The Nation Newspaper

Tag: convict

  • Convict jailed three years for unlawful possession of ammunition

    A Jos Upper Area Court II, sitting in Kasuwan Nama, yesterday sentenced Faruk Yusuf, a 33-year-old man, to three years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of live ammunition.

    The presiding judge, Mr Lawal Suleiman, handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of unlawful possession of live ammunition.

    Suleiman, however, gave the convict an option of N25, 000 fine.

    Prosecutor Enegbonabe Edwin had told the court that the case was reported on October 17, and transferred from the Plateau Central Police Area Command, Pankshin, to the State’s Criminal Investigative Department for further investigation.

    Read also: AMCON’s debt recovery challenges

    He said on October 17, a Police Constable, Mantur Augustine, attached to the Pankshin Command, suspected the accused person and conducted a search on him, during which five live 7.9mm ammunition were found on him.

    Enegbonabe said the suspect had no licence or authority to be in possession of the ammunition.

    The prosecutor said the act contravened Section 27 subsection (1) of the Firearms Act. Cap F28, LFN 2004.

     

     

     

  • Convict to spend three months in jail

    A Kuje Upper Area Court in Federal Capital Territory has sentenced Dennis Samuel to three months’ imprisonment for stealing an android phone worth N30,000.

    Justice Abdulkareem Abdulahi did not give him an option of fine.

    Samuel, who lives at Kuchiyako, pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft.

    Prosecutor Doris Okoroba said Felix Peter, a shop owner at Anguwan Lado, reported the matter at Kuje Police Station on April 8.

    She said the convict committed the offence around 8 pm at the complainant’s shop.

    Okoroba said the convict entered the complainant’s shop and stole his N30, 000 android phone.

    She said the convict was caught and handed over to the police.

    The prosecutor said during investigation, Samuel admitted the offence.

    She said the offence contravened Section 286 of the Penal Code.

  • Convict jailed three months

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Sadiq Ahmed, to three months’ imprisonment for stealing books and window frames.

    Ahmed, of Jabi motor park, had pleaded guilty to a count charge of trespass and stealing, punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, said the punishment would act as a deterrent to others.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that Christopher Moses of Utako, Abuja, reported the matter at Utako Police Station on March 4.

    He said on the same date about 3am, the convict dishonestly trespassed into House 29, Utako to steal the items.

    Zannah said the convict vandalised the complainant’s window and stole his books, but he was apprehended and the items recovered.

    He said during police investigation, Ahmed admitted committing the offence.

  • N963.7m stolen subsidy: Convict begs court

    N963.7m stolen subsidy: Convict begs court

    Convicted oil marketer Rowaye Jubril and his firm, Brila Energy, for the second time yesterday approached an Ikeja High Court asking for a stay of execution of its  order.

    The court had  ordered Jubril  and the company to refund N963.7 million  stolen subsidy money to the  Federal Government.

    The company had been ordered by Justice Lateefa Okunnu to make restitution of the  money, which it fraudulently obtained as subsidy.

    They were both found guilty on the 13 counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.

    Jubril was sentenced to 10 years on the first count and eight years for counts two to 13.

    Justice Okunnu, on June 14,  struck out an application filed by Jubril, through his lawyer, Lawal Pedro (SAN), seeking stay of the order that his company make restitution to the Federal Government to the tune of N963.7 million.

    The judge had held that “an order of stay of execution of a judgment must be based on a valid appeal” and that “it is only on that basis that a judgment cannot be executed until disposal of an appeal”.

    However yesterday, the convicts were back in court asking the court for a stay of proceedings regarding the monetary part of the judgment.

    Pedro in a 20-paragraph affidavit in support of his prayer pleaded with  the court to restrain the respondents, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from enforcing the monetary aspect of the verdict.

    “I appeal to the court to stay execution pending the outcome of an Appeal.  If the monetary judgment is enforced that would be the end of the second defendant applicant (Brila Energy), as it would not be able to enforce its constitutional right of appeal anymore,” Pedro said.

    EFCC counsel Seidu  Atteh opposed the application.

    The Judge consequently adjourned the matter till October 4 for ruling.

    Jubril and the company had falsely claimed that they imported 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit and received N963.7 million from the Federal Government.

    The convicts fraudulently obtained the money under the Federal Government’s Petroleum Support Fund between October 2010 and May 2012.

    According to the anti-graft agency, Jubril and his company acted contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

    They were also said to have contravened Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

     

  • Convict drags NDLEA to Appeal Court over life sentence

    Convict drags NDLEA to Appeal Court over life sentence

    …as agency secures 212 convictions in one year

    A 32 year-old drug convict, Aluagwu Lawrence, of Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for possessing 220 grammes of cannabis, has taken the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to the Court of Appeal in contention of the sentence awarded him at the Federal High Court.
    In response to the motion of appeal, the NDLEA at the weekend filed its brief of argument and March 27, 2017 was fixed for the commencement of the argument of the motion of appeal. The appellant counsel, Barrister Vincent Nwanna, in his submission, stated that the sentence by the Federal High Court on his client for possessing 200 grammes of cannabis is excessive and should be reviewed by the Appeal Court.
    However, the NDLEA counsel, Barrister Jeremiah Aernan said that the Agency has a superior argument because the convict pleaded guilty before the Federal High Court and that the NDLEA Act does not differentiate between quantities of drugs found on dealers.
    Meanwhile the Lagos command of the NDLEA arrested 274 suspected drug dealers in 2016 and successfully won the conviction of two hundred and twelve (212) drug dealers comprising 205 males and seven females. This is the highest conviction recorded by the Lagos command. The convicts got various jail terms including life imprisonment with hard labour.
    However, one Joy Amah, a 34 year old caught with 45.2kg of cannabis, was convicted and pardoned by Justice Shagari on the ground that she was five months pregnant and had spent three months in custody.
    Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) who commended the Lagos command for securing 212 convictions in a year, said that the Agency is strategisingon how to tackle the drug problem in the State.
    “The Agency seized more drugs and won more convictions in 2016 in Lagos. I commend the prosecuting counsel for winning 212 convictions last year.
    A total of sixteen thousand, five hundred and seventy-one (16,571.289 kgs) of narcotic drugs were seized by the Lagos command. While two hundred and twelve (212) drug dealers were convicted last year, one hundred and forty (140) cases were pending at the Federal High Court as at December 31, 2016. This is a clear indication that the drug problem is huge” Abdallah stated.

  • 16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    Herdsmen who graze their cattle in the Abuja metropolis are being tried and convicted, report GBENGA OMOKHUNU and GRACE OBIKE

    The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Task Team on Environmental Sanitation have started arresting and prosecuting herdsmen grazing cattle in Abuja.

    In the seven days exercise so far, 36 cows and 38 sheep have been impounded, while 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted before the Sanitation Mobile Court.

    The AEPB and the Task Team  tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibits to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.

    According to a statement issued by the  Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the exercise is sequel to the directive of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the FCT Task Team on Environment to stop forthwith the grazing of cattle within Abuja metropolis.

    Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they have paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with strong warning to desist from doing same.

    The exercise that commenced about a week ago by the AEPB and the Task Team on the instruction of the Minister is a continuous one.

    Meanwhile, peeved by the continued movement of cattle in Abuja metropolis in despite several warnings to their owners by the Federal Capital Territory Authorities, the Senate, through its Committee on FCT has asked residents of the area to, henceforth, slaughter cows found in the city centre.

    The directive was handed down to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, by Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye, (APC, Kogi West), when he appeared before the committee.

    Melaye, who gave the order in a speech read at the session, said it was very disappointing, annoying and embarrassing that despite the ban placed on cattle grazing in FCT by FCTA authority, some stubborn herdsmen were still moving cows along and across highways within the metropolis. He ordered the FCT Minister to go beyond the ban by facilitating the slaughtering order issued by the senate committee. Melaye told the minister, “the Senate is not happy at how herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you had given directive against some time ago. “From now on, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre with a fine of N50,000 per cow. This order must be carried out.”

    Melaye further revealed that the Senate was in receipt of complaints that some residents of the territory were converting their apartments into hotels and brothels, a situation he said was distorting the original master plan of the city. He noted that some people were already undermining FCT authority under his watch, which he said was unacceptable.

     

  • Kalu to EFCC: you want to convict me at all cost

    Kalu to EFCC: you want to convict me at all cost

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzo Kalu has challenged the planned transfer of the corruption suit against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He also accused the anti-graft agency of plotting to convict him at all cost.

    Kalu, in an October 15 letter through his counsel, Amobi Nzelu, addressed to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu,  said the commission without his knowledge or his counsel requested for the transfer of the case to Lagos.

    He said: “There is no justification legally, morally or otherwise for the said transfer if not to secure conviction at all cost and put him into avoidable expenses of moving his defence team to Lagos whenever the case comes up.

    “It is also worthy to note that before the said transfer, politicians in Abia State and its environs had predicted at various fora that this matter will be transferred to Lagos where conviction will be secured at all cost.”

    The case had resumed before the Justice Anuli Chikere of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court where plea had been taken at the last adjourned date and definite hearing fixed for December 6, 7 and 8.

    The letter reads: “Our clients alongside others were arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja in 2007. Following rulings which did not go down well with our client, he appealed alongside others up to the Supreme Court via Court of Appeal. The matter was remitted back to the Federal High Court in 2016 by the Supreme Court for trial. The matter was assigned by the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to Hon. Justice Anuli Chikere. At the last adjourned date, plea was taken and matter adjourned to the 6, 7 and 8 of December 2016 of definite hearing.

    “Both parties departed the court with a view to come back and commence trial on the agreed dates. Surprisingly and behind the back of our client and his defence team, your Commission applied to the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the case to be transferred to Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “It is evidently clear that your Commission went into deep slumber and suddenly woke up to shop for forum convenience. What must have justified this sudden transfer is not far-fetched. Your commission went for a shopping bonanza and arrived at the residence of ‘forum convenience’, hence this request for the transfer to Lagos.”

  • I stole my boss’ money to buy land, treat ulcer, says convict

    I stole my boss’ money to buy land, treat ulcer, says convict

    A 28-year-old man identified as Akindasa Boluwaji yesterday confessed that he used his boss’ N350,000 to buy land in Ode-Aye, Ondo State, and treat himself of ulcer.

    Boluwaji was convicted by an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, in Lagos, after pleading guilty to a two-count charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace punishable under Sections 285 and 166 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    The convict robbed his benefactor, a retired Air Force officer, Olatunji Amodu, on January 28, by fleeing with the money he was supposed to have deposited in the complainant’s account.

    Boluwaji said he stole the N350,000 because he was in desperate need of money.

    “I used to work as a security guard but they were not treating me well. I did not know the complainant but my sister’s neighbour who happens to be friend with his wife told them about my situation.

    “That was how he sent for me and he sent me to driving school. After obtaining my driver’s licence, he employed me as driver for one of the vehicles used to sell NAPA products (groceries). He provided accommodation for us in his compound, he provided us with feeding money and pays us N25,000 monthly.

    “I have been working with him for more than two years now. And I am the one who usually paid the money generated into the bank account.

    “But that very day, I needed money to go and treat ulcer that has been disturbing me for about six years. That was why I ran away with the N350,000 to Ondo State.

    “I bought bag, clothes, food items, treated myself and also bought a plot of land at Ode-Aye in Okitipupa, Ondo State for N150, 000,” he said.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Babaji Ishaku told the court that the convict was arrested on February 11, while trying to withdraw from his Fidelity Bank Account in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    After his conviction, Boluwaji under allocutus pleaded that he be allowed to sign an undertaking to repay the money.

    Chief Magistrate Jadesola Adeyemi sentenced him to one year in prison with N500,000 fine option for stealing.

    She sentenced him to 60 days in prison without fine for breach of peace.

     

  • N1.2m fraud: Convict ordered to return N236,000

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has secured the conviction of one Bashir Olumuyiwa, Managing Director, Asset Multipliers and Growth Concept Limited, before Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the Federal Capital TerritoryHigh Court, Abuja.

    The convict, who was arraigned on May 21, 2015 on an amended five-count charge of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N1, 236,000, has been ordered to pay N236, 000 as restitution.

    The offence is punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code.

    One of the counts reads:  “That you Bashir Olumuyiwa on or about the February 5, 2008 in Abuja within the Abuja judicial division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being entrusted with an Oando Share certificate valued at N310,000, property of one Mr. Enoman Otom given to you for the purpose of stock trading, sold the shares and dishonestly converted the proceeds to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Law Cap 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990”.

    Delivering his judgment, Justice Kutigi discharged and acquitted the convict on counts one, two and five; but found him guilty on counts three and four and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment on both counts

    The convict was also ordered to pay the sum of N236,000 in restitution to the victim.

     

  • ThisDay bombing convict appeals life sentence

    ThisDay bombing convict appeals life sentence

    Umar Mustapha, the Boko Haram member sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the bombing of media houses in Kaduna State, has appealed his conviction.

    In a notice of appeal filed before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, by his lawyer, Nureni Sulyman, the convict is seeking, among others, to void his conviction.

    In the notice of appeal on February 6 but filed on February 11, Umar raised six grounds of appeal and promised to add more.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, in a November 15 judgment, found Umar guilty in the April 26, 2012, bombing of SOJ Plaza, a building on Sabon Gari Road, Kaduna, housing the offices of three newspapers – ThisDay, The Sun and The Moment.

    He allegedly drove a white Honda Academy car with registration number AL 306 MKA, laden with improvised explosives devices (IEDs), into the premises.

    The convict later reportedly exploded the devices, killing three persons and injuring several others.

    The judge found him guilty of the charges against him and sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour.

    But Umar, among others, argued that the judge erred when he held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    He argued that evidence by the prosecution witnesses were contradictory and unreliable.

    The terror convict argued that the judge was wrong to have convicted him on the strength of evidence by non-existing witnesses, who were not only masked but also failed to disclose their identities.

    He argued that the judge also erred by convicting him because he was denied fair trial conducted in secret and under the watch of “armed and fierce looking men of the Nigeria Police Force.”

    Umar said his witnesses could not access the court because the trial was in secret and their movement allegedly restricted by the police and the State Security Service (SSS).

    He accused the judge of not subjecting his testimony to holistic evaluation and thereby caused a miscarriage of justice to him.

    Umar argued that the judge failed to take into account the fact that he had been in custody before the judgment, when he sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour.

    He prayed the appellate court to set aside the judgment, discharge and acquit him.