49-50 (KJV): “I have come to set fire to the Earth… I have a baptism to be baptized with and now I am stretched until it is accomplished. ” Anyone that desires to have a “global impact” must pay a “global price”!

You can not have it until you pay its ultimate worth! You can not have your crown, not until you are done with the cross!

“Every seed of Abraham is a seed with global impact (Genesis22:17-18)” “And if ye are Christ’s, ye are Abraham’s seed and according to the promise (Galatians3:29).”

You are here on Earth for global impact; you are not here for survival! Global Impacts is about being a positive influence all across the world on humanity in your area of calling (s), chosen career (s) or field (s).

I strongly believe that you would manifest greater grace and positive impacts all across the world, all to the glory of God Almighty, if you were willing to pay greater prices than many great men have paid in the past in order to be the “moves” and “waves” of the “movements and trends” and affluence in their generation (s). Until you pay the greater price (s), you can not generate greater value (s). For whatsoever a man sows, he shall reap! What is only waiting for you in the future is simply your investment in today! We need to be prepared to at least start aspiring to do a few things we can do, then the grace will flow in on us to do more/greater! It is then that we would be able to soar higher than the Eagles because the skies would have simply been transformed into our starting point!

Ultimately, you must discover your area of calling or field, so as to be sure that you are not investing in the wrong direction. Your vision must be clearly defined so as to fully understand your mission and then empower yourself for possibilities in that field. According to 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV): “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Acquire relevant skills, apply spiritual knowledge and understand the needs of your environment in relation to your “Empowered Zero.”

Your ‘field’ is the ‘green pastures’ where your flocks feed through your properly “Empowered Zero”, which is harnessed or directed towards meeting the timely demands and needs of people, corporations, and nations.

Harnessing your ‘Empowered Zero’ is a full-scale methodological application in a bid to impart your world with the treasures that lie in your earthen vessel!

To empower in this context means to positively influence, affect or fuel something or someone or a place to become useful or better towards emerging/fulfilling or serving the real and full purpose for which it was originally created. You must come to understand that no one is indispensable, nothing lasts forever, change is constant and there is always room for improvement to be able to transit from Zero to Hero. Zero to Hero in this context is not limited or restricted to individuals or people alone, but it touches the corporate world and nations as well, thereby enlightening us that we can always be better, come what may!

Perkins and Zimmerman, 1995; Rappaport, 1981; Zimmerman and Warschausky 1998 mentioned that: “Empowerment is both a value orientation for working in the community (practical) and a theoretical model for understanding the process and consequences of efforts to exert control and influence over the decisions that affect one’s life, organizational functioning, and the quality of community life.”

The value of orientation of empowerment suggests goals, aims and strategies for implementing change. Empowerment provides principles and a framework for organizing our knowledge and lifestyle.

Empowerment is the capacity of individuals, groups, and/or communities to take control of their circumstances, exercise their might so as to achieve their own goals, and the process by which, individually and collectively, they are able to help themselves and others to maximize the quality of their lives. Also, it could be described as an intentional, ongoing process which is centred in the local community and involves mutual respect, critical reflection, caring and group participation, through which people lacking an equal share of resources gain greater access to and control over those resources.

Empowerment as a “process”

Empowerment is the process of obtaining basic opportunities for marginalized (underrated) people, either directly by those people, through the help of non-marginalized others who share their own access to those opportunities, or by divine order and impartation. It also includes actively thwarting attempts to deny those opportunities. Empowerment also includes encouraging and developing the skills for self-sufficiency with a focus on eliminating the future need for charity or welfare in the individuals of the group. This process can be difficult to start and to implement effectively, but it takes adequate readiness (preparation) and the ability to humbly follow directives and instructional guidance. Above all, it takes the ability to sacrifice your time, pride, planting your seed (s), exploring your potential, turning or furnishing your talents into skills and starting earning from them. These are simply cultivation processes of turning (empowering) your zero into being your HERO!

The word EMPOWERMENT is the combination of three cogent words, as stated here: EMPloy POWER for INCREAMENT-which simply means employing POWER for INCREAMENTS (that is, to be MORE). To employ means to engage or make use of something, while POWER equals ABILITY (to do). An increment is the degree to which something is made larger or greater. It could also be said to be the action or process of INCREASING, especially in quantity or value. It is something gained or added. We can, therefore, say that EMPOWERMENT is the engagement of the ability (that is, what it takes) or techniques to increase in value or quantity.

EMPOWERMENT is the intentional act of yielding to a course, for a cause, to be better or transformed from zero to HERO, from nobody to somebody, from nothing to something, from insignificance to significance, from raw to refined, from talents into skills, from mere skills into value, and from values to REWARDS!

Empowerment is the awakening of the giant that lies within us as individuals for the delivery of possibilities. It is an infinite exercise of working tenaciously to become better at something or to become a master, by intentionally subjecting oneself to learning at the feet of Masters the ‘HOW’ to becoming the ‘WHAT’ or the ‘THAT’ or ‘WHO’? To become ‘WHO’, then you must understand ‘HOW’.

We must understand that learning has its own ‘curves’ and ‘costs’. The Costs of EMPOWERMENT are:

Discipline

Working-Inputs

Sacrifice

Execution

Gratitude

Discipline: This is the first rule of empowerment (learning). We find so many human errors in our society today due to a lack of DISCIPLINE. Discipline means depriving oneself of his or her comfort zones by passing through what is required for the next phase in life in order to become better and greater at something or become a leading example in a specific area of life. There is no great man in life who is truly great who has not adopted discipline as a lifestyle. Discipline means subjecting oneself to authentic obedience at the feet of an instructor or mentor or instructions or rules.

Here, you are under instructions or tutelage set by conscience or by (man)-whatever that is learned must be adopted as a lifestyle to be more or become greater. There are values and virtues that are built either consciously or unconsciously, physically or spiritually during these processes. Among others, the following are the pillars of discipline:

Time Consciousness/Management

Appreciating the Costs of Values

Understanding the Price-tag on Values

Humility

The Power of Quietness or Silence (To listen swiftly and talk (less) smarter

Sleep (less)

Reading and Studying

Meditation

Financial Management (Saving More)

Embracing the Company Mentality (Shunning the ‘Crowd’ Mentality): Crowd means everybody, while the word company means just a selected few who align with your purpose, and at the same time maximizes your effects.

Working-Input (Within): This simply means working within the boundaries of knowledge and wisdom for depth of understanding. Another word for it is input. In the process of learning or empowerment, there is usually a curve, where you ultimately surrender what you think-you-knew for things you need to know to be soaked into your being. You accumulate knowledge, you become soaked in it. It is a process of chasing after knowledge and being soaked in it. It is a process of chasing after knowledge for excellence, so as to be chased by success at every point of execution or delivery (that is, working-out what you have learned or acquired. This is also a point of yearning after ‘Clarity’, which is one of the DNAs of MASTERY or ‘Understanding’. This is the process of studying and meditating on it for deeper REVELATIONS, because it is Revelation that gives understanding. If you do not want your life to end in RED (danger), you must READ and STUDY! Revelations come first, before ELEVATION! Knowledge is LIGHT, and LIGHT is LIFE!

There are many people with stature, volume and age who lack LIGHT (understanding)… It is light that separates a dullard from a genius! It is light that separates a pupil from the master. The light you carry matters in life-it is what determines your level in reality, it determines your level of command in core aspects of life. Being that you have gained mastery, you have become a MASTER!

Light is CLARITY, it is MASTERY (and this is the state of the authentic). This is the time to avoid any pattern of distractions so as to enjoy and engage the light that you are about to access from this article for Peak Performance to deliver possibilities for people, corporates and nations at large.

Relentless Commitment to Daily Growth is the key to global relevance. I refer to it as the White-Belt Mentality-this is when you write in a journal daily, meditate, focus, reflect, ponder, and handcraft your days intentionally for positive outcomes. If knowledge is power, then learning is your Super-Power! Knowledge isn’t just power, it is profit! Empowerment improves you enough to be irresistibly NEEDED. That is, when you are loaded with relevant information that solves problems, you will be a force to reckon with. Even if they do not like you as a person, the solutions you carry will make you attractive enough to be their only CHANCE of survival!

The fact is, anybody can be empowered; in fact, everybody needs EMPOWERMENT-the more we learn, the more fit we are to lead others and EARN. Any zero can become a HERO, and any HERO can become a greater HERO! That is why great companies are not relenting in being better to be greater-they all want to be MORE-they are not satisfied with little, they are expanding so that the people under them can become more and better as well (that’s why their brands are simplified, accessible, and affordable).

The day you become satisfied with little is the day you start to become little! Never settle for convenience over destiny! A lot of destinies are hanging on your shoulders for survival; if you refuse to dare more, it means that you are only living for yourself alone-there are destinies attached to your values, virtues, and presence on Earth! To be consistently better, you need to seek knowledge every time, regardless of your age or level of attainment in life. That is why you have a group of people you keep who are wired to charge or spur you on to be better and to maximize your effectiveness. We also need to maximize our connection to the internet. A wise owner of a laptop puts his or her system on Auto-Update. Why? To get updated and upgraded with the latest versions of software online for maximum output and efficient delivery of services. As human beings, we get upgraded, updated by knowledge through Wisdom for Understanding and maximum delivery so as not to be stuck in yesterday! The knowledge or anointing of yesterday is not enough for today! Today is today! What you have acquired today with sweat may become obsolete tomorrow if you fail or refuse to upgrade to the latest version of thoughts, reasoning, and know-how.

Sacrifice: This is definitely not a strange word to the majority across the world, especially the great minds who are great mines. Sacrifice simply means‘ surrendering what you have in order to secure or receive what you NEED! It means surrendering WHAT you are so as to become WHO you desire to become! It also means surrendering WHAT you are in order to become WHO you desire to be! It simply means surrendering where you are so as to arrive at WHERE you desire or need to be. Therefore, sacrifice means letting go of your WANTS in order to have your NEEDS met! Children (little minds) give offerings, while Kings (great minds) offer SACRIFICES! We give up ‘WHAT’ we WANT when we NEED POWER! Power is a necessity in this journey of life in order to fulfill destiny or divine purpose. For every sacrifice, there is a scar (this scar connotes the cost of the sacrifice). The scar is what decorates your being. It tells your stories in your glory. I would say that, ‘Do not envy success… kindly envy SACRIFICE! The volume of sacrifice determines where you will surface (that is, appear), either at the peak or beneath. Sacrifice is the covenant requirement for every next level of greatness. It cracks the code for each level of greatness and unravels mysteries. It shakes the Heavens and causes Divinity to intervene in Humanity!

Execution: This simply means’ To Work-it-Out! It is the process of giving birth to the knowledge acquired through the volume of light (understanding) that we carry or have received. This is the output of what has been put-into you over time (that is, engaging the knowledge which you have been soaked with). This is where knowledge turns into formulas through Understanding (Light) by Wisdom. This is where you make it happen on the field called REALITY… We gather ability through knowledge, and we transform it into REALITY based on the level of understanding which we have or carry, then profit from it through Wisdom! When life tells you NO! Ask yourself, what am I capable of? Winners do not quit or make excuses. Winners only EXECUTE continuously till they get it right! The likes of Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, among others, had their share of trying moments, their moments of pain which they burned as fuel to acquire the gains we all celebrate today. These ones didn’t give up on the light they carried or carried, rather, they illuminated or kept illuminating the world through continuous practice. Though they may have failed or failed severally, there is always a Bounce-Back-Power for every true winner, which is fostered by strong-will or DETERMINATION.

The majority across the world are not usually interested in the ‘HOW’ (process), but in the ‘WHAT’ (results or happenings). For example, WHAT happened? WHAT did he/she do? What did he say? WHAT did he give? WHAT did or does he/she have to offer? Because the majority are only interested in what has been or is achieved, they are not interested in knowing the HOW (PROCESSES/COST) of what it took or took to be WHAT or WHO. Only a few with great depth would ask ‘HOW’ he/she made it, or HOW he won the election… The steps he took, the people he aligned with, the sacrifices he offered, the disciplines he adopted as a lifestyle, the ‘helps’ rendered that attracted divine assistance or intervention, the favours he requested, the sleepless nights, the hours of meditation, his Think-tanks (technocrats).

Small people want summaries, and only want to live on survival. They do not have time to ‘go and grow through the processes of becoming… They only want their cakes NOW, just like ESAU in the Holy Bible, who sold his birthright because he was hungry and in a haste to satisfy his belly without bothering to have an understanding of what it would cost him to lose the treasure that lies within his being!

The point of execution is always an opportunity to showcase what you have been cooking through the tool of knowledge. It is an opportunity to show off and show up! It is an opportunity to tell the world that I AM HERE-though I have been here, but it has been behind the scenes. Cooking is the right application of HEAT! It is therefore time to serve your MEAL (Products or Solutions) to the world!

Execution is the process of giving birth to what was conceived in the process of learning. Just like a pregnant woman who has been pregnant, it is natural to expect her to deliver after nine months of carrying the fetus (baby) in her womb. The same thing goes for you and me; it is time for us to deliver the future because it lies within us. Ideas are conceived within us, packaged as information, encrypted in the knowledge that man absorbs to deliver his generation at every point of need during execution. Being pregnant is not enough, delivery is a must! The same goes for learning; being soaked in knowledge is not enough, but execution (putting it into good use) is what is expected of all true learners. The Holy Book reveals, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19). This means that everything, everyone is waiting for you to show up and deliver the FUTURE (Treasures or Solutions) that lies within you as a deliverer, which has been deposited in you for your generation (s). If you do not show up (Manifest), your generation may be bound or be in bondage for years. Just like Moses (a Jew) who grew up in Pharaoh’s Palace (in Egypt). He assimilated the doctrines, he was soaked in the Egyptian traditions (knowledge) for years. After so many years, before Moses showed up for the Israelites, they were all in captivity of the Egyptians. So, if you do not show up (that is, birth the knowledge, wisdom, understanding of the skills, values, virtues that you have been soaked in and nursing over the years), you might be holding your generation (s) to ransom! You may not get it right at first, but be free to try again, again and again; there will be a day when you will get it right and gain from the rewards that come with it (through the pains which you have burned as fuel through determination and strong-will). Get up, go to work and work it out! Destinies are waiting for you; your generation is waiting for you to show up! Take responsibility as David did against Goliath! The anointing upon your life isn’t just a blessing, but a responsibility on your shoulders to birth solutions that will deliver your generation, even the ones yet unborn. Therefore, instead of being a container of blessings, I charge you now to be a channel, so that these solutions can flow through you to others. Execute and Excel!

Gratitude: This is a state of authentic, it is a state of bliss, it is a natural force or lifestyle that preserves and perfects our outputs (efforts) and blessings. Gratitude means Gr (eat) ATTITUDE, which means-an attitude that is exclusive to only GREAT Minds who have the depth to look back at what they were and the Mighty hands that picked them up to arrive at where they are at the moment. Small minds make small people- Small people are not usually grateful, they complain about everything, they don’t have clear minds and are not free in spirit. Gratitude is an attitude that, when adopted as a lifestyle, takes us to great altitudes in life. The first step of GRATITUDE is-ACKNOWLEDGING The Maker, God Almighty in all things. Secondly, CELEBRATING your teachers or mentors who have invested time and energy in imparting you with the light (understanding) that they carry. Thirdly, Celebrate and Appreciate your Supporters (they believed in you when others couldn’t, even when you thought you couldn’t. These ones inspired you to, then you did it! Lastly, celebrate yourself for dedicating yourself to the achievement of success. Take a break, travel, rest well, eat well, have fun, then go back to studying for the next phase or level of success. Re-engage the formulas for success, that is, the cost of empowerment, again and again, to be more and greater and better!

Re-examining your life

It is very important that you know and must have an understanding of where and why you need improvement, then go after relevant knowledge that treats or solves your weak areas… An unexamined life is not worth living! A dis-empowered life will remain an imprisoned life-it is not worth living. Maximize every condition you go through to be better and for the well-being of mankind. Be responsible, even in tough-times… Never lose your head in tough times, never lose your heart at all times. Empowerment builds your vision.

VISION is powered by the following sights:

Eye-sights

Insights

Hind-sights

Fore-sight

Mind-sights

VISION enlightens and opens you up to illuminate mankind, thereby translating them into the true light from the darkness. You are an embodiment of treasures/solutions; I charge you to UNLEASH! I charge you for Man-i–fest! Any determined zero can become a hero! This book would further explain the ‘HOW’ to you with relevant examples towards becoming POSSIBLE where you have been described as IMPOSSIBLE! You must therefore read, study and follow the teachings in it to the end. You will become an ABILITY in motion in the delivery of possibilities for people, corporates and nations! It is your vision that determines the extent or size of your mission. Friends, we are on a mission. I encourage you to power your vision with light. 119: 130 reveals: “The entrance of the words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

With the above, you are on a journey to global relevance that will culminate in you emerging as the greater HERO you desire to become in your generation! Simply drop your pride and enjoy the ride to your heroic destiny! The world needs a hero they can believe in. You do not need to be a demi-god to be a hero, you just need to believe that you are one. It’s all within you! You are an embodiment of treasure. Please do not call it trash! Dreams come true only when you work it out! You can be far better than the exemplars used thus far. Yes! You can be greater!

Don’t be fooled, sacrifice involves your full attention and absolute dedication, as it is an intentional or deliberate act of provoking desired timely results without negotiating or dining with slothfulness and excuses.

It is not easy to be easy: the principles of sacrifice can not be displaced, replaced, nor broken if greatness must be achieved on this earthly plane. It is the law of seedtime and harvest.

Opinion

Onnoghen, Free at Last

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Eric

By Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, CON, OFR, LL.D.

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed” (Martin Luther King, Jnr). Justice Walter Onnoghen who was unfairly disgraced out of office presumably as a crook by former dictator President, General Muhammadu Buhari, has just demonstrated this apophthegum through three appeals, namely CA/A/375/2019; CA/A/37/SC/2019 and CA/373C/2019. He valiantly fought for his freedom through these three appeals against his April 18, 2019 outrageous conviction which was schemed by Buhari and his kitchen cabinet to humiliate Onnoghen out of the Bench so as to make CJN, his preferred candidate (Justice Tanko Mohammed), CJN (rtd.) on the eve of the 2019 presidential election. Buhari knew he had performed dismally and would be rejected at the polls by angry and hungry Nigerians. So he went Judge-shopping. The rest as they say is history. The legal saga of Justice Walter Onnoghen is not just the story of one man’s acquittal, but a larger commentary on the poor state of Nigeria’s judiciary and the ever-present tensions between political power wielders and judicial independence. It is a story fit for a Grammy Award movie. His acquittal on 4th November, 2024, by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, marked a significant chapter in Nigeria’s legal history, casting a powerful shadow of doubt and curious spotlight on the principles of separation of power, due process, the sanctity of judicial independence and the perils inherent in political intervention. The appeal that restored Justice Onnoghen’s hard-earned reputation and returned his assets to him is also a profound testament to the importance of procedural integrity and jurisdictional boundaries in any democratic society.

I had the opportunity in the nineties to appear before the brilliant Judex while he was a High Court Judge of the Cross River State Judiciary, Calabar. I know he was a man of integrity and character. During the infamous Onnoghen’s trial by ordeal, I made many interventions. In one, I said:

“A strong judiciary is one of the irreducible fundamental platforms for any meaningful constitutional democracy. If you terrorise, intimidate, harass and humiliate the judiciary, using strong hand and brute force, it is a stage set for bidding democracy farewell”- Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://dailytrust.com/ozekhome-charges-judiciary-to-shut-down-courts-over-onnoghen/). (13th January, 2019).

In a world where the judiciary stands as the final arbiter of justice, Justice Onnoghen’s story is one of a victim who faced unprecedented tribulations, endured a long agonising path to redemption. He ultimately emerged victorious. The appeal process that culminated in his acquittal is a reminder that justice may sometimes be delayed, but it can never be forever denied.

HOW THE APPEAL COURT ACQUITED ONNOGHEN
The verdict by the Court of Appeal represented a turning point in a legal drama that had captivated Nigerians and raised profound questions about the nature and quality of justice in the country. On the 4th of November, 2024, a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed ruled in favour of the ex-CJN, Walter Onnoghen, acquitting him of the charges initially levied in 2019 by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in 2019. This decision not only vacated the earlier conviction but also ordered the unfreezing of all his bank accounts, thus restoring his financial freedom that had been denied him since the controversial trial began.

I have been overwhelmingly vindicated in all my angst and ventilations against the victimhood suffered by Onnoghen. Hear me:

“The CJN can be removed from office either if he has been convicted or if under section 291 of the constitution, the Senate affirms a request by the President to remove him by two-third majority vote” – Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/mike-ozekhome-reacts-to-allegations-against-cjn-onnoghen/zdx9del). (12th January, 2019).

The acquittal judgement was predicated on a legal principle central to the Nigerian jurisprudence which articulates around jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal asserted that the CCT had no authority in the first instance to try and convict Justice Onnoghen having not passed through the National Judicial Council (NJC). This oversight, the appellate court argued, rendered the entire proceedings null and void. This requirement had been emphasized in Nigerian case law with decisions such as FRN v. NGANJIWA (2022) LPELR-58066(SC) and OPENE v. NJC & ORS (2011) LPELR-4795(CA), which clearly emphasise that judicial officers must first be vetted by the NJC before facing any criminal trial by a tribunal or court. This process is designed to protect the judiciary and its judexes from strong-hand politicians and political interference, thus ensuring that judges are treated with the respect, dignity and due process that their offices richly deserve. I had angrily queried:
“…Our system of justice being Anglo-Saxon based, which is accusatorial, meaning that the innocence of a person is presumed. It is different from the criminal justice system of the French model which is inquisitorial, wherein the guilt of an accused person is presumed. This doctrine has been encapsulated in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, that the person’s innocence is presumed until he has been proven guilty. Assuming for example that Senator Bukola Saraki had been forced to resign his office when charges were brought against him before the same Code of Conduct Tribunal almost three years ago, what would have happened and what would have been his fate when the Supreme Court eventually discharged and acquitted him of the charge, following judgements and earlier order of the Court of Appeal and the Code of Conduct Tribunal itself? If you ask me, I sense serious political undertones oozing from this so-called imminent arraignment of the noble CJN. Question, when did they discover the alleged offence for which they now want to charge him on Monday? Was it just yesterday, was it last week, two weeks or six months ago? The CJN has been in office now for well over one year, how come that this misconduct or whatever offence that he is being alleged, was not seen up to now? How come, that it is just less than 40 days to the 2019 Presidential election, when the CJN is going to play the major role in constituting the Presidential election petition tribunal, that he is being moved against? Who is afraid of the Judiciary? Who is afraid of Justice Onnoghen and his impartiality and straightforwardness? How come we are reducing governance in Nigeria to one of impunity, one of despotism and one of absolutism. Don’t this people know that the world is laughing at us? Did we not see how Dino Melaye was yanked out from police hospital and taken to DSS quarters when he had no business or case with the DSS and DSS had no case against him. Did they not see Dino Melaye, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sleeping in the open yesterday? Do they go on social media and do they watch international televisions? Do they know how the whole world is deriding us in this country? That governance has been reduced to mere witch-hunt, very opaque, very unaccountable, very un-transparent and very very fascist! Can’t they see that?”- Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/mike-ozekhome-reacts-to-allegations-against-cjn-onnoghen/zdx9del). (12th January, 2019).

My intervention as far back as 2019 served as a reality-check, pointing out that removing a Chief Justice can never be a whimsical decision; it is bound by the checks and balances that keep our justice system watered. My then reference to “impunity, despotism, and absolutism” hit like a huge hammer, evoking the imagery of a judiciary under siege of political transaintionists. By drawing parallels with then Senators Saraki and Dino Melaye’s own public tribulations, I attempted to paint a vivid picture of a prostrate justice system afflicted by power jackbootism.

Justice Onnoghen’s acquittal is a clear victory for judicial integrity, independence and an affirmation that the judiciary cannot be used as a pawn on political chessboards. The ruling also reinforces the fact that procedural lapses, especially in matters bordering on citizens right and high-ranking judicial officers, are unacceptable and grossly violate the principle of fair trial. As the Bible counsels in Proverbs 31:9, “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” This verse captures the essence of due process, emphasizing that justice must be dispensed with fairness and respect for established procedures. I did not mince words then in condemning the executive lawlessness unleashed on Onnoghen:
“It must be pointed out that this latest step by the CCT… appears to be teleguided by the dictatorial Executive, especially the presidency” – Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://dailypost.ng/2019/02/13/ozekhome-gives-nine-reasons-cct-arrest-order-onnoghen-cannot-stand/). (14th February, 2019).

The ugly circumstances surrounding Justice Onnoghen’s initial trial and conviction by the CCT underscore the potential dangers when procedural norms are bypassed. My passionate critique of the dastardly role played by the Buhari-led administration from 2015 to 2023 as regards Onnoghen’s trial by ordeal revealed the high stakes which were at play. By overstepping the NJC, I had warned then that unchecked executive power could encroach upon the independence of the judiciary which will ultimately undermine the very foundation of democracy.

THE PRECEDENT OF JURISDICTION AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
Justice Walter Onnoghen’s acquittal by the Court of Appeal is not just a victory for one individual, but a landmark affirmation of a fundamental principle of law, that jurisdiction is the bedrock of any valid legal proceeding. Without proper jurisdiction, any judgement rendered is, as many legal scholars have agreed on, will merely be an exercise in futility. This principle is enshrined in our legal jurisprudence to protect the sanctity of judicial offices and prevent arbitrary persecution. The Court of Appeal’s decision to vacate Justice Walter Onnoghen’s conviction reaffirmed this core legal tenet, sending a clear message that the judiciary is not a toothless bulldog and tool to be wielded by the executive or any other arm of government.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King Jr. The Nigerian legal framework, supported by landmark cases such as FRN v. NGANJIWA (Supra) and OPENE v. NJC & ORS (Supra), outlines that the NJC must first investigate and make recommendations regarding any allegations against judicial officers before any trial can commence at the CCT. This process serves as a bulwark against arbitrary trials, ensuring that judges are not subjected to undue pressure or political intimidation. I had also then warned about the dangers posed whenever these procedural safeguards are disregarded: “The CCT was unrelenting: it discarded its earlier precedents; ignored court rulings barring it from trying Onnoghen. It was the case of the falcon not hearing the falconer”- Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://www.thecable.ng/ozekhome-onnoghen-resigned-because-the-cabal-had-sealed-his-fate/). (6th April, 2019).

Thus, five years ago (2019), I was nothing short of prophetic. I had foreseen the critical blunders and overreaches that would compromise the integrity of the judiciary in the Onnoghen saga. My warnings were very clear then about the dangerous precedent that was being set in bypassing due process and using the judiciary as a tool for political manoeuvring. As events have now unfolded, my observations then have proven me to be a visionary critic who critiques (not criticises) a justice system that was then on the brink. I had cautioned against the erosion of judicial independence in the face of executive influence. I had given nine reasons why the CCT’s arrest order on and trial of Justice Onnoghen could not stand. See:
(https://dailypost.ng/2019/02/13/ozekhome-gives-nine-reasons-cct-arrest-order-onnoghen-cannot-stand/).

My list was not just a check-list of procedural irregularities; it was also an indictment of a system seemingly hijacked by political buccaneers. Each point landed like a blow, revealing layers of oversight that were by-passed; up to the requirement for humane treatment under the ACJA that was ignored. I meticulously built my case, demonstrating that Onnoghen’s trials were not just about one man, but about the sanctity of the judicial process itself. It was persecution, not prosecution.

My vivid metaphor of the then CJN being “mob-lynched,” painted a grotesque picture of a judiciary cornered by hidoues forces intent on humiliation rather than achieving justice.

Justice Onnoghen’s acquittal by the Court of Appeal thus serves as a reaffirmation of judicial independence, reminding all branches of government that the rule of law cannot be compromised for political expediency. As the Bible says in Psalm 82:3, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” These words resonate deeply in the context of Onnoghen’s trial, encapsulating the judiciary’s duty to protect the innocent from unwarranted persecution and uphold the principles of justice.

POLITICAL UNDERTONES AND THE QUEST FOR JUDICIAL AUTONOMY
Justice Walter Onnoghen’s journey from indictment to acquittal reflects a deeper narrative about the political undertones that permeated his trial. His suspension by then President Muhammadu Buhari which took place only weeks before the 2019 presidential election, had raised significant concerns about the timing and motivations behind the charges. Many saw it as an attempt to influence the judiciary ahead of a critical election, a sentiment I shared and eloquently captured in “Onnoghen… knew that his fate had been pre-determined by the cabal, signed, sealed and delivered”- Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://www.thecable.ng/ozekhome-onnoghen-resigned-because-the-cabal-had-sealed-his-fate/). (6th April, 2019)

The timing of the charges, as well as the swiftness with which Onnoghen was brought to trial, laid validation to public perception that Justice Onnoghen was merely targeted for his position and influence within the judiciary. Like I put it then, “Many facts bear this simple deduction out. The petitioner, an NGO, actually committed the Freudian slip by anchoring its petition on ‘bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 general elections’” – Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://dailytrust.com/ozekhome-charges-judiciary-to-shut-down-courts-over-onnoghen/). (13th January, 2019).

The Bible, in Proverbs 21:15, declares, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” The acquittal of Justice Onnoghen, in this light, is therefore not just a personal victory but a broader triumph for all who value justice and integrity.

Like I noted then, “Justice Onnoghen’s removal was also an attempt by the executive arm of government to have a firm control of the nation’s judiciary”- Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN (https://dailypost.ng/2019/02/13/ozekhome-gives-nine-reasons-cct-arrest-order-onnoghen-cannot-stand/). (13th February, 2019).

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, Justice Walter Onnoghen’s acquittal is a landmark victory for judicial independence and a testament to the enduring principles of justice and due process. His journey from indictment to acquittal serves as a potent reminder that the rule of law must remain inviolable, even in the face of political pressures.
Onnoghen’s case will remain a watershed moment in Nigeria’s legal history, a vivid reminder that the judiciary’s role is to safeguard the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights and ensure that democracy even when faced with formidable forces of political influence, triumphs. It should be able to skillfully navigate through the ever present interplay of centripetal and centrifugal forces.

As Nigeria continues to evolve as a work-in-progress, Justice Onnoghen’s exoneration stands as a powerful reminder to us all that, in the words of Proverbs 21:3, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Congratulations, Milord. Enjoy your hard won-back integrity, honour and dignity.

Opinion

Masquerade of Excellence: Celebrating Prof Mike Ozekhome’s Remarkable Journey @ 67

Published

2 months ago

October 14, 2024

Eric

By CDS Omon-Irabor Esq

Chief Prof. Dr. Mike A.A. Ozekhome SAN,
the only masquerade that dances in the farm without cutting a single reed of the yam tendrils.

The Gadfly is climbing the 67th rung on the ladder. From the hills of Agenebode down to the plains of the Iviukwe, the celestials, the principalities and the gods of Weppa and Wano Kingdoms are celebrating this colossus, who came in disguise as a little rough village boy; but very comely and handsome, his divine intelligence surpasses those of his peers.

Taking a sudden flight through primary and secondary schools casaded him into the land of Oduduwa. He anchored his life voyage at the ancestral home of the Yorubas, Ile-ife. Here his projenitors believed to have a temporary abode before sending the last born of the Ogisos Ile-ife (I ran and I became rich, Benin translation). Omonoyan (wrongly called Oromiyan) was sent to go to the land of Igodomigodo where today Chief Mike Ozekhome holds the title of Enobakhare of Benin Kingdom.

This great man had all his trappings, equipped himself and became a lawyer, taking abode in the Delphic Oracle (that is what we called the Chambers of Chief Gani Fawehim). There he became the Aristostle, tampering with the Apologia left at the eye of euroba.

He journeyed on, for no destiny, no chance, no faith, nor circumstance could hinder, control or circumvent the firm resolve of a determined soul in Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome as epitomised or postulated.

The great learned Senior Advocate of the masses grudges on, defending the most vulnerable and giving voice to the voiceless and muscle to the powerless.

The Okporokpo of Oleh kingdom, Delta State; the Aimotekpe of Okpeland, the Agbamofin of Ijanikinland, Lagos; the Ohamadike1 of Obibi Ochasi, Imo State; the Ada Idaha of Efik land and the great Akpakpa Vighi Vighi of Edo Land, the land of my ancestors, I salute you for it is morning yet.

There is no space here,for my ink is running dry; but before I drop, I remember your words to me while I was in the dock of the Warri High Court on the 12th day of July, 2013, “Omon, you look worried; mind you, those who think that they can cover the shinning sun with their palms will soon find the heat unbearable”.

Those who stopped you from becoming our Governor in 2003 indirectly made you Governor of all Governors.

In all these odyssey you traversed, behind the dìm unknown standeth God, watching over you, His own.

Obokhian, amonghon, iyare iyare, mooooooh.

CDS Omon-Irabor Esq writes from the hill and the cave of Ebudinland

Opinion

Mr. President: Affordable Fuel is Possible at Zero Subsidy

Published

2 months ago

October 12, 2024

Eric

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

Yesterday evening, I listened attentively to a panel of experts and stakeholders on the BBC program Ra’ayi Riga, anchored by Umaima Sani Abdulmumin. The program ended with a big doubt in my mind regarding a matter purported to be a provision of OPEC and crucial to the price of petrol in Nigeria.

Tyranny

I could not fathom how particularly the representatives of NNPC and IPMAN stressed that Nigerians will be at the mercy of two variables: the international market and the price of the US Dollar in Nigeria. They said OPEC agreement compels member countries to sell allocated domestic crude at international rate even if refined locally. One of them even said the Iran-Israel conflict can cause domestic price of petrol in Nigeria to rise.

So we should expect higher fuel prices anytime the rate of the dollar appreciates in Nigeria and also when, for any reason, there is a rise in the cost of crude in the international market. It is the rule, according to them. Our fate, they claim, is sealed, regardless of our OPEC membership and Dangote refinery. Nigerians will no longer have a stable fuel price.

Trust me, in Nigeria, the equation will be simultaneous. At any given moment, a reason will be found to use either or both parameters to increase pump price. The target of government is to extract more revenue from citizens while the businessmen in Dangote, Major Marketers, NNPCL and IPMAN continue to feed their greed for endless profit with our blood.

One would wonder why OPEC would be so oppressive in inflicting such tyranny on the citizens of its members. Senator Ndume, who was in the panel, said if he cannot understand why, how would they expect a commoner sitting under the tree to do so?

The truth

The truth is that there is no provision like that in OPEC agreements. In fact, the very idea of domestic crude quota arose in realization that citizens of member countries may need to enjoy cheaper oil than the international market price. That is why those citizens have been enjoying cheaper fuel for the past five decades in different countries. Many still do. Why not Nigerians?

If you ask ChatGPT whether OPEC agreement compels member countries to sell crude for domestic consumption at international market price only, this is the answer you get:

“OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) does not directly compel member countries to sell crude oil for domestic consumption at international market prices. OPEC’s primary role is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries to stabilize oil markets and secure a steady supply of oil.

“However, OPEC’s production quotas, agreements on output levels, and policies can indirectly influence domestic oil pricing. In practice, many OPEC members choose to sell crude oil domestically at subsidized rates or prices lower than the international market. This decision is made at the discretion of individual member countries, often as part of national energy policies aimed at supporting domestic economies and industries. Nonetheless, these policies may vary from one member country to another depending on domestic priorities and economic strategies.

“There is no formal OPEC rule that requires domestic sales to match international prices, though it can be influenced by international agreements and market pressures.”

The Truth

The truth is that the President and Minister of Petroleum can sell our 445,000 barrels a day to Dangote at even N50,000/barrel after taking into consideration the cost of extraction and OPEC will not raise any eyebrow. Dangote can charge the cost of refining, add his profit and sell to NNPCL and IPMAN at, say, N300/litre. On their part the marketers will add their cost of transportation, storage, profit, etc., and sell it to Nigerians at N400/litre. And—boom—we all will be happy.

It is entirely the discretion of the President and his government. So whoever wants to sell our locally produced fuel by that simultaneous equation is on his own. There is no OPEC in the equation.

The Squeeze

Also, among those who would fight against Nigerians enjoying affordable fuel rates are the IMF, World Bank and the West generally. They want the government to squeeze us the more such that we can service our debts and collect more loans from the Shylock. The age long philosophy is: our poverty, their wealth; our pain, their joy.

Added to these are local liberal economists who believe in high taxation, claiming that the blood money will be used to develop our infrastructure, health, education, etc. It is just the same old bunkum selling since 1986 at the debut of Naira devaluation while our infrastructure, hospitals and schools continue to deteriorate in rebuttal of that thesis.

A Call

I call on the President to consider the low income status of our citizen. Only affordable fuel price will hold together our social fabric, ensure our prosperity and guarantee our security. It is zero subsidy because we are not buying it from anyone. It is our oil.

The President must keep in mind that the IMF and oil magnates are not his partners in 2027. He is on his own. They will be there to outlive him and work with the next President. Let this sink into his psyche. Tam!