The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday gave an order temporarily forfeiting Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites on Igbogbo-Mayegun Road at Ikorodu in Lagos State to the Federal Government.

    The owner of the property, Ebiesuwa Fredrick, is said to have acquired along that proceeds  with N53.7 million alleged  fraud.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize the hotel for 21 days to enable it conclude investigation on the alleged fraud.

    The order followed an ex parte application by the EFCC, stating it believed Fredrick acquired the hotel with fraud proceeds.

    The agency accused Fredrick of being the ringleader of a syndicate of fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with accomplices in Lagos.

    EFCC’s lawyer Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina said the commission sought to take over the hotel to prevent its sale while investigation was being conducted on it, thereby “defeating the ends of justice”.

    Ogunsina said the EFCC was investigating Fredrick and suspected members of his syndicate, who are on the run, following a petition from Dunni Olagbegi, who claimed to have been defrauded of N53.7 million by the suspects.

    An EFCC investigating officer, Chris Odofin, who deposed to an affidavit filed in support of the application, accused the suspects of hypnotising their victims.

    He said: “The antics of these fraudsters include luring people into their criminal den where they present one of them as a pastor, hypnotise their victim, make the victim take an oath never to reveal what they say or do and then use all sorts of deceitful methods to collect money from the victim.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the respondent (Fredrick) is a member of the syndicate of fraudsters that specialise in duping unsuspecting people and have duped several people through this means and are still on the prowl, seeking more people to devour.

    “The respondent and some members of his syndicate are based in Ibadan while they also have accomplices in Lagos.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • N5.1b fraud: Court declines hearing of Dudafa’s application

    N5.1b fraud: Court declines hearing of Dudafa’s application

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday declined to entertain the application filed by Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to travel abroad for medical care.

    In his application, filed by his counsel, Kolawole Salami, Dudafa urged the court to order the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical care for spinal cord injury.

    He alleged that he sustained the injury while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Dudafa was charged by the EFCC, over alleged N5.1 billion fraud.

    He was charged with  Joseph Iwuejo, who the EFCC claimed, aided him to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

    The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris had ordered that Dudafa should deposit his passport in the custody of the court as part of the conditions for his bail.

    In his application, Dudafa informed the court that the medical appointment, earlier scheduled for July 18 and 19, was rescheduled for July 28 to enable him get his passport.

    He appealed to vacation judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, to hear and grant the application on grounds of ill health.

    However in his reaction, Obiozor refused to entertain the application, saying he saw no emergency in the request.

    He insisted that if there was any  emergency, the application ought to have been brought before the trial judge (Justice Idris) since May when it was filed.

    Attempt by Dudafa’s counsel to convince the Obiozor to hear and grant the application rebuffed.

    He urged parties to wait until Oct. 16 when the case comes up for hearing before the trial judge Justice Mohammed Idris.

    Dudafa and Iwejuo are standing trial before Justice Idris on 23 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.

    The EFCC alleged that between June 2013 and June 2015, the accused used different companies to fraudulently launder various sums of money to the tune of N 5.1billion.

    Some of the companies includes: Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd; Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd; Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd.

    Others are: Rotate Interlink Services Ltd; Ibejige Services Ltd; DeJakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Ltd; and Ebiwise Resources.

  • Court grants former Jigawa gov. bail

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday granted bail to a former Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

    Turaki was granted bail after he was re-arraigned on a 32 count charge for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The fresh charges bordered mainly on conspiracy to conceal the genuine nature of N12 Billion Naira paid by a firm, Natural Resources Ltd, as signature bonus for Oil Prospecting License officially allocated to them by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2006.

    Surprisingly, the EFCC failed to arraign any of the 2nd – 4th defendants which were firms allegedly involved in the transactions.

    They could not also confirm to the court that those defendants were served with the current charges or informed of the arraignment.

    This development irked the presiding Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba and further fueled speculations in many quarters that the whole trial was politically instigated against the Former Governor.

    Justice Dimgba cautioned the EFCC on the need to always observe the rule of law and stressed that there is a presumption of innocence for an accused until proven guilty.

    He proceeded to grant Saminu Turaki bail and agreed with some of the release conditions earlier set by Justice Yusuf Haliru of the FCT High Court. The case was subsequently adjourned to September 19th 2017 for commencement of trial.

    As at press time, Saminu Turaki has fulfilled the bail conditions but is yet to regain his freedom.

    Already, there is growing concern because of EFCC’s serial violation of court orders.

    It will be recalled that Saminu Turaki was arrested by EFCC on the 4th of July at a book launch in Abuja and remained in EFCC custody. On Thursday 13 July 2017, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court admitted him to bail but the commission refused to release him even after he had fulfilled the bail conditions.

    Consequently, his lawyers proceeded to file contempt proceedings against the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu at the Federal High Abuja. The case will be heard on Thursday, 20th July 2017.‎

  • Court dissolves 39-year-old marriage between ex regent, husband

    A Customary Court sitting in Ikole-Ekiti  in Ekiti, on Monday dissolved the 39-year-old marriage between Mrs Idowu Omolayo,50, and her estranged husband, Chief Olusola Omolayo,55.

    Mrs Idowu was a former regent of Ayebode –Ekiti in  Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti.

    The president of the court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, in her judgment ordered that the couple should go their separate ways since there was no room for reconciliation as claimed by the petitioner.

    “The court has heard the evidence of both parties and finds that the parties have lived together for a very long period of time, such that a marriage can be reasonably presumed.

    “But since no dowry was paid, an allegation admitted by the respondent, the association can, however, be regarded as cohabitation.

    “The petitioner insists on dissolving whatever relationship she has with the respondent, refusing to consider reconciliation.

    “It is on this note that the court orders the parties to go their separate ways as they stand unmarried,” she said.

    Ojo said that the prayer by the petitioner for the custody of the third and fourth children, aged 20 years and 25 years respectively, was not granted.

    “No order as to the visitation rights of the children and consequently no order as to the financial cost maintenance of the children sought by the petitioner by reason of their being aged,” she said.

    She said that the parties must maintain peace henceforth, reminding them of their rights to appeal the decision of the court within 30 days.

    NAN also reports that the former regent had approached the court for an order for the dissolution of the marriage that was blessed with four children.

    The petitioner had sought the dissolution on grounds of alleged threat to her life; constant fighting between her and her husband, lack of proper care for her and the children, as well as drunkenness.

    She also accused her husband of abandoning the family for two and half years, her unsettled mind, public assault and non-payment of her dowry by her husband.

    Olusola who was the respondent in the case, however, denied the allegations and claimed that both of them jointly responsible for their children’s upbringing.

    He said that he was shouldering 65 per cent of the responsibilities.

    Olusola, who opposed the prayer of the petitioner for the dissolution, claimed that the last time he beat his wife was over 20 years ago.

    He told the court that he abandoned his family in 2015 because of the issues he had with his younger brother-in-law.

     

  • ‘Money doubler’ charged with possession of fake currencies

    ‘Money doubler’ charged with possession of fake currencies

    A labourer, who allegedly claimed to be able to reproduce ‎Naira and West African CFA francs, was on Tuesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
    Dennis Njoku, 38, of No. 26 Agowa Street, Bariga, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and unlawful possession of counterfeit currencies.
    Police prosecutor Nosa Uhumwangho said Njoku was found with the notes by the police at Oshodi ‘sometime in the month of January 2017.’
    He alleged that Njoku, with intent to defraud, represented himself to his victims that he was capable of producing N1,000 notes and 200 pieces of fake N500 notes.
    The defendant was also accused of claiming that he could produce 100 pieces of N200 notes, 100 Benin Republic CFA coins and 10 CFA coins, by applying a chemical substance to pieces of paper or other materials.
    The court also heard that the defendant had in his possession samples of the fake currencies, which were suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
    According to Uhumwangho, the offences were punishable under Sections 316 (a) and 329 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
    Njoku pleaded not guilty.
    Magistrate Wahab Balogun granted him N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum, one of whom must be a blood relation.
    He adjourned till August 17.
  • Court remands ex-Jigawa gov Turaki in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-Jigawa gov Turaki in Kuje prison

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that former Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki be remanded in Kuje prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
    By the order given by Justice Nnamdi Dimba, Turaki is to remain in prison pending when he is able to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him follwoing his arraignment on a 32-count charge.
    Turaki, who was earlier granted bail on liberal terms on July 14 by the vacation judge of the High Court of the FCT, Justice Yusuf Halilu, was arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday on a the charge filed in 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    The ex-Governor, who was rearrested by the EFCC on July 4 at a social function in Abuja, after jumping bail and allegedly evading arrest for about six years, was arraigned on Tuesday with three companies INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd and Wildcat Construction Ltd.
    Turaki was granted bail at N500million, with two sureties at N250,000 each.
    He is to submit his travel documents to the court, and is to seek the court’s permission before travelling abroad. He is to report to the EFCC one in a month.
    Details later
  • Court to arraign INEC employees Sept 15

    Court to arraign INEC employees Sept 15

    Justice Hilary Oshoma of the  Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has adjourned till September 15 the arraignment the 23 employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) charged with corruption.

    The adjournment followed the application by the defence counsel for 20 of the 23 accused and supported by counsel for the other three on the right of the lawyers involved in the case to observe their annual vacation.

    The INEC senior workers allegedly received N360 million from the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to allegedly rig the December 10 2016 national and state legislative rerun elections in  the state.

    They were deployed from Oyo, Plateau and Anambra states for the assignment. The exercise was meshes in killings, including the murder of a serving Corps member and arbitrary rigging of the election. A premafacia case was established against the 23 accused after investigations, and are charged for prosecution.

    They were initially arraigned in Abuja where they were arrested and were granted administrative bail. The file was transferred to the state of crime for fresh arraignment and subsequent trial.

    Justice Oshoma heard the matter for the first time on July 6. He adjourned the matter till September 15 and vacated the July 16, 18 and 19th dates earlier slated for arraignment and hearing.

     

  • Court refuses to stop monarch’s installation

    A Benin High Court has struck out a suit seeking to stop the installation of Chief Anthony Ero Aleburu as the Odibiado of Sobe, Edo State.

    The defendants are Aleburu, High Chief Charles Edekin Bonnie and Chief Palmer Uhakheme, (for themselves and on behalf of other kingmakers of Sobe).

    Justice A.N. Erhabor in his judgment, struck out the suit on the ground that the claimant, Engr. (Chief) John Gold Imonikhe, failed to exhaust  all the remedies provided for or followed the procedure prescribed by applicable laws.

    The court held that the suit was not ripe for determination.

    Justice Erhabor also declined to restrain the first defendant from parading or holding himself out to the public as Odibiado and traditional ruler of Sobe.

    The claimant in a motion on notice dated December 28, 2012 filed through his counsel, Mr M.O. Okhuarobo, had sought four reliefs from the court including an order restraining the first defendant from presenting himself for installation as Odibiado of Sobe.

    He had also sought an order restraining the second and third defendants from installing the first defendant or any other person other than the claimant as Odibiado of Sobe pending the determination of the substantive suit among other prayers.

    In a 35-paragraph counter affidavit, the first and third defendant averred that the claimant was among the signatories that forwarded the name of the king-elect to the Edo State government in a letter dated March 27, 2012.

    They further averred that the claimant is not a full fledged Ibiado Chief since he has not completed the rites that could have qualified him as an Ibiado chief and alleged that he was not known to the town.

    The defendants also averred that  though the late father of the claimant reigned in Sobe and wore beads on him in order for him to proceed to complete all the rites in the presence of all Ibiado chiefs, he has not done this till date.

    They contended that the claimant exhibited ignorance of Sobe custom.

    In his judgment, Justice Erhabor, citing relevant authorities, held that where a statute prescribed a legal line of action for determination of an issue, the aggrieved party must exhaust all the remedies in that law before going to court.

    “It is my view that in a chieftaincy dispute, an aggrieved person who brings a suit must show that he brought his suit after he had exhausted the remedies provided or followed the procedure prescribed by applicable laws.

    “In other words, the statement of claim must articulate the essential fact that local remedies have been exhausted before resorting to court. I hold this suit premature and precipitate.

    “I agree that this action is not ripe for determination as the other remedies provided in the statute have not been explored. Consequently this suit is hereby struck out”, the trial judge added.

  • Security guard jailed for robbing boss

    Security guard jailed for robbing boss

    A 24-year man, identified as John Kaduna has been sentenced to  one year jail term for robbing his boss, Mr. Nosa Orhue.

    John who worked as a security guard was accused of stealing the sum of N65, 000 and other items worth N150,000.

    The items were an ipad phone worth N128,000), a Nokia Torch Light phone  N4,500, a wristwatch valued at N1,500, a bag worth N4,500) and six clothes valued at N12,000.

    John was said to have committed the offence in February 2017 at No 11, Orhue Crescent, Evbuodia quarters in Benin City.

    He pleaded guilty to the two count charges preferred against him and was subsequently convicted.

    Presiding Magistrate, F. E Akhere, sentenced him to one year imprisonment or an option of N30, 000 fine.

    Two other persons, Amos Daniel and Peter Godwin, who were arraigned alongside John were sentenced to six months imprisonment each or an option of N10, 000 fine.

    Amos and Peter were found guilty of unlawful procurement of items stolen by John.

    They pleaded guilty to the one count charge preferred against them and begged the court for leniency.

    Both claimed that they were not aware that the items were stolen.

    The Presiding Magistrate also directed that the recovered items be returned to the lawful owner 30 days after the judgment.

     

  • Oba Akiolu was chosen by gods, says kingmaker

    Oba Akiolu was chosen by gods, says kingmaker

    The Olumegbon of Lagos, Chief Fatai Olumegbon yesterday told an Ikeja High Court, that Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu was chosen by Ifa, the god of divination.

    Olumegbon and Prince Adebayo Kelani stated this under cross-examination by claimants’ counsel, Babatunde Fashanu (SAN) before Justice Adebowale Candide- Johnson.

    They told the court that there was nothing like a 90-day rule in the crowning of the Oba of Lagos.

    Olumegbon, a kingmaker, insisted that several Obas of Lagos were crowned without observing any 90-day rule.

    He said there were at least six of such occasions, including the case of an Oba that was crowned same day his predecessor died.

    “Dosunmu was chosen same day his predecessor died, same as my grandfather”, Olumegbon told the court.

    He maintained that the selection of Oba Akiolu was divine.

    “We received the application of those who were selected by their various ruling houses and to ensure transparency, we requested that the names be submitted through the Olori Omo Oba.

    “Moreover, all the envelopes containing the names of the applicants as received were sent for Ifa divination and one by one, the names were screened. When it got to Akiolu’s name, they shouted ‘ejiope’, that this is the man that will rule well and bring desired changes. Apart from that, Akiolu was the first selected by all the six kingmakers. In fact, he scored 6-0,” he said.

    Olumegbon said when one particular name was checked by the Ifa priests, it was out rightly rejected. The priests, he said stated that the person drank a lot and womanised and would not handle the position well.

    Fashanu asked why they kept minutes of the kingmakers’ meeting against the customary practice, if not to justify their choice of Akiolu.

    But Olumegbon explained that the older kingmakers were not literate that that was why they didn’t keep minutes.

    He said: “What is happening today wouldn’t have been easy to defend if not for the records.”

    Olumegbon added that due process was followed for the selection of Oba Akiolu.

    He said: “Any member of the kingmakers could crown the Oba and Akiolu was crowned by a member of Eletuodibo family.”

    He explained that every eligible prince must trace his lineage to the Ado through the two ruling houses Olugunkutere and Akinsemoyin, excluding the Sokun family that was settled with special title.

    Responding to why he was a witness when his family was not among the defendants, Prince Kelani said his family had to be witnesses in the matter because it concerned them.

    Justice Candide-Johnson adjourned the matter till November 8, for adoption of written address by the counsels.