TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bail

  • Imported 661 rifles: Court to rule on bails of 5 accused persons July 6

    The five men, charged with illegally importing 661 pump-action rifles into the country in a 40-ft container, are to remain in prison as a Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed July 6 for ruling on their bail applications.

    The accused are Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye (who is said be at large), and Salihu Danjuma.

    They were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji on June 14 on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, importation of prohibited firearms, forgery, uttering of forged documents and bribery.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    But at the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the Defence team of Mr Yakubu Galadima, Mr Godwin Okaka, Mr Olumide Oyewole and Mr Adamu Ibrahim, applied for bails on behalf of the accused.

    They urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms, adding that they will not absent in court for trial.

    Meanwhile, the prosecutor from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr K. A. Fagbemi, opposed the application for bail and urged the court to dismiss it.

    Fagbemi pointed out that one of the accused is still at large and that it would be unsafe for the other accused to be released on bail as their lives might be at risk.

    Justice Faji then adjourned until July 6 for ruling on the application for bail.

    The prosecution alleged that the accused brought the firearms into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-ft container.

    It alleged that the accused had earlier falsely claimed that the consignment was steel doors.

    It said that the accused allegedly forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M and a pre-arrival assessment report to facilitate the illegal importation.

    According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on Jan. 9 and claimed that it was issued at Shanghai, China.

    In the forged bill of lading, they allegedly filled “steel doors” as the content of the container instead of rifles.

    They were also alleged to have offered a N400,000 bribe to an official of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to the Federal Operations Unit not to conduct a thorough search on the 40-feet container.

    The prosecution also alleged that the first accused (Hassan), corruptly gave N1 million to government officials at the Apapa Port in order to prevent the search of the container by Customs officials.

    The accused had between 2012 and 2016 illegally imported several double-barreled shotguns, pump-action rifles and single-barreled shotguns into the country, the prosecutor said.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2), (c), 1(14) (a), (i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation 2014.

     

     

    NAN

  • Alleged N937m fraud: Court grants Niger PDP chairman, Tanko Beji N150m bail

    A Minna High Court on Friday granted Mr Tanko Beji, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger, standing trial on alleged N937million fraud, bail in the sum of N150million.

    Justice Aliyu Mayaki, who granted the bail, also ordered Beji to produce two sureties in like sum, who must also have landed property worth not less than N200million within the court’s jurisdiction.

    According to the judge, the prosecution failed to give cogent reasons why the defendant should not be granted bail.

    Mayaki had on Monday ordered the remand in prison custody of Beji, and fixed Friday, June 23, to rule on his bail application.

    Beji was arraigned on Monday by the EFCC in amended charges, alongside former Gov. Babangida Aliyu and former Commissioner of Environment, Mr Umar Nasko.

    They were accused of criminal breach of trust, punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Niger, Cap 94, Vol. 3 Laws of 1992.

    The PDP chairman was accused of aiding and abetting Aliyu to convert N937million withdrawn from the state security account in 2011 to personal use.

    Mr Ayodele Olajide (SAN), counsel to Aliyu and Beji, had urged the court to grant the PDP chairman bail, as he is a long-standing lawyer, practising in Niger.

    The EFCC lawyer, Mr Gbolahon Latona, opposed the bail application but urged the judge to use his discretion.

    In the amended charge, the former governor who is the first accused is standing trial on a seven-count charge of criminal breach of trust and abuse of office from 2007 and 2015.

    Beji who is the second accused person is also standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and abetting the commission of crime.

    Nasko is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust and abuse of office.

    The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

    Justice Maiyaki, however, did not tamper with the earlier bail granted Babangida and Nasko.

    The case was adjourned until Sept. 11 to Sept.15 for hearing of the substantive suit.

     

     

    NAN

  • Ife violence: Court grants monarch, 5 others bail, adjourns till July 13

    Ife violence: Court grants monarch, 5 others bail, adjourns till July 13

    Justice Kudirat Akano of the Osun High Court sitting in Osogbo on Friday granted bail to Oba Ademola Ademiluyi and five other suspects arrested in connection with the March 8 Ile-Ife crisis which claimed 46 lives.

    Ademiluyi, the Alapoje of Apoje, as well as Taiwo Fakuajo, Akeem Eluwole , Bamidele Elurisanmi, Jimoh Sakiru and Daniel Olanrewaju were granted bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties.

    She said one of the sureties must be a monarch or civil servant on Grade Level 14 and resident in the state.

    The judge added that the other surety must be a blood relation of the accused.

    She also said: ” The main objective or function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused persons in court during trial.

    ” Bail to an accused during trial, particularly for a capital offence, is based on grace.

    ” Ordinarily, granting bail rests solely on the discretion of the court, especially on the discretion of the judge.

    ” I hereby adjourn the case till July 13 for further trial.’’

    Two witnesses had earlier testified at the commencement of trial on Wednesday.

    They included Mallami Nasri, Abubarka Mutari and a police investigator in the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector General of Police, DSP Akinlabi Ogundile.

    During Friday’s proceedings, Akinlabi, who was led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Lough, said more than 100 houses and shops were burnt during the crisis.

    ” I sighted 100 houses and shops burnt during the clash.

    ” I saw 13 burnt vehicles and six motorcycles while myself and my team also saw 46 dead people.

    ” We took the bodies of the 46 to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife,’’ he said.

    Akinlabi also told the court that some incriminating materials were recovered from the accused persons.

    He said a green wheel barrow, three axes, a knife, saw machine and four motorcycles were recovered from the suspects.

    The photographs of the 46 corpses presented by Akinlabi were, however, rejected by the judge.

    Akano said the photographs were rejected because they lacked serial numbers.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the accused were arraigned on April 28 on a 14-count charge to which they pleaded not guilty.

    The defence counsel, Mr Muritala Olawoyin, had applied for the bail of the suspects on liberal terms.

    But Akano rejected the oral application for bail, directing the defence counsel to provide a formal bail application for all the accused persons.

    She ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody and had adjourned the case till June 14, 15 and 16.

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Dammy Krane released on bail

    Dammy Krane released on bail

    Afro pop singer, Dammy Krane has been granted bail. According to an update from the Miami-Dade County Criminal Justice Online System, Dammy Krane pleaded not guilty to the charges and demanded for a trial by jury and also chose the option of a waiver pre-trial conference.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the singer has met his bail condition that was set at $7,500. His defense attorney has changed from Deborah Prager to Courtney Erik. The court hearing will come up on June 23, 2017 at 9:15am.

    Only two days ago, his mother released a statement that said the show promoter that booked his flight ticket, is responsible for the credit card scam.

  • EFCC re-arraigns Ex-Niger gov, Babangida Aliyu, gets N200m bail

    EFCC re-arraigns Ex-Niger gov, Babangida Aliyu, gets N200m bail

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, in a Federal High Court, Abuja, on eight counts of money laundering.

    Aliyu was arraigned alongside his former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko, while both were admitted to bail in the sum of N200m each, with two sureties each in like sum.

    The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ordered that the two sureties could be business men or public servants; and where in the public service, must not be below a director.

    The sureties must also own landed property in Abuja excluding the satellite towns.

    Aliyu and Nasko are to also deposit their international passports with the court and must not travel without the permission of the court.

    The judge, however, ruled that where the defendants could not perfect their bail conditions within 48 hours, they would be remanded in Kuje Prison until bail was perfected.

    He adjourned the matter until July 6 and 7 to hear the preliminary objection and for trial.

    The two defendants were accused of conspiring to launder ecological funds amounting to over N1bn, released by the Federal Government to Niger government in 2014.

    The offence according to the EFCC, contravened Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and is punishable under Section 15 of the same Act.

    Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.

    Mr Mamman Osuman (SAN), counsel to Aliyu filed a preliminary objection, challenging the hearing of the suit in Abuja, on the ground that there is a Federal High Court in Minna.

    Osuman maintained that the defendants were already on trial on a six-count charge of breach of trust in Minna, and since the “ingredients” of both cases were the same, it was in the interest of justice to conduct both cases in Minna.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Ben Ikani, however, said that the case in Minna was different from the one in Abuja.

     

    (NAN)

  • Why Mercy Aigbe’s hubby is still detained

    Mercy Aigbe’s estranged husband, Lanre Gentry who was supposed to be granted bail today will still remain in detention. According to reports gathered by TheNewsGuru, the bail couldn’t be granted because all the magistrates in Lagos are holding their conference today.

    Gentry was arraigned before a magistrate on a three count charge relating to breach of public peace, assault, and domestic violence. Domestic violence is an offense punishable under sections 157 ( f ), and 171 of the criminal Law No ll,vol.44 laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    Gentry’s bail hasn’t been perfected because of his inability to meet the bail conditions which includes a sum of N500,000 and two sureties .

  • Former Jigawa gov Lamido gets bail over alleged incitement case

    Former Jigawa gov Lamido gets bail over alleged incitement case

    Dutse Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday admitted Alhaji Sule Lamido, the immediate past governor of Jigawa, to bail on self-recognisance, pending the completion of police investigation.

    The Magistrate, Muhammad Lamin, admitted Lamido to bail in line with Section 340(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Jigawa.
    He held that the four-count charge levelled against the former governor were bailable, explaining that, that was why the court exercised the discretion in his favour.

    Lamido is standing trial on a four-count bordering on inciting public disturbance, defamation of character, criminal intimidation and disturbance of public peace.

    The offences contravened Sections 113, 114, 392 and 394 of the Penal Code.

    The former governor denied committing the offences.

    The court adjourned the case till July 5, for the commencement of trial.

  • BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu rejects bail, vows to die with co-detainees

    Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has rejected the bail granted to him on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Kanu had vowed to remain in Kuje prisons until co-accused persons are also freed.

    The Biafra agitator was granted bail on health grounds by Justice Binta Nyako. ‎However, bail was refused his co-accused persons – Mazi Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Mazi Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

    A top source close to the IPOB leader who spoke unanimously with Daily Post said: ‎”I just finished speaking with Kanu. He has vowed to remain at Kuje prisons pending when his co-accused persons are granted bail.

    “He made it clear that these other three persons were arrested because of him (Nnamdi) and as such he can’t abandon them there.

    “Nnamdi Kanu has, therefore, made it clear that he is ready to stay and die at Kuje Prisons.”

    Meanwhile, IPOB has reacted to the bail conditions, describing them as childish.

    In a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful, he said the bail conditions were designed by politicians.

    The statement reads:‎ “The indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB and it’s leadership worldwide commend those who put pressure on Nigerian Government and her judiciary to release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention illegally since October 2015.

    “The bail conditions which are most probably designed by politicians who are afraid of our leader’s popularity is too inhuman, childish and stringent.

    “The oppressors are afraid of leader’s popularity and they hope to cage him through this funny bail condition, we are not excited, we demand the release of our members detained alongside him.

    “It is unacceptable to the entire members of IPOB worldwide that the presiding judge Hon. Justice Binta Nyako attached condition towards the release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “The Federal Government and their judiciary through justice Binta Nyako banned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu not to grant press interview, not to sit with more than 10 people or have any gathering.

    “However, granting conditional release to our is unacceptable to us because he committed any crime against humanity or Nigerian state, we wondered why Binta Nyako would prefer to attach conditional release him.

    “Again, justice Binta Nyako refused to grant Mazi Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Mazi Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi bail who has been detained with our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu since almost two years.

    “We also thank the civilise Nations in United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, American Government, Israeli Government, Russian Government, European Union and others who prevail upon the Nigerian Government and her judiciary to grant our leader bail.

    “We also want them to pressure on Nigerian Government and her judiciary to release other three members who are still in Kuje prison Abuja.”

  • South Africa: Court denies Nigerian pastor, Omotosho, accused of sexually abusing 30 young girls bail

    South Africa Magistrate’s Court has denied a Pastor Tim Omotosho, a Nigerian, bail who was arraigned for alleged sexually abusing 30 female members of his congregation.

    The 58-year-old Nigerian miracle worker, Pastor Tim Omotosho, the senior pastor of the Jesus Dominion International, was arrested in South Africa.

    The pastor based in Durban, who was arrested inside the toilet at the Port Elizabeth Airport shortly after his flight landed,

    He was arraigned in court on Friday and was denied bail.

    The police alleged that Mr. Omotoso over the years trafficked about 30 young girls from various branches of his church to a house in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal where he allegedly exploited them sexually.

    It was further gathered that he allegedly handpicked the girls and instructed them to live in his house where they were forced to have unprotected sex with him.

    Meanwhile, he appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday where his case was postponed to May 3.

    Mr. Omotoso, who is the founder of a 24-hour satellite TV station, Ancient of Days Broadcasting Network (ADBN), which is aired across the Caribbean, Africa, Mexico, Middle East, Europe and the United States, is married and has three children.

    NANPastor Omotosho

  • Teenager gets N50,000 bail for snatching N10,000 phone

    Teenager gets N50,000 bail for snatching N10,000 phone

    An 18-year-old apprentice, Lekan Akinyemi, who allegedly snatched a cell phone worth N10,000 from a woman, was on Monday granted N50,000 bail by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Alexander Komolafe, asked the accused to provide two sureties in like sum as part of the bail conditions.

    Komolafe said the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Earlier, the accused, who resides at No. 17, Dada Iyalode St., Mushin, Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to charge of stealing and breach of peace.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 25, at about 9.30p.m, at Ajilete Bus Stop, Iju Ishaga, Lagos.

    Ajebe said the accused attacked the complainant, Mrs Alimat Yusuf, while she was in front of her house, snatched her phone, and took to his heels.

    He said that the accused was apprehended by some passersby who gave him a chase, and handed over to the police.

    The prosecutor alleged that while the accused was detained at the police station, he made an attempt to escape by damaging the cell wall.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 166 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till May 17 for mention.