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Tag: Court

  • Transporter, 45, docked for theft, impersonating policeman

    Transporter, 45, docked for theft, impersonating policeman

    A transporter, Victory Okoteye, who allegedly impersonated a police officer and stole a Volkswagen bus valued at N800, 000, was on Friday brought before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The 45-year-old, who lives at 45, Araromi St, Bariga in Lagos, is arraigned for impersonation and stealing before Magistrate O. Sule-Amzat.

    After entering a plea of `not guilty’, the magistrate admitted the accused to a bail of N50, 000 with two reliable sureties who are to deposit N30, 000 each into the court’s Chief Registrar’s account.

    She added that sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky had told the court that the offence was committed sometime in January 2016 at No. 13, Araromi St, Bariga.

    He said the complainant, a commercial driver, came to Ogudu Police Station to report a case of stealing.

    “The complainant said that sometime in the month of January 2016 at the above mentioned address, the accused stole his Volkswagen bus with registration no. XN 234 AAA.

    “All efforts to trace the accused and the bus failed until May 23, 2016 information reached him that the vehicle is at a mechanic workshop at Lawanson in Surulere.

    “The complainant went there and saw his vehicle but the mechanic said that the man who deposited the bus with them came from Alara Street, Iwaya, Lagos.

    “Thereafter, the accused was arrested in Sabo-Yaba in November 2016 and from Sabo Police Station, he was transferred to Bariga Divisional Police Headquarters,” Lucky said.

    He said the accused had presented himself as a CSP attached to Zone 2 headquarters, Lagos, and swindled many people.

    The offences contravened Sections 285 and 378 (1)of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The case has been adjourned to March 1.

  • Court suspends Nnamdi Kanu’s secret trial

    An Abuja Federal High Court, on Thursday suspended the secret trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu till further notice.

    Justice Binta Nyako made the pronouncement following a prima facie suit filed by Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor challenging the veracity of the charges leveled against the accused persons.

    Shortly after his introduction, Ejiofor argued that the charges against the defendants lack merit and basic proof.

    According to Ejiofor, “Nnamdi Kanu (the first defendant) is only exercising his right to self-determination.”

    He contended that the defendants started their agitations before Muhammadu Buhari emerged as President; hence do not pose any threat to the Federal Government.

    After listening to his argument, Nyako suspended the trial till further notice.

    Kanu alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are currently facing trial before the Justice Nyako – led court for charges bordering on treasonable felony.

    Details later…

  • Metuh asks court to summon Dasuki as witness in N400m fraud case

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to summon former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to testify in his trial.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), reminded the judge, Justice Okon Abang, of a pending subpoena before the court to invite Dasuki as the next witness.

    Abang, however, advised that both the defence and prosecuting counsel liaise with the authority holding Dasuki to release him to appear in court.

    He said that it was only after the defence and prosecution had approached the relevant authority and the authority refused to release Dasuki to them that they should come back to him.

    Counsel to the second defendant Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) however said it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.

    The defence team filed the subpoena on Dec. 2, 2016.

    It was premised on the grounds that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.

    Meanwhile, following the stalling of the case on Tuesday due to the ill-health of Metuh, the defence, at today’s sitting presented a medical report from the National Hospital with details of his health condition.

    The defence team told the court that Metuh was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at the National Hospital for complications arising from spinal cord injuries.

    Etiaba said that the medical experts handling the defendant’s ailment were unable to give the specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.

    He asked the court for a three-week adjournment for the defendant to recuperate and also seek further medical attention.

    Onwugbufor, for his part, told the court that he had seen the medical report and that he was suffering the same ailment as the defendant.

    He said he was able to get the right medical care only in London, and urged the court to look at the defendant’s case with compassion since his condition was even more critical than his.

    According to him, what Metuh is suffering is excruciating and requires expert attention to ensure full recovery.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, said that he was not opposed to an adjournment, adding that the prosecution sympathised with the defence and wished the defendant quick recovery.

    “We have been served with the medical report of the defendant and we have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.

    “With regards to the request for a three-week adjournment, we are taking them by their word since the medical report did not give an indication about how soon the defendant will be discharged.

    “It only says his management will continue until he gets well and I am not opposed to the adjournment,’’ Tahir said.

    Abang adjourned continuation of hearing in the matter till Feb. 21 and Feb. 24.

  • Court upholds Justice Ademola, wife’s N50m bail, grants bail to Agi

    Court upholds Justice Ademola, wife’s N50m bail, grants bail to Agi

    An Abuja High Court on Wednesday upheld the existing bail granted to Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife, Olabowale on Dec. 13, and also granted bail to Mr Joe Agi (SAN).

    Ademola and wife were earlier arraigned by the Federal Government on an 11-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to receive gratification in various ways contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000.

    Ademola was among the seven justices investigated after the sting operation carried out on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Segun Jegede, had on Jan. 9 informed the court that he would file an amended charge to bring in a third defendant, Mr Joe Agi (SAN).

    The original count of 11 had now been amended to 16-count, and Agi was brought in as the third defendant in the matter.

    The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, upheld the existing bail of N50 million each on self-recognisance granted to the Ademolas and the condition that they deposit their international passports pending the conclusion of the trial.

    He said nothing had been placed before him in form of opposition by the prosecution to alter the bail.

    “This being the case, the bail granted to the 1st and 2nd defendants on Dec. 13 and the conditions attached to it are to continue.

    “And the court having considered that it is its essential duty in matters of bail to impose such conditions that would ensure the defendant appears in court to stand his trial.

    The application of bail is in the exercise of the court’s discretion under sections 161, 163, 164, 165 and 167(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

    “Bail is granted to the third defendant on self-recognisance in the sum of N50 million; he is to deposit his international passport and other travelling documents within seven days,” Okeke ordered.

    The judge then adjourned the case till Jan. 16 for the commencement of trial and Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 for continuation.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Segun Jegede, informed the court that he had filed the amended charges as prayed on Jan. 9.

    Jegede said this was pursuant to Sections 216 (1) and 256 of ACJA and that the defendants had been served.

    The court therefore granted him his leave.

    Chief Solo Akuma (SAN) counsel for the Ademola and his wife, who held brief for Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), prayed the court to uphold the existing bail of the Ademolas.

    He told the court that they had fulfilled the bail condition.

    Mr Japh Njikonye, counsel to Agi, told the court that they filed a motion on notice on Jan. 10 for the bail of the 3rd defendant.

    The counsel prayed the court to grant Agi bail on self-recognisance as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and as accorded him when he was invited by the DSS twice, since the substantive case had been scheduled for Jan. 16.

    “To show how responsible he is, my client is in court even though he was served only yesterday; so, there is no necessity to deposit his international passport and travelling documents,” Njikonye said.

  • [Video] ‘Nigeria has expired’…Kanu, IPOB members blast Buhari

  • Former Katsina Gov. Shema appears in court for alleged misappropriation funds

    The immediate past governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, has appeared in court for alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor.

    Shema was arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Bako by the Katsina state government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.

    He, however, did not take plea.

    Earlier, EFCC counsel, Jibrin Samuel (SAN), had urged the court to remand Shema in prison so that they could have access to him at will.

    Samuel asked that the administrative bail earlier given to Shema be revoked, saying he had shown some signs of not reporting to the commission.

    The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, however, objected to the prayer of the EFFC counsel to have his client remanded in prison custody.

    Daudu argued that the state High Court had no jurisdiction to try his client, adding that Shema should be allowed to go home until the case had been appropriately filed.

    The trial judge, Bako, ruled that it was premature for the EFCC counsel to pray for the detention of the ex-governor in prison.

    He advised both sides to take the case slowly in order to have a decent trial, and adjourned the case till Feb. 7 for mention.

    Recall that the state government had alleged illegal diversion of state funds during Shema’s tenure.

     

     

    NAN

  • My husband steals my money always, wife tells court

    My husband steals my money always, wife tells court

    A housewife, Mary Eniola, on Monday told an Agodi Customary Court, Ibadan, that her husband, Kazeem, habitually stole her money all through the 15 years marriage.

    Mary made this known when she testified in a divorce proceedings she brought against her husband.

    She said that her 15-year-old union with Kazeem was characterised with habitual stealing of her money and act of irresponsibility from him.

    “I shouldered the responsibility as regards feeding, school fees payment and other welfare of the kids, instead of him to appreciate my struggle for the care, he was in the habit of stealing my money.

    “He beat me as he likes and parked out of our matrimonial home to impregnate another woman outside.

    “Your Honour, I am tired of his shameful acts, victimisation and embarrassment,” she said.

    Kazeem, denied all the allegations and pleaded with the court not to grant the divorce request of his wife.

    He said that he had nobody to assist in catering for the three children if the divorce suit was granted.

    The President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, granted the divorce, holding that there was no love between them.

    Balogun awarded custody of the three children to Mary and directed the respondent to be pay N9,000 monthly for the maintenance of the three kids.

  • Court orders remand of herdsman for damages to farm in Ekiti

    Court orders remand of herdsman for damages to farm in Ekiti

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a herdsman, Abdulahi Abubakar in prison custody for allegedly conspiring with others now at large to cause damage to farm valued at N1.2 million.

    The police prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo told the court on Friday that the accused and others at large committed the offence on December 4 at about 5:00pm at ‎Itapaji-Iyemero in Ikole-Ekiti.

    He alleged that the accused conspired together to commit an offence ‎to wit malicious damage, punishable under Section 7 of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing, Ekiti State Law 2016.

    The prosecutor said the accused, on the said date, with others at large, did unlawfully rear cows into yam farm belonging to one Emmanuel Augustine and destroyed the farm value N1.2 million.

    According to him, the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 4(3) and 7 of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing, Ekiti State Law 2016.‎

    The accused pleaded not guilty, as his counsel, Miss Oluwasayo Ayomide‎ applied for his bail but was opposed by the police prosecutor.

    The prosecutor stated that the offence was rampant and also it would enable the police to arrest others involved in the crime.

    Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye ‎ refused to grant bail and consequently remanded the accused in prison custody.

    He adjourned the case to Jan.13 for further hearing

  • Court orders interim seizure of $153m deposited in 3 banks by Diezani to FG

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, issued an interim order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of $153.3 million belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    The monies were said to be domiciled with three Nigerian banks.

    Justice Muslim Hassan gave the order following exparte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The commission averred that out of the total sum, about N23 billion was domiciled with Sterling Bank Plc, N9 billion with First Bank Plc and about 5 million dollars with Access Bank Plc.

    After issuing the interim orders, the court also issued 14 days to Sterling Bank and any other interested party to appear and prove the legitimacy of the monies, failing which the funds would be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    In an affidavit filed in support of the application, an EFCC investigator, Moses Awolusi, claimed that the anti-graft agency discovered through its investigations, communication between Diezani and a former Fidelity bank Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo.

    He said that sometime in December 2014, Diezani invited Okonkwo to her office where they hatched the plan of how the cash would be moved from NNPC to Okonkwo for safe-keeping.

    According to him, Diezani instructed Okonkwo to ensure that the money was “neither credited into any known account nor captured in any transaction platforms” of Fidelity Bank.

    Awolusi said that Okonkwo accepted and implemented the deal leading to the movement of the sums from NNPC to Fidelity Bank.

    He said that two former Group Executive Directors of Finance and Account of NNPC helped Diezani to move the cash from NNPC Abuja to the headquarters of Fidelity Bank in Lagos.

    Counsel EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, moving the exparte application on Friday, urged the court to order an interim order of forfeiture.

    He also urged the court to order Sterling Bank and others who were joined as defendants to appear in court and show why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.

    Oyedepo brought his application pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution, and argued that granting the application was in the interest of justice.

    Justice Hassan, after listening to submissions, granted the orders.

    He adjourned to the case to Jan. 24 for the respondents to appear in court to show why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.

     

    NAN

  • Court nullifies appointment of Al-Makura’s LG caretaker committees, orders fresh election

    Court nullifies appointment of Al-Makura’s LG caretaker committees, orders fresh election

    The High Court sitting in Keffi, Nasarawa State has nullified the appointment of Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in 11 local government councils of the State.

    The court also ordered the state government to conduct elections of chairmen and councilors within 140 days from the when the judgement was pronounced.

    In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice S. A. Ayiwulu, nullified the 2016 amendment of the Nasarawa State Local Government Law 2009, as amended in 2011 by the state House of Assembly, which paved way for the state government to alter the substantive suit by reappointing the IMCs to run the affairs of LGAs in the state.

    The judge was quoted as saying: “The law was made during the pendency of the substantive suit and is contrary to the interim order of this court.”

    Recall that former gubernatorial candidate of the Independent Democrats (ID), Barr. Haruna Iliyasu, had in April 2015, filed a suit against the state government, the state House of Assembly and the 11 IMC chairmen, challenging the “hurried amendment” of the LGA law and the legality of their composition.

    Continuing, Justice Ayiwulu said, “It is hereby ordered that the Nasarawa State Local Government Amended Law 2016 made by the state assembly is accordingly struck down for being contrary to the provision of Section (7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, and for being made contrary to the interim order of this court.

    “All members of the interim management committee appointed by the state government and the house of assembly during the pendency of the substantive suit No NSD/K23/2016 are hereby perpetually restrained from parading themselves as such or in whatever name or guise.

    “An order is hereby made mandating the state government to conduct election into the local governments in Nasarawa State within 140 days from the date of this judgment,” he said.