Saturday, August 15, 2015
PRESS STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE CASES OF NIGERIAN GIRLS IN DUBAI, WHO WERE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND UNATHORIZED VIDEORECORDING AND DISPLAY By Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire August 14, 2015
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press:
Permit me to address you on the extraordinary and unprecedented events of the past two weeks, in which the videotapes of two Nigerian girls, known from the videotapes as Precious and Chisom taken on separations, were shown on Facebook, Whatsapp, and several social media platforms, and the Internet in general.
As is now well known, I was among the many citizens of this world who were incensed by the extreme act of videotaping the nudity of a person, with a view to using such a videotape as an instrument of control, subjugation or extortion. I joined in condemning that act. I initiated in my modest ways debates and discussions on it. As an international human right lawyer, generally, I considered those videos, in their various contexts, gross violations of fundamental human rights under the United Nations convention on rights as well as under the Constitutions of both Nigeria , of which these girls are citizens, and the United Arab Emirates, in which the video-recordings were done.
Preliminary investigations led us to a clique or a network of people, comprising of individuals in the United
Arab Emirates, working with collaborators and agents in Nigeria, all apparently protected and facilitated by some members of the Nigerian Immigration authorities, who engage in human trafficking. This clique is a part of an international cartel in charge of trafficking of young women, and even minors, across international boundaries for forced prostitution.
The circumstances of these girls, with whom we have now been in touch, reveal the following essential elements of human trafficking:
(a) They were victims of violence or threat of violence against them or their family members;
(b) They were harmed or deprived of basic necessities, such as food and shelter as means of securing their obedience to the dictates of the traffickers;
(c) They were given false promises of good job in the UAE;
(d) They were restricted from contact with friends or family;
(e) Their freedom of movement was limited;
(f) Their identification documents were fraudulently manipulated and compromised or otherwise controlled by the traffickers;
(g) They were constantly threatened with deportation or law enforcement action;
(h) The money and gifts they received, even from the act of prostitution, were confiscated by the traffickers to pay off some bogus and illegal debts allegedly owed to the traffickers, and
(i) They were subjected to pagan rituals and oath-taking procedures with threats of dare supernatural consequences for them and their families in the vent they failed to comply with the dictates of the traffickers.
There is no doubt in our mind that those who have been subjected to this cruel treatment qualify for all the protections the law has for victims of human trafficking. Also, there is no doubt as the grave legal penalties that should await those who engage in this sort of criminal conduct.
I have raised these issues from the point of view of a human right lawyer and a public interest advocate. In that capacity, I have received support from people all over the world who are prepared to join in the fight against human trafficking for sex-slavery.
Today, and in respect of this particular statement, I wear a slightly different hat. I stand before you today as a lawyer, who has been retained by Precious and Chisom and their families. My law firm, ECULAW, has been engaged to act as Counsel for in investigating the cases of these two wonderful and brave young women, and in enforcing their rights accordingly.
In this context, I make bold to say that my clients are two wonderful young Nigerian women who were forced by economic hardship to seek ways, including dangerous ways, to better their lives. While my clients are not saints, they are not worse than you or I. They may be more naïve, more reckless and less lucky than other Nigerians, which was why they believed that life outside Nigeria would be automatically better than life in Nigeria. They believed the lies they were told. They did not understand the processes and complexities of the system they were walking into once they agreed to travel to Dubai.
They did not understand that they would end up owing someone more money than they could ever finish paying or the detailed circumstances that would surround the computation of their bogus debts. They never understood that they would lose their right to say no to a person who would have sex with them. They never understood that they would lose their rights to walk freely in the streets at any time of their choosing. They never understood that someone would forcibly videotape them and disseminate such videos without their permission. They never understood nor did they expect the horrible things that happened to them. The two ladies were beaten, tortured and assaulted regularly by those in control over them. One of them was routinely raped by her bisexual Madam. Their monies were stolen and confiscated. The showing of the videotapes was a culmination of months of callous bestiality and depravity they suffered in the hands of their captors.
My clients have suffered gross violations of their privacy rights, degrading and inhuman treatment, vicious savagery, loss of family life, loss of liberty, threat to life, loss of property rights, and almost all other essential rights and freedoms recognized by human civilization. Those who violated their rights must be held accountable under the law and must pay damages for their excessively vicious conduct.
The ordeal that my client went through continues to place them in danger and some of the deprivations suffered by them are of a continuing nature. My primary goal at this point, apart from my general work against human trafficking, is to ensure the safety of my clients and to make sure they return to Nigeria and rejoin their families soon. Next, I face the task of helping my clients to start the long and improbable journey toward restoring or regaining their seriously damaged dignity and esteem.
I can understand that the public would like to know more details about what transpired, and that is a legitimate public interest factor. But at the same time, we crave the sympathy of the public for these women’s privacy. We must therefore urge that there be some balancing act between the public’s right to know and the victims right to peace and privacy. In this regard, we request every person who is in possession of the videotapes in any form whatsoever to destroy them and to stop further dissemination thereof. It is important to know that even though you did not cause the videotape to be sent to you, disseminating them or storing them is inappropriate and might be illegal. The least you can do for us is to not further the shame and indignities that my clients have been put through by criminals.
My office will be available to answer any questions about our work on these cases as would be appropriate communication from a lawyer. I thank you for your time and attention. God bless.
ECULAW & CO.
Permit me to address you on the extraordinary and unprecedented events of the past two weeks, in which the videotapes of two Nigerian girls, known from the videotapes as Precious and Chisom taken on separations, were shown on Facebook, Whatsapp, and several social media platforms, and the Internet in general.
As is now well known, I was among the many citizens of this world who were incensed by the extreme act of videotaping the nudity of a person, with a view to using such a videotape as an instrument of control, subjugation or extortion. I joined in condemning that act. I initiated in my modest ways debates and discussions on it. As an international human right lawyer, generally, I considered those videos, in their various contexts, gross violations of fundamental human rights under the United Nations convention on rights as well as under the Constitutions of both Nigeria , of which these girls are citizens, and the United Arab Emirates, in which the video-recordings were done.
Preliminary investigations led us to a clique or a network of people, comprising of individuals in the United
Arab Emirates, working with collaborators and agents in Nigeria, all apparently protected and facilitated by some members of the Nigerian Immigration authorities, who engage in human trafficking. This clique is a part of an international cartel in charge of trafficking of young women, and even minors, across international boundaries for forced prostitution.
The circumstances of these girls, with whom we have now been in touch, reveal the following essential elements of human trafficking:
(a) They were victims of violence or threat of violence against them or their family members;
(b) They were harmed or deprived of basic necessities, such as food and shelter as means of securing their obedience to the dictates of the traffickers;
(c) They were given false promises of good job in the UAE;
(d) They were restricted from contact with friends or family;
(e) Their freedom of movement was limited;
(f) Their identification documents were fraudulently manipulated and compromised or otherwise controlled by the traffickers;
(g) They were constantly threatened with deportation or law enforcement action;
(h) The money and gifts they received, even from the act of prostitution, were confiscated by the traffickers to pay off some bogus and illegal debts allegedly owed to the traffickers, and
(i) They were subjected to pagan rituals and oath-taking procedures with threats of dare supernatural consequences for them and their families in the vent they failed to comply with the dictates of the traffickers.
There is no doubt in our mind that those who have been subjected to this cruel treatment qualify for all the protections the law has for victims of human trafficking. Also, there is no doubt as the grave legal penalties that should await those who engage in this sort of criminal conduct.
I have raised these issues from the point of view of a human right lawyer and a public interest advocate. In that capacity, I have received support from people all over the world who are prepared to join in the fight against human trafficking for sex-slavery.
Today, and in respect of this particular statement, I wear a slightly different hat. I stand before you today as a lawyer, who has been retained by Precious and Chisom and their families. My law firm, ECULAW, has been engaged to act as Counsel for in investigating the cases of these two wonderful and brave young women, and in enforcing their rights accordingly.
In this context, I make bold to say that my clients are two wonderful young Nigerian women who were forced by economic hardship to seek ways, including dangerous ways, to better their lives. While my clients are not saints, they are not worse than you or I. They may be more naïve, more reckless and less lucky than other Nigerians, which was why they believed that life outside Nigeria would be automatically better than life in Nigeria. They believed the lies they were told. They did not understand the processes and complexities of the system they were walking into once they agreed to travel to Dubai.
They did not understand that they would end up owing someone more money than they could ever finish paying or the detailed circumstances that would surround the computation of their bogus debts. They never understood that they would lose their right to say no to a person who would have sex with them. They never understood that they would lose their rights to walk freely in the streets at any time of their choosing. They never understood that someone would forcibly videotape them and disseminate such videos without their permission. They never understood nor did they expect the horrible things that happened to them. The two ladies were beaten, tortured and assaulted regularly by those in control over them. One of them was routinely raped by her bisexual Madam. Their monies were stolen and confiscated. The showing of the videotapes was a culmination of months of callous bestiality and depravity they suffered in the hands of their captors.
My clients have suffered gross violations of their privacy rights, degrading and inhuman treatment, vicious savagery, loss of family life, loss of liberty, threat to life, loss of property rights, and almost all other essential rights and freedoms recognized by human civilization. Those who violated their rights must be held accountable under the law and must pay damages for their excessively vicious conduct.
The ordeal that my client went through continues to place them in danger and some of the deprivations suffered by them are of a continuing nature. My primary goal at this point, apart from my general work against human trafficking, is to ensure the safety of my clients and to make sure they return to Nigeria and rejoin their families soon. Next, I face the task of helping my clients to start the long and improbable journey toward restoring or regaining their seriously damaged dignity and esteem.
I can understand that the public would like to know more details about what transpired, and that is a legitimate public interest factor. But at the same time, we crave the sympathy of the public for these women’s privacy. We must therefore urge that there be some balancing act between the public’s right to know and the victims right to peace and privacy. In this regard, we request every person who is in possession of the videotapes in any form whatsoever to destroy them and to stop further dissemination thereof. It is important to know that even though you did not cause the videotape to be sent to you, disseminating them or storing them is inappropriate and might be illegal. The least you can do for us is to not further the shame and indignities that my clients have been put through by criminals.
My office will be available to answer any questions about our work on these cases as would be appropriate communication from a lawyer. I thank you for your time and attention. God bless.
ECULAW & CO.
ITS EITHER THEY STEP IT DOWN or WE SHUT IT DOWN by Idi Presly
Still in line with our desire to push for the IPP to be stepped down within Ndokwa Nation, PGI this week wrote a letter of reminder to the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company whom are owners of the plant of our earlier notice to them tasking them to initiate the process of the stepping down.
We made it categorically clear that the good people of Ndokwa Nation are tired of this continuous show of impunity from the company, we can't be in the middle of the ocean yet we are looking for were to get water.
This people have continually over the years exploited us by using our God giving natural resource to power the plant still we are not benefiting from it.
The synergy between me and my broda Comr. Chocky Chukwuma who is the Executive President of PGI has made it possible for us to get to the point we are now on the issue, because as at this moment the receipt of acknowledgement has just been brought from the letter we sent to the office of the President. Yes we have written to the Presidency, The Ministry of Power and Energy, G.M.D of the NNPC, all National Security agency (DSS, IG, JTF, CP, SSS amongst others) as well as our amiable Governor informing them of our stand on the issue.
At this point we are making a clarion call to all youths of Ndokwa Nation to arise and respond to this rallying call as we have made it clear to the company that the era of their taking us for granted is over, as we are ready to Mobilize all resources and arsenals available to us to achieve the desire of our people. We have issued them a one week ultimatum to call for a stakeholders meeting with a view of initiating the stepping down process as if they fail to STEP IT DOWN, we shall SHUT IT DOWN.
This battle is for the betterment of NDOKWA NATION and its not a one man fight. Every Youth of Ndokwa Nation should get ready as upon the expiration of the ultimatum, the stage shall be set for action.
The day of reckoning is at hand.
#ITS EITHER THEY STEP IT DOWN or WE SHUT IT DOWN. Spread the word.
MRS VICTORIA AGAGARAGA CHARGES TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE
Mrs Victoria Agagaraga (Nee Okonye) who made the charge during the occasion of her sent forth party organized by Ugbeleme Primary School in commemoration of her retirement.
She equally stated that she loves teaching profession and it thrills her that the school, she started her zeal in education is where she is ending her service and if not for years of service, she would have remained a classroom teacher.
Indeed, she is a seasoned professional teacher, she exclaimed!
She used the opportunity to encourage all her colleagues that is still in service and reminded them that the responsibilities of teachers are great towards Nation building and as well advised both teachers and parents to be readily available and be hardworking in the course of our daily struggle for the upbringing of our children and also be dedicated our duties.
She equally stated that she loves teaching profession and it thrills her that the school, she started her zeal in education is where she is ending her service and if not for years of service, she would have remained a classroom teacher.
Indeed, she is a seasoned professional teacher, she exclaimed!
She used the opportunity to encourage all her colleagues that is still in service and reminded them that the responsibilities of teachers are great towards Nation building and as well advised both teachers and parents to be readily available and be hardworking in the course of our daily struggle for the upbringing of our children and also be dedicated our duties.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
ENUDI MARCUS WRITES DEPUTY SPEAKER AS HE SUES FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
Good day sir,
I write this letter,with the love of Ndokwa Nation,in my heart,I urge all of us,to join hands,shun all kinds of personal bickering,amongst us,and make Ndokwa East,better.Lets forget whatever that has happened before now,bury our personal interests,for the love and betterment of Ndokwa Nation.
I have thought about this,over and over again,and concluded that,if we continue bickering,and quarreling,our children,will be the ones to suffer the underdevelopment of Ndokwa Nation,as it is now,Ndokwa East,is the most underdeveloped in Delta State,and we are wasting our strength,power and energies,fighting each other,if we can combine this energies together,the sky,will be our stepping stone.
I AM THEREFORE,EXTENDING HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP,FOR THE LOVE OF NDOKWA NATION,FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DEAR NDOKWA EAST,AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTHS.
I write this letter,with the love of Ndokwa Nation,in my heart,I urge all of us,to join hands,shun all kinds of personal bickering,amongst us,and make Ndokwa East,better.Lets forget whatever that has happened before now,bury our personal interests,for the love and betterment of Ndokwa Nation.
I have thought about this,over and over again,and concluded that,if we continue bickering,and quarreling,our children,will be the ones to suffer the underdevelopment of Ndokwa Nation,as it is now,Ndokwa East,is the most underdeveloped in Delta State,and we are wasting our strength,power and energies,fighting each other,if we can combine this energies together,the sky,will be our stepping stone.
I AM THEREFORE,EXTENDING HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP,FOR THE LOVE OF NDOKWA NATION,FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DEAR NDOKWA EAST,AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTHS.
IGWEBUIKE.
EZIZA DINI UKU,NE EGBU EGIZHI.
EZIZA DINI UKU,NE EGBU EGIZHI.
GOD BLESS YOU SIR.
COM.ENUDI MARCUS,
NATIONAL PRESIDENT,SAVE NDOKWA NATION GROUP.SNNG.
NATIONAL PRESIDENT,SAVE NDOKWA NATION GROUP.SNNG.
PRESIDENT,NDOKWA NEKU UNION,NNU,
YOUTH WING.
YOUTH WING.
STATE CHAIRMAN,ANIOMA VOICE WORLDWIDE FOUNDATION,AVWF.
STATE CORDINATOR,
JOSLA B15
JOSLA B15
EFFURUN CRIES FOR HELP
Attached is the picture of Effurun/Sapele fly over road and beside it is Warri shop Rite overtaken by flood.
We are using this opportunity to call the attention of State ministry of environment which is charged with the responsibility of addressing drainage issues in Delta State before the flood starts demolishing peoples houses.
We are using this opportunity to call the attention of State ministry of environment which is charged with the responsibility of addressing drainage issues in Delta State before the flood starts demolishing peoples houses.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
''PYRATES CONFRATERNITY ISN'T A CULT" - SOYINKA
Noble laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who is believed to have co-founded the Pyrates Confraternity in Nigeria, has said that it was wrong to lump cultism with confraternity, arguing that the two were not the same.
Soyinka, who spoke in an interview with Zero Tolerance, a periodic
publication by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
argued that belonging to confraternities is a normal culture in colleges
and not an evil cult, as wrongly portrayed by ignorant persons in
Nigeria.
Soyinka said: “Everybody knows that fraternities are a normal culture in all colleges. It exists in all colleges. President Clinton was a member of a fraternity. In fact, anybody who goes to college in the United States is a member of a college fraternity. There is absolutely nothing evil or occultic about fraternity.
“But here, the media is largely responsible for fuelling the ignorance of society of the words ‘cultism’ and ‘fraternity’. This is a disservice and I have said it again and again. There are evil cults, whose members must prove themselves by going to rape. There are others whose entry is to slash or eat somebody or rob; it has nothing to do with college fraternity.
“The media owes the responsibility to constantly tell the public the truth. But they go on and children grow up, believing that college fraternity is Satanic, demonic and this is wrong.”
Soyinka said: “Everybody knows that fraternities are a normal culture in all colleges. It exists in all colleges. President Clinton was a member of a fraternity. In fact, anybody who goes to college in the United States is a member of a college fraternity. There is absolutely nothing evil or occultic about fraternity.
“But here, the media is largely responsible for fuelling the ignorance of society of the words ‘cultism’ and ‘fraternity’. This is a disservice and I have said it again and again. There are evil cults, whose members must prove themselves by going to rape. There are others whose entry is to slash or eat somebody or rob; it has nothing to do with college fraternity.
“The media owes the responsibility to constantly tell the public the truth. But they go on and children grow up, believing that college fraternity is Satanic, demonic and this is wrong.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)