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Tag: Trial

  • Man who claims he was abused by Michael Jackson at 7 set to have a day trial over allegations

    Man who claims he was abused by Michael Jackson at 7 set to have a day trial over allegations

    A man who claims he was abused by Michael Jackson when he was just seven is set to have a day in court over the allegations.

    Wade Robson is set to head to trial against the late singer’s corporation MJJ Productions, Inc.

    Robson claims the alleged abuse to have happened when he was between the age of seven and 14 at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.

    A 2021 Los Angeles County trial had previously dismissed the case, but now the Court of Appeal has issued a tentative ruling that the case will now be brought to trial.

    In the previous ruling, Judge Mark A.Young said that companies Robson had accused of facilitating the alleged abuse, which also included MJJ Ventures, had no ability to control Jackson as he had’ complete and total ownership’ of them, as per Sky News.

    And the lawyers for MJJ Productions have also argued that the company had no legal duty to protect Robson or any others as they had no ability to control Jackson.

    Vince Finaldi, Robson’s attorney, had said that he would appeal the decision.

    Robson appeared in the 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland, where he and James Safechuck, whose case was also dismissed in 2021, spoke of the alleged abuse they’d received.

    However, the Michael Jackson estate dismissed the film as ‘yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in’ on the singer.

    Jackson was arrested in 2003 and indicted on ten counts, including lewd conduct with a minor, conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion (involving a separate minor).

    The late singer went to court in early 2005 and was found not guilty of all charges.

    During the trial, Robson said that he’d had slept in the same bed as Jackson but nothing had happened between the pair.

    He later changed his story eight years later in 2013, as he filed a lawsuit against Jackson’s company.

    The choreographer claimed to have testified falsely on behalf of Jackson due to ‘complete manipulation and brainwashing’, TMZ reports.

    The trial news comes after Paris Jackson shared a Father’s Day tribute to her late dad.

    The 25-year-old daughter took to Instagram on Sunday (18 June) to share with her four million followers a rare photography of herself and her two siblings Prince and Bigi, formely known as Blanket, with their late father, the King of Pop.

    On Sunday, June 25 marked the 14th anniversary of MJ’s death.

  • Abba Kyari: Why we opted for behind closed door trial – NDLEA

    Abba Kyari: Why we opted for behind closed door trial – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday, gave reasons it resorted to the trial of the suspended DCP Abba Kyari and his co-defendants behind closed doors.

    Counsel for the NDLEA, Mr. Sunday Joseph, told newsmen who were barred from covering the sitting shortly after the case was adjourned by Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Joseph, who said there was security concern about the trial, said the class of witnesses brought to court were undercover witnesses who needed to be protected.

    “You see, some of these trials where there are security concern and then we agreed among the lawyers; both myself and the defendants.

    “These are class of witnesses that needed to be protected; they are undercover witnesses,” he said.

    When asked whether such act would not prevent the public from knowing what transpired in court, he said: “That is why, you know I don’t grant press interview.

    “That is why I made an exception to tell you,” he said.

    On what happened in the courtroom, Joseph, a director of Legal and Prosecution Department of the NDLEA, said the testimony of an additional witness was taken.

    The lawyer said bank documents he sought to be tendered as exhibits were opposed to by the defendants and he responded.

    “So ruling of the court is reserved on the admissibility of the evidence we sought to tender to 9 June,” he said.

    Mr Michael Mbanefo, lawyer to the 3rd defendant (ASP Bawa James), also told newsmen that evidence of one of the witnesses was taken “but it was scuttled by the documents they wanted to tender which we opposed vehemently. So the case adjourned for ruling.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that journalists were restrained from covering the trial of Kyari and his co-defendants, following the NDLEA’s application to the effect.

    Besides, other lawyers, whose matters were listed on the cause list, were also directed to leave the courtroom for Kyari’s case.

    Shortly after the NDLEA’s lawyer made the application, Justice Nwite stood down the hearing to allow lawyers, litigants, visitors, including the journalists move out of the courtroom.

    The registrar then announced to lawyers,who had no business in Kyari’s case to step forward and take another date for their cases.

    The development generated provocation from lawyers who waited until the judge reconvened.

    When Justice Nwite sat to commence proceeding, one of the lawyers, Emmanuel Oluwabiyi, whose case was on number 11 on the cause list, told Nwite that he was in the court for his matter.

    Oluwabiyi said he observed that before the judge rose, counsel for the NDLEA made an application.

    “I understand that it was directed that everybody in the courtroom should step out because of the instant matter. The bar is also meant to be vacated.

    “The feedback I am getting is that when this matter is going to be made, no lawyer should be in

    “I am embarrassed by the application my lord,” he said.

    Another lawyer, Mr. Ramiah Imhanaede, also aligned with Oluwabiyi’s submission.

    Justice Nwite then pleaded with lawyers who were not in Kyari’s matter to bear with the court in the interim.

    He said their matters too would be heard as soon as hearing was over.

    NAN reports that Kyari and other police officers, who are on suspension, are being charged by the anti-narcotic agency on allegations bordering on tampering and dealing with part of the 21.8 kilogrammes of cocaine recovered from two convicts.

    The four accused police officers include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu listed as 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.

    The NDLEA accused the police officers, who had been on suspension pending the hearing and determination of the matter, of alleged compromise.

    They were arraigned alongside Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who conspired with some other persons (now at large), to trafficked the hard drugs into the country.

    Umeibe and Ezenwanne were said to have been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Inspector General of Police (IGP)’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by Kyari based on their suspicious trafficking in hard drugs.

    The suspects were subsequently brought to Abuja and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.

    Although the two suspects pleaded guilty to the counts preferred against them bordering on the importation of 21.35kg of cocaine into the country, the police officers on trial pleaded not guilty to all the counts against them.

    The court, on June 14, 2022, convicted and sentenced Umeibe and Ezenwanne to two years imprisonment.

  • Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    The money laundering trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and others, was on Wednesday, stalled before a Federal High Court in Lagos, following absence of Prosecution and Defence Counsel.

    The case which was initially fixed for continuation of the trial could not proceed as the prosecution and defence counsel were said to be appearing at the court of appeal

    Fani-Kayode is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.

    EFCC filed a 17-count charge bordering on N4.6 billion money laundering against them before a former judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa.

    The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

    Trial had began before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, until Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.

    The charge was consequently, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, and they were consequently, re-arraigned on Jan. 24. 2022.

    Trial has since commenced in the case and witnesses are still giving evidence before the court.

    Although the defendants were present in court on Wednesday, alongside some junior counsel from office of defence counsel, a continuation of trial will however, resume on Jan. 26.

    In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.

    They were alleged to have at various times, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

    Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    The said payments are alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law..

    All offence were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

  • Bolanle: Trial of Police officer, ASP Vandi begins Today

    Bolanle: Trial of Police officer, ASP Vandi begins Today

    A Lagos State High Court will on Monday (Jan.16) begin trial of ASP Drambi Vandi, who allegedly killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.

    Vandi, attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State, allegedly shot Raheem dead while she was returning from an outing with her family members.

    The alleged murder occurred at Ajah.

    According to a statement signed by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the trial would be before Justice I.O. Harrison at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

    “The trial of ASP Vandi who allegedly killed Raheem on Dec. 25, 2022, along Ajah Expressway will commence before Justice I.O. Harrison at a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS),” he said.

    Vandi appeared before Chief Magistrate C.A. Adedayo on Dec. 30, 2022, a day after the Police Service Commission approved his suspension over the alleged killing.

    Adedayo ordered that he should be kept at the Ikoyi custodial facility pending advice of Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Vandi will be tried under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Mayor of Frankfurt, Peter Feldman on trial for corruption

    Mayor of Frankfurt, Peter Feldman on trial for corruption

    Peter Feldman, the mayor of Germany’s financial hub of Frankfurt, is standing trial for corruption.

    The prosecutors, on Tuesday, said Feldman abused his office and gained advantages for himself and his wife.

    The trial is connected to a scandal surrounding the social association Arbeiterwohlfahrt, known as Awo.

    According to the prosecution, Feldmann’s wife received an employment contract at the Awo with a much higher salary than usual for an entry-level employee.

    The prosecutors spoke of a tacit agreement that Feldmann, in return, would behave benevolently towards Awo Frankfurt in his mayoral office.

    Prosecutors say that Awo supported Feldmann in the 2018 election campaign by soliciting donations for him, and in return he would look favourably on the interests of Awo in Frankfurt.

    Feldmann has denied the charges and said he would be able to prove his innocence in court.

    He also faces political pressure as the four-party coalition which governs the city, as well as the largest opposition party, are campaigning together for Feldmann to be removed from office.

  • FIFA fraud: Blatter, Platini acquitted by Swiss court

    FIFA fraud: Blatter, Platini acquitted by Swiss court

    Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini were on Friday acquitted by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in a FIFA fraud trial.

    The two ex-football officials had been charged by federal prosecutors in Switzerland with defrauding FIFA in connection with a payment of two million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars) Platini received.

    The Frenchman had received the money from FIFA in 2011 for work done as a consultant between 1998 and 2002.

    Switzerland’s Blatter, 86, presided over the world governing football body from 1998 to 2015.

    The Swiss probe started in 2015 after a search at the FIFA headquarters on general corruption suspicion.

    Platini was originally only listed as a witness.

    The prosecution had wanted a suspended sentence of one year eight months for both men.

    Platini was also to be fined some 2.2 million Swiss francs, the original payment plus social security taxes FIFA also paid.

    Blatter and Platini had protested their innocence, with FIFA not in a financial position at the time to fully pay the Frenchman Platini who for his part spoke of a fabricated case.

    Blatter, who had said the two had a verbal agreement for the payment, said shortly ahead of the verdict he expected to be found not guilty.

    “I expect nothing else but an acquittal. I am not innocent in my life but I am innocent in this case,” he said before entering the Bellinzona court house.

    Platini had spoken of a politically-motivated case which ended his ambition to take over from Blatter as FIFA president, a position now held by former UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino.

    Both men were banned from football by the FIFA ethics committee, and their careers were over even though the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the bans.

    Platini, 67, said in a statement distributed by his lawyer that “my fight is a fight against injustice. I have won a first game.”

    “The truth has come to light in this trial,” he said, vowing “we will meet again”.

    He added that he would “go all the way in my quest for the truth” because “there are culprits who did not appear during this trial.”

  • Kidnapp: Evans to open defence in victim’s suit over ransom

    Justice Kayode Ogunjobi of the Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square has adjourned the case of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, to open his defence till July 13, 2022.

    Justice Kayode adjourned the case on Wednesday, following the prayers of the defence counsel led by Maxwell Chukwuemeka, who pleaded with the court that he had filed two applications – a motion for change of counsel and a motion for amendment of the defendant’s statement of defence.

    Chukwuemeka was seeking to represent the defendant.

    A kidnapped victim, Chief Donatus Dunu, had in 2018 filed a suit demanding the return of the sum of £223,000 he paid as ransom while in the custody of Evans.

    The claimant is also demanding N50 million as damages.

    The claimant’s counsel, Mr D. O. Obiora, told the court that the defendant has been changing counsel and did not oppose the applications.

    Obiora said the court delivered a ruling on May 23, granting leave for the defendant to file its statement of defence. He continued that the defendant is seeking leave to amend its defence, which it has yet to file.

    However, Justice Ogunjobi granted the two applications.

    The judge stated that “This matter has suffered several adjournments. The delay is hurting everybody and putting the state at their expense.

    “We have been here since 2018 till 2022, at the instance of the defendant. I awarded a cost of N2.5 million because the delay was unwarranted.

    “If there is a further delay, I will award another cost because I don’t see why you have an application to amend your statement of defence and you didn’t come with the amended statement to file it.”

    The justice adjourned the case until July 13 for the defence to open its case.

    The claimant had instituted the suit on May 16, 2018, and served the defendant through the Comptroller General of Prison, Kirikiri maximum prison Lagos.

    The defendant was initially represented by a lawyer in March 2019 and was accorded every opportunity to defend the suit but failed to do so.

    However, when the claimant closed his case on March 3, 2022, the defendant came back seeking leave of court to defend himself.

  • Cocaine deal: Court gives NDLEA go-ahead to review facts in Abba Kyari’s trial

    Cocaine deal: Court gives NDLEA go-ahead to review facts in Abba Kyari’s trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s application to review facts of the two defendants who pleaded guilty in the ongoing trial of suspended DCP Abba Kyari and others on alleged cocaine deal.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed the objection raised by counsel for Kyari and other co-defendant officers that granting the request might jeopardise their case.

    The two defendants are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively in the matter.

    They are the two alleged drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, who pleaded guilty to five, six and seven counts preferred against them by the anti-narcotic agency.

    Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the NDLEA and counsel to Umeibe and Ezenwanne that the objectors had not given sufficient evidence why they would be prejudiced if the court granted the request.

    Justice Nwite aligned with the argument that keeping Umeibe and Ezenwanne in prison while the trial of others last was to infringe on their right to fair hearing going by Section 36(4) of 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    He held that the objection lacked merit, and ordered the NDLEA to commence the review of facts of the 6th and 7th defendants’ case.

    Nwite then adjourned the matter until May 26 for review of facts and hearing of the motion on notice.

    The NDLEA had, on March 7, arraigned Umeibe and Ezenwanne alongside Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu on eight counts.

    They were the suspended officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit formerly led by Kyari.

    They had pleaded not guilty to all the counts leveled against them.

    Although Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not ask to take a plea on these two counts

    However, NAN reports that shortly after the plea was taking, counsel for the NDLEA, Joseph Sunday, prayed the court to grant a leave to review the charges against Umeibe and Ezenwanne in order for the court to sentence them accordingly.

    But Kanu Agabi, SAN, had objected to the prosecuting lawyer’s request.

    Agabi argued that should the court convict and impose a sentence on the duo, it would jeopardise Kyari’s and the other four defendants’ case.

    According to him, convicting and sentencing these two defendants who have pleaded guilty to the charge will be prejudicial to our clients case.

    He contended that Umeibe and Ezenwanne might have “pleaded guilty out of ignorance.”

    Besides, he said the fact that their names were also mentioned in counts three and four made the matter worse.

    He pleaded with the court to put the sentence and conviction of the two defendants on hold, pending the determination of the matter.

    After taking arguments from lawyers to the parties, Nwite had adjourned the matter until today for ruling.

     

  • How 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by 7 men

    How 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by 7 men

    A medical doctor, Mistura Shogunle, on Wednesday narrated before an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how a 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by seven men in her neighbourhood.

    Shogunle testified at the trial of a 20-year-old fashion designer, Rasheed Fashola, for conspiracy and defilement of a child.

    Fashola had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

    Led in evidence by state counsel, Mrs Olasunbo Abiodun-Muniru, the doctor working at the Mirabel Centre (a sexual assault referral centre), said that the minor came to the centre to seek medical attention on Sept. 28, 2020, a day after she was allegedly defiled.

    “The client said that on Sept. 27, 2020 which was a Sunday, her father sent her on an errand, and seven boys in the neighbourhood stopped her.

    “They dragged her into an uncompleted building, her mouth was covered with a handkerchief and they took turns to rape her through unprotected penile intercourse into her vagina,” Shogunle said.

    The doctor said that the survivor was calm and clinically stable during the medical examination and that she had no obvious physical injuries.

    “There were, however, significant genital findings. The labia majora was normal while the labia minora (inner lips of the genital) had a bruise.

    “The natural covering of the vagina, called the hymen, was absent. There were no significant anal findings.

    “The general findings are in keeping with recent blunt force penetration into her vagina which could have been caused by penile vagina penetration as declared verbally by the client,” she said.

    The doctor, also a certified forensic sexual assault examiner, testified that she asked the survivor’s father, who accompanied her, to throw more light on what happened to his daughter.

    She said that the father informed her that he sent his daughter on an errand and expected her to return home early but instead, saw her with two men who came to his residence to tell him that his daughter had been defiled.

    Shogunle said that the minor did not tell her the names of the men who allegedly defiled her.

    During cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr O.O. Ogunjimi, the witness said that she did not find any semen when she examined the survivor.

    “It was not the day the incident happened that the client visited the Mirabel Centre.

    “The client did not tell me whether she had taken her bath or not,” Shogunle said.

    According to prosecution, Fashola, alongside others at large, committed the offence at 8. 00 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2020, in an uncompleted building at Oluwashina Junction, Itire, Lagos State.

    “The defendant and his accomplices had unlawful sexual intercourse with the 13-year-old in the uncompleted building.

    “The offences contravene Sections 137 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” Abiodun-Muniru said.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case until May 6 for continuation of trial.

  • Evans showed no remorse during trial despite huge evidence – Judge

    Evans showed no remorse during trial despite huge evidence – Judge

    After a five-year trial, kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, on Friday got life imprisonment for conspiring with two others to kidnap Mr Donatius Dunu, Chief Executive Officer, Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court, who passed the sentence, said that Evans and two others did not show any remorse during the trial in spite of huge evidence against them.

    Lagos State Government prosecuted Evans and five others before the court.

    In a three-hour judgment, Oshodi held that the state proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against Evans and two of his co-defendants – Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu.

    The judge convicted the trio on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

    He, however, discharged and acquitted the other co-defendants – Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi an ex-soldier; and Victor Aduba, also an ex-soldier.

    Oshodi held that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes.

    “It has to be stated that none of the three defendants showed any remorse during the trial. Despite the huge evidence stacked against them, they tried to lie their way out.

    “The court is also mindful of the harrowing experience of the victim of the kidnapping, to be restrained and blindfolded during the period of his captivity until his escape.

    “A lesson must be taught. In this respect, the law is the law which must be upheld.

    “Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos State, 2017 prescribes a punishment of life imprisonment. The court has no discretion.

    “In this respect, the first, second and fourth defendants – Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu – are each hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the sentence of the court,” he held.

    Earlier, Oshodi dismissed an allegation made by Evans in his final written address to the effect that he was tortured by the police into confessing to the crimes, in contravention of Section 9(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

    The judge said that two video tapes of Evans’s confession to the police, which where played in court, showed him smiling while admitting to the crimes.

    He added that a close analysis of his physical appearance in the videos showed no evidence of torture.

    Oshodi noted that during the trial, Evans claimed that on Feb. 14, 2017, the day Dunu was kidnapped, he was at home with his wife.

    “He never elected to call his wife to corroborate this crucial fact, instead, he elected to call his sister (Mrs Ndubuisi Obiechina) to give evidence on his behalf.

    “His sister, during cross-examination, agreed that she did not know the movement of the first defendant (Evans) on Feb. 14, 2017.

    “Without mincing words, the evidence of DW2 (Obiechina) is tainted.

    “She decided to focus on the extrajudicial statement made by the first defendant despite the fact that the court had undertaken an investigation on the validity of the statement in a trial-within-trial,” he said.

    Before the sentence was passed, counsel to Evans, Mr H. O. Ajibola, in his allocutus (plea for mercy), told the court that he believed that Evans had turned a new leaf.

    “I pray my lord tempers justice with mercy; this is his first conviction,” he said.

    Counsel to Amadi, Ms Evelyn Obogwu, said that her client was a first-time offender.

    “He has a son and aged parents who depend on him for livelihood. I urge my lord to be lenient,” she prayed.

    Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku, counsel to Nwachukwu, also pleaded for mercy for his client, saying that the father of three had become remorseful.

    “I pray your lordship will temper justice with mercy and integrate him into the society because he has learnt his lesson and seen the folly of his ways,” he said.

    Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, in her response, prayed for a harsh sentence on the convicts to serve as a deterrent.

    “In view of the gravity of the offence which is very prevalent in our society, I urge this honourable court to impose a harsh sentence that will serve as a deterrent to people of similar minds.

    “The message has to be sent out loud and clear, through the punishment meted out to the defendants, that there will be zero tolerance for this type of criminal act in our society,” Shitta-Bey said.

    NAN reports that this is the first judgment delivered in the five kidnapping trials Evans is facing at the various High Courts of Lagos State.

    Evans and his co-defendants were arraigned before Oshodi on Aug. 31, 2017, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

    According to prosecution, Dunu was kidnapped by Evans and his other gang members on Feb. 14, 2017, on Obokun Street, Ilupeju Road, Lagos State, and was shackled and blindfolded during his 88-day ordeal.

    It said that the gang collected 223,000 euros as ransom from Dunu’s family for his release.

    Prosecution closed its case on Jan. 10, 2020, after presenting four witnesses, including Dunu

    Defence closed its case on Aug. 3, 2021, after the six defendants and Evans’s sister, Mrs Ndubuisi Obiechina testified.

    The offences are in violation of Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No. 13, Laws of Lagos State, 2017, and Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    NAN