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Tag: Bail

  • Don’t pay for bail – Police PRO tells Lagosians

    Don’t pay for bail – Police PRO tells Lagosians

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, has called on members of the public not to pay any money while filing complaints at any police station in the state.

    Hundeyin told NAN on Wednesday in Lagos that police extortions should be reported to the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the command.

    Some residents had raised concerns over continued extortion by police officers who demanded money before accepting and documenting complaints.

    These residents stressed that the Nigeria Police Force, including the Lagos State Command, used the slogan “Bail is Free” to inform citizens that bail was free and should not be paid for but some officers still extorted members of the public.

    A victim narrating his experience to NAN, alleged that two policemen extorted N7,000 from him.

    “Police apprehended me in Meiran area of Lagos after my neighbour accused me of stealing his I-phone.

    “At the station, they collected N2,000 before giving me a sheet of paper to write my statement.

    “While writing the statement, the complainant came to the station to inform them that the phone had been recovered from another neighbour who stole it.

    “Instead of the police to release me after the suspected thief was apprehended, they demanded N10,000 bail. After negotiation, I parted with N5,000,” he said.

    Another victim, an undergraduate, recounted how two officers apprehended him at Oshodi, took him to the station and extorted N4,000 from him.

    “The police stopped me on the road during their stop and search operation, they took my phone and were asking for the receipt.

    “I told them I do not have a receipt that it was a used phone handed down to me by my brother.

    “They took me to the station and threatened to charge me with stealing and armed robbery, and I started begging. They eventually asked me to make a N10,000 payment to secure my freedom.

    “I told them I only have N5,000 in my account, after checking my account balance to confirm the amount, one of the officers took me to a Point of Service (POS) operator to withdraw N4,000 for them, ” he said.

    Another victim said that officers of another police division collected N12,000 when he went to report a case of burglary.

    “Someone burgled an empty apartment in our estate and was living there illegally.

    “When I went to the station to report, the police demanded N13,000 before I would be allowed to write a statement. I eventually paid N12,000,” he said.

    According to the PPRO, extorting members of the public is a corrupt practise.

    Hundeyin emphasised that people should stop paying to document a complaint or bail themselves.

    “People should not succumb to extortion, rather they should make a formal complaint of officers who demand money for any offence to the state through CRU of the Lagos State Police Command.

    “A person was asked for money, he called the CRU who weighed into the matter and he was released without paying any money.

    “People should learn to take advantage of solutions that the police have made available,” the image maker said.

    He added that the public could lodge complaints against police extortion and other misconduct by calling 09087482365 or via Whatsapp 09111111151.

    He said the command’s Twitter account was @CruLagospolice; Instagram: policeng_lagos, or via Facebook: lagosCRU.

  • Portable docked for alleged assault, gets N2m bail

    Portable docked for alleged assault, gets N2m bail

    A popular hip-hop musician, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, was on Thursday before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Isabo for allegedly assaulting officials of Ogun Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    The Magistrate, Mr O.L. Oke, however, granted the musician bail in the sum of N2 million, with one surety who must be a licensed bondsman registered with Ogun government.

    Portable, 31, was arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, assault, unlawful obstruction, armed with cutlass and gun and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, to which, he, however, pleaded not guilty.

    A Senior State Counsel, Mr Timileyin Oredein, told the court that the controversial musician committed the offences on Feb. 5 at about 10:00 a.m. at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu, Sango-Ota in Ogun.

    Oredein said that Portable, with some of his workers, unlawfully assaulted, restricted and obstructed the officials of Ota Zonal Planning Office of the ministry, namely: Abidemi Onabanjo, Ramon Lateef and Akinpelumi Oyero.

    He said that Portable assaulted the officials while performing their lawful duties at his Odogwu Bar.

    Oredein said that the musician and his boys were armed with dangerous weapons like cutlasses and guns with which they inflicted injuries on the town planners.

    He further stated that Portable and his boys also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 516, 356(3), 80, 249(d) and 197 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    However, the defence counsel, Mrs Oluwatoyin Omomehin, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, before pronouncing the defendant’s bail, warned him not to make comment on social media or cause trouble regarding the case.

    Oke said that if Portable violated the condition, his bail would be withdrawn.

    He, thereafter, granted the musician bail in the sum of N2 million, with one surety who must be a licensed bondsman registered with Ogun government.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till March 5 for hearing.

  • Court admits Speed Darlington to N20m bail

    Court admits Speed Darlington to N20m bail

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, admitted the detained Singer, Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, to a N20 million bail with one surety in the like.

    Justice Ekerete Akpan gave the order in a ruling on the singer’s bail application moved by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, after he pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.

    Justice Akpan ordered that the surety, who must be a Level 10 civil servant, must be a resident of Abuja and must depose to affidavit of means.

    He directed that the address of the surety should be verified by the court registrar and the surety must either be a staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) or be a federal worker.

    He also directed that the surety should deposit his letters of appointment and last promotion which must be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court.

    The judge, who ordered Speed Darlington to deposit his international passport, directed the surety and the defendant to also submit their two recent passport photographs with the court registrar.

    He consequently ordered Speed Darlington to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

    Justice Akpan adjourned the matter until March 18 for trial.

    NAN reports that the Inspector-General (I-G) of police had, in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/556/2024, dragged Speed Darlington to court for cybercrime offences.

    He was alleged to have transmitted the message; “Burna Boy, how many oil Diddy drop for your ny*sh before them give you that grammy,” “speed darlington is such a clown infamaooo…” through his instagram handle; @20takeoffs on internet in a viral video.

    “A publication which went viral and was read and watched by many in Abuja, Lagos and throughout the world which ycu know to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance insult, injury, enmity or hatred among numerous fans of Burna Boy and posing inconvenience, danger, needless anxiety to his life and damage to his name and integrity.”

    “And you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(a&(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 (as amended).

    In count two, he was also alleged to have posted the message: “talking about burna boy odugwu is my language I am odugwu, odogwu is not nickname Odigwu is masquerade name, if you are a G, come my side come orlu road imo state no fit where I pass and where I pass army no dey passam you are a culture vulture you are not one of us…,” on his instagram handle; @20takeoffs.

    The message was alleged to have also been posted on his other Instagram pages; instablog9ja, instablog9jamedia and published by Benny@benny 7gg.

    The publication was said to intimidate, bully, threaten, or harass Burna Boy, “which communication placed him in fear of death, reasonable apprehension of violence or bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended).”

    Earlier, the prosecution lawyer, Garba Audu, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant’s arraignment.

    He prayed the court that the amended two-count charge dated Dec. 4, 2024, and filed Dec. 5, 2024, be read to the defendant.

    Audu then applied to substitute the earlier charge dated Oct. 18, 2024, but filed on Oct. 21, 2024 and it was not opposed by Abubakar.

    After the counts were read by the registrar, Speed Darlington pleaded not guilty.

    “In view of the denial of the allegations by the defendant, I will be asking for a trial date to present our witnesses in court my lord,” Audu said.

    But Abubakar drew the attention of the court to.their bail application dated and filed on Dec. 6, 2024.

    He said the complainant was served the same day the motion was filed.

    The lawyer urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.

    Although the prosecution lawyer opposed the bail plea, Justice Akpan admitted him.on bail.

  • Court rejects Binance executive’s fresh bail plea

    Court rejects Binance executive’s fresh bail plea

    A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a fresh bail application filed by the detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed the application on the.ground that it constituted an abuse of court process.

    Justice Nwite held that Gambaryan’s request cannot be granted when he was still challenging the earlier bail ruling at the Court of Appeal.

    The judge, who stressed that the defendant failed to withdraw his pending appeal against the earlier ruling on his bail application before filling another motion, said such act amounted to an abuse of court process.

    “There is no gainsaying on this leg alone that this application is bound to fail,” he said.

    He further held that Gambaryan had not shown to the court that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had no enough facility or had failed to take care of his ill-health.

    “Therefore,  the facts before the court have shown that the Nigerian Correctional Service has the capacity to treat the second defendant,” he said.

    The judge, however, ordered the NCoS to refer Gambaryan to any standard hospital in Abuja for  a period of two to three days.

    He subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 18, Nov. 22 and Nov. 25 for continuation of trial

    Justice Nwite had fixed today for the ruling on the second bail application due to his absence  in court on Wednesday.

    NAN reports that counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, had, on Sept. 4, vehemently opposed the bail application moved by Mark Mordi, SAN,  on Gambaryan’s behalf.

    Iheanacho, who argued that the Binance executive was being given the best medical treatment by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), alleged that Gambaryan, at one time, rejected the medical intervention by the State House Clinic in Abuja

    The lawyer drew the attention of the court to the State House Clinic’s medical report.

    He stated that inspite of  that Gambaryan’s ill-health was not as worse as it was being portrayed, the report showed that the defendant was dissatisfied with the medical attention being offered and rejected it.

    The anti-graft agency’s lawyer urged the court to dismiss the fresh application.

    He explained that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, wrote to the management of the NCoS, requesting Gambaryan’s medical records.

    He said that a response from the NCoS was received by the NSA on Aug. 29 with the attached report of Nizamiye Hospital, among others.

    According to him, the report indicated that Mr. Gambaryan has been receiving adequate medical care from the NCoS and has been taken to several hospitals, including the State House Clinic.

    Iheanacho insisted that NCoS had the capacity to take Gambaryan to any hospital in Nigeria, adding that surgeons cannot force a surgery on the defendant without his consent.

    He said Gambaryan “cannot suddenly become sick,” as is allegedly commonplace with some suspects facing trial.

    Earlier, Mordi had prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, or alternatively, to admit him to bail for six weeks on the basis of ill-health.

    He argued that though the EFCC purportedly denied Gambaryan had a serious health issue, the exhibits, including the medical reports, showed that he needed medical care.

    The lawyer argued that Gambaryan’s health challenge cannot be adequately managed in Nigeria.

    The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Binance Holdings Limited and Gambaryan on four-count money laundering charge.

  • Emefiele gets N300m bail, denies unlawful naira printing as CBN governor

    Emefiele gets N300m bail, denies unlawful naira printing as CBN governor

    An FCT High Court on Wednesday admitted the embattled former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele to bail in the sum of N300 million .

    Justice Maryann Anenih granted him to bail while ruling on his bail application over alleged unlawful naira colour swap.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought against him a-four – count amended charge bordering on disobedience to direction of the law marked charge No: CR/264/2024.

    Anenih in addition, ordered Emefiele to produce for two sureties in like sum who must have property in Maitama district of Abuja.

    The sureties who must in addition present the title documents and certificates of occupancy (C of O) to the court for verification.

    The sureties in addition must submit to the Registrar of the court their recent passport photographs.

    The judge further added that Emefiele should submit to the registrar of the court his travelling documents and must be within Abuja within the period of his trial.

    The judge ordered that the certified true copy (CTC) from Justice Hamza Muazu’s bail conditions who granted him bail earlier must be submitted to her court.

    Anenih adjourned until May 28 for trial.

    The EFCC alleged that Emefiele, between October 2022 and March 2023, disobeyed the direction of section 19 of the CBN Act by approving the printing of 375,520,000 pieces of ”colour swapped” N1.000 for N11billon without the recommendation of board of the banl.

    In count two, he was accused of spending N4.4 billion to print 172,070,000 pieces of N500 colour swap.

    While count three stated that the embattled CBN governor used N3.4 billion to print colour swap of 137,070,000 pieces of N200.

    EFCC accused Emefiele in count four of withdrawing N124.8 billion from the consolidated revenue fund of Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly which caused injury to the public , contrary to section 123 of the penal code.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

    Earlier counsel for Emefiele, Mahmoud Magaji, SAN argued his bail application praying the court to admit him(Emefiele) to bail in self recognises .

    He added that in alternative, the court should grant him bail in the same conditions Justice Hamza Muazu of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted him.

    Magaji informed the court that the defendant had always been in court for his trial.

    Responding, counsel for EFCC , Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN affirmed what Emefiele ‘s counsel told the court ‘ he is always present in court for his trial.’

    Emefiele is also standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of FCT high court on an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court also on Jan. 8 awarded N100 million damages to suspended former governor of the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) against the federal government and Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for violations of his right.

    Adeniyi further restrained the federal government and it’s agents from arresting Emefiele unless an order was obtained through a competent court.

    The judge held that the respondents need not incarcerate the applicant in other to carry out investigation for a long period as against the provisions of the law.

    ” No material placed before the court to show that the release of the applicant will in any way interfere with the investigation of allegations preferred against him.

    The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Executive Chairman, the EFCC before the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.

    Emefiele sought a declaration of the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023 and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on Oct. 26, 2023 without being arraigned in court is unlawful.

    He said the respondents in deviance of several valid subsisting court orders for his release amounts to a grave violation of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

  • BREAKING: Court admits Emefiele to N50m bail

    BREAKING: Court admits Emefiele to N50m bail

    An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday admitted the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to bail in the sum of N50 million.

    Emefirle is charged with abuse of office and fraud  to the tune of 4.5 billion dollars  and N2.8 billion.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, admitted  Emefiele to bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Oshodi  held  that  the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years tax payment with the Lagos State Government.

    He also ordered that the sureties must show proper identification and they  must  be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

    The judge also  said  that  he was satisfied  with  the bail conditions of N1 million, earlier given  to  Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry  Isioma-Omoil who is standing another charge beofre Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat  before a Yaba High Court.

    Oshodi, however, said  that  the  bail documents must  be transferred to special offences court and it must  also  be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

    The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 8 arraigned Emefiele on a 23-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage, while  his co-defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on acceptance of gift by agents.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    NAN reports that at the time of filing this  story, the counsel were making applications for accelerated hearing and trial.

    Details to follow…

  • BREAKING: Court grants suspended UNICAL professor bail

    BREAKING: Court grants suspended UNICAL professor bail

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon.

    His lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, who was arraigned with him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, was also granted bail.

    The professor and his lawyer are currently standing trial on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

    While Ndifon was granted bail in the sum of N250m with two sureties, Anyanwu was granted N50m bail with two sureties as well.

    Ruling on their bail application on Friday, the trial judge, Justice James Omotoso, said, “Bail is granted to the first defendants in the sum of N250m with two sureties who own properties within FCT with a minimum valuation of N150m.

    “The first defendant and his two sureties must submit their bank statements.

    “The first defendants must submit his International passport to the court.

    “The second defendant is granted bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties who will submit their bank statements.

    “The defendants must file an undertaking not to interfere with the case, readiness to attend trial and not to cause delay.”

    Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Monday for continuation of hearing.

    Detail to follow…

  • Alleged $26, 000 fraud: Court grants Lanre Smith N30m bail

    Alleged $26, 000 fraud: Court grants Lanre Smith N30m bail

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of N30 million to a businessman, Lanre Smith, charged with 26,000 dollars fraud.

    Smith was arraigned on Jan. 30, before Justice Ibrahim Kala on a three-count charge of conspiracy, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, and fraud.

    He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Ruling on Smith’s bail application on Tuesday, Kala also ordered him to provide two sureties in like sum.

    The judge held that one of the sureties must be a Grade Level 14 officer in a government establishment while the other must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction.

    He adjourned the case until March 24 for trial.

    The Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police had charged Smith with conducting an illegal financial transaction and obtaining proceeds of crime.

    The department alleged that Smith deceived an American, Lindy Drake, to deposit 26,000 dollars into a U.S. Well Fargo account with the name Wilok Ltd.

    The department also alleged that Smith obtained N10.1 million on the pretext that he had deposited the 26,000 dollars into the U.S. Well Fargo account.

    The alleged offences contravene Sections 1(1)(a), 7, and 7(2)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

  • Alleged $26,000 fraud: Court reserves ruling on Lanre Smith’s bail application

    Alleged $26,000 fraud: Court reserves ruling on Lanre Smith’s bail application

    Justice Ibrahim Kala of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday reserved ruling until Feb. 6, on a bail application by a businessman, Lanre Smith, charged with 26,000 dollars fraud.

    Kala gave the date after hearing arguments from defence and prosecution counsel on the bail application.

    The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian Police had arraigned the defendant on Jan. 30.

    He is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, and fraud.

    He had, however, pleaded not guilty.

    When the case was called on Monday, ASP Mike Enejere appeared for  FCID, while Mr Akin Apara appeared for the defendant.

    Defence counsel then informed the court of an application for the bail of the defendant.

    He said that the application was brought pursuant to the provisions of Section 115 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He urged the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

    However, the prosecution counsel, in an 11-paragraph counter-affidavit, prayed the court to deny the defendant bail.

    The police alleged that the defendant deceived an American citizen,  Lindy Drake, to deposit 26,000 dollars into a U.S. Well Fargo account with the name Wilok Ltd.

    The police also alleged that the defendant obtained N10.1 million on the pretext that he deposited the 26,000 dollars into the Well Fargo account.

    The alleged offences contravene Sections 1(1)(a), 7 and 7(2)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

    NAN

  • Terrorism charges: Court to rule on 5 Fubara loyalists’ bail on Monday

    Terrorism charges: Court to rule on 5 Fubara loyalists’ bail on Monday

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 5 for ruling on bail applications filed by five suspected persons accused of burning down part of the Rivers House of Assembly on Dec. 29, 2023.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon fixed the date after lawyers to the prosecution and that of the defence adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the bail plea.

    Justice Olajuwon also dismissed the application filed by Chime Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, challenging the competence of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police to institute a terrorism charge against them.

    The judge struck out an application filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order to strike out the charge against him and others for want of jurisdiction.

    She also struck out the CoS’ prayer for an order striking out his name anywhere it might have appeared in the charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024.

    Olajuwon, in a short ruling, held that Ehie, having not been joined as a defendant in the charge lacked the legal right to make such plea.

    Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects charged by the I-G for burning down the Rivers House of Assembly.

    The five suspected arsonists of the Rivers assembly were, on Jan. 25, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on seven-count charge bordering on  alleged terrorism, among others.

    Ehie, whose name was mentioned in the charge, was alleged to be at large with five other suspects.

    The five suspected arsonists (defendants) arraigned are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge  and were ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

    NAN