TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bail

  • I’m about losing my leg, Maina begs court for bail

    I’m about losing my leg, Maina begs court for bail

    Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), on Friday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that his leg might be amputated if not granted bail to have adequate medicare.
    Maina, through his Counsel, Sani Katu, SAN, told Justice Okon Abang at the resumed trial.
    Katu said his client was taken to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, because of his worsening health condition and the medical report was exhibited in the bail application.
    The lawyer, who said that Kuje Correctional Centre where Maina was kept did not have facility to attend to his state of health, said if not granted bail, his kneel might be amputated.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Maina had, on Jan. 20, approached Justice Abang for another bail after his arrest for jumping the first bail.
    Maina, in a motion on notice dated and filed on Dec. 24, 2020 brought by one of his lawyer, Anayo Adibe, said the application became necessary over his worsening health condition.
    In the motion, the ex-pension boss told the court that he had reasonable and responsible sureties who were willing to act as sureties if granted bail.
  • Court grants Sowore N20m bail

    Court grants Sowore N20m bail

    A Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court, Abuja on Monday, admitted Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and leader of #RevolutionNow movement, bail to bail in the sum of N20 million.

    The court also admitted Peter Williams, Sanyaolu Juwon, Emmanuel Bulus and Damilare Ademila who were arraigned with Sowore, to bail on liberal terms in the sum of N1 million each.

    As part of the bail condition for Sowore as granted by Chief Magistrate Marble Segun- Bello, she ordered that one of his sureties must be a Federal civil servant on not less GL 12.

    Segun-Bello in addirion ordered that Sowore must report to the Chief Registrar’s office every Monday and Friday until the determination of the case.

    Furthermore, the Magistrate directed that Sowore must remain in Abuja, and said failure to comply with all the bail conditions would lead to the revocation of his bail and adjourned the matter until Feb. 5 for hearing by 11am.

    Sowore and the others were arraigned on Jan. 4 on three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to incite others.

    The defendants were arrested by the Special Weapons Tactical Team in Gudu, Abuja while protesting on Dec.31,2020.

    According to the prosecution, the defendants were seen carrying placards calling for a violent revolution. They however, all pleaded not guilty to the three count charges preferred against them.

    Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel led by James Idachaba prayed the court for their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center as investigations into the charges were ongoing.

    However, the defendants’ counsel, Marshal Abubakar, attempted to make an oral application for their bail, urging the court to grant them bail on self recognition.

    Segun- Bello, however, ordered that the defendants file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until Jan. 5 to hear the bail application.

    She had however scheduled for ruling on Jan. 8 after entertaining arguments on the bail application filed by counsel on Jan. 6.

    However, on Jan. 8, the court could not deliver the bail ruling as the defendants were not produced in court.

  • BREAKING: Court revokes Abdulrasheed Maina’s bail, orders his arrest

    BREAKING: Court revokes Abdulrasheed Maina’s bail, orders his arrest

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the revocation of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT)’s bail.

    Justice Okon Abang, who gave the order in a ruling, also issued a bench warrant for Maina’s arrest anywhere he is sighted.

    The EFCC’s Lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, while making the applications, had told the court that the former pension boss, who was granted a bail in the sum of N500 million with a surety in the like sum who must be a serving senator, had jumped bail.

  • Desmond Elliot secures release of #EndSARS protesters

    Desmond Elliot secures release of #EndSARS protesters

    Hon. Desmond Elliot has secured the release of five arrested #EndSARS protesters who were detained at Area C Police station, Surulere.

    The 46-year-old politician who represents Surulere Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, followed through the instructions of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of House of Representatives.

    Gbajabiamila had earlier contacted Lagos Commissioner of Police and Elliot to fasten the release of the protesters. He assured that their rights would not be violated.

    Five of the released protesters include Okara Nkem, Ayodeji Ayeni, Nduka Treasure, Adeola Adebayo and Adetifa Olanrewaju Samuel.

    However, the release of Ademola Ojabodu, manager to Nigerian singer Oxlade, has not been secured. Ojabodu was transferred to Panti police station, Lagos.

  • Hushpuppi denied bail in the US

    Hushpuppi denied bail in the US

    Alleged Nigerian fraudster and Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi has been denied bail in the United States in spite of his lawyer, Gal Pissetzky insisting that his job as an Instagram celebrity paid for the $10,000 monthly rent on his luxury Dubai flat.

     

     

    His lawyers had applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with the uncle of a woman with whom he has a child with, but US prosecutors opposed the bail application.

    UAE’s The National noted that prosecutors said he could commit crimes with just a smartphone and an internet connection, and that he posed too much of a flight risk.

     

    Reacting to prosecutors’ argument, Pissetzky said his client had too much to lose if he flees from the United States.

     

     

    He told a judge in Chicago by videolink;

     

     

    “He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity.

    “I don’t see the reason why he would want to ruin his credibility in the world and his status rather than stay here and face this allegation.

     

    “Anywhere he goes, people will know. Having grown up very poor in Nigeria, Mr Abbas is now paid to pose with high-priced items such as Louis Vuitton bags that people would buy after seeing his posts on Instagram.

     

    “He is an influencer. That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job.”

     

    Judge Jeffrey Gilbert who watched the proceedings from a prison video link, denied Hushpuppi bail on grounds of him being a flight risk. Gilbert ordered that the suspected Nigerian fraudster be remanded in custody until he is taken to a court in California.

     

     

  • EFCC urges court to deny social media influencer, Adeherself, bail

    EFCC urges court to deny social media influencer, Adeherself, bail

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has urged an Ikeja Special Offences Court to deny popular social media influencer, Adedamola Adewale, bail.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Samuel Daji, the lead prosecuting counsel for the anti-graft agency, made the plea on Monday during Adewale’s bail hearing on a charge of possession of fraudulent documents.

    NAN reports that Adewale is popularly known as Adeherself.

    “I urge the court to refuse the bail of the defendant and order accelerated hearing,”Daji said.

    Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr Tunde Salami, had applied to the court to grant bail on liberal terms to Adewale who had been remanded in EFCC’s custody since July 7.

    Following the submissions of the defence and prosecuting counsel, Justice Sherifat Solebo, adjourned the case till Wednesday for ruling on the bail application.

    NAN reports that the defendant was arrested following intelligence reports received by the EFCC on the activities of some young men allegedly involved in internet fraud in the Lekki axis of Lagos.

    According to the EFCC, Adewale had on June 15, with the intent to defraud, had in her possession a fraudulent document entitled “WhatsApp.”

    “The offence violates Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011,”Daji had said.

  • Court dismisses Maina’s bail variation application

    Court dismisses Maina’s bail variation application

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed an application filed Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) to further review the bail conditions granted him on Nov. 26, 2019.
    Justice Okon Abang, in his ruling, described the latest application by Maina as “unmeritorious.”
    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money laundering related charges, had been unable to meet the conditions attached to the bail.
    The court had, on Jan. 28, varied Maina’s bail conditions following his inability to meet the bail terms granted him.
    Maina had, in a Feb. 20 application, sought a further review of the bail terms, insisting that he had been unable to get a senator to stand as surety for his release.
    However, Justice Abang, on Wednesday, held that the applicant was wrong to have dictated to the court the conditions he preferred.
    “The 1st defendant failed to place materials before the court, with convincing reasons, to show that there exist exceptional circumstances to warrant the variation of the conditions of the bail earlier varied.
    “The application filed by the 1st defendant lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed,” the judge said.
    Justice Abang also, on Wednesday, rejected the request by the EFCC for the revocation of the bail granted the ex-chair of PRTT.
    The EFCC, had in a motion on notice, claimed that Maina had perfected plans to escape from custody and assassinate the prosecuting lawyer and prosecution’s witnesses.
    Abang held that it was premature for the court to take a definite position on the issue, because there was no evidence before the court that the allegation by the prosecution had been established by any security agency.
    The judge said that the request to revoke Maina’s bail was premature because he believed that investigation of the allegations had not been concluded since Maina claimed he had not been questioned by any security agency on the issue.
    The judge also rejected the EFCC’s request for an order directing that more security measure be put in place around the suspect, currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
    Justice Abang noted that, since the executive arm controls all the security agencies and the prosecuting agency, it could easily provide additional security if it felt such measure was necessary, without any order of the court.
    The EFCC lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, then told the court to give a date for trial continuation since there was indication that the Federal Government would relax the current lockdown as measure to contain the coronavirus by May 4.
    However, Maina’s lawyer, Joe Gadzama, SAN, disagreed with the submission, saying the team of lawyers would meet with the court registrar on how to go about it.

  • Court admits Oyo-Ita to N100m bail

    A Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday admitted Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, former Head of Service to bail in the sum N100 million and two sureties in like sum.

    Two other defendants, Garba Umar and Ubong Effiok were also granted bail in the sum of N50 million each and two sureties in like sum.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo admitted them to bail and released them to their counsels citing the Coronavirus pandemic as the reason for releasing them to their counsel.

    The judge said that in view of the pandemic, he could not endanger the lives of the defendants by remanding them in EFCC custody.

    He, however, warned that the defendants must report to the EFCC office everyday between 10AM and 12 Noon for seven days pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.

    According to the judge, if the bail conditions are not perfected after seven days, they will be remanded in EFCC custody.

    Other conditions of the bail include that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 17 in and Federal Government ministry, parastatal or agency.

    “The Surety must be resident in Abuja and own property worth N100 million.

    “The other surety where not a civil servant must be gainfully employed and depose to an affidavit of means.”

    For Umar and Effiok, one of their surety must be resident in Abuja and own property worth N50 million.

    The defendants are all expected to deposit their international passports with the registrar of the court.

    Oyo-Ita and eight others were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on an 18-count charge bordering on money laundering and breach of public trust.

    She was arraigned alongside Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Limited; Garba Umar ;Slopes International Limited; Gooddeal Investments Limited; Ubong Effiok; U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.

    They all pleaded not guilty to the charges while a “not guilty” plea was entered for the companies.

    They were arraigned for fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowances, (DTA), Estacodes, conference fees fraud and receiving kick-backs on contracts.

    The EFCC particularly accused the former head of service of colluding with Effiok and one Titus Tomsin to make bogus claims of fictitious DTA, estacodes and conference fees which were paid by government to their accounts.

    Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to Oyo-Ita informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and pleaded with the court to hear the application even though he had only just served the prosecution.

    “In view of the situation in the world today where there is a clear and present danger of threat to life under congested conditions, I wish to plead that we take the application today or that I be allowed to make an oral application for bail,” Erokoro pleaded.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that he had been served with the applications for bail.

    Abubakar said that even though he appreciated the fact that the country was going through a trying period, measures such as social distancing had been put in place to check it.

    He, however, acknowledged that bail was at the discretion of the court but urged that should the court be mindful to grant bail, it should impose stringent measures.

    Earlier, the judge announced that in view of the Coronavirus pandemic, the court would entertain only cases dealing with applications for bail and breech of fundamental rights where the defendants were incarcerated.

  • Court grant Iyanya N20m bail over alleged car theft

    Court grant Iyanya N20m bail over alleged car theft

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Thursday granted bail in the sum of N20 million to a musician, Iyanya Mbuk, popularly known as Iyanya, over alleged car theft.

    Iyanya, who rose to fame after winning the first season of Project Fame West Africa and best known for his hit single “Kukere”, is facing a count charge of stealing.

    The charge was preferred by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police.

    Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, while granting Iyanya bail, said: “I have perused the affidavit and the counter-affidavit of the parties; there is a prima facie case of criminal conversion against him.

    “However, there is nothing to show that the defendant will interfere with the proceedings of this case and nothing to show that he will jump bail if granted.

    “Bail is, therefore, granted to the defendant in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum”.

    She ordered that the surety should have a landed property in Lagos and possess its certificate of occupancy.

    She also ordered that the bail should be perfected within the next seven days “otherwise the bail shall be revoked”.

    The judge adjourned the case until May 27 for trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports counsel to the defendant, Mr D. I. Onyiwara, had filed the bail application supported with a 30-paragraph affidavit and a written address, urging the court to grant him bail.

    He argued that the alleged offence was not capital.

    Onyiwara said that the charge resulted from a broken down business transaction.

    He added that the defendant would not jump bail.

    “The defendant had always submitted himself to the SFU whenever needed,” Onyiwara said.

    Prosecution counsel, SP Chukwu Agwu, had filed a 13-paragraph counter-affidavit, urging the court not to grant bail to the defendant.

    NAN reports that the police filed the charge against the singer since March 15, 2019.

    His arraignment was adjourned six times after the charge marked LD/9024c/2019 was filed, due to his failure to appear before the court.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty on Feb. 4, after Okikiolu-Ighile threatened to invoke the power of the court to ensure his attendance to take his plea.

    The SFU alleged that Iyanya dishonestly converted to his personal use or of another person, a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado jeep marked MAVINIY, with chassis No. JTEBX7FJ7EK165480 and engine No. 2TR1385954.

    It said that the vehicle belonged to the complainant, Temple Management Company Ltd. represented by a lawyer, Ayodeji Olomojobi.

    The SFU alleged that Iyanya committed the offence sometime in September 2018, in contravention of Section 285(10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

  • N700m fraud: Judge threatens to revoke bail condition for Ize-Iyamu, others

    N700m fraud: Judge threatens to revoke bail condition for Ize-Iyamu, others

    A Judge in the Federal High in Benin City, Justice M G Umar, has threatened to revoke the bail condition granted to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih and three others if they were to play any antics to delay commencement of trial.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others were arraigned on an eight-count charge of conspiracy with themselves to commit money laundering to the tune of N700 million, an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended which is punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants received the sum of N700 Million prior to the 2015 general elections, from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Other defendants in the case are Former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, a former member representing Esan South East and Esan North East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Tony Azigbemi, and one Efe Erimuoghae Anthony.

    Justice Umar had issued the threat after listening to arguments of defendants seeking a six months adjournment because of ill health of Mr. Efe Anthony.

    Mr Anthony had asked for the long till June for him to be able to stand for trial.

    He reminded the Court that they have always been present and drew attention to three consecutive times they were in court and the court did not sit.

    Lead Counsel to first defendant ,Mr Kingsley Obamojie , that of the Second defendant ,Professor Osas Izebhiuwa and that of the third and fourth defendants ,Mr Paschal Ogbome pleaded with the court to grant the application as the Anthony needed to be a bit healthy to appear in court for his defense.

    Ugbome urged the court to be fair to all parties and pointed out the whereas it was inevitable for humans to be indispensable , they had actually striven very hard to ensure that the hearing commenced in earnest .

    But the Prosecution Counsel, Mr L P Aso, said the defendants were unreasonable in their application for sixmonths adjournment.

    Aso argued that the language of the application attempted to frustrate the prosecution through unwarranted delay .

    Justice Umar who threatened to revoke the bail condition adjourned sitting to March 2nd for hearing and maintained that he would not tolerate any form of delay in the prosecution.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said the accused were alleged to have made cash payment of N60,650,000 to one Henry Tenebe of Estako West Local Government Area and N61,647,000 to one Momoh Andrew Ojo of Akoko-Edo without going through a financial institution.

    In count five, six and seven, they were alleged to have made cash payment of N83,473,000, N125,993,000 and N105,000,000 to Deacon Ezekiel Egharevba, Thomas Aroko and Scott Osagiede without going through a financial institution.