The Nation Newspaper

Tag: charged

  • Man, 28, charged with sexual assault

    A 28-year-old man, Ekene Marinze, who allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old, on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    Marinze, whose address was not provided, is facing a count charge of sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that Marinze committed the offences from October to December 2018 on Adebimpe Street, Mile 12, Lagos.

    Ihiehie said that the defendant sexually assaulted the teenager  by touching her breasts and rubbing her entire body with his hands.

    “The complainant, who is a neighbour to the defendant, cautioned him to stop but he didn’t, and was always harassing her sexually.

    “ She later told her aunt,” Ihiehie said.

    He  noted that the offence contravened Section 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the defendant  bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She ordered that one of the sureties should be related to the defendant while both sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until March 26 for mention.

  • Alleged N700m fraud: Ex-Governor Yero, others charged

    Police fire shots to disperse protesters

    Accused remanded in prison

    Police fired shots in the air yesterday in Kaduna to disperse protesters who attempted to prevent the movement of a former governor to prison after the court ordered him to be remanded.

    Former Kaduna State Governor Ramallan Yero and three others were taken before a Federal High Court in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissionn (EFCC) on a four-cout charge of laundering about N700 million.

    In court along with Yero were former Kaduna State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Abubakar Gaiya Haruna; one-time Minister of State for Power Nuhu Wya and former Secretary to the State Government Hamza Ishaq.

    Justice Mohammed Shuaibu ordered the accused to be remanded in prison till June 6 when their bail application will be heard.

    Conveying the former governor and others to the prison three hours later, became a herculean task, as supporters of the ex-governor who had thronged the court premises as early as 8am, started stoning prison officials.

    The protesters gathered from around 8:00am at the court premises, bearing placards with various inscriptions, such as “Yero is not a thief; and “2019: Sai Yero” among others.

    Gunshots were fired into the air to disperse the protesters.

    EFCC counsel Joshua Saidi told reporters after the proceedings: “We just arraigned the defendants for money laundering, conspiracy and criminal diversion of pubic fund. They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody for further consideration of their bail applications on June 6.”

    He added: “We are satisfied with the court position it is the discretion of my lord to either grant oral application or formal appolication and my lord is of the opinion that it is better they file a formal application.”

    Counsel to the defendants Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN) said: “The court has absolute discretion to say ‘bring application to me formally or orally’.”

    On whether he is satisfied with the court’s decision, Usman said “I am, because the judge has not denied them bail. What he was saying is that he wanted written application.”

    He said his clients were sent to prison and not the EFCC custody because the “EFCC said they don’t have the facility to keep them”.

    “So why should I be disappointed. When I was a students’ union leader, I was always a prisoner.” Usman said.

     

  • Manager, others charged with N250m recharge cards theft

    A manager  and three other workers with Mind The Gap Company in Yaba, Lagos Mainland and three others were yesterday arraigned an Igbosere  Magistrates’ Court  for allegedly stealing  N250 million worth of recharge cards.

    Oluwatosin Ogundana, 36,  Ayotunde Anuoluapo, 31, Shittu Abolore, 31, and Demi Mayungbe, 26, are standing trial before Chief Magistrate O.O. Oshin on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh told the court that the defendants committed the offences between January and December 2017 at the firm’s Yaba office.

    Mameh alleged that the defendants obtained various bulk purchased recharge cards valued at N250million belonging to their employer under the pretext that they would sell them and remit the proceeds into the firm’s account.

    The court heard that they  sold the recharge cards but converted the money to their own use.

    Mameh said the fraud was uncovered when the firm’s Managing Director, Mrs Ifeoluwa Fashola, audited her  books.

    Fashola petitioned the officer-in-charge of Zone II, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Adamu Ibrahim, who ordered an investigation.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Oshin granted Ogundana N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum, each of whom must deposit N500,000 in the court registrar’s account.

    The others were granted  N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Their trial begins on March 27.

  • Ex-minister, senator charged with ‘N650m fraud’

    Ex-minister, senator charged with ‘N650m fraud’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), yesterday re-arraigned former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly laundering N650million.

    Akinjide was charged alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Chief Olanrewaju Otiti and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was said to be at large.

    The defendants are standing trial on a 24-count charge before Justice Muslim Hassan.

    They were accused of conspiring to obtain the 650m from Mrs Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

    According to the EFCC, they reasonably ought to have known “that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.”

    At yesterday’s proceeding, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the agency had an amended 24-count charge and urged the court to admit same as their charge in the suit.

    He said Akinjide, Adeseun and Otiti acted contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.

    The amended charge was not opposed by the defence team, following which Justice Hassan ordered the registrar to take the plea of the defendants.

    Trial commences on February 5, 6, 13 and 14.

  • Man charged with raping colleague

    Man charged with raping colleague

    A factory worker, Victory Eno, who allegedly drugged and raped his fellow worker, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, according to Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi, committed the offence on December 24.

    Emuerhi alleged that the accused raped the 22-year-old victim, who works in the same factory with him after drugging her.

    “On December 24, Eno drugged his female co-worker after he offered her rice which he had earlier mixed with Indian hemp. The victim started feeling dizzy after eating the rice while the accused assaulted her by penetrating her (private parts),’’ he said.

    The offence contravened Sections 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Rape carries life imprisonment in Lagos State.

    The accused, who lives at 24, Afariogun Street, Ikeja,  pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Bolanle Osunsanmi granted the accused N300,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till April 16.

  • Three men charged with assault

    Three men, who allegedly injured Mr. Bamigbade Kamoru, by hitting him on the head with planks, have been arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The defendants, Nwazufu Francis, 25, Nwode Ogechi, 20 and Ndubueze Egbara, 27, of no fixed addresses, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

    The prosecutor, Eruada Victor, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on September 20 at Ajegunle Market, Alagbado, Lagos.

    He alleged that they conspired and assaulted the complainant by using planks to injure him on the head over an argument.

    “Kamoru has been receiving treatment in hospital,” Eruada said.

    The offences contravene sections 173 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. G. O. Anifowoshe, granted the defendants bail at N50,000 with two sureties and adjourned the case till November 7 for mention.

     

  • Banker charged with alleged theft of N3m from ATM

    The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos yesterday charged a  Bank worker, Mrs. Chinonye Okafoagu, for allegedly stealing N3 million from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    Okafoagu, 33, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Salawu of an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and false modification of ATM data.

    The police, in a charge marked N/73/2017, alleged that the banker and others now at large, committed the offence on March 7, last year, at the FESTAC branch of the bank.

    The defendant allegedly, without lawful authority, modified the ATM’s data and stopped the machine from dispensing money, “in a bid to steal the N3m”.

    According to the police, she misrepresented herself as, Elizabeth, the woman authorised to handle the bank’s ATM on the said date, and appended her signature in the ATM loading staff register, which she presented to the bank’s management.

    The alleged offences contravene and are punishable under sections 409, 285(7), 389(1), and 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okafoagu pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Salawu granted her N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 25, for trial.

  • Man charged with attempted child theft

    A man was yesterday docked at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, for alleged child theft.

    Lawal Amosu, 48, whose address was not stated, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias for allegedly attempting to steal a child.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Kehinde Omisakin said Amosu belonged to a kidnap syndicate and was caught at about 1:20 pm on July 15, at Onilegogoro in Mushin.

    According to her, the offence contravened Section 406 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    However, Amosu, who kept muttering inaudible words and displaying signs of mental illness, did not respond when asked if he was guilty or not.

    Chief Magistrate Elias granted him N200,000 bail with one surety in the like sum. The surety must show evidence of tax payment and be resident in Lagos.

    He ordered that Amosu be taken to a psychiatric home for examination. The case continues on September 19.

  • Boy charged with defiling girl, 3

    A teenage boy, Emmanuel Gabriel, who allegedly defiled a three-year-old girl, is facing trial at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Gabriel, 18, a cleaner, who resides at Shasha, a suburb of Lagos, was arraigned for child defilement.

    Inspector Clifford Ogu, the prosecutor, told the court that the offence was committed on July 25 at Air Force Primary School, Shasha, Lagos.

    Ogu said the accused, who is a cleaner in the school of the minor, was caught by one of the teachers.

    “He was caught when he was busy fingering the minor.

    “The accused ran away since then and efforts by the police to arrest him proved abortive until he was apprehended at his friend’s house,” he said.

    The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni granted the accused N250,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case until September 20 for mention.

  • Banker, trader charged with $40,000 theft

    An Access Bank Plc worker, Beatrice Nwanna, and a trader, Okwudili Onyetube, were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a man of $40,000.

    Nwanna 33, who is attached to the Ladipo branch of the bank and Onyetube, 41, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe on a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    Prosecuting counsel Henry Obiazi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), alleged that the defendants committed the offence sometime in February 2015, at Okota.

    He said Nwanna conspired with Onyetube and one Daniel, who is at large, to defraud the complainant, Obinna Ezenwaka, under the pretence that ýthey were going to give him the naira equivalent of his dollars.

    The complainant said the first defendant approached him that she could help him get the dollar equivalent of N20.6million, which is $100,000, but she failed to do so.

    “He said after the first defendant collected the N20.6million from the complainant, she stopped picking his  calls and also refused to return the naira nor the dollar equivalent, after several search for her, she later came to pay $50,000.”

    The offence, the prosecutor said, was punishable under Sections 411, 314 (1), (3)ý and 287 (5) (a) of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Their counsel, Lanre Adaramimo, urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms, but the prosecutor objected to the request.

    The prosecutor warned that the defendants would jump bail, as Daniel, who was supposed to be charged with them, escaped from police custody yesterday morning before he could be brought to court.

    He pleaded that the defendants be granted bail that would ensure they came to court for their trial.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe granted them N3million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The sureties, she said must be employed. They are also to have affidavit of means, proof of bank account, show evidence of three years tax payment and verifiable addresses.

    The case continues September 19.