TheNewsGuru

Tag: Court

  • Alleged treason: Court orders unconditional release of ex-Matawalle’s aide, says detention unlawful

    Alleged treason: Court orders unconditional release of ex-Matawalle’s aide, says detention unlawful

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the release of Bashir Hadejia, an aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, while he was Governor of Zamfara, unconditionally.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, described Hadejia’s arrest and subsequent detention since Aug. 12, 2024, without being charged to court, as unlawful and in breach of his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.

    Justice Nwite, who made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, his agents or servants, from any unlawful arrest and detention of Hadejia, awarded N10 million as general and exemplary damages against the I-G.

    The judge declared the invasion of the applicant’s residence by the agents of the police on Aug. 12, 2024, as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    He held that the act was a flagrant violation of Hadejia’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 (5), 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    NAN reports that Hadejia was allegedly arrested on Aug. 12, 2024 at his residence in Abuja over allegations bordering on “treason and subversion against the state.”

    However, in the originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1235/2024, filed by Mahmud Magaji, SAN, on Hadejia’s behalf, the lawyer sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police  and Bello Matawalle (Minister of State for Defence) as 1st and 2nd respondents.

    Also joined in the suit dated and filed on Aug. 22, 2024, were State Security Service (SSS); Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as 3rd to 6th respondents respectively.

    The senior lawyer sought nine reliefs including “a declaration that the abduction, harassment, intimidation, unlawful arrest and detention of the applicant (BASHIR HADEJIA) by the agents of the respondents on 12th of August, 2024, based on the political disagreement between the applicant and the 2nd respondent (Matawalle) is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

    He sought an order enforcing Hadejia’s fundamental rights to liberty by directing his unconditional release pending the determination of any allegations that may be raised against him by the respondents.

    He equally sought an order awarding the sum of N500 million as general and exemplary damages against the respondents.

    In the affidavit deposed to by Abubakar Hadejia, a younger brother of the detainee, he averred that the applicant is a businessman and former Special Adviser on Special Duties to Matawalle while he was governor of Zamfara.

    According to him, the applicant is also a Technical Adviser to the incumbent governor of Zamfara State.

    He alleged that the residence was invaded without search warrant and the agents of the I-G who came for the search did not enter any inventory with respect to what was allegedly found in the house.

    Abubakar said when they visited the Intelligence Respond Team, Force Intelligence Department (IRT-FID) on Aug. 16, 2024, they were told that though Hadejia was in their custody, he was not a subject of any investigation.

    He said, through their lawyer, they applied for his administrative bail but was denied.

    “I know as a fact that: there exists a political disagreement between the applicant and 2nd respondent (Matawalle) who was the Governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023,” he alleged.

    He said within the period, Matawalle appointed Hadejia as Special Adviser on Special Duties but that after he lost the bid to return to the seat of the governor in 2023, Matawalle became angry with his elder brother.

    He said the feud between them worsened when Hadejia was appointed as Technical Adviser by the incumbent Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal.

    He alleged that Hadejia’s entire detention was a political witch-hunt orchestrated by Matawalle in connivance with the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents to tarnish his image and lower his estimation in the eyes of his political and business associates.

    However, in separate counter affidavits  Matawalle, the SSS, Chief of Naval Staff, DIA and CDS, denied the allegations describing it as baseless.

    They urged the court to dismissed the suit as Hadejia had not placed sufficient evidence before the court to prove his allegations.

    Although the 2nd to 6th respondents filed counter affidavits, the 1st respondent (I-G) did not.

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho agreed with the arguement of Matawalle that Hadejia had failed to prove all the allegations against him.

    He held that sufficient and credible facts must be placed before the court for the applicant to prove his case and where the applicant failed, the court would refused the application.

    According to him, where the applicant placed sufficient evidence before the court, it is there the burden of proof will shift on the respondents.

    The judge noted that Hadejia alleged that the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents were acting on the instructions of the 2nd respondent (Matawalle).

    Justice Nwite, however, held that there was absolutely no concrete evidence to show that Matawalle was responsible for Hadejia’s predicament and that it was as a result of political disagreement.

    Besides, the judge said the applicant failed to show the court that he was ever kept in the custody of the SSS.

    “The applicant has woefully failed to prove that his right was denied,” he said.

    He said a court can not decide issues on speculation but on facts.

    “Courts of law are courts of facts and law and finding should be based on credible evidence,” he said.

    He dismissed all the allegations against the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents.

    However, Justice Nwite observed that Hadejia’s affidavit evidence against the I-G (1st respondent) were unchallenged.

    He said it is not in dispute that no court has the power to stop the power of security agencies in discharging their power to investigate or prosecute, but where the averments made by an applicant were uncontroverted, they are deemed to be true.

    “It is worthy of note that the 1st respondent did not filed any process despite being served with the hearing notices and all the court documents,” he said.

    The judge, who declared that the continued detention of Hadejia was unlawful, awarded a N10 million fine against the I-G, among other orders.

  • Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments in NDDC

    Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments in NDDC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed a suit seeking to invalidate the appointments of the current managing director and executive directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Bola Tinubu.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, dismissed the suit on the ground that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to institute the case.

    Justice Omotosho held that the proper party to initiate the case was the Attorney-General (A-G) of the states, being the chief law officers empowered to sue on behalf of the states or appoint a private lawyer to do so.

    “The plaintiffs have no right to litigate a matter of public interest where the Attorney-General is available and not complaining,” the judge said.

    He further held that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claims, adding that they ought to have shown the quantum of oil produced in each of the oil-producing states.

    The judge held that the plaintiffs also failed to provide evidence of the manner and status of appointments into NDDC management positions since the commission’s inception to substantiate their claims.

    “This is simply an assertion without proof. This court is handicapped in going to the merits of this case,” he said.

    Justice Omotosho consequently dismissed the suit.

    NAN reports that Hon. Ajoku Philip, Chief Jones Omereoha, and the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights International Foundation, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the oil-producing communities in Imo State and a few states, had filed the suit.

    The applicants sued the President of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Assembly and the NDDC in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1374/2023.

    They had urged the court to compel President Tinubu to withdraw the nominations of Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Mr Boma Iyaye, Mr Victor Antai, and Ifedayo Abegunde as Managing Director and Executive Directors of the NDDC respectively.

    They demanded that the president appoint indigenes of oil-producing communities from Imo, Cross River, and Edo, who they alleged had not previously held these positions, as mandated by Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act.

    The applicants argued that appointments to NDDC management positions over the years had allegedly favoured some oil-producing states over others, contravening relevant laws.

    They also prayed for a declaration that Sections 4 and 12(1) of the NDDC Establishment Act were compulsory in the appointment of the Commission’s Chairman, Managing Director, and Executive Directors, among other reliefs.

    But the NDDC, in its counter affidavit, disagreed with the applicants.

    It argued that Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act provides for “adequate representation,”  and this had always been observed in the commission’s appointments.

    It further argued that only the governors of oil-producing states could make such complaints, as they are recognised representatives of their citizens.

    The other defendants submitted that only state governors, through their A-Gs, are in a proper position to sue the NDDC over any alleged infractions.

  • Lagos teacher jailed 21 years

    Lagos teacher jailed 21 years

    An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday, sentenced a teacher to 21 years at the correctional service, for attempted sexual assault on a 13-year-old student.

    The convict, Oladosu Sakiru, an arabic teacher, was re-arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi,  on an amended two-count charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child.

    He was first arraigned on March 17, 2023, and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Trial had commenced, and the prosecution had called two witnesses namely, the victim and her father, who both testified against the convict.

    However, on Sept. 6, 2024, the convict, opted to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.

    The prosecution amended the charge, and consequently, informed the court of the position.

    The convict, was then re-arranged, and this time, he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Delivering judgement on Tuesday, the court chided the convict for betraying the trust reposed on him by parents of the student, who enrolled their ward in the islamic school.

    Justice Oshodi held that the evidences before the court, showed a pattern of “predatory behavior”, since the convict subjected the female student to force, and inappropriate touch.

    According to Oshodi, when the convict is confronted with his action, he seeks refuge in the often repeated phrase “it was the work of the devil”.

    The court held that religious leaders and teachers like the convict, occupy an important position in the society.

    He held that when such individuals break the trust of society, by “preying” on children, the court must respond with appropriate sanctions.

    The court, held that this is to reflect society’s condemnation of such actions, and to deter others.

    The court, consequently, held:

    ”Oladosu Shakiru, I have convicted you following your guilty plea of attempting to commit sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child.

    “These offences are very serious and the facts of this case are alarming.

    “As an imam and an arabic school teacher, you occupy a position of significant trust.

    “That trust extended not only to the 13-year-old child, the one you victimised, but also to her parents and the entire community who look to you for spiritual and moral guidance.

    “You betrayed this trust in the most deplorable manner,” he said .

    The court, consequently, sentenced Sakiru to a term of 14 years imprisonment on count one, and seven years imprisonment on count two.

    The judge, held that the terms of imprisonment shall run consecutively.

    The court, also ordered that the name of the convict, be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

    Earlier, in a plea for mercy on behalf of the convict, defence counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka, had begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

    He had told the court that the convict was a first time offender, with two wives, and urged the court to be lenient with the sentence.

    On her part. the prosecutor, Ms Bukola Okeowo, had however, prayed the court to sentence the convict accordingly.

    According to the charge , the convict committed the offence between February and March, 2022 on Odusanmi St, in Mushin.

    According to the prosecution, the offences violate Sections 135 and 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Woman drags father to court for refusing her to marry old lover after divorce

    Woman drags father to court for refusing her to marry old lover after divorce

    A widow, Aisha Zubairu, on Tuesday prayed a Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, to marry her off to her old lover, Aminu Saminu.

    The complainant had dragged her father, Zubairu Surajo, to court over his refusal to allow her to marry the man of her choice because of an old grudge.

    “I am a divorcee and I want the court to confirm my right to choose a spouse. Saminu and I had been lovers before my forced first marriage to my late husband by my father.

    “Now, my father says I can marry any other person but not Saminu. He even threatens to seek legal action against any of his relations who will defy his order and try to marry me off,” she told the court.

    However, in his defence, Surajo said that his refusal of his daughter’s marriage to Saminu was due to an old disrespect to his family by Saminu’s parents.

    Surajo, represented by his counsel, Nasiru Abdullahi, said that Saminu’s parents had not properly sought her daughter’s hand in marriage, in accordance with established Islamic law.

    He further stated that Saminu’s parents had earlier refused their son marrying his daughter on the grounds that he was too naive.

    Surajo told the court that it was the shame of the refusal that led him into marrying his daughter off to her late husband.

    He, however, said that he could not stop the court if it insisted on using its discretion to conduct the marriage between the two.

    “We have no objection if the court decides to conduct the marriage but we will not support her with anything except best wishes,” he said.

    The Judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, however, requested the physical presence in court of Surajo at the next hearing, which he fixed for Jan. 29.

  • Alleged fraud: Oil magnate, Akintoye granted N500m bail

    Alleged fraud: Oil magnate, Akintoye granted N500m bail

    A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted Mr Akindele Akintoye, Founder and Chairman of Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited, to a N500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that though he was not unmindful of the serious nature of the offence preferred against the defendant but he was minded to grant the bail in the interest of justice.

    Justice Nwite, who ordered that the two sureties shall depose to affidavit of means, directed that the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and the documents deposited with the deputy registrar of the court.

    He ordered that all his international passports be deposited with the registrar and shall not travel without the permission of the court.

    He also ordered that Akintoye and the sureties shall deposit two recent passport photographs each and the residence of the sureties verified by the court registrar.

    The judge, who ordered that both the prosecution and defence counsel shall supervise and interview the proposed sureties before Akintoye is released on bail, adjourned the matter until March 4 for trial.

    Justice Nwite had, on Dec. 31, 2024, fixed today for ruling after Esedo and Martha Babatunde, who appeared for the EFCC, argued their case for and against the bail application.

    Esedo, while moving the application, had posed a question whether the defendant was entitled to bail.

    The lawyer argued that issues of bail is a matter of discretion which is exercised judicially and judiciously by the court.

    He said Akintoye is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, adding that he had met all the requirements for granting bail.

    Esedo assured that if granted bail, the defendant would not jump bail and was ready to stand his trial.

    Besides, he said that the anti-graft agency had already concluded its investigation, having held him for 55 days.

    Babatunde, who vehemently opposed the bail plea, argued that Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) did not impose on the court to grant bail.

    The lawyer, who argued that a bail is not granted as a matter of must, said it is the duty of the applicant to place sufficient evidence before the court.

    She argued that the evidence against Akintoye was weighty as it bordered on serious national economic sabotage and financial crime which is currently ravaging the country.

    She said if admitted to bail, Akintoye would not attend trial, describing him as a flight risk.

    Akintoye, in the four-count charge, was alleged to have diverted a sum of $26,,060, 406.00 US dollars meant to build a refinery in Brass, Bayelsa.

    Akintoye, Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited, where he is also the Managing Director and CEO, were sued as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, by the anti-graft agency.

    The EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/641/V/2024 dated and filed on Dec. 19 by its lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, alleged that Akintoye and Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited had between December, 2020 and February, 2021, indirectly retained 16 million dollars.

    The amount, the EFCC said, was part of the funds dishonestly converted from the money paid by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Capacity Development Intervention Company Ltd to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited as investment.

    The said sum of $16, 006, 000 is alleged to constitute proceed of unlawful activity.

    The offence, EFCC said, is contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) by (Act No. 1 of 20!2) and punishable under Section [5(3) of the same Act, among other counts.

  • Court bars Wike, others from Abuja disputed land

    Court bars Wike, others from Abuja disputed land

    An Abuja High Court has given an order of interim injunction restraining the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and others from selling a landed property.

    The property is located at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, Abuja.

    Justice Mohammed Zubairu made the order following an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to the applicant, Reuben Atabo, SAN.

    Although the motion ex-parte, marked: M/16807/2024, was moved by Atabo on Monday, its certified true copy was made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

    Justice Zubairu, who is a vacation judge, held that he was inclined to grant the application as prayed in the interest of justice and the spirit of fair hearing.

    “The interim order of injunction is to last for few days pending when all parties are served and appeared before this court for the hearing of the motion on notice.

    “Consequently, an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants/respondents whether by themselves or agents. privies, servants, workmen and any person howsoever called acting on their behalf from trespassing into and interfering wilh the claimant’s exclusive possession of the properly.”

    He said the order subsisted pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “In the same vein, prayers 2, 3 and 4 are granted as prayed,” he added.

    The judge, who directed that the motion on notice already filed before the court be served on all the defendants, adjourned the case until Dec. 30 for hearing of the substantive suit.

    In the motion ex-parte dated and filed Dec. 16, the applicant, Nextdora Nigeria Limited, sued Mr Eric Anyamene Nnamdi, Hajiya Bilikisu Mallam, FCT Minister and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    The company sought four interim orders which were granted.

    The fourth relief is an order of Interim injunction restraining the defendants from developing or assigning the properly lying and situated at Plot No.4411, Cadastral Zone Ao9, Guzape District, Abuja which is coveted by a Right of Occupancy wilh File No. MISC 128232 or any portion thereof to a third party pending Ihe hearing and determination of tne motion on notice.

    The company, in a motion on notice filed on Dec. 16 and marked: CV/5517/24, had sued the four defendants, praying the court to bar them from selling its landed property, among others.

    The writ of summons sought seven reliefs, including a declaration that the claimant is the title holder of the property lying and located at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, Abuja.

  • Woman who ‘threatened’ Tinubu’s son remanded in prison

    Woman who ‘threatened’ Tinubu’s son remanded in prison

    A woman, identified as Olamide Thomas, who allegedly threatened Seyi Tinubu with death on social media, was on Friday, arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja and remanded in prison.

    Olamide was arraigned by the office of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, before Justice Emeka Nwite on three-count charge. She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Olamide was arrested on allegations bordering on harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, Egbetokun and the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/636/2024 dated and filed on Dec  18 by the police team of lawyers led by A.A. Egwu, Olamide was sued as sole defendant.

    Upon resumed hearing, Victor Okoye, who appeared for the police, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and that he was ready to proceed.

    After the counts were read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charge. The defence lawyer, T J. Aondo, SAN, sought to move an oral application on his client’s behalf but the request was turned down.

    Justice Nwite directed Aondo to file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until Dec  30 for commencement of trial.

    The judge, however, assured the defence counsel that as soon as a bail application is filed in form of a motion on notice, the court would not hesitate to hear it.

    He consequently ordered her to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application.

    In count one, Olamide was alleged to have, sometime in 2024, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on her social media platforms wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language.

    In the video, she was alleged to have stated “that Mr Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity had befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.”

    The communication was said to have placed Seyi in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.

    The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

    In count two, the defendant was alleged to have intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Egbetokun.

    The communication was said to have placed Egbetokun in fear of death, violence or bodily harm.

    The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

    In count three, Olamide was accused of intentionally transmitting or causing the transmission of communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language, stating that the children of Adejobi would all die before his eyes.

    She was quoted to have also said that “he (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day, with Intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi.”

    The communication was said to have placed Adejobi in fear of death of his loved ones.

    The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

  • UPDATE: Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello to spend Christmas, New Year in prison

    UPDATE: Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello to spend Christmas, New Year in prison

    Barring any last minutes intervention by his lawyers, the former Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello will spend his Christmas and New Year holidays in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Capital Territory High Court remanded former Governor Bello in Kuje Correctional Centre on Tuesday, pending the determination of his bail application.

    Justice Maryann Anenih also adjourned the case until January 29, February 25, and February 27, 2025 for the continuation of the hearing.

    Justice  Anenih had refused to grant a bail application filed by Bello, saying it was filed prematurely.

    The former governor is standing trial, along with two others, in an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge also admitted Umar Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, to bail in the sum of N300million each with two sureties.

    Justice Anenih, while delivering a ruling said, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.

    “Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.

    Recalling the arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on Nov. 22.

    “The 1st Defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.

    “That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”

    She said the Defendant’s Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.

    He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.

    Opposing the bail application, the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN,  argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.

    He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but the 1st Defendant’s Counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority “that says that an application can only be filed when it is ripe for hearing”.

    Justice Anenih held that the instant application for bail showed that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”

    Citing the ACJA , the judge said the provision provided that an application for bail could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.

    Bello had filed an application for his bail on November 22 but was taken into custody on November 26 and arraigned on November 27.

  • Teacher sentenced to life imprisonment in Lagos

    Teacher sentenced to life imprisonment in Lagos

    An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a teacher, John Osifo, to life imprisonment for defiling an eight-year-old pupil.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against Osifo beyond every reasonable doubt.

    Oshodi noted that the convict breached the trust that was entrusted into his hands by  defiling the survivor.

    According to him, evidence of the victim was corroborated by her mother’s evidence and medical examination revealed absence of hymen.

    He said that the convict exploited the vulnerability of the child under his care to defile her.

    The Judge said: “John Osifo, the gravity of your offence cannot be over stated.

    “As a teacher, you are in a position of trust that you breached.

    “You did not only exploit the vulnerability of a child under your care, you also took advantage of the Covid-19 lockdown.

    “Instead of showing remorse, you chose to fabricate a lie and false accusations alleging that the mother of the victim tried to seduce you.”

    The court thereafter sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered that his name  be registered in the sexual offences register of Lagos State.

    The prosecution, led my Mr Babajide Boye, called three witnesses; the survivor, survivor’s mother and a medical doctor while the defence called eight witnesses during trial.

    The prosecution had told the court that the convict committed the offence sometime in May 2020 and June 2021 on Vissol Street, Jejelaye in Ajangbadi and Marifod Private School, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

    Prosecution submitted that the the convict, who also served as a home lesson  teacher  for the minor during COVID-19, had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • How couple used church to steal N52m; jailed 10 years

    How couple used church to steal N52m; jailed 10 years

    An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Kristen Uyanwanne, to 10 years imprisonment for using church to steal N52 million.

    The court also ordered that the Church, Temple International Church, be deregistered and closed down.

    The couple and the church were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on seven counts  bordering on stealing and fraud.

    EFCC  arraigned the couple on Feb.25, 2020, they pleaded not guilty and trial went on.

    While delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Dada, found the couple guilty as charged.

    Dada held that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt.

    On count one, Dada, sentenced the duo to three years imprisonment and sentenced the first defendant (Harry) to seven years imprisonment, on count two to six.

    The court discharged and acquitted the second defendant (Kristen) on count seven.

    The judge, however, held that the sentence would run concurrently and ordered that the church be closed down.

    She also ordered the convicts to restitute the sum of N31 million to the nominal complainant within 60 days of the judgment.

    The prosecution had submitted that sometime in March 2016, the convicts dishonestly converted the sum of N10 million, belonging to late Mrs Adeola Odemuyiwa, to their personal use

    EFCC also told  the court  that the convicts sold a property located at Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo, Lagos, to one Kingsley Atere, for the sum of N42 million, on the false presentation that the first defendant was authorised by the complainant to sell the property.

    According to the prosecution, the offences violate Section 1 (2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act  2006.

    The offences also violated Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.