TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE CHRISTIAN LAWYERS FELLOWSHIP OFNIGERIA (CLASFON) ON THE 31^ST DAY OF JANUARY 2006

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) has considered some recent events in Nigeria and wish to comment as follows:

1. CLASFON welcomes and commends the decision of the Federal Executive Council to sponsor a Bill banning gay marriages and relationships in Nigeria. Homosexuality is an immoral act that is condemned in Christianity and indeed all religions and cultures in Nigeria. We call on the National Assembly to go a step further by defining marriage in the Constitution of Nigeria. This is because the Constitution encapsulates the public morality and core values that hold our society together. All proponents of gay marriage usually invoke the constitution to justify their actions.
2. CLASFON commends the prison reforms of the Federal government and the plan to secure the liberty of the persons detained without trial. We urge the government to engage civil society and NGOs in rehabilitating and absorbing those to be released back to society.
3. CLASFON condemns the rape of democracy in Oyo state as seen in the unlawful removal of Governor Rasheed Ladoja.The purported impeachment is a flagrant violation of the constitution that should not be allowed to stand or go unpunished. We condemn the action of the Acting Chief Judge of Oyo state who went ahead to constitute an impeachment panel in spite of a clear pronouncement of a court on the issue. CLASFON further condemns the action of the police who not only took sides against the rule of law but went further to disrupt a peaceful protest against the purported impeachment in violation of a court ruling recognizing the right of citizens to peaceful assembly. Those who continue to subvert the wishes of the people should know that their days are numbered. We call on the National Judicial Council to quickly and promptly deal with the issue by acting on the petition of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and sanctioning the Acting Chief Judge who appears to have forgotten his judicial oath. This call is even more urgent given the further attempt to subvert the course of justice by the Acting Chief Judge who ordered the transfer of the case file to another Judge.
4. CLASFON notes the recent happenings in the Niger-Delta which have become a source of worry to all Nigerians as it has further dented the image and perception of the country by the international community. The hostage-taking of oil workers on January 11 2006 and the murders and robbery at the AgipCenter in Port- Harcourt on 24^th January 2006 are clear indications that urgent steps need be taken to avoid a situation of chaos and anarchy in the region. We appeal to the Federal Government to take decisive action to secure the lives and property of the people of that region. Alternative means must be sought to iron out all the thorny issues in the area. CLASFON notes that the frequent resort to force and militarization of the area has not worked over time. We commend those that worked to secure the release of the hostages and rejoice with their families. CLASFON recognizes that the issue of ethnic agitations in Nigeria will continue so long as injustice and unrighteousness remains the order of the day.   We also call on the people of the Niger Delta to put down their arms and resort to constructive dialogue as these have over time been the tested way of resolving conflict.
5. CLASFON condemns the proponents of a third term agenda and urges the President to keep faith with the people by respecting the constitution and retiring to his farm in 2007 as promised; that is the only way he can earn his place in history. Any attempt to amend the constitution to suit a particular individual is not only unrighteous, it is sinful and will be resisted by CLASFON and all the good people of Nigeria .
6. CLASFON is concerned about the grave human rights situation in the ten northern states implementing the enhanced Shari’a Penal Codes. Our investigations reveal the continuous persecution and prosecution of non Muslims in these states. This is typified by the trial of non muslims in the shari’a courts, denial of access to land, abuse of their freedom to choose their religion by terrorizing persons that convert from Islam and the general creation of an atmosphere of fear especially among the non muslim indigenous population.

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Jonathan Kish Adamu                                 DR. Tony Ukam, mon

National President                                      P.R.O.