The Nation Newspaper

Tag: alleged

  • Labourers in trouble for alleged theft

    The police have arraigned two labourers at an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged theft of cassava tubers and a bunch of plantain worth N50,000.

    The labourers, Taofik Adele, 27 and James Akande, 31, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences with one at large on November 10 at a farmland on Okitipupa-Ikoya Road, Okitipupa.

    He alleged that the defendants stole the farm produce belonging to Timothy Aremu after he had paid them their wages for working on the farm.

    Orogbemi alleged that they were caught by the complainant when they were about to escape with the produce, adding that the offences contravened sections 390(9) and 430 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Banji Ayeomoni, granted them bail at N30,000 each with one surety each.

    He ordered that the sureties should show evidence of one year tax payment to the Ondo State government and adjourned the case till December 8 for mention.

  • Man in court for alleged fraud

    A 39-year-old man, Wasiu Akanmu, accused of N575,000 fraud, has been arraigned at an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State.

    He denied committing the offence.

    Akanmu, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted him bail at N500,000 with one surety.

    She said the surety must live in the court’s jurisdiction and produce evidence of tax payment to the Osun State government.

    Sodamade ordered that they must submit two passports-sized photographs and an affidavit of means.

    She adjourned the case till December 27 for hearing

    The prosecutor, Femi Olanibi, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences between November 20 and December 4, 2015 in Osogbo.

    He alleged that Akanmu fraudulently obtained, on false pretence, bags of nails worth N575,000 from the complainant, Mr. Olubunmi Emmanuel.

    Olanibi said the defendant stole bags of nails and absconded, but the police arrested him.

    He said the offences contravened sections 418, 419, 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State 2003.

  • Three remanded for alleged cheating

    An Upper Area Court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, has ordered the remand of three men, David Boyi, Bulus Dio and Ibrahim Sure, for alleged cheating.

    The defendants are facing a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The prosecutor, Frank Swem, told the court that on November 15, Ehis Erabhahilemen of Jeun Masaka reported the case at Masaka Divisional Police Station.

    He said on October 26, the first defendant (Boyi), conspired with the other two and Emmanuel Sure, now at large, to commit the crime.

    Swem alleged that the defendants sold a piece of land measuring 50 by 100 ft, located at the same address, to the complainant, at the rate of N1million

    He added that it was later discovered that the land did not belong to any of them.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 97, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Yakubu Ishaku, did not take the defendants’ plea.

    He ordered that they be remanded in prison to act as a deterrent to others and adjourned the case till December 17 for hearing.

  • Driver in trouble for alleged theft

    Driver in trouble for alleged theft

    A 32-year-old company driver, Ajokwu Augustine, who allegedly stole his employer’s N1.562,204 million, yesterday appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The defendant, who lives at 13, Ifelodun Street, Bada, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, is being tried for stealing.

    Police prosecutor Raji Akeem told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offence between September and November at Jumia Nigeria Ltd, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja.

    He said the defendant would have to remit N1.562, 204 million into the company’s account from proceeds of sales he made.

    Akeem said during auditing, the company discovered that the defendant converted the money to his use.

    According to him, the offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr. T. O. Shomade, granted the defendant bail at N1,562,204 with two sureties.

    He adjourned the case till December 11 for mention.

  • Sales boy arraigned for alleged theft

    A 20-year-old sales assistant, Ayomikun Aworunse, has been arraigned at an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for alleged theft of his employer’s N85,000.

    He was alleged to have squandered it at a night party.

    The accused, a resident of Orioke Street, Ajegunle in Ikorodu, was arraigned for stealing.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Ajaga Agboko, told the court that the accused committed the offence this month in Ikorodu.

    He said the complainant, Mr. Monday Olatokun, reported the case at Ajegunle Police Station, Ikorodu.

    The offence contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The Magistrate, Makanjuola Oshodi, granted the accused bail at N100,000 with two sureties.

    She adjourned the case till November 10 for hearing.

  • Commissioner denies alleged N4b fraud in govt house contract

    Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Housing and Town Planning Ime Okon Ekpo has denied allegation that he embezzled over N4billion in the N37billion contract awarded for the design and building of Government House, Uyo.

    The contract was awarded by the ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio administration.

    Ekpo retired from the civil service as director in 2004 and was appointed by Akpabio to oversee the Government House contract as project manager in 2008.

    But the Chairman of Otto Trinity Studios, one of the consultants to the project, Ubokutom Nyah, has instituted a petition on behalf of four other consultants, alleging that the commissioner defrauded them to the tune of over N4billion in the construction of phases l, ll and lll of the project.

    The petition, dated August 24,  with copies made available to reporters, is titled: “Petition against Architect Ime O. Ekpo for corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and fraudulent conversion of more than N4 billion consultancy fees during execution of Government House Complex, Phase l, ll and lll in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State”.

    Nyah, in the petition addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chairman in Abuja averred that in 2013, the Akpabio administration awarded a contract for the building  of a new Government House at about N37billion.

    The contract, he said, was to be executed in three phases, namely phase l, ll and lll with five consultants- Otto Trinity Studios (Architects), Amana Consortium (Structural/Project Manager), Eno Iwoketo and Associate (Mechanical), Dranibs Engineering Nigeria Ltd (Electrical) and Integrated Practice Consultants (Quality Surveyors) appointed for professional service.

    The petitioner, who was appointed lead architectural consultant by the government over the Government House project, alleged that “the professional fees of those consultants were discussed, agreed and N5.2 billion made available for payment to the consultants.”

    The consultancy fee, according to him, was moved by the government into the account of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC under the contract agreement for disbursement to the beneficiaries.

    Nyah alleged that the commissioner failed to administer the funds to commensurate with the contract agreement, adding that he shortchanged the consultants and diverted over N4billion to his private account.

    ”The substantial disparity between what Ekpo is offering us as balance of professional fees payable and over authentic claims is deserving of a dispassionate investigation because we know that authentic fees were captured in the contract and provided for by the government.”

  • Pastor gets N.2m bail for alleged N1.5m fraud

    A 30-year-old pastor of a Pentecostal church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, M.I. Akpan, was yesterday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Isokari Andrew-Jaja of a magistrates’ court in Port Harcourt for allegedly defrauding his victim, Mrs. Oluchi David, of N1.5 million.

    The incident reportedly occurred on December 8, 2016 at Area Command, Port Harcourt.

    He allegedly gave false information to a police inspector on October 6, 2017 that Mrs. David had summoned him before a shrine over undisclosed reason.

    The cleric pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail at N200,000. He was asked to produce one surety who must be a manager with a reputable company and resident in Port Harcourt.

    Police prosecutor Wilson Isaiah told the court that the suspect committed the offences between December 2016 and October 2017 and that they contravened Section 125(A) (1) (a) and Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers State Nigeria 1999.

    Andrew-Jaja adjourned the case till October 31 for hearing.

  • Housewife remanded for alleged N810, 000 fraud

    A Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 35-year-old housewife, Habibat Abubakar, in prison.

    She was charged with allegedly collecting N810, 000 from applicants on the pretext of securing jobs for them.

    Chief Magistrate Muhammad Idris, who gave the ruling, said the accused should remain behind bars until the next date of adjournment.

    Habitat, who lives in Babugaje Kumbotso Local Government, is standing trial on a two-count charge of alleged cheating and forgery.

    She, however, denied the charge.

    The prosecutor, Badamasi Gawuna, had told the court that a woman, Fatima Tijjani and 11 others of different addresses, reported the accused at Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission on September 6.

    He alleged that sometime in July the accused fraudulently collected N810,000 from the complainants with a promise to help them secure jobs.

    Habibat promised the complainants jobs at Kano State Senior Secondary School Management Board, he said.

    Gawuna alleged that the accused gave three offers and letters of posting to some of the complainants, which were believed to have been forged.

    The offences contravene sections 320 and 363 of the Penal Code.

    The case was adjourned till October18 for mention.

  • Mother contracts HIV after alleged bite by pastor

    Mother contracts HIV after alleged bite by pastor

    A 23-year-old pastor of a Pentecostal church  in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Kingsley Ihunda, has been arraigned by a chief magistrates’ court for allegedly biting an expectant mother, Ejiro Abua (not real name), on the waist during deliverance and infecting her with HIV.

    The incident allegedly occurred at Ada-George, Diobu in Port Harcourt Local Government, on July 27.

    Mrs. Abua, a mother of one, who had reportedly lost two pregnancies, was allegedly directed to the pastor by Treasure Victor, 40, a female herbalist, for special prayers.

    As with previous ones, she was said to be having problems with the pregnancy.

    The complainant alleged that besides losing the pregnancy, she was allegedly infected with HIV, following the “holy bite.”

    She told the court at the weekend that she consulted the herbalist for assistance to stop the hotness of her womb, which she suspected to be the cause of her miscarriages, but instead of helping her, she directed her to Pastor Ihunda, who she said worked with her.

    The complainant said the pastor allegedly asked her to pay N1,500 for olive oil for prayer.

    She went on: “When I objected to paying the money, he told me that if I refused to pay, my husband and child would die. The woman (herbalist), supported him and encouraged me to pay the money. She said she had brought other expectant mothers, who had the same problem, to the pastor, and after payment and prayers, their problems were solved.

    “When I heard this, I decided to pay and come for prayers. During prayers, he asked me to raise my clothes, I refused, but the herbalist encouraged me to comply. He rubbed oil on my waist, bit me, sucked my blood and spat it out, claiming that was the cause of my problem and it had been solved.”

    The woman alleged that a few months later, she tested positive for HIV, but her husband tested negative, adding that it was discovered the pastor infected her.

    The pastor and herbalist were charged with conspiracy, assault and pretence.

    The prosecutor, Jonas Rufus, told the court that the crime was committed on July 27 at Ada George, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

    He said the offences breached sections 516(A), 351, 335 and 343(g) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume II Laws of Rivers State Nigeria 1999.

    The accused pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.

    The matter was adjourned till last Friday for hearing.

    At the sitting, the victim opened her case and told the court her side of the story.

    The matter was adjourned till today for further hearing.

  • Teenager, 16 others held for alleged cultism

    Teenager, 16 others held for alleged cultism

    The Police and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) have arrested a teenager, Afolabi Omotoyosi, and 16 others for alleged cultism related offences in Mushin.

    Omotoyosi, a Junior Secondary School (JSS III) pupil, was alleged to be the leader of a cult group.

    He was said to have been armed with cutlasses and knives during his arrest on Saturday and was believed to be preparing to attack residents.

    Omotoyosi’s confession, security agents said, led to the clampdown of the others yesterday.

    According to LNSC’s spokesman, Olawale Afolabi, the teenager confessed to being the gang leader, adding that he committed thuggery, bullying of other school children and residents.

    Afolabi said the other suspects including a lady, were being interrogated by the police.