The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • Court remands man for allegedly stabbing friend to death

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, yesterday ordered that Seun Efundiya, 32, be remanded in prison for allegedly stabbing his friend to death following a disagreement over a sim card.

    Efundiya, who sells and registers sim cards, appeared on a charge of murder and his plea was not taken.

    The prosecutor, Clara Olagbayi, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) told the court that Efundiya committed the offence on April 14, at about 9.30 p.m., at Olukusi Street, Ijede in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The prosecutor said the accused stabbed his friend, Mark Ogbe, to death over his refusal to lend him a sim card.

    “The deceased and the accused had engaged in a fight because the accused had refused to lend Ogbe a sim card.

    “In the process, Efundiya stabbed Ogbe with a broken bottle that made him to bleed to death,” she said.

    Magistrate O.A. Olagbende remanded the accused at the Ikoyi Prisons pending an outcome of legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    She adjourned the case till June 4.

  • Court stops Oyo council polls

    •We’re taking steps to vacate order, says attorney-general

    A Federal High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday ordered the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to suspend the planned election into the newly-created Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), pending the determination of a substantive suit.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) members from Ibarapa East Local Government had approached the court over the creation of new wards.

    They sought an interim order to suspend the conduct of council poll slated for May 12.

    Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik of the Federal High Court 2, in her brief ruling on the motion, granted the prayers of the parties by retraining OYSIEC from conducting election into the newly-created wards, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The interim relief in favour of the members was made in respect of the new wards’ delineation by the government, restraining OYSIEC from conducting election into the wards.

    Plans by the commission to conduct election into LCDAs on May 12 are at the peak.

    A similar scenario played out when baales in Oyo West, Atiba and Oyo East local governments sought an order restraining the commission from conducting the planned election last year, pending the determination of the case, which led to shifting the date from February 21 to May 12.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Olusegun Abimbola said the government would take steps to vacate the order, which he claimed was yet to be served on it.

    He said: “The point is that the existing laws forbid any interim order from any court in respect of any proceeding to affect the timing of scheduled election by the provision of Section 9 of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Law Cap 154 Laws of Oyo State 2000.”

    ‘Ruling won’t stop election’

    •PDP, AD withdraw from poll

    Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has assured the electorate that the ruling, which ordered stoppage of the May 12 council election, will not prevent it from holding.

    Chairman John Ajeigbe said yesterday in a statement that the situation was under control.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission has been drawn to a news item of an interim order by the Federal High Court in Ibadan said to have stopped the scheduled council elections fixed for May 12. While we are yet to be formally served with any such order, our information confirms that the said court’s order did not stop the scheduled elections and was only directed at using the newly delineated wards for the scheduled elections by OYSIEC. Elections are, therefore, not restrained from proceeding as scheduled in the local governments and LCDAs. It should be noted that the extant provisions of Section 9(1) of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Law, Cap 154, Laws of Oyo State 2000 which states that “no interim, interlocutory or any other order, decision or judgment by any court or tribunal before or after the commencement of this law in respect of any intra-party, or inter party dispute, or any other proceedings or matter pertaining to an election under this law, shall affect the timing of an election under this law. This extant law remains valid and binding on us all.”

    The state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) have confirmed that they will not participate in the election.

    PDP Publicity Secretary Mr. Akeem Olatunji said the party would not participate because it believed the exercise would be a charade.

    He said PDP was in court against the election, adding that the case would come up for mention today.

    AD said it was not surprised at the court ruling, noting that OYSIEC was neither sincere nor ready to conduct the poll.

    Speaking through the state Chairman, Chief Michael Akinropo, the party said the lack of confidence in OYSIEC and the government in conducting a credible, free and fair election was the reason the party decided not to participate in the election.

  • Lover-boy in prison for pouring acid on fiancee

    A 33-year-old jealous lover, Lukman Madotti, who allegedly poured acid on his fiancee, Toyin Muyiba, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court for attempted murder.

    His plea was, however not taken at the court and was remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

    The Police Prosecutor, ASP Clara Adegbayi, had told the court that the offence was committed on April 9 at 6.00 a.m. at No. 11, Alhaji Lasisi St., Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos.

    According to her, the jealous lover poured acid on Muyiba, 20, whom he had accused of flirting around.

    The offence contravened Section 230 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The offence attracts life imprisonment, according to the provisions of the Criminal Law.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Olagbende, who gave the order, said the accused should remain behind bars pending advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    She adjourned the case until June 4 for mention.

  • Court adjourns National Theatre directors’ arraignment

    The Federal High Court in La-gos has fixed May 14 for the arraignment of five directors of the National Theatre for allegedly receiving N500,000 each from a Federal Government contractor. The alleged offence violates the Code of Conduct Act.

    The defendants are former Acting General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, George Ntanta; Director of Business Development and Events Management, Abiodun Abe; Director of Engineering and Technology, Ndubuisi Nwogu and Director of Planning, Research and Strategies, Doris Okafor.

    Prosecuting counsel, Dr Celsus Ukpong said the defendants, last January 16, being public officers, accepted N500,000 from Market Execution Solutions Ltd, a commercial firm, which had a contract with the Federal Government.

    The prosecution said they accepted the money “on account of transactions entered into on behalf of the Federal Government” with the firm in the discharge of their duties.

    The alleged offence is contrary to section 10 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Act and punishable under Sections 1 (2) and 10 (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act.

    Their arraignment was stalled due to Okafor’s absence. She was said to have taken ill in  court and was rushed to the Military Hospital in Ikoyi.

    Defence counsel Mohammed Adamu said Okafor, wife of a retired Brigadier-General, had “a medical history”.

    “She was admitted at the military hospital. A medical report is here. It was just brought by two soldiers. I apply that the case be adjourned to enable her be present for her arraignment,” he said.

    But Ukpong, a Chief Legal Officer with the Special Presidential Investigation Panel, said Okafor had been in the habit of jumping bail, adding that the Federal Government made unsuccessful attempts to serve her with the charge.

    He said he would have applied for a bench warrant were it not for her lawyer’s willingness to accept the charge on her behalf.

    “She has been evading service. The medical report may be a subterfuge to evade service,” he said.

    Adamu disputed Ukpong’s claim.

    He told the judge that the defendants got wind of the case that morning from colleagues at the National theatre.

    According to him, they rushed to the court’s premises and found their names displayed as defendants on the electronic notice board, following which they hurriedly contacted him to represent them when the case was called up.

    He tendered an eight-paragraph notice of preliminary objection to the charge, which stated, among others, that the defendants “never jumped administrative bail,” at the SPIP office.

    Justice Muslim Hassan ruled that he would adjourn since the other defendants could not be arraigned in Okafor’s absence.

    He adjourned till May 14 for arraignment.

  • Man gets two months imprisonment for stabbing friend

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced one Ifeanyi Chibuzor to two months imprisonment for inflicting injuries on his friend.

    The Judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, said the punishment would serve as deterrent to others.

    Sadiq also ordered the convict to pay N5, 000 as restitution to the complainant, Daniel Bruce.

    Chibuzor, of God is Good Motors in Utako, Abuja, was sentenced on a count charge of causing hurt to his friend.

    The convict, who pleaded guilty, however, begged the court for leniency and was given N10, 000 fine option,

    The Prosecutor, Mr Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that the matter was reported at the Utako Police Station by the complainant, Daniel Bruce, of Jabi Motor Park, Abuja on April 24.

    Read Also; Man jailed three months for stealing books

    Zannah said that on the same date at about 9 a.m, the convict and the complainant had an argument over N200.

    The prosecutor said the convict broke a bottle and stabbed the complainant on his left arm.

    He said that the complainant sustained serious injury on his hand and the convict took to his heels but was apprehended.

    Zannah told the court that the complainant spent N10, 000 for the treatment of his wound at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 246 of the Penal Code.

  • Court sentences two to death by hanging for armed robbery

    An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced two men, Ariyo Ayodeji, 22, and Ayodele Oluwakayode, 20, to death for armed robbery.

    They were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State and Section 402(2) of the same law.

    Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of High Court 6 sentenced them to five years imprisonment for conspiracy and death by hanging for armed robbery.

    According to the charge sheet, the convicts on March 1, 2016 at Plot 18 in Oke Osun area of Ikere-Ekiti robbed Mrs Stella Faniyi of her hand bag.

    The bag contained one Nokia Lumia handset, one Airtel registered handset, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, a Bible, a one hymn book and money.

    The convicts pointed guns at the victim while she was returning from church and ran away. The incident was reported at Ikere Police Station.

    The convicts on March 18, 2016 also robbed Mrs Bunmi Arije at 11 Avenue, Federal Housing Estate along Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti at about 8pm. They dispossessed her of a Blackberry and Samsung phone, one ATM card, a bunch of keys, a driver’s licence and N9,000 cash.

    Shortly after robbing Mrs. Arije, the convicts were arrested by policemen during a stop-and-search exercise.

    Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olukemi Daniel-Ojo, called four witnesses and tendered exhibits including the statement of the accused, weapons and the stolen items recovered from them.

    In his verdict, Justice Ogunmoye said: “On conspiracy, the two accused persons are sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count of conspiracy.

    “On the charge of armed robbery, the two defendants are hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

     

  • Court dissolves Odion’s marriage

    •Grants him custody of three kids

    An Ikeja High Court in Lagos State has dissolved the 16-year-old marriage between a former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, and Bola.

    Justice O. A. Olayinka, who ruled on the divorce petition filed by Odion in 2013, noted that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

    The petitioner cited irreconcilable differences as the reason he wanted the union dissolved, pleading with the court to grant him custody of the three children the union produced.

    He was represented by Gloria Albert-Ekpe, of the Festus Keyamo Chambers.

    Odion, a celebrated journalist and Fellow of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, had lived apart from the defendant since 2008.

    Justice Olayinka said it was in the best interest of the children to live with their father so that there is no disruption to their lives and academic careers, since the petitioner had solely borne their expenses in the last 10 years; a fact not disputed by the defendant.

    However, Justice Olayinka ruled that the defendant be allowed to spend half of the school holiday period with the children in mutually agreed sequence, as well as visitation rights provided reasonable prior notice is given the petitioner.

  • Court orders display of guns allegedly recovered from Dasuki’s house

    •Fed Govt resumes ex-NSA’s trial

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday overruled an objection by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and ordered that arms and ammunition allegedly recovered from his Abuja home be displayed in court.

    Dasuki is standing trial before the court on charges of illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

    The prosecution had opened its case by calling a witness, but the trial was latter stalled when the initial trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, withdrew.

    Trial resumed before another judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, to whom the case was later assigned, yesterday with the prosecution calling its first witness.

    The witness, an operative of Department of State Service (DSS), had his face hidden from the court’s audience. He wore a mask and testified behind a shield provided by the court.

    Lead in evidence by the prosecution lawyer, Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN)the witness gave details of how a search was conducted in Dasuki’s home, in 2015, four days after the change of government and how weapons were allegedly recovered.

    The witness told the court that he was part of the team ordered by the Director General of DSS in 2015 to carry out search on Dasuki’s house based on intelligence report that weapons injurious to national security were in his house.

    The witness said the team, led by Ali Burara, armed with a search warrant, arrived at Dasuki’s home in Asokoro and met a number of armed soldiers, who prevented the team from accessing the premises.

    He stated that after about three hours, a military truck arrived at the house and took the soldiers away, following which his team was able to conduct its search. He said his team recovered some weapons and recorded them on the search warrant.

    At that point, Okpeseyi asked that the alleged recovered weapons be brought to the open court, a request Dasuki’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, objected to.

    He hinged his objection on the grounds that since the trial was being conducted in semi- secrecy, in compliance with the order of the court made on June 2015, the exhibits should not be displayed for the court’s audience to see.

    Adedipe relied on Section 190 of the Evidence Act, Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA), 2015 and Section 36 of the Constitution.

    He added that, since the witness was testifying behind a veil, it was normal and appropriate that the weapons be displayed in the judge’s chamber.

    Okpeseyi, in a counter argument, urged the court to dismiss Adedipe’s objection on the grounds that it was only official record of the state that cannot be displayed in the open court, but not items recovered in the house of a suspect during investigation.

    Ruling, Justice Mohammed noted that it was  in the interest of justice and fair play and to the benefit of parties that the weapons be exhibited in open court.

    The judge said Dasuki, as a defendant in the trial, would not be prejudiced if the alleged recovered weapons were displayed and tendered as exhibit by those who investigated the allegations against him.

    Justice Mohammed said the weapons were listed in the proof of evidence already made available to the defendant by the prosecution.

    The judge later adjourned to May 22 for the formal tendering of the exhibits (weapons) and continuation of trial.

     

  • Alleged escape bid: Court sends senator’s brother, others to prison

    A COURT in Abuja has ordered that a brother to Senator Dino Melaye, Samuel Melaye and three others be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja for allegedly aided the Senator to jump off a moving police van.

    The others are Amaefula David, Pius Inyang and Mohammed Wazari.

    The order for their remand in prison was made after their arraignment before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Mpape, Abuja on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police.

    The FIR linked them to the Tuesday’s incident at Area One, Roundabout,  Abuja, where Melaye reportedly jumped off a police vehicle that was said to be conveying him to Lokoja (Kogi State) where he was to be arraigned before a court on a pending charge.

    In the FIR, the defendants were charged  with criminal conspiracy, obstruction of public servant from performing his lawful duties, abatement and assault on police officers, offences said to be contrary to sections  97, 85, 267 and 173 of the Penal Code Law.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges when the FIR was  read to them on Wedensday.

    Their lawyer Nkem Okoro, from the law firm of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), applied orally for bail for the defendants.

    The police objected to the bail application, following which the presiding magistrate adjourned to April 30 for ruling.

    Melaye’s brother and others are  said to have been arrested by the police at the hospital where Melaye was admitted after the incident.

    They were also alleged to have “jointly conspired and attacked a team of police officers from the office of the Inspector-General of Police S.T.S FHQ, Abuja while conveying Senator Dino Melaye to the court in Lokoja, Kogi Statein Area One Roundabout, Abuja”.

    The police also alleged that the defendants “whisked the suspect (Melaye) away to an unknown destination.”

     

     

  • Court hears Shema’s bail application today

    The Federal High Court in Katsina State will hear the bail application of former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema today.

    The embattled ex-governor was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on the order of Justice Babagana Ashigar, of the Federal High Court, Katsina, till April 27, pending his application.

    Shema, who was arraigned on Tuesday for an alleged N5.7 billion fraud and money laundering charges, pleaded not guilty to the 26-count charges levelled against him,

    His lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), told the court that Shema came to court when he heard the case would be heard and out of respect for the judiciary.

    He pleaded that the court should adjourn the case, insisting that Shema was not served with a summon hence he couldn’t take his pleas.

    But Prosecution Counsel Ologun Orissa objected, urging the court to proceed with the case.

    He said: “The offence is liable to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of fine. I am asking the court to remand the defender pending when proper application is provided by the defender’s lawyer”.

    Justice Shigar ruled that Shema be remanded in EFCC’s custody till April 27 pending application of his bail.