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Tag: Court

  • Court jails man for posing as Army officer

    A Karmo Area Court, Abuja, yesterday sentenced Joseph Ogar to 10 months’ imprisonment for parading as an Army officer, and for fraudulently obtaining N120,000 from Godwin Ephraim.

    Ogar, who lives at Kuchikowa  village, Nayanya, Nasarawa State, was convicted on a two-count charge of impersonation and theft.

    The judge, Mr. Maiwada Inuwa, gave the punishment after Ogar pleaded guilty.

    Inuwa, however, asked Ogar to pay N17,000 fine as option for the jail term and to return the N120,000 to Ephraim.

    He warned the convict to desist from committing crime.

    Prosecutor Ijeoma Ukagha told the court that on June 18, Ephraim, of Mabushi village, Abuja, reported at Life Camp Police Station that the convict introduced himself to him as an army officer on May 21.

    She said the convict, dressed in army uniform, showed him an identity card with his name and passport photograph on it.

    Ukagha told the court that the convict collected Ephraim’s ATM card and his CX Techno phone valued at N50,000 after accusing Ephraim of committing an undisclosed crime.

    She said the convict forced Ephraim to reveal his ATM card details to him.

    The prosecutor told the court that the convict went to the nearest bank and withdrew N120, 000 from the complainant’s account.

    She said during investigation, it was found that the convict never enlisted in the army, neither did he reveal where he got the uniform and warrant he used for the crime.

    Ukagha said the offences contravened sections 321 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    The convict told the court that he used the N120,000 for the payment of his rent.

    He pleaded for mercy and promised that he would not commit any crime again.

  • Court frees 100 Shi’ites members in detention

    The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday in her judgement in the “no case submission” filed by the defense lawyers on the case brought before her freed nearly 100 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites group, that were arrested at various locations in December 2015 following a clash between the group and the Nigerian Army.

    Justice Shiri Nyom in his judgement discharged and acquitted the sect members of the charges levelled against them as contained in a Press Statement signed by the President Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa and made available to newsmen.

    According to the statement, “This judgement has not only vindicated the members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, but it is certainly a victory for perseverance in the face of extreme persecution. It is a victory for truth and justice against tyranny and impunity,” said the statement.

    The Islamic Movement further stated, “It will be recalled that the Kaduna state government sued almost about 200 members of the Islamic Movement after an attack on the Movement by the Nigerian Army in December 2015 which led to the killing of over a thousand souls, including three sons of the Sheikh Zakzaky, his elder sister and a nephew.

    “The attack was sequel to the unlawful invasion of the privacy of their residence and eventual destruction of the house completely. This has been aptly described by several human rights bodies as a massacre. To worsen these flagrant crimes against humanity, bodies of all the hundreds killed were hurriedly and secretly buried in mass graves about 100km away from the scene, apparently in a shoddy attempt at hiding the crime and its magnitude.”

    The sect group reiterated its call for the release of its leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife who have equally been in the custody of the Director of State Services (DSS), “We are all aware of the crude tactics of the Kaduna state government led by Malam Nasir el-Rufai all in his devilish plots at perpetuating the persecution against the Islamic Movement and the continued detention incommunicado of Sheikh Zakzaky and his ailing wife in spite of previous court judgement ordering their immediate release from detention, thereby further flaunting his fundamental rights and rights to liberty.

    “With this victory in the court today, the false charges filed against them of aiding and abetting the culpable homicide has been punctured for good. We await the response of the Kaduna state government as Sheikh Zakzaky’s case comes up in the next two days. We expect them to respect the judgement of this honourable court and the course of justice to withdraw the fake charges against him and release him with immediate effect.

    “As a peaceful Movement, we have kept to our clean tradition of seeking redress through peaceful means without any resort to violence despite deliberate and persistent provocations by the government. Today, Kaduna state government has again failed in court after a fair trial. We therefore give praises to the Almighty Allah for yet another successful outing, which further proves to the world that the Movement and its leader are only victims of impunity and mischievous plots by the El-Rufai-led government,” according to the statement.

    The Islamic Movement in Nigeria thanked all those that stood by it throughout the trial, “We wish to use this opportunity to also say a big thank you to all people of conscience, human rights activists and organizations, journalists and all those that joined in our dogged campaign for justice for the victims of Zaria genocide. Thank you and God bless.”

  • Court remands man for slapping wife to death

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Tuesday remanded a 47-year-old man, Premie Imafidon, for allegedly slapping his wife to death.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, remanded Imafidon in Ikoyi Prisons and ordered that the case file should be sent to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    Ajibade adjourned the case until Sept. 3

    The accused is facing a charge for murder.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Maria Dauda, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 15, at 7.00 p.m., at No. 25, Apata St., Agege, Lagos.

    Read Also: Court stops swearing-in of new Imo deputy Governor

    She said that the accused had slapped his wife Hope, 42, which resulted to her death.

    The offence contravened Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 224 stipulates death sentence for murder.

  • Court stops swearing-in of new Imo deputy Governor

    …Okorocha orders full compliance of Court Order

      An Owerri High Court has issued an interim order stopping the swearing in ceremony of the Imo state Deputy Governor designate, Callistus Ekenze.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo in a statement, said that the Governor, Rochas Okorocha directed that the Interim Court Order restraining the Chief Judge of the State from carrying out the exercise be fully obeyed.

    According to the statement, “the governor had insisted that the interim Order be obeyed not minding some issues raised by senior Lawyers in the government against the Order, insisting that his administration must continue to obey valid Court Orders and also served on the government or agents of the government”.

    Announcing the governor’s directive after several hours of waiting for the commencement of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to hold at the Sam Mbakwe  Exco Chambers in the Government House, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Miletus Nlemadim,  stated that the Imo state government has complied with a fresh order from an Owerri High Court preventing the Chief Judge of the state, Pascal Nnadi from swearing in the Deputy Governor designate.

    Read Also: Court remands man for slapping wife to death

    He said the state government is law abiding and respects the rule of law and as such obeyed the court order.

    He however noted that the state government is doing everything possible to vacate the order to enable the state government swear in the deputy Governor designate in a future date.

    It should be recalled that the nineteen (19) members of the State House of Assembly had on Monday, July 30, impeached the former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere following the submission last Friday, of the report of the Panel that investigated the allegations against him.

    Thereafter, the House of Assembly cleared the state Head of Service, Callistus Ekenze as the deputy governor designate.

  • Man jailed for threatening to kill neighbour

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced a 22-year-old man, Felix Okon, to five months imprisonment for threatening to kill his neigbhour.

    Okon, who resides at Idu Village in Abuja, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal intimidation and intentional insult and begged for leniency

    “I plead with this court to reduce my punishment for I know I am guilty. I am so sorry for what I did. Please sir, temper justice with mercy.

    “ Please sir help me. I will not drink and be drunk again nor insult my neighbour,’’ Okon begged.

    The Judge, Mr Maiwa Inuwa, in his judgment, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N8, 000.

    Inuwa warned Okon to shun crime and stop insulting his elders, noting that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others.

    Read Also: Man to die by hanging for killing 11-year-old son

    The Prosecutor, Mrs Ijeoma Ukagha, had told the court that the convict threatened to kill his 63-year-old neighbour, one Raymond Ekeoha also of Idu Village.

    Ukagha said that between Feb. 2 and July 20, Okon insulted Raymond and members of his family without any cause.

    She said that Okon also threatened to kill the complainant with a gun, noting that the offences contravened Sections 399 and 397 of the Penal Code.

    But following Okon’s plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict Okon summarily in line with Section 112 (8) of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.

  • Court bars Kano from collecting consumption tax

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017, which empowers the state to collect consumption tax.

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, operators of Shoprite, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, Kano Attorney-General and Kano State Inland Revenue Service.

    They urged the court to hold that state law was in conflict with the provisions of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, Cap VI, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    According to them, the VAT Act is already being implemented by the Federal Government as a consumption tax for the benefit of both the federal and states governments.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to determine whether Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017, did not amount to double and multiple taxation.

    In his verdict, Justice John Tsoho resolved the three issues raised by the plaintiffs for determination in their favour.

    He held that Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017 are inconsistent with items 7 and 8 of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution.

    According to him, the imposition of consumption tax through Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Law over the same goods and services, which are already subject to VAT amounted to double taxation.

    The court dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objection to the suit.

  • Court dethrones Adamawa traditional ruler

    A Yola High Court presided by Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman on Friday voided the appointment of the District Head of Jalingo-Maiha, Yarima Wakili, by the State Government.

    The court ordered Gov. Muhammadu Bindow to approve Mahmud Abubakar, whose name was earlier forwarded to him for approval by Mubi Emirate Council as the selected traditional ruler.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mahmud Abubakar (Plaintiff) had dragged the governor, Mubi Emirate Council, Yarima Wakili and Attorney General of the state as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively, over the appointment of Wakili as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha in Maiha Local Government Area.

    In her Judgment, Justice Abdulrahman said the plaintiff has proven that he was eligible and was duly selected among other applicants for the district head stool by village heads in Maiha, who conducted the selection exercise under the supervision of representatives from Mubi Emirate Council.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected cable vandal in Enugu

    “That the approval of the 3rd defendant by the governor of Adamawa State as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha district, Maiha Local Government Area who was not the person recommended by the 2nd defendant is wrongful, illegal, null and void.

    “That the plaintiff whose name was forwarded to the Governor of Adamawa State for approval by the 2nd defendant, is the proper person to be approved for appointment as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “It is hereby ordered that the Governor of Adamawa State (1st defendant) should approve the plaintiff as the proper person for appointment as District Head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby given, restraining the 3rd defendant from parading himself as district head of Jalingo-Maiha District, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State,” the court ruled.

  •  Court adjourns Melaye’s arms dealing case till Aug. 9

    •Lawyer alleges senator was abducted

    A Senior Magistrate’s Court in Kogi State has adjourned the trial of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and two others in the case of illegal possession of firearms and arms dealing till August 9.

    Senior Magistrate Sulyman Abdullah adjourned the case yesterday’s sitting for beginning of trial as the prosecution could not open its case due to absence of its lead counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon.

    Mr. Theophilus Oteme, the Officer in Charge of Legal Department of Kogi State Police Command, told the court that the lead prosecuting counsel, Izinyon had an emergency call on Wednesday that made it impossible for him to appear in court yesterday.

    Oteme, therefore, applied for an adjournment until September 23 for the beginning of trial in view of the absence of the lead prosecutor and more so, that one of the defendants (Melaye) was not in court.

    However, the lead counsel to Melaye, Chief Mike Ozekhome, represented by Mr. Yemi Mohammed, told the court that he had on good authority that Melaye was attacked in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja.

    “I learnt that he was attacked yesterday (Wednesday) in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja to attend his trial and up till now, I have not been able to reach him. I don’t know where he is at the moment,’’ he said.

    In his ruling, Abdullah turned down the application by the prosecution for a long adjournment to September 23.

    He said the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law did not allow for an adjournment beyond two weeks in a criminal case.

    The Senior Magistrate, therefore, adjourned the case until August 9 and ordered that the bail earlier granted to Melaye continued.

    Abdullah, however, ruled that the other two accused persons, Nuhu Salihu, known as “small’’ and Kabiru Seidu also known as “Osama’’, standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on illegal possession of firearms and arms dealing, should continue with their remand in police custody.

     

     

     

     

  • Kano court discharges order of arrest against Anti-graft Boss

    Kano State high court sitting in Gezawa has on Wednesday discharged the order of arrest issued against the chairman of the State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji, over an alleged contempt of court.

    The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yahaya who in recent times fall apart with the Anti-corruption Boss, lamented over the the way and manner the chairman had wanted to ridicule his integrity as a judge instead of appealing the matter.

    The Judge also discharge order of arrest against Kano Anti-corruption boss and returned the case to the Acting chief judge for redirection.

    It could be recalled that Kano State High Court, Gezawa Judicial Division had issued an order for the arrest of Chairman, Kano State Public Complain and Anti-corruption Commission Muhuyi Magaji.

    Mr Muhuyi had accused the court of sabotaging the commission’s anti-graft war in the wake of an alleged money laundery by the former Accountant General Aisha Bello.

  • Septuagenarian jailed 10 months for malicious damage

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a septuagenarian, Adekunle Akinsemoyin, to 10 months imprisonment for conspiracy, malicious damage and breach of peace.

    Mrs A.T. Omoyele convicted Akinsemoyin, 73, of the three-count charge brought against him by the police, following a 13-day trial.

    She upheld the prosecution’s case that the defendant unlawfully demolished the toilet and roof of his family house while it was occupied by tenants.

    The magistrate, however, gave Akinsemoyin an option of N90,000 fine.

    The convict was arraingned on July 7, 2015, alongside a farmer, Musa Kalamu 75.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Kalamu was, however, discharged and acquitted, for want of evidence.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji told the court that Akinsemoyin and Kalamu conspired and demolished a toilet used by and illegally removed roofing sheets covering the rooms of the complainants, Wasiu Ramon and Fatai Andoyin.

    He said the incident occurred on June 14, 2015, at about 6am, at No. 24, Okiti Lane, Off Iga-Iduganran Street, Lagos Island.
    According to him, the offence contravened sections 409, 166 (d), 338, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.