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Tag: Court

  • Court nullifies Kano PDP governorship primaries

    A FEDERAL High Court has nullified the primary election that produced Abba K. Yusuf as Kano State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Saturday’s election.

    Justice Lawis Alagoa ruled that Yusuf’s candidature was not recognised by law because no primary election was held to produce him.

    The judge, however, ruled that the PDP should conduct a fresh primary to produce a candidate that can be recognised by law before Saturday’s election.

    Ibrahim El-Amin Little, a PDP governorship aspirant, had approached the Court, challenging the process that led to Yusuf’s emergence as the PDP candidate.

    His grouse was that the party denied him the right to contest the primary election after buying his expression and nomination forms.

    Little had prayed the court for interpretation whether the party could field a candidate for the election without conducting primary election or not.

    But, the state PDP executive members, led by Senator Masa’ud El-Jubrin Doguwa and thousands of their supporters, have defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Addressing reporters in his office, the PDP Chairman said he decided to collapse the party into APC due to alleged injustice being meted out to them by the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC).

    He said: “I called this news conference just to brief you of a very painful decision that we have taken. This is so painful. We have no choice but to take this decision of leaving the PDP. Today, we have decided to move to the APC.

    “This is a painful decision because for over 40 years, I have been in politics; I have never changed a political party for whatsoever reason.”

    Doguwa added: “When I came in as the party’s chairman, we started with two groups led by former Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Aminu Wali and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

    “At a point, when Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso came in from nowhere, they forced Mallam Shekarau to leave PDP unceremoniously against his wish.

    “Today, the kangaroo primary election conducted by Kwankawso and his people has vindicated Mallam Shekarau.

    “Even at that, do you know that their so-called candidate, Abba K. Yusuf has never called me as the party’s chairman to solicit for my support. Senator Kwankwaso, who wants to make Abba the governor, has never called me to say we are working together.

    “They don’t respect us. So, the best thing for us to do is to leave PDP in peace. We opted out so that even though PDP is failing in the next election, nobody will blame us.”

    According to Doguwa, “the major reason why we are joining APC is because Ganduje has been fair to us, irrespective of our political inclination.

    “He has been in touch with us. Today, he needs our support and we are ready to give him that support. We are going to APC to support Ganduje to stabilise Kano politics and to ensure that peace and harmony reigns in this state.

    “I and the members of my exco are leaving a party we built over the years to join the APC.”

    The Nation learnt that Wali and Senator Bello Hayatu, with thousands of their supporters, have also planned to dump PDP for APC.

  • Court remands woman for alleged manslaughter

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Monday remanded in prison custody an ex-staff of Olab Private School, Lagos, Rukayat Amisu, following her arraignment for the death of a three-year-old girl who fell into steaming water.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the order after Amisu pleaded “Not guilty” to a one-count charge of manslaughter.

    The Lagos State Government accused the defendant of committing the offence at about 10am on October 21, 2015, at Olab Private School, No. 11, Idowu Street, Lagos Island.

    Prosecuting Counsel Babatunde Sunmonu alleged that the defendant unlawfully killed one Aliyah Ahmed by negligently allowing her to be burnt by hot water.

    “The defendant negligently sat the little girl on top of a container containing hot water and the child fell inside the hot water,” he said.

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    The court heard that the baby died afterwards.

    According to Sunmonu, the offence contravened Section 227 of the Criminal Law Lagos State, 2011.

    Following Amisu’s plea, her counsel, A. O. Ladipo, told the judge that he had filed an application for her bail.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned till March 11 for hearing of the bail application.

    The charge against Amisu reads in part: “That, you Rukayat Amisu, on October 21, 2005 at about 10am at Olab Private School at No. 11, Idowu Street, Lagos Island, unlawfully killed one Aliyah Ahmed by negligently allowing her to be burnt by hot water.”

  • My wife beats me frequently, Pastor tells court

    An Ibadan- based Pastor, Samuel Adedeji on Thursday, told a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to terminate the year-old union between him and his wife, Temiloluwa, over threat to his life.

    In his petition to the court, Adedeji who lived at Ologuneru area of Ibadan accused his wife of frequently beating him and distracting him from his ministry.

    “I think that I actually got it wrong by not making proper spiritual consultation before I went to the altar with Temiloluwa as a husband.

    “For too long, I have had to cope with all sorts of humiliation, insults, abuses in addition to emotional and psychological torture which I have often suffered from her.

    “When Temiloluwa’s troublemaking reached its peak, she started beating me and tearing off my dresses.

    “Recently, she gave me three dirty slaps in the night and was attempting to stab me to death that same night when I had to run for my dear life.

    “Temiloluwa has no regard for anybody because by her attitude, she is a devil in human skin.

    “Now, she has left my home and I need to move on too.

    “There is no more love between both of us,” Samuel said.

    However, the respondent was conspicuously absent in the court when she was called to respond to the allegations leveled against her.

    The court’s bailiff informed the Arbitrators, led by the President, Chief Ademola Odunade that he had served notices of court hearing on Temiloluwa and that she deliberately ignored the notices.

    After careful consideration, Odunade dissolved the union, citing threat to life as the reason.

    He ordered that the copy of the judgment be served on the respondent for her to be aware of the latest in the case.

  • Court orders arrest of A/Ibom commissioners for alleged money laundering

    *NBA president Usoro re-arraigned

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two Akwa Ibom State commissioners.

    They are Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa also ordered the arrest of Akwa Ibom State Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah.

    Their arrest followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which said they were at large.

    They were charged along with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) for alleged N1.4billion fraud.

    EFCC re-arraigned Usoro before Justice Aikawa. He pleaded not guilty.

    After the re-arraignment, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to compel the appearance of the suspects due to the commission’s inability to produce them.

    He said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) empowers the court to compel the appearance of a suspect either by summons or warrant.

    “We seek your Lordship’s order to compel their attendance. We seek to bring them before the court in the interest of justice,” he said.

    But, Usoro’s lead counsel Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) opposed the application.

    He said those sought to be arrested were not named as defendants in the charge.

    “The individuals were not charged before the court. Until they are charged, you cannot order their arrest,” the SAN said.

    But the judge refused Ifedayo’s objection.

    Granting the prayer, Justice Aikawa held: “I order that bench warrant be issued against the named persons.”

    Justice Aikawa is the third judge to handle the case.

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

    The judge later withdrew from the case after Usoro asked him to recuse himself.

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

    “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.

    Also named in the charge is Governor Emmanuel Udom, “currently constitutionally immunity from prosecution.”
    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 court’s jurisdiction.

    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 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.

    Usoro, represented by six SANs and other lawyers, pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aikawa allowed him to continue on the bail granted him by Justice Hassan.

    Justice Hassan granted Usoro bail for N250 million, with one surety in like sum.

    The court added that the surety must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, or be a civil servant not lower than the rank of a Director in the Federal or State civil service.

    The NBA President was further ordered to deposit his international passport with the Court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), which will be verified for genuineness.

    The court then ordered that Usoro be handed over to a counsel of the inner bar, Mr E.B. Effiong (SAN), pending perfection of his bail terms.

    Justice Aikawa added that if the surety is below the rank of director, he must deposit his title documents with the court’s registry.

    Oyedepo pointed out that Usoro was yet to meet the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Hassan.
    Justice Aikawa ordered Usoro to perfect his bail terms within two weeks.

    “The defendants shall be released to Offiong pending fulfilment of his bail conditions, which shall be on or before March 15,” the judge said.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until March 18 and 19 for trial.

  • Man kills wife for sexual starvation

    A father of five, Muhammed Manu from New Bussa in Niger state has been arrested by the Niger state Police Command for killing his wife who he alleged starved him of sex on a daily basis.

    According to the 35 year old husband from Barusa Village in New Bussa Local Government Area, his wife, Hassana Bulo, was fond of giving excuses each time he approaches her for sex adding that she had no right to deny him his fundamental marriage right.

    “How can my wife refuse me making love to her, it is an abomination where I come from. She does not have the right to do that.”

    Read Also: Court dissolves 25-year-old marriage in Ekiti

    Manu confessed that he killed her with pistols after she provoked him several times and constantly denied him of sex adding that he had warned her of the danger of starving him sex daily.

    “Time without number, I have been warning my wife to stop refusing me sex which is one of the fundamentals of any marriage, each time I demanded sex from she will treat me like a leper, which is unacceptable.

    “On this fateful day, when I pressed for sex further, she pushed me to the side and I lost my temper and killed her. She is always fond of giving excuses each time I want to make love to her”, the suspect said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muhammad confirmed the arrest saying the suspect was arrested on Thursday by a team of policemen attached to New Bussa Division.

    He said that the suspect was apprehended for murdering his wife and the case has been charged to Court.

  • Court dissolves 25-year-old marriage in Ekiti

     

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a 25-year-old marriage between Bello Catherine and her husband, Sule.

    The marriage was dissolved on grounds of frequent fighting, regular cursing, threats to life with charms and dangerous objects.

    Catherine, 68, resident of No 5, Orere-Owu, Ajibade street, in Ado-Ekiti, said she had known her husband for 25 years and their union produced three children, who are all married.

    She said the union produced three children, Taye Bello 25, female, Kehinde, 25 and Taye Bello,19, female.

    She said her husband threatened to kill her and he was fond of saying that he would make her father’s house desolate by destroying it.

    Read Also : Four men in court for stealing N30m gold jewellery

    Catherine said, he always threatened that he will use charm and waste her life.

    “My husband told me that he knows where I live and that he will come there to behead me with cutlass” she said.

    The petitioner therefore urged the court to separate them, as she does not want to have anything to do with him anymore.

    The President of the Court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, ordered that since the respondent had repeatedly shunned the court and vowed never to appear, consequently, dissolved the union.

    Akomolede, ruled that since the respondent has behaved in such a manner that the petitioner could not reasonably be expected to continue living with him and the petitioner has shown a formal act of tiredness, hence separated both parties.

  • Court sacks Lulu-Briggs as Accord governorship candidate

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has sacked Dumo Lulu-Briggs as Rivers State governorship candidate of the Accord Party.

    The court declared Precious Baridoo, who was nominated in the October 4, 2018 primaries, as the party’s authentic candidate.

    Justice Emmanuel Obile said Lulu-Briggs cannot participate in the governorship election because he is not the party’s candidate. According to him, Lulu-Briggs did not participate in the party’s October 4, 2018 governorship primary.

    Read also: ‘Lulu-Briggs remains Accord Party’s governorship candidate in Rivers’

    The court said the defendants failed to challenge the affidavit of the plaintiff to controvert the facts contained therein.

    Justice Obile also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enlist Precious Baridoo as the Rivers State governorship candidate of Accord Party.

    Baridoo’s lawyer, Wori Wori, described the judgment as victory for democracy. He said the rules of political engagement must be respected.

    But Lulu-Briggs’s lawyer said they will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

  • Pastor to court: My wife beats me frequently

    An Ibadan- based Pastor; Samuel Adedeji has told a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to terminate the year-old union between him and his wife, Temiloluwa over alleged threat to life.

    In his petition to the court, Adedeji who lived at Ologuneru area of Ibadan accused his wife of frequently beating him and distracting him from his ministry.

    “I think that I actually got it wrong by not making proper spiritual consultation before I went to the altar with Temiloluwa as a husband.

    “For too long, I have had to cope with all sorts of humiliation, insults, abuses in addition to emotional and psychological torture which I have often suffered from her.

    “When Temiloluwa’s troublemaking reached its peak, she started beating me and tearing off my dresses.

    “Recently, she gave me three dirty slaps in the night and was attempting to stab me to death that same night when I had to run for my dear life.

    “Temiloluwa has no regard for anybody because by her attitude, she is a devil in human skin.

    “Now, she has left my home and I need to move on too.

    “There is no more love between us, Samuel said.

    However, the respondent was conspicuously absent in the court when she was called to respond to the allegations leveled against her.

    The court’s bailiff informed the Arbitrators, led by the President, Chief Ademola Odunade that he had served notices of court hearing on Temiloluwa and that she deliberately ignored the notices.

    After careful consideration, Odunade dissolved the union, citing threat to life as the reason.

    He ordered that the copy of the judgment be served on the respondent in order for her to be aware of the latest in the case.

  • Warehouse keepers, marketer charged with N156m fraud

    Two shopkeepers and a marketer, who allegedly defrauded a motorcycle company of N156million, were Thursday brought before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos.

    The defendants are: warehouse keepers Adebayo Gbadebo, 40, of 2, Kojumole Street, Opa, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Adebambo Aderemi, 36, of Prince Momoh Street, Igando, Lagos and marketer Kareem Lukman, 36, of Lagos Island.

    They were arraigned by the Zone II Police Command before Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, fraud and forgery.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Chinedu Njoku said the defendants and unknown accomplices committed the offences sometime between June 2017 and December 2018 at Akebono Industrial Co. Nigeria Ltd, Aba, Abia State.

    He alleged that they stole 370 units of Daylong Motorcycles, 470 pieces of Daylong Motorcycles all valued at N80million, which were entrusted to them as store keepers and sales agent.

    “Gbadebo Adebayo…fraudulently and unlawfully opened account numbers 2031998572 and 1015093186 domiciled at two banks with account name: Amaa Fran Nigeria Enterprises and used same to defraud Akebono Industrial Co. Ltd of the sum of N48million.

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    “The three defendants did forge or unlawfully duplicated a release order/instruction issued by the management of Akebono Industrial Co. Ltd and used same to steal 101 units of Daylong Motorcycles valued at N28million and sold same to one Ibrahim Aliyu at Kebbi State,” Njoku said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences infringed sections 280(9) (a&b), 285, 361, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted each defendant N2million bail with two sureties, among other conditions.

    The case continues March 27.

  • Excavator operator ‘absconds’ with N126.8m Swamp Buggy

    An excavator operator, Samuel Okon, who allegedly absconded with a Swamp Buggy Machine valued at N126, 800,000 was on Wednesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Okon, 36, was arraigned by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Force Headquarters, Obalende, Lagos before Mr Y. O. Aro-Lambo on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obstruction of policemen on lawful duty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said Okon committed the offences on December 31, 2016 at May Fair Garden, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    He said Okon was hired by Black Apple Ltd, Lekki, to carry out excavation work at Lekki with the Swamp Buggy.

    Okon, after finishing the work, did not return the Swamp Buggy to Black Apple but secretly began working with another contractor with the Swamp Buggy.

    The court heard that the company tried to reach Okon on phone but his lines were switched off. He never returned to the office.

    Mameh said: “The company reported the matter to the police, which, sometime last year, tracked Okon to his home in Ajah and arrested him.

    “Last June 28, the FIB granted Okon adminstrative bail pending conclusion of investigation, after he brought his flatmate, Opara Mark, as his surety and fulfilled other conditions.”

    Okon allegedly absconded afterwards.

    The police, last July 18, charged Mark before Magistrate Aro-Lambo on two counts of aiding Okon’s escape and obstructing the course of justice.

    Opara pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

    Mameh said in the course of Opara’s trial, Okon’s phone number became active and the FIB tracked his line and found his hideout, following which he was arrested and arraigned.

    Opara’s case was subsequently discontinued.

    Mameh told the court that Okon’s conduct infringed sections 174b, 280, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okon pleaded not guilty.

    His counsel, Mrs. Helen Ibeji applied for his bail “in the most liberal terms.

    “The defendant has no previous criminal record and has credible sureties willing to stand for him,” Ibeji added.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Aro-Lambo granted Okon N2million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties must be owners of landed property in Lagos and have a credible source of income, among other conditions.

    He remanded Okon in prison custody pending the fulfillment of the bail and adjourned till April 3.