TheNewsGuru

Tag: Court Case

  • Alleged sex scandal: Ensure speedy trial of suspended Law Dean – says ex-prosecutor

    Alleged sex scandal: Ensure speedy trial of suspended Law Dean – says ex-prosecutor

    Aformer prosecutor, Mr Nkereuwem Abraham, has called for the speedy prosecution of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean, Faculty of Law University of Calabar (UNICAL), accused of sexual harassment.

    Ndifon was recently accused of sexual harassment by some law students of the institution.

    The suspended dean was arrested in October, by the Department of State Services in collaboration with officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC).

    The service said Ndifon was arrested after shunning several invitations extended to him.

    The ICPC subsequently on Nov. 2, preferred a 14-count charge against Ndifon, after investigations.

    Abraham, a former prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in an interview on Thursday, said that if a prima facie case was established against the don, he should be prosecuted.

    “Such high profile matter deserves urgent attention,” the former prosecutor said.

    Abraham said that a charge against a defendant, without consequent arraignment and trial, is not sufficient in line with constitutional provisions.

    According to him, being a sensitive matter evolving from a citadel of learning, it is important for the prosecution to commence speedy arraignment of the suspect as well as trial.

    “This is a high profile professional and criminal act allegedly perpetrated by the defendant, and so, the case must be given the attention it deserves.

    “I urge the ICPC to as a matter of urgency, arraign former dean of the faculty of law university of Calabar,” he said

    Abraham noted that it is unlawful for any suspect to be kept in custody beyound reasonable time, without arraignment in a court of competent jurisdiction.

    “No suspect deserves to be kept in perpetuity because a charge has been filed against him without arraignment.

    “Matters of this nature should ordinarily be given urgent attention to erase doubts as to the prosecutory prowess of anti graft agencies.

    “The sooner the trial of the defendant commences, the better and more commendable it is for the judiciary and the rule of law.

    “I, therefore, call on the anti graft agency, to move speedily, and ensure that the defendant is brought properly before the court, as this will repose public confidence in the system,” he said.

    Besides, Abraham also urged the agency to ensure that all its witnesses are assembled so as as to forestall any delays.

    He said that being the first case scenario of sexual assault in a university to proceed to court, it is important that same be treated with desired urgency.

    According to him, the outcome of such trial would become a “locus classicus” for similar matters in the future.

  • Nollywood actress Halima berates Apostle Suleiman, says we will meet in court

    Nollywood actress Halima berates Apostle Suleiman, says we will meet in court

    Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar, has once again berated Apostle Johnson Suleman for filing a law suit against her.

    Both the actress and the cleric have been at loggerheads for sometime now over speculations about romantic relationship between them.

    Halima claimed to have had an affair with the preacher because he told her he was divorced with three children.

    Halima, who is battling an unknown ailment, also accused him of feeding bloggers negative stories about her.

    Suleman, in a suit filed by his lawyer, accused Halima of defamation, blackmail and publishing demeaning statements about him.

    The suit read in part, “It is our brief that you caused to be published malicious, defamatory and demeaning statements about our client in several micro-blog sites, chiefly Gistlover, and your Instagram handle Halima Abubakar, which have wider reach within Nigeria and the world.

    “These statements, made by you, knowing fully well that they are false, untrue, malicious, defamatory, baseless, and a tool of blackmail of our client, impugn the reputation of our client and reduce him in the eyes of responsible and right thinking members of the society.”

    In her reaction to the law suit, Halima said she would meet Apostle Suleiman in court.

    Her comment reads ”JS, See you at the court.”

  • Court strikes out alleged £20,000 cars, N1.4m land fraud case against Babcock University lecturer

    Court strikes out alleged £20,000 cars, N1.4m land fraud case against Babcock University lecturer

    The case of alleged £20,000 cars and N1.4m land fraud instituted against a Babcock University Lecturer, Professor Patrick Enyi, has been struck out by an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at the Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, Oyingbo, Lagos.

     

    This follows a reguest for the withdrawal of the case by the complainant, Dr. Chocolate Obasonya.

     

    Obasonya had in March, 2022 reported to the Police at the Zone 2 Command, Lagos that Enyi allegedly sold her two Lexus cars valued at £20,000 and her land for N1.4m and converted the proceeds to his use instead of remitting the money into her account.

     

    Enyi, 62, was charged before the Court in charge No D/03/2022 on a three-count bordering on fraud and forgery.

     

    Enyi pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail.

     

    When the matter came up for mention on 21 April, 2022, the complainant, Obasonya presented an application dated 21 March, 2022 for voluntary withdrawal of the matter to the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Fowowe.

     

    In the application, the complainant stated that the matter is a family affairs and that she had resolved it amicably in a family way with the defendant and that more importantly, she is no longer interested in pursuing the case anymore.

     

    In her ruling, Magistrate Fowowe said; “In view of the application of withdrawal dated 21 March, 2022 and duly executed by the complainant, Dr. Chocolate Obasonya in a case of alleged £20,000 cars and N1.4m land fraud she instituted through the Police at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, the matter is hereby struck out as prayed by the complainant under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State of Nigeria.”

  • JUST IN: Ogundipe withdraws court case challenging removal as UNILAG VC

    JUST IN: Ogundipe withdraws court case challenging removal as UNILAG VC

    Professor Oluwole Ogundipe has discontinued a suit challenging his ‘removal’ as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

    Ogundipe’s decision followed his deference to the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari as the varsity’s Visitor, his lawyers said on Friday.

    According to a statement by a member of his legal team, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, the don stated the National Industrial Court, which he earlier approached, had neither sat nor conducted any proceedings in respect of the court case.

    Ogundipe was last Wednesday purportedly removed as UNILAG VC by the institution’s Council, chaired by SAN and businessman, Wale Babalakin.

    In a statement, Adegboruwa said: “Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by mischief makers, the National Industrial Court has never sat or conduct any proceedings in respect of the court case filed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwole Ogundipe.

    “No court proceedings ever took place at all and so no decision or ruling has been rendered by the court.

    “Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the University, Professor Ogundipe directed his Lawyer’s to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020.

    “This is to defer to the authority of the President as the Visitor of the University as Professor Ogundipe has enough time to challenge his purported removal.

    “This falsehood is being spread to malign the court and blackmail the judiciary by enemies of the rule of law and due process.

    “The general public is therefore advised to discountenance these mindless fabrications as the handiwork of those who are afraid of subjecting their illegal acts to the true test of probity and to be wary of fake news being peddled in place of truth, especially as they relate to deliberate manipulation of court proceedings.

    “There was no time that the court sat to fix any date for the case.”