Universal jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the US national interest: An issue of incompatibility

On July 17, 1998, one hundred and twenty countries adopted a treaty in Rome to establish a permanent International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.1 This treaty is the culmination of decades of advocacy by leading human rights advocates around the world to establish an international forum or mechanism by which nations can finally bring to justice individuals that engage in atrocities against humanity.2 Inspired, inter alia, by the Nuremberg trials, and the tribunals on war crimes for the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda, the treaty to create this court is the product of the proceedings at the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, or simply known as the “Rome Conference.”3 The beneficial attributes of such permanent legal institution are undeniable, but to date, several countries, including the United States, although signatories to the treaty, are reluctant to ratify on the grounds of constitutional incompatibility, or, in the case of the United States, adverse to national interest.International Law, Human Rights Law, Economics

A human rights approach to the economic analysis of bureaucratic corruption

The traditional arena of human rights discourse and practice made little or no allowance for the rapidly growing international phenomenon of bureaucratic corruption.1 In the recent past, states have consistently maintained that bureaucratic corruption, on the basis of the norm of non-intervention, was strictly a domestic issue and thus outside the competence of international bodies2, such as the United Nations. This is no longer the case, for states have now gradually come to grips with the realization that bureaucratic corruption is a debilitating governmental anomaly that admits of no national boundaries, and assaults the social, economic and cultural integrity of all nations, albeit at varying degrees of intensity3. The vast literature on corruption approaches its incidence and effects almost invariably from a political and economic perspective, and rightly conclude that where prevalent, social welfare suffers in terms of anemic economic growth and diminished opportunities4. A new approach in analyzing the effects of bureaucratic corruption that looks beyond the traditional areas of inquiry is now, more than ever, imperative. It is here argued that the traditional approach is too limited, and fails to recognize the broader social impact of corruption on individuals and collectivities. This work, therefore, adopts a rights-based approach to the analysis of bureaucratic corruption and its effects on fundamental human rights. The thesis here espoused is that bureaucratic corruption, where endemic and sustained, leads to suppressions of human rights through its damaging effects on economic development. It is further posited that when states, cognizant of prevalent corruptive practices, either fail to take preventive measures or tacitly encourage its observance, are derelict in their duties and the obligations assumed as signatories to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).Applied Economics, bureaucratic corruption, human rights

The employment Retirement Income Security Act: An unkindly illusion

The level of economic development and the path taken to sustain such development are invariably deterministic of chosen forms of governance, and the political realities that inform them. The literature on political economy is near unanimity on this claim, especially as it pertains the experiences of the developing world --- Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. The relationship between economic development and choice of governance is indeed intricate, for it touches all mechanisms by which a society deploys its resources to meet defined goals and expectations, and how it defines and distinguishes itself from others. It is to this relationship that one must appeal in order to understand, not only why countries in sub-Saharan Africa remain economically underdeveloped, but also the forms of government that exist in the sub-continent.Development Economics

Theorizing Literature: Style and Themes in Selected Texts by African Authors

This paper investigates some major thematic preoccupations and stylistic trends prevalent in African literature; the paper examines the works of some African writers from different generations and how they use their creative works to unravel postcolonial realities in Africa. The paper brings to our notice the various literary theories adopted in reveling the numerous stylistic trends and themes in modern African literature, not excluding Gay theory which is relatively new in contemporary African fiction. This paper concludes that contrary to popular research findings, writers have more to do in correcting numerous societal ills prevalent in Africa. Keywords: African, writers, literary, theme, theory, styl

Active participation of Nigerian women in the politics and governance: a reality or mirage?

The journey towards the emancipation of women from discriminatory and suppressive societal/tribal norms has finally given the women folk a public and political voice internationally. This is clearly revealed in the increasing number of women getting involved in seeking elective positions in governance and even those already participating in governance. This paper looks at international and regional instruments that recognize and encourage the right of women to participate in politics and the public sphere. Further, the paper looks at Nigerian legislation so far and how they encourage the participation of women in politics and governance. Finally a peek is taken into the actual participation of women in politics and governance globally and in Nigeria.Keywords: Active participation, Nigerian women, Politics and Governance, Reality, Mirag

Heart of the masses: Thematic trends in popular literature in South Africa and Nigeria

The tremendous growth of popular literature in Africa can be traced during the period of colonization; which has led to massive publication of pamphlets across South Africa and Nigeria respectively. This paper examines the various popular literature published, and its major thematic preoccupations with an insight on the tremendous but gradual developmental progress. However, not much has been done in enlightening readers and scholars alike on the various new trends that have emerged from these regions. This paper will investigate the forms of popular literature from these regions with the purpose of exposing its hybrid nature. It argues that new forms of popular literature have emerged from Nigeria in particular. The study applies New Historicism theory in the study and analysis of the texts in the paper. Popular culture and oral literature becomes the hedge or platform which gives support to pamphlet literature from these countries in Africa. This paper therefore concludes that contrary to popular research findings, popular literature has extensively increased the growth of popular literature in South African and Nigeria despite its limitations.Keywords: Popular literature, pamphlets, Obiechina, South Africa, Nigeri

The law and practice of electronic taxation in Nigeria: The gains and challenges

Electronic taxation (E-taxation) and its automated processes are gradually phasing out manual tax administration globally. With e-taxation, taxpayers can conveniently pay  their taxes electronically from the comfort of their homes, offices, shops and even while travelling. Tax authorities on the other hand, can now go after tax defaulters with the  electronic tax history of taxpayers on their web portals. According to the World Bank  and PwC2 Paying Taxes Report 2013, sixty six economies had fully implemented  electronic filing and payment of taxes as at 2010.3 In 2013, about 66 countries all  over the world have automated core tax processes for effective tax administration and management of taxpayers’ data.4 More countries like Taiwan joined in adopting  e-taxation in 2014. Research reveals that the adoption of e-taxation in some countries has increased tax compliance amongst taxpayers.5 This article aims at comparatively analysing the gains and challenges of utilising e-taxation in tax administration and the legal framework of e-taxation in the United States of America, Australia and Nigeria; and the gains and challenges of utilizing e-taxation in tax administration in the USA, Australia and Nigeria.Key words: Law and Practice, Electronic Taxation, Gains and Challenges, Nigeri

Nigerian Novel: A Reading of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart as World Literature

The paper examined Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart as an example of world literature and emphasizes how Nigerian (Igbo) perception of the world is illuminated in the text investigated.  Although previous studies have been done on Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the paper pays critical attention to gender, race, tradition, religion, ethnicity, nationality, culture clash, Igbo cosmology, and politics in colonial Eastern Nigeria. The tension between the British colonial actors and Okonkwo are equally examined. The essay adopts postcolonial theory as its theoretical framework. The paper concludes that issues examined in the text are not only regional but global. The paper recommends that further studies should be done on the works of Nigerian novelists that illuminate tenets of World Literature. Keywords: Chinua Achebe, postcolonialism, culture, world literature, Umuofia, conflict DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/92-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

Edible Insects of the Niger Delta Area in Nigeria.

The use of insects as food by the people of the Niger Delta in Nigeria is not new. A survey of the insects used by the people of this region revealed a total of twenty species used as food. The species cut across six orders namely: Isoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidotera, Hemiptera and Diptera. Order Coleoptera had the highest number of species (6) followed closely by orders Lepidoptera and Orthoptera with 5 species each. The species consumed differed in each of the assessed states however, the most commonly consumed species were termites  recording 29% on a pie-chart followed closely by R. phoenicis larva with 22%. These insects are sourced from the wild. The different times in the year they are harvested are listed. They are prepared for eating either by boiling, frying or roasting while some are eaten raw. These insects form an integral part of the people of the Niger Delta region of my country as they are consumed by all ages in the population. Key words: Entomophagy, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Wil

The employment Retirement Income Security Act: An unkindly illusion

The level of economic development and the path taken to sustain such development are invariably deterministic of chosen forms of governance, and the political realities that inform them. The literature on political economy is near unanimity on this claim, especially as it pertains the experiences of the developing world --- Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. The relationship between economic development and choice of governance is indeed intricate, for it touches all mechanisms by which a society deploys its resources to meet defined goals and expectations, and how it defines and distinguishes itself from others. It is to this relationship that one must appeal in order to understand, not only why countries in sub-Saharan Africa remain economically underdeveloped, but also the forms of government that exist in the sub-continent