TheNewsGuru

Tag: Court

  • Just in: Alleged butcher of Salome, Timileyin Ajayi pleads not guilty

    Just in: Alleged butcher of Salome, Timileyin Ajayi pleads not guilty

    Timileyin Ajayi, the suspected killer of Salome Adaidu, has been arraigned at the High Court of Justice, Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

    He was charged with one count of culpable homicide punishable by death, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria

    He was arraigned on Monday before Justice Simon Aboki. Upon arraignment, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

    The 32-year-old was apprehended for the murder of his alleged girlfriend, Adaidu, a 24-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who served at Nicon Insurance in the Nation’s capital, Abuja, before her death.

    Salome was murdered when she visited the suspect at his house in the Papalana axis at New Karshi in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    The police had paraded Ajayi alongside the knife and machetes he used to commit the crime.

    Timi was nabbed Sunday, January 12, 2025, while trying to dispose of the head of Salome after killing her and dismembering her body parts when she visited him at his house.

    Answering questions in an exclusive interview from our Correspondent, when asked if he killed Salome, he answered “Yes”, narrating that it wasn’t planned but it is because they don’t have each other all the time.

    “I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time, it’s not something I planned. It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have the plan in mind, she was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most time. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided,” he said.

    When probed further, he said he has no regrets in committing the crime.

    He said, no. “I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal that is what I thought, if you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person. You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can actually put yourself in the position that the person is going through, that is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”

  • How church member I accommodated defiled my daughter – Witness

    How church member I accommodated defiled my daughter – Witness

    A man (name withheld) on Thursday narrated before an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court how a man, Blessing Adetula, allegedly defiled his nine-year-old daughter.

    Adetula is standing trial on a count charge of sexual assault by penetration.

    At the resumed hearing, the witness was led in evidence by the state counsel, Mr Babajide Boye.

    He told the court that the defendant was his church member who he accommodated in his house.

    “I know him from church.

    “I accommodated him in my house  because the work he was doing was close to my house.

    “He could not go to work  everyday from his own house,” the witness said.

    The witness said that his daughter was nine at the time of the incident, adding that he has three children, two boys and a girl.

    He revealed that the alleged incident happened on his wife’s birthday.

    The witness said: “I was at work but my wife was at home because it was her birthday.

    “My wife left home very early to Ikotun  market to get something, before she came back, something happened.

    “My wife over heard my daughter telling one of her brothers to tell their mother what  happened.

    “My daughter later confessed to her mother that Adetula inserted his manhood into her vagina.”

    The witness told the court that he instructed his wife to report the case to the police

    “The police took my daughter to Mirabel Medical Centre in Ikeja and ran some tests on her,” he said.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi, after listening to the witness, adjourned the case until March 12 for cross-examination.

    The prosecution alleged that the defendant committed the offence on March 8, 2020, at Raji Street, at Egbe Ikotun, Lagos.

    According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravene Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Court declares Lakurawa sect as terrorist organisation

    Court declares Lakurawa sect as terrorist organisation

    A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, made an order proscribing the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions of the country.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on the ex-parte originating summons filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also declared the group as a terrorist organisation.

    The judge declared: “It is hereby ordered as follows:

    “That  an order is hereby made declaring the activities of the Lakurawa Sect and other similar groups In any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central Regions of Nigeria as acts of terrorism and illegality.

    “That an order is hereby made proscribing  the existence of the Lakurawa and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially In the North West and North Central Regions of Nigeria either in groups or as Individuals by whatsoever names they are called and publishing same in the Official Gazette and two (2) National Dailies.

    “That an order is hereby made proscribing any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities evolving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Lakurawa under any other name or platform however called or described.

    “That an order is hereby made proscribing  ali other groups in Nigeria by whatever name called with similar objectives as the Lakurawa which Include but not limited to banditry, kidnapping for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abduction of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling,,enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings n communities , commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”

    NAN reports that the AGF had, in the ex-parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/41/2025, prayed the court for four orders which were granted by the court.

    An Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice,  David Kaswe, moved the motion dated Jan. 13 and filed Jan. 14 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (PPF), M.B. Abubakar.

    In the affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (PPF), he said that he had the consent of the director of PPF to make the averments.

    Akawu said that the Lakurawa sect/group had been involved in acts of terrorism, including cattle rusting, kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking, attack on top government officials, attack on security personnel, propagation of their ideology to the local communities, encouraging the locals to disregard constituted authorities, etc within Nigeria.

    “That these acts have caused harm, injuries and loss of lives and properties to innocent citizens of Nigeria.

    “That the activities of the Lakurawa sect/group pose a significant threat to national security, public peace and order in Nigeria,” he said

    He said he had reasonable grounds to believe that the Lakurawa sect/group met the criteria for proscription as a terrorist group under the Terrorism (Prevent and Prohibition) Act.

    Akawu said it would be in the overall interest of justice, peace and security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to proscribe the Lakurawa Sect/group.(

  • Housewife begs for forgiveness after sleeping with another man

    Housewife begs for forgiveness after sleeping with another man

    Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, has remanded two lovers, Mohammed Nazifi and Bilkisu Ibrahim in the Suleja Correctional Centre, pending sentencing on Jan. 29,  after they were convicted for adultery.

    The Magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, ordered that the convicts be remanded in the correctional facility following their summary trial, in which they pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of adultery on Wednesday.

    Both Nazifi, 30, and Ibrahim, 25, who reside in Gui Village  Airport Road, Abuja, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Nazifi told the court that he was not aware of Bilikisu’s married status.

    While Nazifi admitted to the court that their sexual intercourse was mutual, he, however, pleaded with the complainant to forgive him, and for the court to show him mercy.

    Ibrahim,  who corroborated Nazifi’s statement, told the court that though she had consensual intercourse with him, she did not disclose her marital status to him.

    “I am aware that under any custom, it is an offence to sleep with any man you are not married to. I practice Islam, I know it is an offence to sleep with another man when still married.

    “I am still married to the complainant, and my youngest child is three years old. I plead with my husband to forgive me, and for the court to show me mercy”, she said.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Dabo Yakubu, told the court that the complainant, Mr Dayabe Abdullahi of Chibiri village, Kuje, Abuja, reported the matter at the Area Command, Gwagwalada, Abuja on Jan. 16.

    Yakubu said that the convicts conspired and had sexual intercourse, and both confessed to the crime in their statements. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 387 and 388 of the Penal Code.

  • BREAKING! Alleged N12.3bn fraud: Oba Otudeko’s counsel protests in court

    BREAKING! Alleged N12.3bn fraud: Oba Otudeko’s counsel protests in court

    Counsel to the Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, charged with N12.3 billion fraud, on Monday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos in protest of the charge.

    Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN) told the court that he was protesting because the charge had not been served on Otudeko and two others charged along with him.

    Olanipekun is the council to the three defendants.

    The 13-count charge was  preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Otudeko, a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc., Olabisi Onasanya; and a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo.

    They were charged alongside a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

    EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained the sum under false pretences.

    Details to follow…

  • We’ll obey court order on Anyanwu’s replacement – PDP

    We’ll obey court order on Anyanwu’s replacement – PDP

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is obliged to obey the Appeal Court order restraining the party from appointing any person as acting National Secretary in place of Sen. Samuel Anyanwu.

    The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, stated this at a news conference, tagged: “Just so the PDP may have a breather’’, on Friday in Abuja.

    Abdullahi said in the last few days, PDP had been issued with two court orders surrounding the authentic national secretary of the party.

    He said that on Wednesday, PDP was served with an order of interim injunction issued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, in a suit marked: CV/64/2025.

    Abdullahi said that the order, in the suit instituted by Imo PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu, through his counsel, Clement Mue, restrained the party from recorgnising the PDP Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, as the substantive national secretary.

    He said that PDP was, on Thursday, also served with a stay of execution order by the Court of Appeal (Abuja division) in an appeal No. CA/E/24/2024 on a judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, on Dec. 20, 2024.

    Abdullahi said that the order came with an injunction restraining PDP or its agents from enforcing or giving effect to the judgment of the appellate court, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed at the Supreme Court.

    According to him, the court, in its ruling on the ex parte application, restrained PDP and its principal officers from removing Anyanwu from office, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice fixed for Jan. 28.

    He said that the court also restrained PDP, its leaders, Koshoedo or any other person from acting as the party’s national secretary.

    Abdullahi added that the deputy national secretary was equally restrained from issuing any notice of meeting of the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee, signing any document or performing any function except on the directive of Anyanwu or in his absence.

    “Accordingly, we are obliged, as a law-abiding party, to respect the order of the court.

    “We will also send a legal representation to defend the party in the suit when the motion on notice comes up on Jan. 8 and Feb. 5 for hearing on the originating summons,’’ he said.

    Abdullahi said that Anyanwu remained the substantive national secretary until the determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court.

    “Where there is an appeal, it is only behooves on the appellant to wait until the determination of the appeal. That is the position of law,’’ he said.

    Abdullahi appealed to all PDP members to be law-abiding in waiting for the final position of the court on the matter.

    Asked why he was doing the news briefing when PDP has Debo Ologunagba as its substantive National Publicity Secretary, Abudllahi said he enjoyed the same power with Ologunagba to speak for the party.

    He said that he was directed by the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to do so, following Ologunagba’s recent dispositions.

    He said that Ologunagba had recently issued statements and held news conferences on issues he claimed to be from the NWC, while the committee had not met since September 2024.

    “A national publicity secretary does not enjoy such powers. He cannot speak for the NWC without clearance from the NWC. That is not the position of law,’’ he said.

  • Court fixes date for arraignment of Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD

    Court fixes date for arraignment of Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD

    A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, fixed Jan. 20, for arraignment of Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, over alleged N12.3 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred a 13-count charge against Otudeko, and a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya.

    Also charged is a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

    The. charge is marked FHC/L/20C/2025

    The defendants were accused of allegedly looting N12.3 billion from First Bank.

    According to the EFCC, they committed the offence in tranches of N5.2 billion, N6.2 billion, N6.1 billion, N1.5 billion and N500 million, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos,

    The charge, filed on Thursday by EFCC prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, further claimed that the defendants, made and forged documents to deceive the bank.

    They are to appear before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to whom the case, has been assigned.

  • Court orders arrest of Mercy Chinwo’s manager

    Court orders arrest of Mercy Chinwo’s manager

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday granted a warrant of arrest against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of  gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

    Justice Alexander Owoeye granted the order following a motion exparte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking arrest of the manager.

    When the case was called on Thursday, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, announced appearance for the EFCC.

    She then informed the court of an application brought by EFCC pursuant to Section 35(1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    The counsel consequently moved the application seeking an order to issue a warrant of arrest against the manager.

    She said that the warrant would be to compel the manager’s appearance in court to answer to criminal offences he allegedly committed.

    Buhari submitted that if the commission would not be able to arrest the manager, it would bring public summons to declare him wanted.

    The court granted the application, and adjourned the case until Jan. 24, for arraignment of the manager.

    In an affidavit in support of the application, EFCC averred that it received a petition from Chinwo against the manager.

    The affidavit was deposed to by Mr Michael Idoko, an investigator with the commission.

    It averred that the gospel singer alleged that the manager was receiving royalty on all her digital platforms and events  without disclosure.

    According to the EFCC,  the gospel singer claimed that the manager diverted about 345,000 dollars without remitting her share.

    It said  that  efforts to arrest the manager failed,  necessitating the application for a warrant of arrest. The court adjourned the case until Jan. 24 for arraignment of the manager.

  • I’m ready to return bride price to secure divorce, woman tells court

    I’m ready to return bride price to secure divorce, woman tells court

    A married woman, Amina Adamu, has asked a Shari’a court at Magajin Gari in Kaduna to dissolve her marital union with one Adamu Abubakar through what is known as “Khul’i”.

    The complainant told the court on Wednesday that she was ready to return the N10,000 bride price she received in order to free herself from the marriage.

    NAN reports that “khul’i”, known as “redemption”, is a way of obtaining freedom in a marital setting.

    Adamu stated that she was tired of the marriage and could not be submissive to her husband who was however not present in court as at the time of the hearing.

    The judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, then asked if she had any witness to confirm the amount of the bride price and she answered in the affirmative.

    He went on to adjourn the matter to Jan. 28 for the complainant to present her witnesses and to send a reminder to the husband to be in court.

  • 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.