The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • Court jails two for internet fraudsters, arraigns three others in Enugu

    Court jails two for internet fraudsters, arraigns three others in Enugu

    Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Enugu, has convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters, Arinze Chukwudi and Ajah Uchechukwu, to various jail terms for offences bordering on cybercrime and impersonation.

    The duo were prosecuted separately by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge.

    According to court records, Chukwudi, 26, “fraudulently impersonated the identity of one Jimcho Mun, a South Korean military personnel working as a nurse in Damascus, Syria, and residing in the United States,” through a fake Facebook account operated on his Itel A662L device.

    “His target was one M. Irfan, a foreign national. The offence occurred in Enugu in 2024 and violated Section 22 (3)(a)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015”.

    In Uchechukwu’s case, he conspired with others, including a convicted fraudster in the U.S. and two others at large, to impersonate a U.S. citizen and defraud their victim, Ngan Nguyen, of $10,452. The crime reportedly took place in Amakohia, Imo State, in 2017.

    Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel, ACE II Ajobiewe Rotimi Enitan, urged the court to convict and sentence them. Defence counsel, Chijioke E., pleaded for leniency.

    Justice Umar thereafter sentenced Chukwudi to 11 months’ imprisonment without an option of fine. Uchechukwu was given a six-month jail term with an additional fine of N500,000. The EFCC confirmed they were arrested on May 17, 2024, for impersonating foreign nationals to commit fraud.

    Meanwhile, in a related case, three other suspects, Odinaka Ogbu, Nwachukwu Prosper, and Desmond Okoye, were arraigned before the same court on cybercrime-related charges.

    Ogbu is facing a two-count charge for allegedly aiding others to carry out unauthorised modifications of computer systems and network data. Prosecutors say the offence took place in Enugu in 2024 and involved a syndicate led by one Ledata Evans, who is still at large.

    Read Also: Court issues bench warrant for arrest of alleged internet fraudster

    Prosper and Chidera are accused of fraudulently using the email password of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Ugochukwu Nwachukwu to gain an undue advantage for themselves. Their actions also violated the Cybercrime Act, 2015.

    While Prosper pleaded guilty, Ogbu and Chidera entered not guilty pleas.

    Based on their responses, prosecution counsel ASE I Anyanwu Somtochukwu urged the court to convict Prosper and fix a trial date for Chidera. Similarly, CSE Blessing Obasi requested a trial date for Ogbu.

    Justice Umar adjourned the matter till June 25, 2025, for hearing on Ogbu’s bail application, and May 21, 2025, for the review of facts in Prosper’s case and hearing of Chidera’s bail application. All three were remanded in the Enugu Correctional Centre.

  • Court issues bench warrant for arrest of alleged internet fraudster

    Court issues bench warrant for arrest of alleged internet fraudster

    • By Adebisi Onanuga, Abiola Ogunlaya and Aliyat Amoo

    Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Ekweozor Peter, a suspected internet fraudster, for failing to appear in court.

    He was arrested alongside others on May 13, 2024, following credible intelligence received by the commission about the alleged criminal activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating at the Indy-Pool Hotel, Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa.

    Read Also: Court condemns Natasha’s wrong use of social media

    Ekweozor , according to investigation, opened fake Facebook and Instagram accounts and falsely represented himself as a female pornstar from Atlanta, United States, to defraud unsuspecting users of the internet.

    During investigation, the defendant was granted an administrative bail and was scheduled to report at the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1  of the EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos at some specified dates.

  • Court fixes June 27 for judgment in Natasha suit against Akpabio, others 

    Court fixes June 27 for judgment in Natasha suit against Akpabio, others 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for June 27 in the suit filed by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging her suspension from the Senate for six months.

    Justice Binta Nyako Christmas set the date on Tuesday after parties in the suit made their final submissions and adopted their written addresses.

    Justice Nyako said she will first decide the contempt claims by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Natasha, then give her opinions on the various preliminary objections raised by the respondents and if necessary, determine the substantive suit.

    She said: “I want to believe that all processes are in. What I am going to do is to first of all look at the issues of contempt and take a decision on it.

    “Then, I will look at the notices of preliminary objection. If they succeeds, that is the end of the case and if they don’t, I will look at the originating summons filed by the plaintiff.”

    Natasha is, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, claiming among others, that her right to fair hearing was not accorded her before she was suspended by the Senate.

    Respondents in the suit are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Neda Imasuem (the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct).

    On Tuesday Justice Nyako noted there was a new development in the case, which was the issue of contempt raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. 

    She said: “We have a new happening that came up yesterday. One from Mr Daudu (representing Akpabio) and one from the plaintiff. 

    Read Also: Nigeria recorded 75,000 maternal deaths in 2023, says MRHC

    “These two applications and the originating summons should be what should be focused on today,” she said.

    She then directed parties to identify and adopt the documents they filed in relation to the contempt issue.

    Natasha’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), who  thanked the judge for prioritising the issues of contempt raised by the plaintiff and the defendants identified what he filed 

    Numa said his client’s application is seeking the court’s disciplinary action against all the defendants for their alleged contemptuous act.

    Numa equally identified and adopted all their processes and  urged the the court to grant the prayers sought by the Senator.

    He equally urged the court to overrule and dismiss the defendants’ preliminary objection and grant the reliefs sought in the originating motion.

    Charles Yoila, who appeared for the clerk, Paul Daudu (SAN), who represented the Senate; Ogunwumiju who was counsel to Akpabio, and Valentine who appeared for Imasuem, also identified and adopted their processes, including the preliminary objection.

    They urged the court to look at the set of facts, showing clearly the alleged disobedience to court order by the plaintiff.

    The defendants urged the court to hold that it lacked jurisdiction  to entertain the suit and to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

  • Court condemns Natasha’s wrong use of social media

    Court condemns Natasha’s wrong use of social media

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama on Tuesday came down hard on the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), for wrongful usage of her X (Twitter) platform.

    Justice Sylvanus Oriji said it was wrong for a person of Natasha’s status, as a serving Senator to make wrong claims using her social media platform.

    Justice Oriji said: “Before I go further, the point must be made that it is improper, reprehensible and unconscionable for a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to post the picture of the applicant’s house and the house address on her X social media page on the unfounded belief that the property belonged to Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State. 

    “Such conduct must be and is hereby deprecated by the court,” he said.

    The judge made the comments while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State, Ali Bello.

    Bello had, in the suit, marked: FCT/HC/CV/2574/2024, claimed among others , that the publication of the pictures of his house and address in the Senator’s X-handle @Natashaakpoti on March 15, 2024 against the provisions of Section 37 of the Constitution. 

    He also claimed further that the respondent alleged in her social media post that he lodged former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, in the house he is living with his family when EFCC was looking for him. 

    Bello further claimed that the lawmaker equally alleged that the house, which he lives in Abuja, belonged to the former governor whom they call ”White Lion of Kogi.”

    In his judgment on Tuesday,  Justice noted that there were three issues to be resolved in the suit. 

    The first was “whether the publication on Natasha’s X-handle violated the applicant’s fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the Constitution. 

    The second: “Whether her petition to the Inspector General of Police on the ownership of the said property violated the applicant’s right. 

    The third: “Whether the applicant is entitled to the reliefs sought.” 

    The judge held that, publicity as the applicant claimed cannot be given to a house that is already in the public space, which can be seen by everyone. 

    “In the same vein, the post observed in the respondent’s ex-social media page would not be considered highly offensive to an objectively reasonable person,” he said. 

    Justice Oriji further held that the EFCC operatives did not invade Bello’s privacy at No. 1 Dala Hills, Maitama, Abuja, to look for the ex-governor following Natasha’s alleged claim that the ex-governor lodged in the apartment on her social media handle. 

    He also  held that Natasha failed to establish her claim of the true ownership of the property stated in her tweets, which she allegedly claimed belonged to former Governor Yahaya Bello and that it was one of the properties in which EFCC obtained an interim order of forfeiture.  

    Read Also: Nigeria recorded 75,000 maternal deaths in 2023, says MRHC

    The judge added: “She also failed to establish her assertion that she had information that Yahaya Bello was in the said property at the time he was wanted by the EFCC. 

    “There is nothing before the court to show that the property belongs or belonged to Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State. 

    “In the absence of any contrary proof by the respondent, the court accepts the applicant’s assertion that he is the owner of the property, that he lives there with his family, moreover at the visit to the locus in quo, the court confirmed that the applicant lived in the property with his family. 

    ‘From all that I have said, the court agrees with the submission of the learned senior counsel for the applicant, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, that the respondent did not have any justification to make the publication or post on her X social media page, which she admitted meant that the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello was hiding at No 1 Dala Hills Maitama,”  he said.

    On the issue of the respondent’s publication, Justice Orji held that Section 37 of the Constitution provides both the privacy of citizens, their homes among others. 

    He added: “It appears to me that the right to privacy is not one of the fundamental rights which the courts are regularly called upon to advocate. 

    “It is correct that the applicant, like all other citizens, is entitled to the fundamental right guaranteed by Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. 

    “Therefore, the applicant is entitled to this relief, which is a general declaration,” the judge said.

  • Dubious dons

    Dubious dons

    • Conviction of professors for poll fraud holds promise for Nigerian elections

    The Court of Appeal in Calabar has just upheld the verdict of Akwa Ibom State  High Court by which an academic, Peter Ogban, was found guilty and sentenced to jail for electoral fraud perpetrated in the 2019 general election. Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Calabar, Calabar, was in 2021 sentenced to three years in prison and fined N100,000 by the trial court for falsifying results of the 2019 senatorial poll at the Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district where he served as collation and returning officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Another professor, Ignatius Uduk, was recently jailed by a state high court in Uyo for electoral fraud. Uduk, a professor of human kinetics in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, Uyo,  was jailed three years for announcing false results in the house of assembly constituency poll in Akwa Ibom north-west where he served as INEC’s collation and returning officer. It was the electoral body that dragged Ogban and Uduk to court for perverting its processes.

    Ogban is widely construed to have falsified the 2019 election results in two local government areas – Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo – to favour Senator Godswill Akpabio, who has since become the country’s Senate President. He had then just defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was seeking a return to the red chamber of the National Assembly. Akpabio denied, however, that the professor worked in his favour, saying he was rather a victim of the fraud perpetrated in the senatorial poll.

    At his trial, Ogban admitted to the high court that the election results were falsified. For instance, some 5,000 fake votes were added to the scoreline in Oruk Anam to give his preferred candidate a boost. INEC, represented by then Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini, determinedly pursued the prosecutions that led to the convictions of Ogban and Uduk.

    Before being sentenced, Ogban pleaded for mercy from the judge, Justice Augustine Odokwo, who described the case as novel and told the lecturer there was not much he could do other than let the law take its course. He said the prosecution had been able to prove its case against the professor beyond any reasonable doubt.

    In its decision penultimate week, the appeal court affirmed the verdict of the trial court that held Ogban guilty of announcing falsified election results and condemned his conduct, citing the grave implications of such an act by someone entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. The court was reported to have voiced particular disappointment with Ogban, being a university professor who had not lived up to the integrity and probity expected from people of his calibre.

    Uduk, for his part, was prosecuted by INEC on three charges; namely announcing false election results, publication of false results, and perjury during the 2019 poll. He was convicted and jailed three years by a state high court in Uyo for falsifying election results in Essien Udim state constituency.

    It is very helpful that the judiciary is weighing in on efforts to clear the Augean stable of electoral perfidy in the country and sanitise the system towards promoting credibility of the process. Impunity has always been fuelled by the seeming defectiveness of the justice system to hold abusers of the electoral process to account, and courts slamming convicted electoral offenders in jail goes a long way to signal low tolerance level for their kind as well as discourage emulators.

    Read Also: Customs vows to clampdown on dubious importers, clearing agents

    Of course, the high violation rate gets overwhelming for the accountability system. But if potential offenders know there’s a good chance they’ll be made to answer by the justice system for misdeeds, they would think twice before the breach.

    It is sad, however, that the two professors failed high expectations of integrity. INEC enlists high-level academics for electoral duties, not because it has funds to pay them  commensuratly– actually, they’re paid next-to-nothing in pittance – but because they’ve attained a level of personal development that should make them see the call to electoral duty as giving back to society.

    Thankfully, this is the case with most of the dons, making the likes of Ogban and Uduk a statistically insignificant deviation. But they also show that dons need regular class introspection to identify and isolate black sheep among them. These convictions should also prompt INEC to perhaps cast its net wider in sourcing ad hoc manpower for future electoral tasks.

    Section 65 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 has a proviso empowering the electoral commission to review any declaration made by a returning officer, where it determines such declaration was not made voluntarily or in line with the regulations. This provision wasn’t there in 2019 to curb Ogban and Uduk, and their examples underscore the need for progressive updating of the legal framework to plug loopholes in the electoral system.   

  • Alleged Lexus theft: Court adjourns trial of businessmen

    Alleged Lexus theft: Court adjourns trial of businessmen

    A Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, has adjourned till July 28, the trial of Lawrence Ogbechie (60) and Arinze Chinonso (43) over the theft of three Lexus cars worth N37.5 million.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubeinje, adjourned to enable the prosecution to serve the defence counsel with the proof of evidence and other processes needed to prepare their defence.

    The Police Legal Unit, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, in charge of A/09/2025, arraigned the defendants in February.

    Prosecuting counsel, Rita Momah, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), stated in the five-count charge that the defendants on January 27 at Ijesa Market in Lagos conspired to commit felony by stealing, an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 280 and 411 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2015.

    Read Also: Court orders EFCC to return $20,000 collected as condition for bail to owner

    The prosecution alleged that Ogbechie and Chinonso stole three Lexus ES 350 2008 models valued at N37.5million, property of Nnochiri Sunday.

    The charge reads: “That you Lawrence Ogbechie ‘M’, Arinze Umeh Chinoso ‘m’, on 27th January, 2024 at about 1000hrs at Ijesa, Market area Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal cede laws of Lagos State 2015.

    “That you Lawrence Ogbechie ‘m’, Arinze Umehi Chinonso ‘m’ at the same date time and place, did steal three Lexus ES 350 2008 model cars valued at N12,500,000 each, with total value of N37,500,000, property of Nnochiri Sunday and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 280 of criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty.

    Mrs. Kubeinje granted them bail for N5 million each with two sureties in like sum.

  • ECOWAS Court reserves verdict in SERAP, Fed Govt suit

    ECOWAS Court reserves verdict in SERAP, Fed Govt suit

    The ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Lagos, Nigeria lastThursday commenced proceedings in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government.

    The External Court Session is part of sensitisation outreach of ECOWAS Community Court of Justice sitting in Lagos.

    It held at High Court of Lagos Annex, Osborne Road, Ikoyi.

    SERAP’s case against the Federal Government was heard by the College of Judges led by the President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves. 

    The applicant, SERAP, was represented by Kehinde Oyewunmi while Okoye Princewill was for the Federal Government.

    During proceedings , counsel to the Federal Government, Princewill informed the court of a pending motion seeking an extension of time to respond to the suit.

    The application was not opposed by SERAP’s counsel, Oyewunmi.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Gonçalves, directed both parties to make oral submissions on their respective applications.

    SERAP’s counsel, Oyewunmi, told the court that the suit was filed on January 9, 2025, in the interest of Nigerian citizens.

    He argued that Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act has been repeatedly abused by Nigerian law enforcement agencies.

    Read Also: ECOWAS court, Lagos Judiciary strengthen regional judicial ties

    He argued that this has resulted in violations of freedom of expression—a fundamental right protected under international human rights standards.

    Oyewunmi urged the court to declare Section 24 inconsistent with such standards, emphasising that SERAP had submitted a narration of facts and a supporting affidavit to substantiate its claims.

    Oyewunmi further maintained that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter and that the case was properly admissible before it.

    He said the decision of the government on Cybercrime Act had been  generating significant public interest, given the increasing concerns around digital rights, free speech, and governmental overreach in Nigeria.

    Responding, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Okoye, stated that they received the applicant’s processes only on May 7, and were yet to study the details.

    Okoye challenged the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court to entertain the suit.

    He argued that it lacked the authority to interpret domestic legislation such as the Nigerian Cybercrime Act.

    Okoye also contended that SERAP had failed to show concrete evidence of human rights violations resulting from the Act’s enforcement.

    He accused the applicant of relying on unverifiable online publications and hearsay, especially in an era dominated by fake news.

    He urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and insufficient evidence to support the claims of abuse under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act.

    Following the submissions, Justice Gonçalves informed both parties that the court would communicate a date for judgment in due course.

  • Ex-Ambassador denied repatriation allowance nine years after recall despite court order

    Ex-Ambassador denied repatriation allowance nine years after recall despite court order

    • Adejuwon writes President, minister

    A former Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), David Adejuwon, is yet to be paid repatriation allowance nine years after he was recalled back to the country from Geneva, Switzerland.

    The non-payment of the repatriation allowance to Amb. Adejuwon by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment was however in defiance of the order of Justice Ayodele Obaseki-Osaghae of the  National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) made on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

    Amb. Adejuwon’s petitions to  President Bola Tinubu, dated 29th April, 2024 and 28th November, 2024, sent through the office of the  Chief of Staff to the President was titled: Re: Judgment On The Suit No. NICN/Abj/301/2017 between Amb, David Ademola Adejuwon and Federal Ministry Of Industry, Trade And Investment — A Reminder.

    In his petition, dated 29th April, 2024,  to President Tinubu, Amb. Adejuwon stated that former President Dr, Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan approved his appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador to WTO.

    Attached to the petition was the judgment of Justice  Ayodele Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division that was delivered on 12th  March, 2024, duly served to the Ministry of Industry for appropriate action.

     He prayed the President for an executive directive that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment should comply with the orders of the court without any further delay.

     He also urged the President to constitute a high level administrative panel comprising representatives of The Presidency, HOCSF; MFA, Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice to look at the very serious and weighty issues/allegations contained in his statements of claims and the defence and counterclaims by the Ministry filed in the NICN, Abuja and make appropriate recommendations in line with the Renewed Hope Mantra of the current administration and in the best interest of the public. 

    He explained that he instituted the suit against the Ministry of Industry in October 2017, after it refused to do the needful; consequent upon which the matter went into a full trial.

    Amb. Adejuwon petitioned the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms. Jumoke Oduwole  and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who, it was learnt, advised the Ministry of Industry to pay the judgment debt .

    But rather than heed the advice of the Minister of Justice, the Ministry of Industry filed an appeal which has not been heard or allocated a date for hearing.

    In a letter dated February 28, 2025, the Ministry of Industry wrote Amb.Adejuwon of its intention not to pursue the appeal again and opted for an out-of-court settlement in a letter titled: “Re: Judgement Debt on Suit No NICN/ABJ/301/2017 between Amb. David Ademola Adejuwon and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

    The letter signed by Director, Legal Services, Foluso Akinlonu, for the Honourable Minister, stated in part: “..the ministry is favourably disposed to resolving the dispute between you and the Ministry amicably instead of pursuing the Appeal earlier lodged with the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in respect of this matter.

    “Following from the above, the Ministry is Taking necessary steps towards sourcing for funds to pay or liquidate the judgment debt, as soon as possible…”

    Read Also: Court orders EFCC to return $20,000 collected as condition for bail to owner

    Omega Reigns Chamber, Legal firm representing  Amb. Adejuwon, in their response dated April 2, 2025, signed by Peter Kayode Abodunrin, stated in part: “We are writing to follow up on your letter dated 18th February, 2025 with reference No; Inv, 32/1, in response to which we wrote  on behalf of our client, AmbassadorDavid Ademola Adejuwon, on 20th February, 2025.

    “As per our records and our client’s instructions, we have  yet to receive the judgment debt payment or any update regarding the status of the disbursement as indicated in yuour aforementioned letter.

    “In light of this, we kindly request an update on the payment schedule and would appreciate confirmation of when the payment is expected to be made”

    In his letter to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms. Oduwole, concerning judgment debt arising from the ministry’s failure to pay his repatriation allowance back to Nigeria and other entitlements, Amb Adejuwon stated that it had been nine years now that he has  been battling with the Ministry that he worked for 35 years, to pay his outstanding allowance and repatriation entitlement.

    “My personal effects are locked up inside my official residence in Geneva for the past nine years running.

    “The embarrassment and trauma my family has been subjected to is better imagined than being experienced. It has resulted to impaired health for me and my spouse. I just returned with my wife recently from Canada where we went for medical treatment with the help of some family members and friends.

    “It’s going to three months now that I got a letter from your Ministry, signed by the Director, Legal Services, informing me of the Ministry’s decision to resolve the appeal it filed against the judgment of the National Industrial Court amicably and that efforts were being made to pay the judgment debt as soon as possible.

    “I look forward to an early settlement of the judgment debt without any further delay, please,” he stated

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) had on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, ordered the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment to pay repatriation allowance to Amb. Adejuwon to enable him move his family and personal effect from World Trade Organisation Geneva, Switzerland back to Nigeria.

    Justice Ayodele Obaseki-Osaghae gave the order while delivering judgment in suit number NICN/ABJ/301/2017 filed by Amb.  Adejuwon.

    The court noted that the claimant filed his complaints against the defendant on October 23, 2017 together with accompanying processes.

    The court also noted that the claimant, by a further amended statement of facts filed before the court, sought for an order directing the defendant to renew his diplomatic passport and that of his wife which expired in December 2018, and to obtain one year Schengen multiple entry Visas on the renewed passports to enable him travel to Geneva to hand over to new ambassador and to bring back his family and personal effects after the payment of the outstanding allowance and repatriation allowance.

    Justice Obaseki-Osaghae granted all other reliefs sought by the claimant in his statement of facts and amended statement of facts filed before the court.

    The court dismissed the counter-claims of the defendant as frivolous and lacking in merit having noted that as at the day of judgment of the court, “the claimant’s repatriation allowance remains unpaid; that there is no evidence of any estimate for renovation, or loss of any rental revenue by the defendant.”

    Justice Obaseki-Osaghae awarded N400,000 in favour of the claimant on the counter-claim by the defendant.

    The judge said all payments ordered by the court must be paid to the claimant within 30 days of the judgment stressing, “thereafter, any sum outstanding will attract interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum.”

    Justice Obaseki-Osaghae, citing several authorities, held that the claimant was treated differently and disadvantaged on the same set of facts and circumstances by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, stressing that the tenure policy of the Federal Government denied by the defendant is common knowledge for which this court has taken judicial notice of in several decisions.

    The court held that the claimant’s evidence in the entirety of the case was not controverted, emphasising that by the defendant’s failure to cross-examine the claimant on his claims, the defendant’s pleadings in paragraphs 11 (L) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), and paragraph 25 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of the statement on oath of DW, the defendant has admitted the claims of the claimant.

    Citing several decided cases, the judge held that the law is settled, that parties are bound by their pleadings and facts pleaded by one party and admitted by another needs no further proof.

    The court held that the claimant is therefore entitled to the orders hereinafter made having succeeded in his claims and ordered the defendant to pay the claimant his statutory repatriation entitlements.

    The court also held that the  defendant has not shown this court any reason why the claimant should be treated differently from his predecessor on the same set of facts and circumstances, and why different executive or administrative actions have been applied. “This is wrong, and ought not to be.”

    The trial judge held that on the whole, the claimant’s case succeeds.

    The court berated the defendant over the treatment the claimant has been subjected to by the defendant.

    The judge noted: “the claimant served and represented Nigeria as Ambassador/Resident Representative to the World Trade Organisation Geneva, Switzerland. He ought not to be treated in this degrading manner having served his country meritoriously. No Nigerian Ambassador/Envoy should be subjected to this type of embarrassment.

    “The claimant gave the required notice to the defendant and so the process of recall ought to have commenced timeously and payment of repatriation allowances to enable the claimant return home with his family, personal effects and prevent hardship. There can be no excuse since September 2016 for this situation that is clearly an embarrassment to Nigeria, particularly in view of its high profile leadership role in the World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.”

    “The defendant Ministry as part of the Executive Arm of Government must abide by the Foreign Service Rules; and there must be equality in the treatment of Ambassadors to the World Trade Organization. The Defendant Ministry can do better than this for the image of Nigeria”, the judge said.

    The claimant, in his pleadings stated that at the material time to this suit, he was the Nigerian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and other Trade Related International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

    He averred that by the approval of Mr. President on 29 June 2013 conveyed through a letter from the Federal Ministry of Industry. Trade and Investment dated 24 July 2013 he was appointed as the Nigerian new Ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva Switzerland, and he assumed duty in Geneva on 3rd March 2014 after his predecessor Amb Yonuy Fredrick Agah who was retired from the Federal Civil Service in January 2010 vacated the office.

  • Court adjourns suit challenging suspension of Fubara, others

    Court adjourns suit challenging suspension of Fubara, others

    A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned the suit challenging the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the state House of Assembly following the emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The court adjourned the matter filed by a former federal lawmaker and Peoples Democratic Party Rivers State governorship aspirant in the 2023 general electons, Dr. Farah Dagogo, to May 26, 2025

    Dagogo filed the suit on April 9, 2025, arguing that the President’s actions were ultra vires and lacked any constitutional backing.

    At the hearing on Monday, lawyer to the plaintiff, Cosmas Enweluzo, SAN, told the court that all defendants had been duly served and expressed readiness to proceed with the case.

    Read Also: Alleged social media post: Court to hear contempt charge against Natasha

    The defendants are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rted), Rivers State Administrator

    Only the fifth defendant, Ibas appeared through his lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, and requested additional time to respond to the originating summons.

    After hearing from the lawyers, the presiding Judge, Justice Adamu Mohammed, granted the request and vowed that the matter would proceed on the next adjourned date regardless of further delays.

  • Court grants group leave to serve NASS over lawmakers’ plenary attendance

    Court grants group leave to serve NASS over lawmakers’ plenary attendance

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted leave to the Registered Trustees of a group under the aegis of Ekimogun Roundtable to apply for an order of Mandamus to compel the National Assembly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives to disclose information regarding the plenary attendance of Honourable Abiola Makinde, the member representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency.

    The decision, delivered by Hon. Justice B.F.M. Nyako on March 13, 2025, followed an ex-parte motion filed on March 12, 2025, by the applicant.

    The motion seeks to compel the National Assembly to fulfill its statutory duty by disclosing information regarding the plenary attendance of Hon. Abiola Makinde, who the group alleged has abandoned his legislative responsibilities, leaving the constituency without adequate representation for an extended period.

    Specifically, the group is requesting details of Hon. Makinde’s attendance at plenary sessions as well as records of constituency and intervention funds allocated to Ondo East/West Federal Constituency during the period under review.

    According to the group, these requests are grounded in Section 68(f) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that a lawmaker who fails to attend the required number of plenary days in a legislative year may be compelled to vacate their seat.

    Read Also: Alleged $1.04m fraud: Supreme Court orders Fred Ajudua’s remand in prison pending trial

    Ekimogun Roundtable further claims to be tracking over N4 billion allocated to the constituency through the National Assembly in the last four years, funds they alleged remain largely unaccounted for due to misrepresentation.

    The motion, supported by an affidavit sworn to by Ogah Blessing Nneku-Ojo, a legal practitioner, emphasised that the respondents had failed to respond to legitimate demands for information, thereby prompting legal action.

    Represented by Lead Counsel, Timilehin Albert, who led a team of over twenty other lawyers in the suit, the applicant argued that the requested disclosures were in the public interest and necessary for transparency and accountability in governance.

    The court granted the applicant leave to proceed with the order of Mandamus, directing that the respondents be put on notice, and adjourned the matter to May 19, 2025, for mention.

    The National Assembly and Hon. Abiola Makinde have since been formally served.