The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • Two arraign for alleged armed robbery

    Two arraign for alleged armed robbery

    The police command in Benue on Tuesday arraigned a technician, John Okodo, 21, and a businessman, Michael Orji, 32 , before a Makurdi Upper Area Court II for alleged armed robbery.

    The two men are standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of an unlawful society.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Alexander Akule, told court that operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), led by one Insp. Joshua Tor arrested the men during a patrol in Makurdi.

    Akule said that while a team of SARS was on patrol, it received a distress call from one Edmond Igbodinze of Kanshio Village, Makurdi that a group of young men had attacked and threatened to kill him and his family.

    “On Aug. 16, a group of able-bodied young men, who identified themselves as members of the Black Skull Confraternity, led by John Okodo, Michael Orji and others now at large, armed with guns, irons, cutlasses and axes attacked him at his residence.

    “They beat him up mercilessly and smashed his eye with an iron rod as a result, the eye got swollen and Okodo further threatened to kill him and his entire family if he informed anybody of the incident.”

    Akule, however, told court that the matter was still under investigation and requested for another date to enable the investigating police officer to conclude investigation.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 6 (b) and 1 (1) (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, 2004 and Section 11 (2) of the Abduction, Hostage-taking, Kidnapping, Cultism and other related activities (Prohibition) Law, 2017.

    When the case came for mention no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Fatima Akintomide, ordered that the two men should be remanded in Makurdi Prisons.

    She adjourned the case until Oct. 20 for further mention.

  • Man, docked for alleged theft of N1.3m valuables

    Man, docked for alleged theft of N1.3m valuables

    A 41-year-old man, Idris Akangbe, who allegedly stole cartons of milk and other valuable items valued at N1.3 million was on Tuesday arraigned in an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    Akangbe, who lives at No. 6, Daramola Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a one-count charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offence between May 2016 and June 2017 at Gadam Provision Store, Ota, where he was working.

    “The accused converted the money to his personal use by not remitting the money to his employer,” he said.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr S. O. Banwo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N450,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

    Banwo also said that the sureties must submit four recent passport photographs to the court and show evidence of tax payment from Ogun Government.

    The case was adjourned till Sept. 6 for hearing.

  • Scavenger bags two months imprisonment for causing grievous hurt

    Scavenger bags two months imprisonment for causing grievous hurt

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a scavenger, Abdullahi Yusuf, to two months imprisonment for stabbing a man with bottle.
    Yusuf, 20, who resides at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, pleaded guilty to a count charge of causing grievous hurt and begged the court for leniency.

    The judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave Yusuf an option of N6, 000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crime.
    Sadiq said the punishment would have been stiffer if Yusuf had not saved the court the pains of protracted prosecution.

    The prosecuting counsel, Florence Auhioboh, had told the court that the matter was reported on Aug. 15 at Utako Police Station, Abuja, by one Shola Johnson of Arab Contractors by Big Joe Transport.

    Auhioboh said that on the same date at about 9. p.m. Yusuf intentionally went to the complainant’s house and scattered his property for just no cause.
    She told the court that when the complainant tried to stop Yusuf, he became violent and attacked him with bottle.
    The prosecutor said that Yusuf used the said bottle and inflicted injuries on the complainant’s head and all over his body.
    She said that the complainant raised an alarm which attracted other neighbours and Yususf took to his heels, but was caught.
    The prosecutor added that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 247 of the Penal Code.

  • Court to hear case against NDLEA chair October 18

    A Lagos High Court has fixed hearing for October 18 in a suit filed by a businessman, Sadiq Eldau, against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), over the ownership of a land in Lekki.

    Eldau is praying Justice Sherifat Solebo for a declaration, among others, that the property designated as Block 114, Plot 1, Lekki Scheme 1, Victoria Island, was properly and lawfully acquired by him.

    Joined as defendants in the suit are Aboki Abdullahi, Innocent Achi, the Registrar of Titles, Land Bureau Services of Lagos State and Incorporated Trustee of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Eldau, in his April 28, last year amended statement of claims, averred that Abdullah was the allottee of the property.

    The allottee, he claimed, sold it to him through his agent who is Abdullahi.

    He stated that the interest of Achi and RCCG, rivalled his claim to ownership of the land.

    He explained that sometime in 2005, Abdullahi approached him with an offer to sell the property, saying that the NDLEA boss was deceased, but survived by his widow and one Mrs Maria Abdallah.

    Eldau averred that Abdullahi informed him that Mrs Maria Abdallah by a March 22, 2004 Power of Attorney authorised the sale of the land for N35 million, which he paid and was given a Deed of Assignment as evidence of the transaction.

    He proceeded to “invest heavily on the land by putting it in proper shape, securing it and also applied for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)”.

    Eldau averred that since 2005, he was in peaceful possession of the property until sometime in 2009, when the third respondent Achi appeared and claimed ownership of the land.

    Achi, Eldau averred, informed him that the NDLEA boss was not dead and was the one who sold the land to him.

    The matter was reported at a police station, where all the interested parties, except the agent, met.

    He alleged further that the ownership of the lanf was yet to be resolved before the NDLEA boss sold the land again to RCCG.

    However, the NDLEA boss in his statement of defence denied some of the plaintiff’s claims.

    Abdallah said he neither instructed the agent (Abdullahi) to sell the property on his behalf nor did he give the agent title documents.

    He averred that it was at the police station, that he found out about the falsified probate paper kept and used by the agent to sell the land.

    The NDLEA boss averred further that Mrs. Maria Abdallah, who purportedly authorised the sale of the land, was the agent’s wife and not his.

  • Court grants siblings N200,000 bail for ‘beating up’ policeman

    Court grants siblings N200,000 bail for ‘beating up’ policeman

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday granted N200,000 bail each to two siblings who allegedly beat up a policeman and tore his uniforms.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.A Layinka, also ordered each of the accused – Michael Oladunjoye (28) and Sephia Oladunjoye (26) – to produce two sureties each with evidence of two years tax payment.

    The accused, who lives at Church Street, Ayobo in Ipaja, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of assault and unlawful damage.

    The prosecutor, Donjor Perezi, had told the court that the accused on July 16 assaulted a policeman, Isaac Akam, at Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

    According to the prosecutor, the duo beat up the policeman and tore his uniform while performing his duty.

    He said a fight ensued between the policeman and the duo after the police stopped their car for a routine search.

    According to him, it was the intervention of other policemen at the scene that saved their colleague from the duo.

    Perezi said the siblings were subsequently arrested and taken to the police station for further questioning.

    The offences, he said, contravened sections 173 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The case was adjourned till August 28 for mention.

  • Man in court for ‘theft of batteries’

    A 33-year-old man, Christopher Umeh, has been arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged theft of five vehicle batteries valued N90,000 .

    Umeh, whose address was not given, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Bankole Olasunkanmi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 15 at Igbo Church, Oke-Ila, Ado-Ekiti.

    He said the accused broke into a battery shop belonging to Mr. Aliu Idowu and stole the batteries.

    “The accused was apprehended by security guards, who handed him over to the police,” Olasunkanmi said.

  • Man in court for ‘beating’ another with plank

    A 28-year-old man, Monday Michael, was yesterday arraigned at an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State for alleged assault.

    Michael, who lives at 36, Fadipe Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of assault and conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Chudu Gbesi, said the accused and others at large committed the offences on July 25, about 7 pm. at Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.

    He said the accused and his accomplices conspired to assault Jelili Badru by using a plank to inflict injuries in his neck.

    Gbesi said the offences contravened sections 351 and 452 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. S. O. Banwo, granted him bail at N450,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He said the sureties must live within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

    Banwo said they should submit four passport photographs to the court and show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State government.

    The case was adjourned till September 20 for hearing.

  • Man docked for allegedly beating another with plank

    Man docked for allegedly beating another with plank

    A 28-year-old man, Monday Michael, was on Monday charged before an Ota Magistrates Court in Ogun for alleged assault.
    Michael, who lives at No. 36, Fadipe Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of assault and conspiracy.
    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on July 25 at about 7.00 p. m. at Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.
    Gbesi said that the accused and his accomplices conspired to assault one Jelili Badru by using a plank wood to inflict injuries on his neck.
    He said that the offences contravened Sections 351 and 452 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    The Senior Magistrate, Mr S. O. Banwo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N450,000 with two sureties in like sum.
    Banwo said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.
    He also said that the sureties should submit four recent passport photographs to the court and show evidence of tax payment from the Ogun Government.
    The case was adjourned until Sept. 20, for hearing.

  • Theft at Jonathan’s home: Court grants N7m bail to dismissed policeman

    Theft at Jonathan’s home: Court grants N7m bail to dismissed policeman

    A Magistrate’s Court in Abuja yesterday granted bail in the sum of N7 million with one surety to a dismissed police officer, Musa Musa, who was arraigned for stealing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s property.

    Musa was also charged for mischief and theft, contrary to Section 353,326 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    The charge reads: “That you Musa Musa a dismissed police officer on July 5, 2017 unlawfully broke into the residence of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan situate at Gwarinpa within the jurisdiction of this honourable court and stole all the internal fittings, furniture, cloth, electrical fittings, water heaters, kitchen shelves, wardrobes, chandeliers,  refrigerators, door and went further to steal canopies and hide same in the premises valued at N30 million belonging to the former president and thereby committed the above mention offences.”

    After the charge was read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Gabriel Egbule, applied for bail pending the conclusion of the case.

    But, police prosecution counsel Mr. Stanley Nwodo opposed the bail application, saying that the case involved national security.

    Nwodo said:  “Bail should not be granted to the defendant because it involves national security. The accused will jump bail if granted and there is no provision of reliable sureties.”

    He contended that granting bail would affect the trial of the case and contravene Section 1 of the ACJA.

    After listening to both parties, Chief Magistrate Marbel Bello granted the defendant bail in the sum of N7 million with one surety.

    “The surety should be a civil servant, who must be reliable.”

    Chief Magistrate Bello adjourned the matter till October 3.

     

  • Court fixes Friday for hearing of suits by Melaye, APC against recall

    •Kogi West voters insist on senator’s removal

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday for the hearing of two suits seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with the process of recalling Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West.

    The first suit was filed by Melaye and the second was filed by the Kogi State All Progressive Congress (APC) and 12 others.

    The other plaintiffs in the second suit are: Alhaji  Haddy Ametuo, Shaibu Osune, S.T Adejo, Comrade Yahaya Ade Ismail, Chief Gbenga Ashagun, Ahovi S. Ibrahim, Ghali ND Usman, Isa Abubakar, I. Molemodile, Abubakr M. Adamu and Daniel Sekpe.

    The vacation judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba fixed Friday for hearing after granting an application by Olatunji Atoyebi (for the plaintiffs in the second suit) for the consolidation of his client’s case, pending before another judge of the court, with the one by Melaye (which is already slated for hearing during the court’s vacation).

    The judge said the consolidation was necessary to prevent the rendering of conflicting judgments by two judges of the court, more so when the cases were on the same issue of whether or not INEC could proceed with Melaye’s recall.

    Earlier in the proceeding, the judge granted two applications, admitting new parties to the suit. The first application was filed by three individuals, who said they coordinated the petition for Melaye’s recall – Chief Cornelius Olowo, John Anjorin and Malam Yusuf Adamu. They were joined as defendants in the suit by Melaye.

    The second application was by five persons – Afolabi Lydia Olufunke, Mrs. Iyabose Owolabi, Sanya Grace Folake, Salihu Abubakar Abdullahi and Michael Olowolaiyemo, who identified themselves as registered voters from Kogi West. They were joined as co-plaintiffs in the suit by Melaye.

    In allowing the applications for joinder, Justice Dimgba noted that the participation of all the applicants in the suit will assist the court in achieving justice in the case.

    In a separate ruling, he granted Melaye’s application for leave to amend his originating processes. The judge also ordered the defendants to file supplementary processes, if need be, as a result of the amendment to be effected by Melaye.

    Arguing the motion for joinder, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, who is lawyer to Olowo, Anjorin and Adamu argued that his clients were necessary parties to the suit. He attacked the competence of the suit by Melaye and urged the court to dismiss it.

    In their counter-affidavit, Olowo, Anjorin and Adamu, who said they were acting for themselves and the 188,521 registered voters (who endorsed the petition for Melaye’s recall) argued that the senator cannot be saved by the court and asked that INEC be allowed to perform its constitutional duties.

    On why they seek Melaye’s recall, Cornelius stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the electorate in Kogi West were tired of the senator’s conflicting and confusing roles in the Senate.

    He noted that while Melaye has barely spent two years in the Senate, he was preparing “seriously” to contest a councillorship position in his ward in Ijumu Local Government.

    Melaye actually made this fact public when, in paragraph 20 of the affidavit supporting his originating summons, he claimed that “I am interested in contesting for a councillorship position in my Local Government Area, Ijumu…”

    Cornelius said: “Since he (Melaye) cannot simultaneously hold the offices of a senator and councillor, his constituents are voting more competent, reliable and worthy replacement to represent them in the Senate”.

    On why the court cannot stop INEC from proceeding with Melaye’s recall, Olowo, Anjorin and Adamu argued, in their written address, that since the roles placed on the electoral body in a recall process is spelt out in Section 69(2) of the Constitution, INEC is obligated to perform those roles without being hindered by any court.

    Cornelius, Anjorin and Adamu agreed that the court could only be invited to review the exercise of the power granted any institution or agency of the Executive after such power had been exercised and not before or in the process of it being exercised.