TheNewsGuru

Tag: imprisonment

  • BREAKING: Finally, Doyin Okupe bags 2 years imprisonment

    BREAKING: Finally, Doyin Okupe bags 2 years imprisonment

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, convicted and sentenced Mr Doyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, to two years imprisonment.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okupe is the Director General of the Peter Obi presidential campaign council.

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment, found Okupe guilty in 26 out of the 59 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the money laundering offence.

    Justice Ojukwu ordered that the 26 counts, which attracted two-year jail-term each, would run concurrently.

    The judge, however, gave an option of N500, 000 in each of the counts, amounting to N13 million, which must be paid before 4:30pm ,(the close of work) today.

    The wife and son of Okupe had pleaded for leniency after he was convicted.

    Besides, former Governor of old Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and former National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Idi Farouk, had also urged the court to temper justice with mercy in Okupe’s sentencing.

    The court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, had convicted Okupe for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

    Justice Ojukwu, in a judgment, held that Okupe was found guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

    Okupe is the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP).

    Okupe was said to have received N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired).

    The judge had, earlier, stood down proceedings tfor Okupe to exercise his right under Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to call witnesses to testify about his character, before the court could proceed to pronounce sentence on the convict.

  • ICE PRINCE IMPRISONMENT: 2Face awed over hope for Nigerian youths

    ICE PRINCE IMPRISONMENT: 2Face awed over hope for Nigerian youths

    Following the incarceration of Nigerian rap artist, Panshak Henry Zamani, better known as Ice Prince Zamani, for assaulting a police officer, music icon, 2Face Idibia, has wondered if it is a crime to be a young person in the country.

     

    He, however, appealed for the release of Ice Prince, who is currently in Ikoyi prison for assaulting a police officer.

     

    It would be recalled that the singer was earlier arrested for assaulting and threatening police after being flagged for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

     

    Following his arraignment, 2Face emphasized the protests against the government which he stated to also be in the favor of the police while calling for the singer’s release.

     

    In his words: “Has it become a crime to be a young person in this country??? Every protest and struggle is also for u to have better pay and equipment and proper retirement benefits,” he wrote in an Instastory post.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Lagos State Police Command on Friday arraigned Ice Prince, for assaulting and abducting a policeman in the Lekki area of the state.

     

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a tweet, said the music artiste was driving to a destination in the state when the police patrol team in the area stopped him around 3am for driving without license plates.

     

    The policemen were said to have insisted that Ice Prince should visit the station and after agreeing, one of the policemen entered the vehicle.

     

    Hundeyin, in a tweet, said, the artiste, thereafter, abducted the policeman, assaulted and threatened to throw him in the river, adding that Ice Prince was later arrested.

     

    The PPRO said, “At 3am today, @Iceprincezamani was stopped for driving without license plates. He agreed to be taken to the station.

     

    “He, thereafter, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him and threatened to throw him in the river. He has been arrested and would be arraigned today.”

     

    “He (Ice Prince) is facing three-count bordering on assault, obstruction and abduction. He has been arraigned,” Hundeyin stated.

  • Kano court sentences man to 24 years imprisonment over Facebook post

    Kano court sentences man to 24 years imprisonment over Facebook post

    A Kano State High Court on Tuesday sentenced a Kano-born atheist, Mubarak Bala, to 24 years imprisonment for blasphemy.

    The convict, whose age and address were not provided by the court, was earlier arraigned on an 18-count charge bordering on blasphemy, incitement, contempt of religion and breach of public peace.

    The convict had pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Farouk Lawan, sentenced the convict to 24 years imprisonment.

    The judge also ordered that the sentence term would commence from the day that the convict was arrested.

    He also ordered that the sentences for all the 18 charges for which Bala was convicted should run concurrently.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Muhammad Sani, told the court that the convict had on April 28, 2020, made a blasphemous post on his Facebook page.

    Sanusi said the post was against Allah (SWA) and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and had caused a major outrage in the city of Kano, where the convict hails from.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provision of Sections 114 and 210 of the Penal Code.

    The Defence Counsel, Mr James Ibor, pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client, who concurred and promised not to repeat the blasphemous comments.

  • US Capitol violence: 54-year-old die hard Trump supporter bags five years imprisonment

    US Capitol violence: 54-year-old die hard Trump supporter bags five years imprisonment

    A Donald Trump supporter was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting police officers during the attack on the US Capitol, the harshest punishment yet handed down in the investigation into the January 6 violence.

    Robert Scott Palmer, 54, was seen in videos and photos wearing an American flag jacket decorated with pro-Trump patches and a hat reading “Florida for Trump” as he threw boards, a fire extinguisher and other objects at police outside the Capitol.

    He had tried to enter the Capitol but was ultimately pushed back by pepper spray deployed by security officials.

    After that, he continued to throw things at officers, until he was hit by a rubber bullet.

    Federal judge Tanya Chutkan rejected Palmer’s arguments for leniency of a troubled childhood and a handwritten apology that said that he and others had been duped into attacking the Congress by the former president, whom he called “tyrannical” and “desperate to hold on to power.”

    “I realize that we meaning Trump supporters had been lied to,” he wrote.

    Prosecutors pointed out that even after his October 4 guilty plea, Palmer continued to defend his actions, labelling police the aggressors on a fundraising website page he set up.

    “Palmer purposefully joined a large group of rioters with the specific intent of interfering with the nation’s electoral process,” the prosecutors told the court in a sentencing memo.

    “Palmer’s violence was in pursuit of his political goal of subverting a democratic election and the peaceful transition of power.”

    The previous stiffest sentence in the Capitol attack was 41 months, given to two men who were charged with obstructing an official proceeding but were not accused of assaulting law enforcement.

    More than 700 people have been charged in the attack, most of them for minor offenses like illegally entering the Capitol.

    But several dozen face assault and deadly weapons charges as well as conspiracy, which could lead to heavy sentences.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina bags eight years imprisonment

    BREAKING: Ex-Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina bags eight years imprisonment

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reformed Task Team to eight years imprisonment.

    Maina was convicted after he was found guilty of money laundering.

    In a judgement delivered on Monday by Justice Okon Abang, the court held that the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has produced essential evidence through witnesses to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Maina is guilty of money laundering in the sum of N171,099,000.

    Maina was also found guilty of concealing his true identity as a signatory to accounts opened in two banks – UBA and Fidelity bank – by using the identity of his family members without their knowledge.

    These accounts had cash deposits of N300million, N500million, and N1.5billion

    The court held that Maina stole monies meant for pensioners as he could not prove where he got them from.

    The court also found Maina guilty for the purchase of a property in Abuja paid in cash in the sum of $1.4million, which is above the statutory threshold of N5million and without passing through a financial institution, describing it as a criminal offense.

  • Reps Deputy Speaker, Wase calls for Senator Abaribe’s imprisonment, gives reasons

    Reps Deputy Speaker, Wase calls for Senator Abaribe’s imprisonment, gives reasons

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase on Thursday took on Senate Minority Leader Eyinnaya Abaribe for standing surety for Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leaders Nnamdi Kanu.

    He said Abaribe should be in prison for failing to produce Kanu in court.

    According to him, the Abia South senator should be imprisoned just as Senator Ali Ndume, who stood surety but failed to produce former Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Chairman Abdulrasheed Maina, who jumped bail.

    Wase spoke while contributing to Point of Privilege Order raised by a member of the House, Sada Soli.

    In the point of privilege, Soli expressed displeasure at House Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu’s remarks at a closed-door executive session last week that some APC members plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In his contribution, Wase expressed surprise that Elumelu, after their session, was in a meeting with PDP caucus of both chambers of the National Assembly.

    He said: “For him to even go out to report Mr. Speaker… it was a confidential matter… you know the meaning of executive session? He couldn’t have gone there to report that one. Mr. Speaker, I want to say there is a kind of false platform that I am seeing because after that meeting, PDP Caucus of both chambers went and had another discussion, a kind of build-up on the security situation. And I think we need to be serious.

    “I see someone as Abaribe, a leader in the Senate, championing that. Yes, there are many flaws. He bailed Kanu Nnamdi and during the EndSARS (protests), we knew what happened. Kanu then, was the one who was asking for the heads of Tinubu, destroy this, destroying that in the nation. But we have allowed him. He knew what happened to Ndume. Ndume, for bailing Maina, was taken to prison for not producing him, but we allowed this man to go as opposition person.

    “What is happening sir? I think there is need for us as a system to change our tactics. It is not about opposition. If you are going to do opposition, do opposition that is right and also be part of the solution to problems.

    “I think our privilege has been breached. There was complete wrong information and it is deliberate and that is why I am citing the issue of what I have seen the minority leader in the senate has done, with all of them sitting behind you. Ordinarily for failing to produce Kanu Nnamdi he should be in prison, just like Ndume was taken to prison.”

    Responding to the Wase, Uzoma Nkem Abonta, said there was already a judicial decision on the matter and wondered why it should be brought up at all.

    “The man (Abaribe) mentioned is my senator. There is a judicial decision on this. Are we trying to arrogate ourselves judicial powers as to when you cannot produce someone who you bailed.

    “It was canvassed up to appeal. Is it an offence to bail somebody? If you bail somebody, you produce him subject to there is no interference. The last contact the man in question had was with the military. The Senator who bailed the man was going to court regularly. The senator did not default. He was called to show cause and he showed cause successfully. Why is it a point of reference in the parliament?

    “Except we are trying to sit as an appellate court or interfere with the judiciary, the matter went the full whole course with the judiciary. He was asked to show cause and he showed cause. I was producing this man when there was no interference. We should ask the military where they keep him. We should do things that would get us peace. Our problem now is security. How do we get security?”

    House Deputy Minority Leader Toby Okechukwu said: ”There was no breach of privilege. He (Elumelu) didn’t say Sada came to him. He didn’t say it is the resolution of the House. He said some people came to him. And it is clear that Sada has been criss-crossing in this chamber. If other members are interested in moving to PDP, I do not see how it affects him. Like the Speaker rightly said, anyone has liberty.”

    House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who tried to calm frayed nerves, said: “The deputy speaker’s point was not on the legality or non-legality. He was talking about the morality of it. If you remember, he talked about Senator Ndume as well and used that as an example. I think the point we need to make and understand is that we are all working together to build this nation.

    “Nation building is a joint task among all of us, whatever party, whatever tribe, whatever religion. We only have one country. In doing that we should be mindful whilst we play our role as a ruling party, whilst we play our roles as opposition.

    “We should be focused on the non-disintegration or bringing down of the country. We should be mindful of our speeches or our utterances. There is freedom of speech. But, freedom to speak also has to be measured.

  • Cultists face 21 years imprisonment in Lagos

    Cultists face 21 years imprisonment in Lagos

    The Lagos House of Assembly has passed a bill into law banning the activities of cultists and illegal societies across the state.

    The House passed the bill during a plenary session on Monday.

    After its passage, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

    The bill stipulates a 21-year jail term for anyone found guilty of engaging in the act and 15 years jail term for anyone convicted of abetting cultists or who allows his premises to be used by cultists as a meeting point.

    The bill entitled ‘A Law to provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos State and for other connected purposes’ says a society shall be regarded as unlawful if its members are engaged in illegal, destructive activities contrary to public policy, safety and peace of members of the public.

    In Section 3, it read: “Any person who is a member of an unlawful society or cult, identifies as a member or solicits for members of an unlawful society or cult, attends a meeting of an unlawful society or cult whether as a member or an intending member of the unlawful society or cult commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.

    “The jail term also concerns anyone who attends such meetings or does any illegal act which may probably cause a breach of peace, disturbs public peace or conducts activities in such a manner as to pose a threat to life and property.

    “Anyone who forms, organises or combines and agrees with anyone to form or organise an unlawful society or cult, manages and assists in the management of an unlawful society or cult or knowingly allows a meeting of members of an unlawful society or cult to be held in any property under his control commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 15 years imprisonment.

    “The 15-year jail term further applies to anyone who intimidates or compels people to join a cult group.

    “Any person who injures or uses violence on a person to compel the person to join an unlawful society or cult commits an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 21 years imprisonment.

    “Any person who administers or is present at and consents to the administering of any unlawful oath that appears to bind the person who takes it to become a member of an unlawful society or cult under this law, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to seven years.”

    It also stipulates 21 years for any member of a cult group who sets fire on anything or uses firearm or deadly objects, including acid and other chemicals, in any manner as to cause harm to anyone.

    For students in the state, the law, which prohibits campus cultism, says “anyone of them who is convicted would face a jail term not exceeding two years.”

    Cult clashes in Lagos have claimed many lives with many innocent persons caught up in the mayhem.

    About 14 persons, including an easygoing motorcyclist identified simply as Pastor, were reportedly killed in a series of clashes between two rival cult groups–Eiye and Aye confraternities last month.

    Areas like Ketu, Ikorodu Oworonshoki, Bariga, Somolu, Ajah Mushin are infamous for cult violence.

    Speaking during the 2021 Ikorodu Town Hall Meeting On Security, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, warned traditionalists in the area to stop fortifying cult members and criminals.

    According to Odumosu, the security situation in Lagos has been commendable except in some areas, particularly in the Ikorodu axis where the situation has become worrisome due to a spike in cases of cultism, gangsterism, traffic robbery, ritual killings, amongst others.

    He said 242 armed robbers and cultists were arrested in the local government within the last six months while 28 arms and 120 ammunition were recovered.

    The police boss said 192 cultism cases and 18 murder cases were also recorded in the period under review while 25 robbery incidents were foiled.

    He said, “The traditional institution in the division must be up and doing in condemning the activities of the bad boys (cultists), instead of supporting and celebrating them and their criminal acts.

    “The traditionalists and traditional worshippers in this area must stop promoting and protecting the criminals in Ikorodu axis and Lagos State in general. The ideas of fortifying the bad boys and providing native charms for them are counterproductive to our security architecture in this area. Their powers must be used to assist us not to jeopardise our efforts.”

  • Court sentences fake soldier to 1 month imprisonment

    Court sentences fake soldier to 1 month imprisonment

    A Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday, sentenced a 22-year-old man, Ali Mohammed, to one month imprisonment for impersonating a military officer.

    The Magistrate, Mr Aminu Eri, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N10,000.

    Eri said that the prosecution had proven his case beyond the reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the charges preferred against him.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, ASP Peter Ejike said that convict committed the offence on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 at the Wuse market, Abuja.

    Ejike said the convict met one of the complainant, Abubakar Sani, a POS agent on Jan. 17, introduced himself as a Military officer and deceitfully collected N7,000 from him.

    The prosecutor further said that the convict was dressed in a military camouflage.

    He also said that the convict met the second complainant, Yakubu Mohammed on Jan. 16, in his shop and collected his MP3 player valued at N5,500 and N500 cash.

    He said when the complainant confronted the convict and demanded for his money, he beat him up.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 312,322,269 and 132 of the Penal Code Law

  • Man bags 4 months imprisonment over N1.8m fraud

    Man bags 4 months imprisonment over N1.8m fraud

    Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on Wednesday sentenced one Abdulrasheed Imam (aka Alkanun Da Woru) to four months imprisonment for impersonation and fraud.

    News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports, that Imam was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office on a two-count charge.

    Imam was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to the charge bordering on impersonation and cheating to the tune of N1,895,000 (One Million Eight Hundred and Ninety-five thousand Naira).

    Justice Khobo thereafter sentenced the convict to four months imprisonment, with a fine of N150,000.

    “This sentence is to serve as a deterrent and punishment for the offences he committed knowingly,” the judge held, and warned him not to indulge in any further act of criminality.

    Earlier, Counsel to the EFCC, E.K. Garba, told the court that the convict defrauded one Arc. Mohammed Isah of the sum of N1,895,000.

    In respect of his guilty plea, Garba had urged the Court to sentence him, according to the tenets of the law.

    The Defence counsel, M.B. Usman, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a first-time offender.

    “He is remorseful and has promised not to indulge in any criminal offence again,” Usman said.(NAN)

  • BREAKING: Ex-NIMASA DG sentenced to seven-year imprisonment

    BREAKING: Ex-NIMASA DG sentenced to seven-year imprisonment

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced convicted former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Calistus Obi to seven years imprisonment.

    The court, however, gave him an option of N42 million fine.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on May 23 found him guilty of money laundering and converting the agency’s funds to personal use.

    The court refused to order the forfeiture of his seized assets.

    Details later…