Akinsanya, judge who declared Shonekan’s interim government illegal, dies at 79
A former judge of the Lagos High Court, Justice Dolapo Funlola Akinsanya, who on November 10, 1993, declared the Interim National Government (ING) of Chief Ernest Shonekan illegal, is dead.
Justice Akinsanya died on Thursday in Lagos,The Nation gathered yesterday.
She was 79.
Akinsanya was born on February 24, 1941, to the family of the late Prof Sanya Onabamiro, a First Republic Minister in the old Western Region.
She was in private legal practice between 1966 and 1976 before she joined the Lagos State Ministry of Justice as a Senior Legal Officer. She rose through the ranks as Assistant Director Civil Litigation, Secretary/Legal Adviser, LSDPC, and Director, Civil Litigation, before being appointed a judge of the High Court of Lagos State on October 31, 1989.
In declaring the ING illegal in the famous judgement, Akinsanya had said: “President Babangida has no legitimate power to sign a decree after August 26, 1993, after his exit, so the decree is void and of no effect.”
She ordered that a civilian constitution, which was drawn up under Babangida in 1989 but never implemented, go into effect.
With the judgment, the legality of the ING was determined. The late Gen Sanni Abacha later seized power in a coup shortly afterwards.
Gen Babangida left government on August 26, 1993, and handed over to the ING headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Chief M.K.O .Abiola who had, won the June 12,1993 presidential election which was annulled by Babangida, challenged the handover of power to the ING.
Justice Akinsanya retired from the Lagos Judiciary on February 21, 2006. The then governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described Akinsanya as “one of the heroines of the present democracy in Nigeria for the courageous judgement she delivered against the legality of the Interim National Government in November 1993.
Source – The Nation
BREAKING: Gunmen abduct 16 market women leaders, others in Ondo
No fewer than 16 market women market leaders and other passengers have been abducted along Akure/Owo highway in Ondo state by gunmen.
However, 10 of the victims have been rescued while four of the kidnappers have been arrested by the police.
Vanguard gathered that the Iyaloja of Isua Akoko In Akoko North East council area of the state, Chief Mrs Helen Edward and other women leaders were amongst the victims.
They were reportedly heading to Akure, the state capital for the monthly meeting of Iyalaje, iyalojas and women leaders when they were abducted between Ogbese and Uso.
Sources said that the driver of the bus which conveyed the victims who was released by the kidnappers said the abductors asked him to go home and inform the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, their abduction had created apprehension and anxiety in the ancient city.
Speaking with vanguard, the state police image maker Tee Leo lkoro confirmed the abduction of 16 persons including the market women leaders.
Ikoro said that police detectives and other security personnel have rescued 10 of the victims and have apprehended four of the kidnappers.
He said that the remaining victims would soon be rescued unhurt by the police.
The police spokesperson said that police detectives are presently combing the forest where the victims were hidden.
Source – Vanguard