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Tag: Judge

  • JUST IN: Judge who ordered Diezani’s arrest is dead

    A judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Valentine Ashi, who ordered security agencies to arrest and produce the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, within 72 hours, has died.

    According to reports, Justice Ashi, who sits in Apo, died on Thursday in an Abuja hospital from a yet- to- be disclosed ailment.

    Authorities of the FCT High Court also confirmed the development but assured a formal statement will be issued on Monday,with the authority of the Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello.

    “Some members the late Justice Ashi’s family has visited the court’s management to inform the court about the unfortunate incident.

    “I can confirm that they said he died on Thursday in the course of an illness. But, the court will issue a formal statement on Monday, a senior official of the court said.

    On December 4, 2018, Justice Ashi, upon an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordered the agency, Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSSS) and all other security agencies to arrest 72 hours.

    The EFCC said it investigated the former minister with a businessman and Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Jide Omokore in relation to a petition by a group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), dated October 2, 2013, which contained allegations of money laundering and official corruption
    .
    EFCC added that its investigation showed that Diezani, as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, alegedly engaged in illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Details shortly….

  • Six men break into judge’s home, steal N30m jewelry

    Six men, who allegedly broke into the house of a judge of the Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Mariam Emeya, and stole jewelry worth N 30million, have been brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The defendants are Mujaudu Alawiye, 59, Achrigbo Sunday, 20, Emmanuel Frank, 23, Akintunde Jude, 28, Adeniji Bashir, 18 and Boniface Nneji, 52.

    They are facing a four-count charge, of conspiracy, breaking and entering, and stealing preferred against them by the police.

    Prosecuting Inspector Edward Abiodun told Magistrate O.O Oshin that the defendants committed the offences at about noon on May 28, 2019, at Ajah, Lagos.

    Abiodun alleged that the defendants burgled the judge’s home and carted away several pieces of jewelry.

    The court heard that the stolen items include: four sets of gold bangles, one set of small bangles, one big gold chain, one small gold chain, four gold rings, three sets of gold jewelry, four sets of gold earrings, four sets of gold pendants, two gold hand chains, all valued at N30 million, property of the judge.

    The offences, the prosecutor, added, contravened Sections 411, 307(a)(c) and 287 (5)(f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Each defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs O.O Oshin, granted the first and sixth defendants bail, in the sum of N100,000 each and the second, third, fourth and fifth defendants N300,000 bail each, with two sureties each in the like sum, among other conditions.

    The case continues on July 3.

  • EFCC rejects transfer of ex-minister Akinjide’s case to new judge

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rejected the transfer of a money laundering case against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide to a new judge.

    She was arraigned last January 16 before Justice Muslim Hassan, but the case was transferred to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the instance of the defence.

    When the case came up before Justice Aneke yesterday, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to reverse the transfer.

    He argued that by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, an application for transfer of a part-heard case must not be in writing.

    He added that the trial had already gone far before Justice Hassan, with the case at a trial-within-trial stage to determine the admissibility of a document, before it was transferred.

    “Whether rightly or wrongly, this matter is going through turbulence, a case of 2016. Why should we start afresh?” he asked.

    But defence counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) objected to the application, describing it as an “ambush”.

    According to him, the prosecution ought to have made the application formal (in writing) and served it on the defence for it to reply.

    The SAN prayed the court to refuse the application, saying that it should be brought properly.

    His submission was adopted by other defence counsel.

    Ruling, Justice Aneke agreed that the prosecution’s oral application was an “ambush”.

    He ordered the EFCC to file a formal application for a reversal of the case transfer.

    While EFCC is rejecting the transfer of Akinjide’s case after trial had begun, it was the commission that applied for the transfer of the trial of former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to a new judge after 13 witnesses had testified for the prosecution.

    EFCC charged Akinjide along with a Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Oyo State Chief Olarenwaju Otiti and a former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District Ayo Adeseun.

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said to be at large, is also named in the charge.

    The defendants were arraigned on January 16 last year before Justice Hassan on an amended 24-count charge.

    Trial had begun before Hassan before the case was transferred to Justice Aneke.

    Otiti and Adeseun had on February 6 prayed Justice Hassan to recuse himself from the case.

    They accused him of bias, claiming that as a former head of EFCC’s legal unit before he was appointed a judge, they did not believe they would get justice in his court.

    Although the judge had refused to recuse himself, the Chief Judge eventually reassigned the case to Justice Aneke.

    EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million from Mrs Alison-Madueke, which they reasonably ought to have known was part of proceeds of an unlawful act, and without going through a financial institution.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes the Money Laundering Act.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aneke adjourned until June 26 for hearing of EFCC’s application.

  • PDP drags judge who ordered suspension of Bauchi Guber Result Collation to NJC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the National judicial Council over the violation of the Constitution and Electoral Act by Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Federal High Court by sitting on a matter that ought to have been handled by an election petition tribunal, as created by the provisions of our laws.

    The party noted that in granting an exparte order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from concluding the governorship election in Bauchi State, Justice Inyang violated Section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, which states that no court has the power or jurisdiction to stop any election pending the determination of a suit.

    In an affidavit sworn to by the PDP’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja, the party notes that issues of collation of results and declaration of winner, is a post-election event and, therefore, falls under the Electoral Act and Constitutional provisions for the election petition tribunal.

    The affidavit states, “Despite this clear provision of the law, Justice Ekwo decided to hear the application of Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), within twenty four hours on 19th March, 2019 and issued an order on INEC not to continue with the election until the case before him is finally decided.

    “That the collation of results is a post-election event and under section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, no court has the power or jurisdiction to stop any election pending the determination of a suit.

    “That an election includes voting, collation of results and the declaration of results.

    “That as a result of the order on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the conclusion of the Bauchi State Governorship election which was to take place on 19th March 2019 was stalled.

    “That the order of Justice Ekwo was made contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended dealing without fair hearing and also section 87(11) of the Electoral Act.

    “That the Chief Justice of Nigeria has constituted the various Election Petition Tribunals in Nigeria to handle such cases and the assumption of jurisdiction by Justice Inyang Ekwo is an affront to the constitution and electoral wishes of the people of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and Bauchi State”

    The PDP insists that not only did Justice Inyang violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, the motion granted is also an affront to the electoral wishes of the people of Bauchi State who have clearly chosen their next governor in voting for the PDP’s candidate, Sen. Bala Mohammed.

    The PDP urges the NJC to save our democracy by taking an urgent step against the violations by Justice Inyang.

     

  • Alleged $205m fraud: Judge’s absence stalls arraignment of ex-NIA DG, wife

    Alleged $205m fraud: Judge’s absence stalls arraignment of ex-NIA DG, wife

    The absence of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, stalled the arraignment of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke; and his wife, Folashade, over $205m crime concealment.

    The defendants were charged before Justice Aneke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on counts of money laundering, fraud, concealment of crime proceeds, and criminal breach of trust.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case which was earlier billed for the arraignment of the defendants, was on Monday, further adjourned to a date that would be communicated to parties, as the court did not sit.

    The judge is said to be away on an official assignment.

    On February 7, the court had issued a bench warrant for the arrest and production in court of the defendants, following an application moved by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

    According to the charge, on April 12, 2017, the accused indirectly concealed the sum of $43.5m, property of the Federal Government of Nigeria in Flat 7B, No. 16, Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Alleged N1.4bn fraud: Second judge withdraws from NBA President’s case

    Alleged N1.4bn fraud: Second judge withdraws from NBA President’s case

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday withdrew from the trial of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presiden Paul Usoro (SAN), charged with N1.4billion fraud.

    Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Hassan later withdrew from the case.

    Others charged with Usoro are Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah; Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe, said to be at large.

    Also named in the charge is Governor Emmanuel Udom, “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution.”

    Usoro was to be re-arraigned before Justice Obiozor, but the judge recused himself for personal reasons.

    “For personal reasons, I hereby disqualify myself from handling the case.

    “I hereby return this file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge,” Justice Obiozor ruled.

    Prior to Usoro’s arraignment before Justice Hassan last December 18, his lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the judge of a December 17 letter to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the case to another judge for an undisclosed reason.

    Olanipekun said Usoro would want the case transferred to either Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, or Abuja.

    He said if the case would remain in Lagos, it should be transferred to “any other honourable judge apart from my noble Lord.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

    The commission alleged that Usoro conspired with others to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.

    He was alleged to have conspired to convert N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

    The prosecution said that the unlawful activity included criminal breach of trust which contravened sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

  • BREAKING: Judge orders White House to restore CNN reporter’s pass

    A U.S. judge has ordered the White House to restore access to a reporter of the CNN who was barred from the seat of power.

    The White House suspended the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta on Wednesday, November 7, hours after President Trump took issue with questions Acosta asked at a news conference.

    The move to punish Acosta by removing his access to the White House is believed to be unprecedented, Washington Post reported.

    The Trump administration barred another CNN reporter from attending an open media event in July, but until the Acosta matter, he did not go as far as removing a credential, known as a “hard pass,” which enables a journalist to enter the White House grounds.

    Press secretary Sarah Sanders cited Acosta’s brief confrontation with a White House press aide during Trump’s midday news conference as the reason for suspending his press pass “until further notice.”

    “During the 90-minute session at the White House on that November 7, Trump snapped at Acosta after the reporter asked whether the president had ‘demonized immigrants’ by calling a caravan of Central American migrants ‘an invasion.’

    “After a long and tense back-and-forth, a female White House intern tried to take the microphone from Acosta.

    “Acosta held onto it and raised an arm to shield it, in the process making contact with the aide. ‘Pardon me, ma’am,’ he said to her.

    “[‘You’re a very rude person.’ ‘That’s enough.’ ‘Sit down.’ Trump’s news conference turns hostile.]

    “After their exchange, Trump told Acosta: ‘CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them.

    “‘You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN. You’re a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. And the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way,’” WP reports.

    Later that day, Sanders accused Acosta of “placing his hands on a young woman” and said it was on those grounds that Acosta’s press pass was being suspended.

    “President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration,” Sanders said in a statement. “We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporter’s colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question.”

    On Twitter, Acosta responded to the press secretary’s statement with, simply: “This is a lie.”

  • Biafra: Judge orders Abaribe, others to pay N100m over Kanu’s absence in court

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the three persons, including Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who stood sureties for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to within two months, pay the sum of N100m each into the court’s account for their inability to produce the missing Biafran activist in court.

    Justice Binta Nyako gave the order on Wednesday in a ruling in which she amended the conditions of the bail she had in April 2017 granted Kanu.

    Kanu is being prosecuted before the court on charges of treasonable felony.
    His trial had been earlier separated from that of his co-accused following his disappearance after a military invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, in Abia State, on September 14, 2017

    The three sureties who guaranteed his bail had been made to sign a bail bond of N100m each which was backed by their landed assets whose documents were deposited in court.

    But with the amendment ordered by the court on Wednesday, they are now required to deposit cash of N100m in the bank account of the court.

    Justice Nyako ruled that the three sureties had two months to pay the sum of N100m each into the court’s account.

    The judge reiterated that the order directing the sureties to pay the money was an order of interim forfeiture.

    She fixed March 28 for the hearing of the motions filed by the sureties to challenging the duties imposed on them to produce the IPOB leader.

    Details later …

  • Judge warns Saraki to pay Omo-Agege’s entitlements or be summoned

    The Federal High Court on Thursday warned the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the imprisonment proceedings initiated against him by the Delta-Central senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.
    Omo-Agege had initiated the committal proceedings praying that Saraki be sent to prison as punishment for flouting the May 10 judgment of the court which ordered him (Omo-Agege) to be reinstated from illegal suspension and be paid all his accrued benefits for the period of the voided suspension.
    The hearing of the committal proceedings was scheduled for Thursday, but the alleged contemnor and his lawyers were absent from court.
    Ruling on a request by Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), to have the committal application heard despite the absence of the defence, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he was more inclined to giving the Senate President another chance to “remedy the alleged wrong” or appear in court to defend himself.
    Justice Dimgba noted that the application was truly “ripe for hearing,” as argued by Izinyon, as the court’s records showed that Saraki had been served with the motion on notice and hearing notice for the Thursday’s proceedings via a newspaper publication of September 25, 2018 as earlier ordered by the court.
    The judge, however, said he would give Saraki another chance to remedy the alleged wrong or appear in court to defend himself.
    He also directed Izinyon to write the Senate President and the legal department of the Senate, informing them of the adjournment of the proceedings till October 18.

  • Drama in court as kidnappers attack judge after issuing death sentence

    Drama in court as kidnappers attack judge after issuing death sentence

    A judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Justice Okon Okon, escaped death on Tuesday as some convicts attacked him on the court premises in Uyo for sentencing them to death.

    It was learnt that as soon as the presiding judge pronounced the death sentence on the kidnappers, the convicts started to abuse him. They also threatened to kill the Akwa Ibom State Government’s prosecution team.

    The criminals later went berserk, destroying the window of the courtroom and causing pandemonium along Ikot Ekpene Road, where the court is located.

    A source said, “The situation became messy, as litigants and lawyers in other courts ran helter-skelter for dear lives.

    “For about an hour, the kidnappers refused to leave the courtroom. It took the intervention of a combined team of soldiers and policemen to take the convicts to a waiting prison vehicle.”

    The names of the convicts were given as Bernard Ajomaya, Christian Naya, Daniel West and Shedrach Dala.

    They were accused of kidnapping a medical expert in Uyo, Dr Usen Bassey, on May 19, 2015, and demanding N10m ransom.

    They were later arrested with part of their loot, the passport and financial documents belonging to the doctor.