Samson Folarin
A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Femi
Falana, has asked the Niger Delta Avengers to stop blowing up oil
installations in the region, warning that the action will impoverish the
Niger Delta.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who
spoke in Lagos at an event marking the International Archives Day,
added that lack of proper record-keeping was the reason for the increase
in militant attacks in the country.
A statement on Sunday said the programme was organised by the Lagos State Archives and Records Bureau.
The statement said, “Falana said if
proper records had been kept, especially those of the pre and post
amnesty programmes in the region, the ongoing militancy would have been
nipped in the bud.
“The SAN advised authorities to put in
place measures to protect the integrity of archival materials and ensure
that records are updated as and when due. He said the lack of
record-keeping had made it difficult to police the country, unlike in
the developed countries where law enforcement agents make judicious use
of records to nab criminals and curb crimes.
“Falana, who commended the cleaning up
of the region by the Federal Government advised the Niger Delta Avengers
to desist from blowing up oil wells in the region as such acts would
further impoverish the people.”
The statement said Falana regretted that some lawyers took advantage of the lack of records to delay judgment in criminal cases.
During the plenary session, a veteran
journalist, Mr. Sam Omatseye, reportedly said those agitating for
secession in the eastern part of the country were doing so because they
had no sense of history.
The state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode,
who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy,
Mr. Steve Ayorinde, was said to have promised to ensure that records
pertaining to the history of the state were properly kept.
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