BARRISTER OLANREWAJU SIKIRU ADEWOYE LAUNCHES HIS BOOK “LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS AND GAME MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA”,2007-from THE NIGERIAN TRIBUNE,2007

from animalrightsinnigeria.wordpress.com


BARRISTER OLANREWAJU SIKIRU ADEWOYE LAUNCHES HIS BOOK “LEGAL FRAMEWORD FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS AND GAME MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA”,2007




from tribune.com.ng







Lawyers advocate animal rights

By Dolapo Okunniga

For the first time, legal protection for animals and game rights in Nigeria was championed last week at a book launch held in Ibadan, to sensitize the public on the need to protect the rights of animals by their human neigbours. The book entitled ‘ Legal framework for animal rights and game management in Nigeria” written by Mr. Sikiru Adewoye, a counsel at the Temitope Chambers of Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, which deals extensively with the municipal and international legal instruments protecting the rights of animals (mostly rated, vulnerable or endangered species), was given prominence at an occasion graced by respected jurists, traditional rulers and other important personalities.

In her opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Folake Solanke SAN commended the “uniqueness of the author’s profound interest and affection for animals in a society where many people have no regard whatsoever for animals and consequently no respect for their rights.”

She was quick to cite the example of the reckless killing of game mostly known as a delicacy called “venison” or “ bush meat”’ in Nigeria, the killing of such game or endangered animals, she said is met with stringent prosecution and long jail sentences if culprits were arrested abroad.

“That was what happened to a Nigerian couple, a few years ago, for offering bush meat to their customers in their London restaurant.” The legal luminary added that they were each bagged a jail term of seven years!

The book reviewer, Dr. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, who represented Professor Ademola Popoola, the Dean, Obafemi Awolowo University Law faculty, in his personal review of the book, cited examples of communities where animals have been arrested and jailed for breach of public peace.

Olatunbosun said” In Old Europe, worms were prosecuted in law courts; cocks have been prosecuted for crowing and ants for stealing. In South Finland in 1990, a white rabbit was jailed for vagrancy and loitering, having been arrested by a patrol team of police. In Southern India, an elephant trained to beg for her master was charged for begging and creating traffic hold up. It was booked for creating public nuisance but was later released and admonished to be of good behavior and the owner fined 100 rupees.

In some communities in Nigeria, there have been reports of animals who migrate from jungles to invade the livestock of those communities but this must also be considered by the author in subsequent editions off his book.”

Very recently, the Nigerian Tribune also published a foreign story of an Indian who got married to a female dog in a Hindu temple, to atone for stoning two dogs to death 15 years ago. He believed he was cursed for his action.

The reviewer also drew the attention of the audience to the inference drawn by the author from the two holy books, the Bible and the Quoran on punitive measures reserved for those who deliberately inflict pain on animals, alongside African traditional belief and respect for protection of animals. He emphasised on the African perspective ideas on animal rights.

Olatunbosun, commented on the efforts of the author to examine the scope of municipal legal instruments vis-à-vis the global conventions governing the management, control, preservation and environmental conditions of animals and game, where he cited the Convention for the protection of Fauna and Flora in West Africa 1833 &1849, Convention on International Trade of Endangered species and the Convention of Fishing and Preservation of other Living Resources of the High Seas 1968 which has proved the relevancy and potency of global law in other jurisdictions.This he said, could help to shape the structure of our own municipal laws.

Two legal luminaries present at the event gave their approval and recommended the book for extensive usage by law students, lawyers, judges, game managers, animal scientists, veterinary doctors and the general public.

In his comment, the first Emeritus Professor of Law, David Ijalaye SAN and the father of the day said, “ As far as I know, this is a first major work of animal rights in Nigeria. All things considered, this is a very good book, well researched and well written. It constitutes a curtain raiser in the field of animal rights under Nigerian law.”

His approval was seconded by the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, “the book is quite unique and the title most facilitating. It deals with an important aspect of the law but which alas, in many ways attract scant attention in many quarters even among lawyers. The global approach is highly commendable. Experts in this field of law should make their contribution known to mankind in a permanent nature of this work.

The author has made available an enduring literature for the benefit of law students, lawyers, judges and the general public.”













Tags: ANIMAL RIGHTS, GAME MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA




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