The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • Court rejects bail variation for deposed Shangisha Baale

    Court rejects bail variation for deposed Shangisha Baale

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court yesterday struck out an application by the deposed Baale of Shangisha, Chief Mutiu Michael Ogundare, seeking to review his bail conditions.

    Ogundare, who is on trial for allegedly faking his own kidnap, is in Kirikiri Prisons custody with his wife, Abolanle and brother, Mohammed Opeyemi Babatunde, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

    They were arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on July 20 on a three-count charge of breach of the public peace and fake kidnapping contrary to Sections 5 and 7(1) and (2) of the Kidnapping Prohibition 2017, No. C17, Law of Lagos State.

    They pleaded not guilty following which Magistrate T. Akanni granted them N2 million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The sureties, the court said, must include a traditional ruler, a person with registered property in Lagos, a tax payer and a grade level 17 officer in the Lagos State public service.

    During proceedings yesterday, Chief Ogundare’s counsel, Chief H. N. Ogirien prayed the court to reduce the bail conditions, especially the part where the deposed traditional ruler was asked to provide a level 17 officer in the state civil service.

    He said it was difficult for the defendants to get a level 17 public servant and traditional ruler to stand as surety.

    “My Lord we are unable to secure a level 17 officer of the Lagos State Civil Service. No one is willing to come forward and stand as surety.

    “We also have difficulty getting a traditional ruler to stand as surety. We are simply asking the court to review the bail conditions such that the defendant can easily perfect the bail conditions,” Ogirien said.

    Ogirien described the Baale’s situation as a peculiar one.

    He said: “A man and his wife are both incarcerated. They have young children who are dependent on them. Their children are of nursery, primary and secondary ages and are solely dependent on them. They have nobody taking care of them”.

    However, Ogirien could not tell the judge why the deposed Baale did not file his application at the lower court where the bail was granted him.

    Justice Oshodi said: “He is a traditional ruler, so, I am wondering why none of his fellow traditional rulers can stand for him. Are you saying that there is no traditional ruler within jurisdiction that can stand surety for him?”

    The judge then dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

    On July 16, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode deposed Ogundare for allegedly faking his own kidnap in a bid to blackmail the government.

    Ogundare’s alleged abduction reportedly took place on July 5 along the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    His wife, Abolanle and Babatunde were alleged to be accomplices in the plot.

  • Court jails labourer 18 months for stealing TV

    An Upper Area Court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old labourer, Yusuf Ismail, to 18 months’ imprisonment for stealing TV.

    Ismail, who lives at Angawan Maiya Masaka, was convicted on a three-count charge of conspiracy, house-breaking and theft.

    The judge, Mr. Yakubu Ishaku, sentenced him after he pleaded guilty and begged for forgiveness

    He, however, gave the convict an option of N8, 000 fine.

    The prosecutor, Frank Swem, had told the court that Hauwa Adam of the same address reported the matter at Divisional Police Headquarters, Masaka, on August 18.

    He said about 4:20 p.m. on August 17, the complainant returned from work and discovered that some people broke into her room through the window and stole her TV valued at N78, 000.

    Swem added that the defendant was arrested and when interrogated, he confessed to be one of the perpetrators.

    The prosecutor said the defendant committed the crime with two others at large.

    He said the offences contravened sections 97, 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Court remands three kidnapping suspects

    Court remands three kidnapping suspects

    An Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded in prison three men who allegedly kidnapped two Filipinos in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Yinka Adebanjo, 29; Seun Ogunsumbo, 31 and Ishau Awokoya, 32, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja on a four-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.

    Prosecuting Inspector Chinalu Uwadione said the defendants committed the offences on July 5, at Odonla in Ikorodu.

    He said they kidnapped Jammie Lacar and Mario Maglundo, who work with Mateco Industry West Africa, and demanded N4 million ransom for their release.

    The defendants also had in their possession arms and ammunition concealed in a DVD player, Uwadione alleged.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 2, 3 and 11 of the Kidnapping Prohibition Act of Lagos State 2017 and Section 329 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Their pleas were not taken.

    Following Uwadione’s application, Chief Magistrate Adelaja remanded them in Prison, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

  • Diezani: Court rules today on ‘hidden’ N7.6b

    Diezani: Court rules today on ‘hidden’ N7.6b

    The Federal High Court in Lagos will today decide whether the N7,646,700,000 allegedly hidden in a bank  by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, can be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    On August 9, 2017, vacation judge Justice Chuka Obiozor granted an order temporarily forfeiting the money to the Federal Government.

    Justice Obiozor’s order followed an ex parte application argued before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He adjourned till today for the bank and any other interested party to appear before him to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The EFCC told the judge that the N7.6 billion was part of a sum of $153,310,000, which Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly siphoned from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sometime in 2014.

    The anti-graft agency said she stashed the money in three banks, adding that the Federal Government had since February last year, through an order by Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos recovered part of the money from the other banks.

    The anti-graft agency recalled that the Federal Government had recovered N23.4 billion, $5 million and another N9.08 billion of the $153.3m million.

    It urged the court to order Sterling Bank to deliver up to the Federal Government the N7.6 billion still in its custody.

    In an eight-paragraph affidavit, an operative of the EFCC, Usman Zakari, averred that the former Petroleum Minister laundered the money in connivance with other officials of the NNPC.

    On August 7, 2017, Justice Obiozor ordered the permanent forfeiture to the Federal Government of a $37.5million Banana Island property allegedly bought in 2013 by Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

    The property designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore Estate, consists of 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.

    The judge also ordered that $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70 realised as rent on the property be permanently forfeited to the government.

    Last Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought between 2011 and 2013 for $21,982,224 (N3,320,000,000) by Diezani.

    Justice Abdulaziz Anka adjourned till September 8 for anyone to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    On August 8, 2017, The Nation revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced N47.2 billion and $487.5million to the ex-minister.

    The agency also claimed that Alison Madueke had N23,446,300,000 and $5 million (about N1.5billion) cash in various banks, which were yet to be forfeited.

    The commission is also investigating properties in Britain and the United States she allegedly purchased with stolen government funds.

    Alison-Madueke, who was a powerful member of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet from 2010 to May 2015, has consistently denied the allegations.

  • Court rules on American fraud suspect’s bail terms today

    The Lagos State Government has dedicated two special phone numbers through which residents can make inquiries and channel complaints about availability and sales of Lake Rice.

    The help lines – 08023818565 and 08033058697 – were announced at the weekend by Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau.

    Suarau said it would provide the government “first-hand feedback on happenings at the various sales centres with a view to quickly address grey areas if any.”

    “I must stress that there are people available to listen to complaints, answer enquiries and provide necessary help when needed, all you have to do is to call”, he said

    Suarau explained that a monitoring mechanism is in place to ensure fair sales of the product at all centres on a first-come, first-serve basis, in a rancour-free atmosphere.

    The Commissioner tasked workers at designated sales centres on customer satisfaction, warning that complaints from residents on poor services at any centre will be treated seriously.

    “The state government has made all necessary arrangement to ensure that the product is available during the festive period and beyond”, Suarau added.

    ustice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court will today rule on an application by an American, Marco Ramirez, seeking to vary his bail terms.

    Ramirez was brought before Justice Josephine Oyefeso last June by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge of obtaining $565,000 from three Nigerians seeking United States Green Card visa under false pretence.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    On July 10, Justice Oyefeso granted him $250,000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum among other terms.

    The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be resident in Lagos; a director of a reputable company and have landed property. Ramirez was remanded in Kirikiri Prison, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

    On Friday, Ramirez approached, Justice Ganiyu Safari through his counsel Ademola Adefolaju, seeking variation of the bail terms.

    Adefolaju told Justice Safari that Ramirez’s health condition had deteriorated in detention.

    He prayed the court for an order to allow the defendant to bring one surety that is in a directorate cadre in the Lagos State civil service as a substitute for a director in a reputable company.

    Adefolaju, who stated that the application was served on the EFCC on August 21, said Ramirez was dying in prison, adding that the failure “to expeditiously determine the motion is dangerous as his health is deteriorating in prison custody.”

    However, Justice Safari held that since the EFCC was not aware of the proceedings, it was better for the matter to be adjourned.

    He ordered that a hearing notice be issued to the commission informing it of Ramirez’s application and adjourned the hearing of the application till today before Justice Oshodi who resumes today as the next vacation judge.

    According to EFCC, Ramirez, the Managing Director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group – committed the offences between February and August 2013.

    The American was alleged to have fraudulently received $545,000 from one Godson Echejue to invest in one of Ramirez’s firms for the purpose of procuring an American Green Card (permanent residency card) for the Nigerian.

    The EFCC also alleged that Ramirez received $10,000 from one Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S. which would make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport

    He was further alleged to have illegally received $10,000 from one Olukayode Sodimu on the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American Green Card.

  • Court jails mechanic three months for stealing bag

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja at the weekend sentenced a motor mechanic, Murtale Useni, to three months’ imprisonment for stealing a bag.

    Useni, 20, who lives at Jayi Tipper Garage, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The convict pleaded guilty.

    The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, gave the convict an option to pay N10,000 as fine.

    Sadiq said the punishment was less severe because he pleaded guilty, and saved the court the pain of prolonged prosecution.

    He warned him against taking to crimes again.

    The prosecutor, Florence Auhioboh, told the court that on August 18, Simon Shaapela, of Behind Water Board, Katampe Extension, reported the matter at Gwarinpa Police Station.

    She said on the same date, about 7 am., the convict went into the complainant’s house without his consent.

    Auhioboh said the convict broke into the complainant’s room and stole his bag, containing his ATM card, clothes, electrical cable and other items.

    She said when the convict saw the complainant coming, he jumped through the window and ran. But he was apprehended and handed over to the police.

    The prosecutor said during  interrogation, the convict admitted committing the offence.

    She said the offences contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    Following his plea, the prosecutor prayed the court to try him summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.

  • Court gives Govt 48 hours to stop hydraulic horns in vehicles

    Court gives Govt 48 hours to stop hydraulic horns in vehicles

    A High Court Division bench in Bangladesh has given the government 48 hours to stop the use of hydraulic horns in vehicles.

    The High Court division bench of Justice Quzi-Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah, on Wednesday passed the order, asking relevant government authorities to seize all the vehicles with the horn after Aug. 27.

    The court passed the order on a petition filed by a local rights organisation, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

    The organisation filed the public interest litigation challenging the legality of hydraulic horn use and seeking necessary orders to stop sound pollution especially in Dhaka.

    Dhaka has become one of the most hazardous cities in the country, with noise pollution going beyond acceptable limits.

    Level of sound pollution in Dhaka is now reportedly a major concern for the general public because it has already exceeded the tolerance level.

    A survey report prepared by the country’s Department of Environment (DoE) showed the decibel level in some Dhaka areas has exceeded the permissible limits of 45/60 to 130 decibel.

    The survey, conducted between April to June 2016 by the DoE-appointed consultants from Working for Better Bangladesh (WBB) an NGO, also found the situation deteriorating not only in Dhaka, but also in Bangladesh’s second largest seaport city Chittagong, some 242 km southeast of Dhaka.

    Because of sound pollution millions of people especially in Dhaka are now exposed to a number of health risks from deafness to heart attack.

    On Dhaka streets, noise pollution is seemingly created by hydraulic horns of buses, trucks and taxis, microphones and cassette players.

    In a bid to curb noise pollution, police in Dhaka last week destroyed around 10,000 illegal hydraulic horns which they seized over the last couple of months.

  • Employee docked over alleged N18m theft

    Employee docked over alleged N18m theft

    A 22-year-old man, Ogochukwu Eze, who allegedly stole his boss’ N18 million, was on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Eze is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

    The accused, who resides at No. 25, Silver St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large at about 1.20 p.m. on July 18, at No. 2, Shangbemi St., Jankara, Lagos.

    Perezi alleged that the accused stole N18 million, property of the complainant, Ikechukwu Okoye.

    According to him, the accused had earlier served the complainant as a sales boy for seven years before he was made a manager.

    He said that the accused had been taking money from the safe and moving goods without his boss consent.

    “The accused, under the pretence of supplying goods, also forged a company’s documents and was eventually arrested, while his accomplices escaped,” he said.

    Perezi said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 367 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.

    In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Layinka, granted the accused a bail of N1.5 million with two sureties in like sum.

    Layinka said that the sureties should provide evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and adjourned the case until Oct. 2 for mention.

  • Man docked for alleged N24m fraud

    Man docked for alleged N24m fraud

    A 23-year-old man, Femi Agboola, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged N24 million fraud.
    Agboola is facing a four-count charge bothering on fraud and conspiracy.
    The prosecutor, Mr Felix Okafor, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between September 2015 and Aug. 13 at Osogbo.
    Okafor said that the accused defraud one Ola Alabi-Isreal, a businessman in a business transaction involving the two of them.
    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 516,418, 390, and 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003.
    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
    The Magistrate, Mrs Fatima Sodamade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum.
    The case was adjourned until Aug.28 for hearing.

  • Teenager gets N200,000 bail over alleged defilement of girl

    Teenager gets N200,000 bail over alleged defilement of girl

    A Teenager, Daniel Osikemuwe,who allegedly defiled a five-year-old girl, was on Wednesday granted reprieve by a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    He was released on a N200,000 bail.

    Osikemuwe, 16, pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge bordering on defilement.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the offence was committed on June 23, at No. 13, George Close, Jibowu Road, U-turn, Abule Egba area of Lagos.‎

    ‎She alleged that the accused, who was a neighbour to the parents of the girl, lured the girl to his room and defiled her.‎

    The offence contravened Sections 137 and 407 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    ‎The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
    ‎
    Ipaye-Nwachukwu said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the second surety should be a cleric or a community leader.‎

    She also directed the sureties to provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The magistrate ordered that two passport photographs of the accused be deposited with the court registrar, and be remanded at Correctional Institute for boys in Abeokuta.

    ‎She adjourned the case till Oct. 16, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions.