The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court

  • NGO kicks against London court’s order stopping firms from suing shipping giant in Nigeria

    NGO kicks against London court’s order stopping firms from suing shipping giant in Nigeria

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC) has raised the alarm over an injunctive order issued by a court in London stopping litigations in Nigeria against the shipping giant, MSC Mediterranean Company S.A. (MSC) for services rendered by the company within the country.

    A copy of the exclusive injunction dated December 29, 2024, and issued by Hon. Mrs. Justice Dias of the  High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales; Commercial Court (KBD) said “until the return date or further order, the defendants shall not commence, bring, continue or prosecute any claims, actions or proceedings relating to the disputes against the Claimants (or against “Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.”) in any court or tribunal, including without limitation any court or tribunal in Nigeria, except in the Courts of England and Wales.

    The order also provided that the defendant shall not “oppose any application made by the claimants to stay the Nigerian proceedings or to adjourn any hearing or procedural deadline in the Nigerian Proceedings”.

    The court also ordered that the defendants shall not “commence, bring, continue or prosecute any claims, actions or proceedings that seek to restrain or require termination of or impose sanctions upon or otherwise interfere with the first claimant’s pursuit of its claims before this court in relation to the disputes”.

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    But the CWC in a press statement signed by its Head, Research and Monitoring, Nafiu Ibrahim, said the anti-suit injunction stopped Nigerian companies from litigating admiralty matters against MSC in Nigeria.

    The NGO clarified that the MSC was basically asserting in London that they could not be sued in Nigerian court for infractions arising from shipping services rendered to Nigerians in Nigeria.

    It said in the action filed in London with Suit No: CL-2024-000700, MSC was alleging that there was an exclusive jurisdiction clause in their terms of engagement which gave the High Court in London the exclusive jurisdiction over shipping services rendered to Nigerians and Nigerian companies in Nigeria.

  • Court jails another professor for election fraud

    Court jails another professor for election fraud

    A State High Court in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday, sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk to three years in prison for perjury and publishing false election results.

    Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on charges of perjury and announcing and publishing false results during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as the returning officer.

    His conviction and sentencing came four years after his colleague, Peter Ogban, a professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was jailed for three years for a similar offence.

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    Ogban, who has served his sentence, was the INEC Returning Officer for the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District election in 2019 in which Godswill Akpabio, now the Senate President, was defeated by Christopher Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom.

    Ekpenyong was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the poll, while Akpabio was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. Ogban was convicted and jailed for falsifying the election result to help Akpabio in the election, but the Senate president has repeatedly disowned the professor.

    A former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, initiated both suits and secured Ogban’s conviction before his (Igini) retirement from INEC in 2022 after serving his last five years as REC in the state.

  • Alleged fraud, security threat: Court remands another 11 Chinese

    Alleged fraud, security threat: Court remands another 11 Chinese

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded 11 more Chinese at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in  the ongoing criminal case involving some Chinese for allegedly operating a Ponzi scam,

    They are facing charges of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilise Nigeria.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the order after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The defendants are Wang Xiong Wei (a.k.a. Xiao Bai), Chen Dong Dong (a.k.a. Cun Zhao), Chen Yuan (a.k.a Xiao Doa), Wu Yuan An ( a.k.a. Zeng Niu), Wang Gong Lin (a.k.a. Wang Jing Lin) and Weng Mao Rong (a.ka.a. A Xiang).

    They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged  cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.

    The defendants were accused of secretly procuring and employing some youths for identity theft and other computer-related fraud.

    Five other Chinese, who were charged before the court included Liu Ke Fan (a.k.a. Lina, Lui Chen), Huang Hai Tao, Zhang Jian Feng, Wu A Wang and Xiao Xin.

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    In the charge where there are five defendants, the first defendant Liu Ke Fan was arraigned on three counts, while the second to fifth defendants were arraigned only on a count.

    In the  second count against  Liu Ke Fan, EFCC told the court that the defendant last December, with intent to gain advantage for himself and members of his criminal syndicate group that specialised in romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism, among others, domiciled at No 7, Oyinjolayemi Street in Victoria Island, fraudulently impersonated a 28-year-old Lina, from United States living in Germany by holding himself out as such to unsuspecting victims via a fraudulent profile on his company’s assigned Maya desktop computer.

    He was also accused of wilfully giving false information to officers of  EFCC during investigation when they were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialised in romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism, among others, and to mislead them presented himself as Liu Chen.

    They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud.

    The defendants were arrested last December 19, in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC.

    EFCC told the court that on or about December 18, last year in Lagos, the defendants, wilfully caused to be accessed computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves (Nigerians) out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for themselves (The defendants).

  • Court remands 13 Chinese over alleged impersonation, constitutional breaches  

    Court remands 13 Chinese over alleged impersonation, constitutional breaches  

    • • EFCC secures interim forfeiture of $222,729.86 digital assets linked to Chinese, Filipinos

    Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded 13 Chinese nationals over alleged impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

    The judge ordered the remand of the defendants after they pleaded not guilty to the various charges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against them.

    The defendants were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Limited.

    The Chinese nationals arraigned yesterday are: Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (aka Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (aka You), Zhang Xiao Lei, Liu San Hua, Chen Wenyuan (aka Lee05mx20), Yang Sheng (Madison), and Rheeigh De La Vega (aka Rheignalyn).

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    The defendants were said to be among suspected fraudsters apprehended on December 10, 2024 by the EFCC at 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence. The EFCC’s legal team, consisting of Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Aso Larry Peters, T. J. Banjo, M. K. Bashir, and I. N. Ukoha, accused the defendants of violating sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024.

    Buhari-Bala arraigned the first, fifth, and sixth defendants; Aso Larry Peters arraigned the fifth, seventh, and eighth defendants; T. J. Banjo arraigned the ninth and 10th defendants; M. K. Bashir arraigned the 11th and 12th defendants; while I. N. Ukoha arraigned the 13th defendant.

    After the charges were read to each defendant individually, all except Wang Zheng Ming pleaded not guilty.

    Wang Zheng Ming rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer and requested time to hire his defence counsel.

  • Woman arraigned for allegedly defrauding multiple victims

    Woman arraigned for allegedly defrauding multiple victims

    A 29-year-old woman, Blessing Ezioke, has been arraigned before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding multiple victims of N3.5 million. 

    Ezioke appeared before Magistrate L.K.J. Layeni yesterday, on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

    According to the prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, the defendant allegedly committed the offences in September 2024 at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos.

    Uche told the court that Ezioke collected N3.5 million from one Edward Ezike and others, promising to supply them Overa Haw Wax products.

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    The prosecutor said she  failed to deliver the goods and dishonestly converted the money for personal use. 

    The prosecutor noted that the alleged offenses violate Sections 287 and 313 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015. 

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The court granted Ezioke bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

    The case has been adjourned to March 3 for mention.

  • Court declines bail request for ex-NHIS boss, orders remand in EFCC custody

    Court declines bail request for ex-NHIS boss, orders remand in EFCC custody

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kuje has rejected the bail application of a former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Yusuf for alleged fraud.

    EFCC operatives had arrested the former NHIS boss at his residence on Wednesday.

    The anti-graft agency charged Yusuf with alleged use of his position at the time to confer undue advantage to himself by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750 against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.

    The EFCC also accused Yusuf of retaining private interest in the corporate entity called GK Kanki Foundation.

    The commission also accused Yusuf of awarding a contract in the sum of N10.1 million in favour of the GK Kanki Foundation for the purported training of 90 persons without following due process — when the actual number of trainees was 45.

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    During proceedings yesterday, Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu deferred Yuuf’s arraignment to allow the anti-graft agency amend the charges it filed against him.

    Defence counsel Isah Dokto Haruna, who held brief for O. I. Habeeb, moved for the bail application for Yusuf.

    The judge rejected the bail application on the ground that the arraignment has been deferred.

    She ordered the EFCC to remand Yusuf in its custody and adjourned his arraignment till February 3.

  • Court remands suspect over alleged murder of Poland returnee

    Court remands suspect over alleged murder of Poland returnee

    A Mobile Court sitting at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered the remand of one Ebochue Kingsley Uzoka, 40, over his alleged involvement in the murder of one Chimaobi Anya Ojo.

    The suspect was arraigned for conspiracy and murder. According to the charges, Uzoka, along with others who are at large, were accused of conspiring to murder and kill Ojo on September 20, last year, at Nkata Ibeku in Umuahia North.

    Read Also: Court remands suspect over alleged murder of Poland returnee

    Chief Magistrate P. N. Lekwa, adjourned the case to February 19, and directed the court’s Chief Registrar in Umuahia North, to transmit the case file to the state Attorney-General for further prosecution.

    Ojo, 36, a native of Elu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government, had returned from Poland in February, last year to meet his newborn daughter and prepare a comfortable home for his family.

    The victim’s life was said to have been cut short shortly after celebrating his daughter’s first birthday last September 8.

  • Court remands suspect over alleged murder of Poland returnee

    Court remands suspect over alleged murder of Poland returnee

    A Mobile Court sitting at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered the remand of one Ebochue Kingsley Uzoka, 40, over his alleged involvement in the murder of one Chimaobi Anya Ojo.

    The suspect was arraigned for conspiracy and murder. According to the charges, Uzoka, along with others who are at large, were accused of conspiring to murder and kill Ojo on September 20, last year, at Nkata Ibeku in Umuahia North.

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    Chief Magistrate P. N. Lekwa, adjourned the case to February 19, and directed the court’s Chief Registrar in Umuahia North, to transmit the case file to the state Attorney-General for further prosecution.

    Ojo, 36, a native of Elu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government, had returned from Poland in February, last year to meet his newborn daughter and prepare a comfortable home for his family.

    The victim’s life was said to have been cut short shortly after celebrating his daughter’s first birthday last September 8.

  • Bayelsa court sentences four to death by hanging over kidnapping

    Bayelsa court sentences four to death by hanging over kidnapping

    A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Wednesday, sentenced four persons to death by hanging over alleged conspiracy and kidnapping.

    The four persons convicted included Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman.

    The presiding judge, Justice Patience Diri, in the suit No. YHC/43c/2021, found the four persons guilty of the allegations of conspiracy and kidnapping under Section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Law 2013.

    According to the police prosecution counsel, the four persons led by Manager Etonzor stormed the working site of November Dredging Company located at the Ayama Ijaw in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    The prosecution said: “While their attempt to abduct the owner of the dredging company failed, they started shooting sporadically and scared away most of the workers. But a 28-year-old Secretary of the company, who was hiding in the office, was forcefully taken away at gunpoint.

    “She was forced to part with the N400,000 proceeds in the company’s safe and they still took the girl away to a boat on the waterside. She was taken to the kidnappers’ hideout and a ransom of N6.5 million was paid for her release.”

    Upon her release, after one month and three days, the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command commenced a diligent investigation and through due investigation arrested the leader of the Kidnapper’s gang, Etonza Manager, which led to the arrest of other members of the gang.

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    On arraignment in court, the convicted kidnappers accused the investigation officers of “forceful obtainment” of confession and claimed “intimidation”.

    The court, after due arguments by both counsels, admitted their various statements, witnesses’ statements, and confessions as evidence.

    Justice Patience Diri in her rulings found the four accused persons guilty of the two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping and sentenced them to death by hanging.

  • ‘No court fined lady for failing to visit boyfriend after N3,000 fare’

    ‘No court fined lady for failing to visit boyfriend after N3,000 fare’

    The Osun State Judiciary has debunked claims that a Magistrate fined a lady N150,000 for failing to visit her boyfriend after collecting N3,000 fare.

    The Nation recalled that the claim, which went viral on social media and some media houses(not The Nation), spread the same over the weekend.

    In the viral fake news, it was stated that one Rhoda Adu collected N3,000 fare from one Olapitan Sola and subsequently switched off her phone, failing to show up, hence one Akogun Oludare ordered that she should pay Sola N150,000.

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    However, the state Chief Registrar, F. I. Omisade. debunked the news tagging as fake news.

    According to him, “The attention of the Osun State High Court has been drawn to the fake and disturbing news making the rounds in the social media.

    “It was widely reported between Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th January 2025 that one Akogun Oludare, a Magistrate sitting at Ilesa Magisterial District ordered a lady to pay her boyfriend the sum of A150,000 for collecting A 3,000, as transport fare to visit the man, a promise she did not keep.”

    He noted: “There is no magistrate that is known as Akogun Oludare in Osun State Judiciary. Furthermore, no magistrate in Osun State ever gave such an order.’’