News
IHRC prays court to declare as illegal impersonation of its name, use of its logo
The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) on Thursday Approached the Federal High Court Abuja to seek for declaration barring any other group from impersonating with the name and Logo of the organisation.
The court action was coming against the backdrop that a group of persons have been using the name and logo of IHRC to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians in the name of launching pro-poor Housing Estate.
The organisation’s high Commissioner for African Region Ambassador Dr. Friday Sani said they approached the court to get a declaration because a particular group has continued to impersonate the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
“This is our reason for resorting to court action, having filed several petitions with the police the actions were inadequate.
“We think it has reached the peak whereby a court of law needed to make a pronouncement so it can stand as law against such impersonation.
“This group use the exact name and logo that was ordinarily protected by the trade mark act, because every logo in Nigeria and outside is usually protected by the registered trade mark. “Being an international Organization in Nigeria we ensured that our logo is protected by that registration for trade Mark and in Nigeria it is usually done by the Federal ministry of Trade and Industry.
“We have done that, even at that they still continued to use our logo and name against the established law.
According to Dr. Sani the group has been extorting money from people and even in recent times staged a launching on Tuesday targeted at defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians because International Human Rights Commission is not a Property consultant. “There is no way we will be proposing for a launch of a housing estate for the people. So it is an attempt to defraud the people and I want the public to take note of it.
“Whether it is the property Housing that was launched they do not have anything to do with the IHRC, including our logo that was protected by law in Nigeria and outside.
“We had taken this matter to the Trade Mark Act tribunal, whereby if anybody impersonate your logo you take the person before the tribunal.
“We have exhausted that window of opportunity to make complaint to the tribunal and the Tribunal came out with a ruling that it has no jurisdiction over them because they are not registered or they don’t have a registered name or logo with the Federal ministry of Trade and Industry, hence they have no jurisdiction over them.
“Since they have continued to impersonate our organization we felt it is better to come before the court to protect our organization.
The IHRC is our name with the European Union, it is a European Union property across Europe and in the world you cannot use the logo anywhere.
“Yet the same group continued to use the logo and the name with the intention to defraud. We have a police report that was released recently indicting them of defrauding people with an account where several monies were collected in the name of registering them.
He said the IHRC that he heads in Africa does not register anybody for any amount as people don’t need to pay money for accessing human rights. “What we do is free legal services to every individual living on earth. We don’t register anybody for money. Anybody who is asking you to bring money to be registered into the International Human Rights Commission belongs to the same group of fraudulent agents whose matter we have brought to court.”
The legal representative for the IHRC
Victor Onuche Chapi said relief in the application he has filed is for the court to declare that only the International Human Rights Commission and it’s Lawful Attorney Dr. Friday Sani has the legal right to act as the official representative of the IHRC both in Nigeria and in the African region.
“We are asking the court to declare that the attempt by these individuals to impersonate, to act as the official representatives of the IHRC is it ultra vires
Null and void and that any act they have carried out in the name of International Human Rights Commission using our name, using our logo to perpetrate all manners of illegal activities be declared ultra vires, null and void
“The import of this action is not just to distance the African head of IHRC from the activities of these well known fraudsters but also to establish that human right is free, human right is for everyone, you cannot sell it, you cannot divorce yourself from it. “So anyone that is attempting to exchange money or other gifts to provide you with your human right, they are looking for something that is not protected or guaranteed by the law.
“The law is clearly established, where there is wrong there is right. So we have asked the court to make us even because these people have not only brought disrepute to the International Human Rights Commission both in Nigeria and the world because their activities are broadcasted globally. “They are fronting a criminal organization using a well known organization with integrity. So yes, we have asked the court for damages and we believe the court will hear us and grant us our reliefs.
A faith-based Civil Society Organization, (CSO), that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities Independent Hajj Reporters, (IHR) has called on the Federal and state governments to make adequate security arrangements for pilgrims at embarkation points across the country.
This is coming as the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday this week.
In a statement on Monday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed the IHR indicated that over 65, 000 intending pilgrims from Nigeria will be leaving their homes to various Hajj camps for screening and onward transportation to about 15 airports within the next 30 days.
The Statement observed that such mass movement of people from one point to another creates serious security challenges that need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy by the various security agencies in the country.
“While we appreciate the efforts made by security agencies in previous operations, we call on the federal government to order and activate a high-level security surveillance system to monitor and protect the movement of pilgrims throughout the outbound and inbound airlift operations.
“We also urge State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to advise intending pilgrims against coming to hajj camps with large escorts usually made up of family members as such increases the likelihood of security breaches especially
when airlift operations demand that pilgrims can be invited to hajj camps at any time of the day or night.
State governments should complement the federal security architecture by mobilizing local vigilantes and other volunteers to form a hajj security team and provide them with internal communication equipment with state hajj officials, airliners and other airlift stakeholders.
“As journalists who worked closely with security agencies during hajj operations, IHR had in the last few years honour security institutions during its annual hajj lectures and awards to appreciate and encourage them to improve on their daunting tasks of maintaining security of lives and properties across the country.”
IHR further appealed to Security forces to take necessary “measures to prevent evil-minded groups from exploiting the Hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage.
“Anticipating and preparing for potential security threats before they materialize will help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of time”. The statement said.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state by sefeating fifteen other aspirants in a landslide victory
The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, made the declaration on Monday morning in Akure, the state capital.
Ododo said Aiyedatiwa clinched the APC ticket with a total of 48,569 votes followed by his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes.
Below is a breakdown of the final results of the election.
Total number of voters – 117922
Total number of accredited voters – 95,178
Total votes cast – 95178
Invalid – Nil
Jimi Odimayo – 490
Omogoroye Judith – 115
Lucky Aiyedatiwa – 48,569
Isaacs Kekemeke – 1045
Soji Ehinlanwo – 492
Olugbenga Edema – 395
Jimoh lbrahim – 9456
Adekojo Funmilayo – 529
Akinfolarin Samuel – – 15343
Wale Akinterinwa – 1952
Olusola Oke – 14,915
Olamide Ohunyeye – 424
Morayo Lebi – 290
Diran lyantan – 348
Prof Dayo Faduyile – 353
Ife Oyedele – 462
1: Ilaje LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa. 26
Olusola Oke. 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
Jimoh Ibrahim: 282
AIYEDATIWA: 1225
WA: 474
3: Ondo West LG
Jimoh Ibrahim: 2668
Aiyedatiwa: 10610
4: Ese Odo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 298
Akinterinwa – 0
Oke – 147
Jimoh Ibrahim – 174
5: Owo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2,123
Akinterinwa – 345
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 192
6: Idanre LG
Aiyedatiwa – 1, 579
Akinterinwa – 119
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5, 430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2, 721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2, 747
Akinterinwa – 272
Oke – 415
Jimoh Ibrahim – 466
11: No results for IFEDORE LGA due to alleged violence
12: OSE LGA
Aiyedatiwa 1, 091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1, 239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1, 606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3, 265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17 OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1, 571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4, 803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1, 171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and chairman of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election committee has applauded stakeholders and members of the party in the state for their orderly conduct and massive turnout during the direct primary election in the state.
Special Adviser on Media to the Governor Ismaila Isah in a statement quoted the Governor to have given the commendation while receiving reports from members of the APC Governorship Primary Election committee, security agencies and other stakeholders who monitored the conduct of the election in different parts of the 18 local government areas in the state.
According to the Governor
“I have received reports from our committee members and security agencies as well as NGOs monitoring the election including video footages and I can say that the process has been transparent and we are going to produce a candidate that will unify the APC ahead of the November, 2024 governorship election in the state.”
Responding to questions over delay in arrival of materials in some wards and local government areas, Governor Ododo said he was certain that the delay has no adverse effect on the conduct of the primary election.
The Kogi State Governor also expressed confidence that concerns noticed in the revalidated membership list would not have any major impact on the outcome of the primary election, stressing that the committee is well guided by the APC guidelines for the nomination of candidates for general elections and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Governor Ododo called on the aspirants and their supporters to see the primary election as a contest among brothers and sisters in one family seeking to make the family better as candidate of the party in the November, 2024 Governorship election in Ondo State.
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