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Tag: Court

  • Court sets aside arrest warrant for firm’s boss

    Court sets aside arrest warrant for firm’s boss

    A Chief Magistrate Court in Nasarawa State sitting at Mararara Gurku has set aside its order for the arrest of the Chairman of Platform Capital, Dr. Akintoye Akindele.

    It is over an alleged fraudulent diversion of funds and other undisclosed allegations.

    Magistrate Vincent V. Manga issued the order in a suit numbered CMC/MG/CR/17S/2023

    The Magistrate set aside the arrest warrant on the grounds that the court lacked the jurisdiction to make the orders, as well as for nondisclosure/suppression of material facts by the Police.

    The order reads: “Upon consideration of application made by the applicant this 23rd Day of August, 2023 praying for an order of this honourable court setting aside the warrant of arrest, warrant of search, and warrant of commitment to prison on remand earlier made in respect of Dr. Akintoye Akindele and the proceedings of the court for being a nullity on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and nondisclosure/suppression of material facts, the application is hereby granted as prayed.

    “An order of the honourable court is hereby made setting aside and discharging the warrant of arrest, warrant of search and warrant of commitment to prison on remand against the defendant (Dr. Akintoye Akindele). “

    Akindele had also sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and four others at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged detention beyond the constitutional limit.

    The police, Summit Oil International Limited, Dr. Zulikat Wuraola Abiola, Duport Energy Limited and Mr. Oluwatosin Odusanya are the respondents.

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    In the fundamental rights suit filed by his lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), the applicant is praying for an order mandating the police to immediately release him, having been in detention for over 96 hours.

    The applicant is also praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from further detaining, harassing him or violating his fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and African Charter on Human And Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004.

    The applicant is also praying for “a declaration that it is not the statutory function of the Nigerian Police and the IGP to act as debt recovery agents and extract payment terms from the applicant on contractual obligations between the applicant and the third to sixth respondents”.

    Akindele wants the court to hold that his continuous detention constitutes a gross violation of his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

    He also wants the court to declare that the function of the police does not include oppression, harassment or abuse of powers “under the guise of investigation of the alleged offence of fraudulent diversion of funds and other undisclosed allegations”.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Adebanjo Ojedapo, a litigation manager in the law firm of B.A. Law LLP, the applicant said he is also the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Duport Midstream Company Limited, a company engaged in crude oil refining and selling/supplying refined oil and gas products to downstream oil companies.

    According to the deponent, by a Product Sale Agreement of October 11, 2017, Duport Midstream Company Limited engaged Summit Oil International to supply crude oil for the operation of its Energy Park at Egbokor, Edo State.  

    He stated that the third respondent did not perform its obligations under the agreement by failing to keep up with the supply of crude oil.

    This, the applicant said, resulted in Duport Midstream Company incurring losses and not being able to get feedstock.

    He stated that by a Notice of Claim for Shortfall in Supply of Condensate dated September 3, 2021, the applicant’s company, Duport Midstream Company, claimed against the third and fourth respondents the sum of $9,806,309.77 for shortfall the company suffered due to the failure to supply crude oil as contracted.

    The applicant said the parties met many and reconciled the outstanding amounts owed by both sides.

    Parties agreed that the sum would be satisfied by the third respondent by awarding the Duport Midstream Company a 20 per cent discount off the purchase price of gas supplied to the latter subsequently.

    The applicant added that due to the perpetual failure of the third respondent to supply the Energy Park with crude oil, the applicant, in his capacity as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Duport Midstream Company, sought alternative crude supply to enable the company to carry out its mandate.

    Disstisfied with the applicant’s action, the third and fourth respondents, by a letter dated June 2, 2023, claimed that Duport Midstream Company Limited was indebted to Abiola in the sum of $5,732,407.14.

    Duport Midstream Company responded, stating that Summit Oil International was equally indebted to it in the sum of $21,829,019.96 after the initial loss of $9,806,309.77 as of August 2021 had risen over the years.

    Duport Midstream Company demanded a set off of the claimed $5,732,407.14 against its $21.8million and payment of the balance of $16,096,612.82 within seven days of receipt of the letter.

    “The third respondent and the fourth respondent failed, neglected and refused to act upon the said letter,” the deponent stated.

    It was alleged that Duport Midstream’s activities were disrupted, making it impossible for it to reach its commercial goal.

    The applicant said he was eventually invited by the police over criminal conspiracy and stealing pursuant to a petition filed by the third to sixth respondents.

    But the police, without waiting for the applicant to voluntarily report to its headquarters on July 31, 2023, arrested him in public at a hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, at 10 a.m. on July 30, a day before his promised attendance.

    Akindele said he was forcibly flown to the Force Headquarters in Abuja and is yet to be released for a bailable offence.

  • Court strikes out N60m charge against Lagos businessman

    Court strikes out N60m charge against Lagos businessman

    The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has struck out a charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a businessman, Kassim Alim Adeleke, and his firm, Liquid Waves Energy Limited.

    Justice Mojisola Dada gave the order following the voluntary withdrawal of the charge, marked ID/15814C/2021, by the anti-graft agency.

    The EFCC had informed the judge that the civil dispute between Adeleke and the complainant, CFS Financial Services Ltd, which gave rise to the charge had been successfully resolved by the parties.

    The court was informed via an affidavit of facts and a notice of withdrawal of the complainant’s petition to the Commission that the charge arose from a simple civil and commercial transaction involving an auto lease finance contract, which dispute was resolved, with parties resuming their business relationship.

    During the proceedings on July 13, Counsel for the defendants informed the court that the voluntary withdrawal of the petition against the defendants by the complainant was an indication to the Commission that it was no longer interested in pursuing any charge against the defendant.

    On confirmation of the Affidavits deposed by the complainant stating the withdrawal of the petition and disinterestedness in the case, the court struck out the charge.

    Justice Dada held: “Upon this matter coming up today, the 13th day of July. 2022 before this honourable court for further report:

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    “And after hearing Ahmed Yerima for the Prosecution and Counsel to the defendant Defendants.

    “Counsel to defendants informed the court that the Defence has filed an Affidavit of facts dated 14/06/2022 and another one dated 15 06/2022 and also a notice of withdrawal of the petition to the Commission.

    “Mr. Yerima confirmed that he received these Affidavits of facts and leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court.

    “The court ordered as follows: ‘that the matter be and is hereby accordingly struck out’.”

    Adeleke and his firm had been arraigned by the EFCC in February 2022 following a complaint by the firm.

    But he pleaded not guilty, though his lawyer protested his Innocence.

  • N437m fraud: Three BDC operators get N60m bail

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted three Bureau-De-Change operators N20 million bail each with two sureties in the like sum, following their arraignment for an alleged N437million fraud.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo remanded the defendants – Jimmy Ibrahim, Obianuju Tessy Umejesi and Uche Madubuko – in prison custody pending their perfection of the bail terms.

    One of the sureties must be a landed property owner in Lagos, while the second surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer with Lagos State of the Federal Government, the judge said.

    The trio were arraigned on August 22 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos on a five-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and fraud.

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    Each defendant pleaded not guilty, following which the judge adjourned to hear their bail applications.

    At the resumed hearing of proceedings yesterday, Mr. Adekunle Adesanya (SAN), U. G. Ezeaba and Agnes Uzulor, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail “in the most liberal terms.”

    But prosecution counsel Mr. Chukwu Agwu opposed them, arguing that others involved in the alleged offences are at large and granting the bail applications may jeopardise police efforts to arrest them.

    But, in a bench ruling, Justice Oweibo held: “In line with Section 36(5) of 1999 Nigerian Constitution and Section 162 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), each defendant is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of N20million with two sureties in the like sum.”

    He adjourned till October 3 for trial.

    The SFU, in a charge marked FHC/L/292c/19, alleged that the defendants committed the offences while operating under the names of Regis Bureau De Change, Jayjibs Ventures, Johim Ventures and Jajibs Bureau-De-Change.

    It said the trio, sometime in January, fraudulently obtained N437million from a firm, with a false promise to supply $1.2 million, which is the United States’ dollar equivalent.

    One of the operators, Jimmy Ibrahim, was said to have in April, May and June this year, issued three United Bank for Africa (UBA) cheques, numbered: 77046252; 77046253 and 77046254 from account number 1015196430i, with the total value of N73million, as part payment of the sum, but they were dishonoured for insufficient funds.

  • Regulation: Court to hear ARCON’s preliminary objection

    Barring all odds, an Abuja High Court will today hear an objection by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) over an order stopping it from further conducting any qualifying examination towards registration of new architects.

    Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of a High Court, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division, had recently given the order in a suit initiated by 13 persons.

    The plaintiffs include Ibrahim Kabir, Ayodeji Kolawole, Andy Imafidon, Dike Emmanuel, Opiribo West, Abimbola Ajayi and Emmanuel Ekeruche.

    Others are Nicholas Musa, who sued for himself and other interested registered architects; Ademakinwa Olajumoke, Babjide Awonubi, Siyanbola Kukola and Emmanuel Adewunmi, who also sued for himself and other aggrieved person that sat and passed the qualifying examinations conducted by the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA).

    They sued ARCON, NIA, Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi, ARCON president and Arc. Njoku Adibe, president NIA.

    Following a motion ex parte by the plaintiffs, filed on 30 May 2019 and moved 30 July 2019, Justice Idris, a vacation Judge, after hearing plaintiffs counsel ordered:

    “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining ARCON from conducting and/or purporting to conduct any qualifying professional examinations by whatever name or form for the registration of architects in Nigeria whether by themselves, agents, servants, and/or privies, whatsoever and howsoever from purportedly conducting such examination pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

    The matter was then adjourned to  August 8, 2019.  But due to power failure the court could not sit as planned.  Thursday,  August 22 was then fixed for the hearing.

    Days after the order, ARCON filed a preliminary objection challenging the order.

    Specifically, according to ARCON, which regulates the profession and practice of architecture in Nigeria, two requests have been placed before the court.  One: an order of the court dismissing or striking out the whole matter for want of jurisdiction and, secondly; an order discharging and or setting aside the courts interlocutory order dated 30 July 2019.

    The Federal Governments agency is also asking the court for such further or other orders it may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

    Justifying its reasons for the objection, ARCON said the court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter ab initio since the Federal High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction.

    Two, ARCON says the plaintiffs/respondents lack the locus standi to institute the action, contending that some of them are not registered and are not suing on behalf of NIA.

    Three, both the third and fourth defendants  Ajayi and Adibe were not personally served with the originating process in accordance with the rules of the court.

    Fourth, the matter was fixed for hearing during the annual vacation of the court without the consent of the defendants in accordance with the rules of the court.

    Fifth, the order by the court on  July 30, 2019 based on the claimants ex parte application moved the same date was a breach of the defendants constitutional right to fair hearing.

    The preliminary objection was supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit, stating why the Abuja High Court must hands off the matter.

    According to the applicants, the first defendant is an agency of the Federal Government and only the Federal High Court is conferred with the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain any legal claim against her.

    The affidavit averred to by one Casmir Amadi of Veritas Chambers, contends that both Ajayi and Adibe were not properly served with originating and other processes and therefore not made necessary parties for the court to have jurisdiction over them.

    It also says that the plaintiffs having no locus to initiate the process in the first instance and have not disclosed any reasonable cause of action.

    The applicants, for a matter to be heard during vacation, the parties involved, that is both plaintiffs and defendants shall collectively request for a date.

    They contend further that the defendant did not make any request or grant any consent in making request from the court in accordance with the rules of the court for the court to fix a date for hearing during vacation.

    To them, the claimants suit was brought in bad faith, just to waste the precious time of the court and as a ploy to distract the first defendant from discharging its statutory duties.

    Hearing resumes Thursday, 22 August 2019.

  • Monarchs drag Fayemi to Court over appointment of Chairman

    Some aggrieved monarchs have instituted a suit against Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over the appointment of the Alawe of Alawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi as the Chairman of the State traditional council of Obas.

    The suit, filed before an Ado-Ekiti High Court is asking the court to nullify the appointment of Oba Adebanjo, describing the action taken by Fayemi to appoint someone outside the stipulated 16 Monarchs called ‘Alademerindinlogin’ to occupy the prestigious seat, as a flagrant disregard of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.

    The governor had on July 31st appointed Oba Alabi as the Council Chairman to serve for a period of two years following the tenure expiration of Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju.

    Joined in the suit registration number HAD/76/2019 are; Governor Kayode Fayemi(1st defendant), Attorney General of Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda (2nd) and Oba Adebanji Alabi(3rd).

    An originating summon filed by Dr. B.A.M. Ajibade((SAN) on August 7, 2019 and deposed to by Ajero of Ajero, Oba Joseph Adewole, on behalf of other 15 Obas, sought an interlocutory injunction restraining Fayemi from swearing-in Alawe as the Chairman of the Council.

    The claimants sought the following declarations: whether the 1st defendant is empowered under Council of Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 15, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 , to appoint the chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers on a bi-annual rotational basis from amongst only class of Obas constituted Alademerindinlogun/Pelupelu Obas of Ekiti State.

    That the claimants are the only valid authentic Obas or traditional rulers under the classification of Alademerindinlogun qualified to be so appointed as Chairman.

    Also requested was a declaration ” that the 3rd respondent can’t be appointed as Chairman of the council in consonance to the Ekiti State Traditional Council Law.

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    “A declaration that the appointment of the 3rd defendant by the 1st was a flagrant violation of the law , unlawful, null and void, unjustifiable, illegal and unsustainable.

    “An order nullifying the appointment of the 3rd defendant as the Chairman of the council of traditional rulers.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant as chairman of the traditional council and other relevant orders as deem first by the court”.

    By composition, the Council of Ekiti State Traditional Council has Permanent and rotational members.

    The statute stipulated that : “The permanent and rotational members shall be appointed by the Governor from among the recognised traditional rulers In Ekiti State.

    “There shall be a chairman for the council who shall be appointed by the Governor on bi -annual rotation among the Pelupelu Obas in the state”.

    In a letter earlier written to the Governor in August 2 and signed by 15 Pelupelu Obas with the exception of Oore of Otun, Oba Adedapo Popoola, who traveled abroad, the monarchs told Fayemi to reverse the action, saying a court had earlier struck out a suit filed by five monarchs who were promoted to Pelupelu and seeking recognition of that status .

    They said the promotion of Alawe, Olosi , Olojudo (Ido Ile) , Arajaka and Oluyin to that Pelupelu rank by government, was an erosion of the tradition, saying all the appointments were done in violation of the tradition and existing laws.

    The aggrieved pelupelu Monarchs said they are opposed to the appointment and threatened that they won’t attend the inauguration of Alawe as Council Chairman and any meeting of the council where he presides.

    “We respectfully state that we would be creating a bad precedent to accept to sit under a chairmanship of Alawe as it would amount to a disregard for the tradition on earth and a sin against our forefathers”, they said.

    While reacting, the first class monarch Oba Adebanjo said “the 22 officially designated pelupelu Obas in the state are in a peace talk to resolve the differences, stressing that there was no cause for alarm”.

  • JUST IN: Votes recount: Court dismisses PDP’s appeal

    The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Isa Ashiru against the refusal of the Kaduna State Governorship Petition Tribunal to order for the recount of votes.

    Delivering judgement on Thursday, Justice Hussaini Muktar also affirmed the orders of the tribunal, refusing to order for a recount.

    It will be recalled the tribunal had struck out the petitioners’ request, seeking for a recount of votes cast in the governorship election which held on March 9, for lack of merit.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, who ruled on the motion on May 29, said that the tribunal has a time frame of only 180 days to complete its assignment.

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    Justice Bako also refused the application for amendment of the motion, seeking to narrow the votes recount to only 12 local government areas of Kaduna state.

    Specifically, the petitioners had asked the tribunal to order the votes recount in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, Giwa, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Makarfi, Birnin Gwari and Ikara amongst other local government areas.

    Dissatisfied with the ruling, PDP and its gubernatorial candidate appealed the verdict at the Court of Appeal.

    Meanwhile, the appellate court agreed with the respondents that, the counting of votes and making it an exhibit in court is part of a trial, which is capable of disposing off the main claim in the matter.

    According to him, the Supreme Court frowned at that which allows a matter to be disposed off at a pre-trial conference.

    He argued that the essence of pre-trial conference is to prepare parties and the court toward issues to be thrashed out at the trial and not to conclude the trial

     

     

     

  • Court frees two brothers charged for murder in Anambra

    Two brothers charged with the murder of their cousin, Okwuchukwu Okeke have been discharged and acquitted by the Anambra State High Court Two, Ihiala Judicial Division.

    The accused, Chidiebere and Monday Ewuzie Okeke from Umudioka-Umuohi Okija, were freed by Justice Raphael Onunkwo for lack of credible evidence.

    Ruling on the 2-count charge of conspiracy and murder, Justice Onunkwo said the Prosecuting Counsel did not prove the allegation of the murder beyond reasonable doubt as demanded by criminal justice.

    He, however, acknowledged that the Counsel admitted that the deceased, according to autopsy result and Police witness, died as a result of head injury inflicted on him by a group of persons.

    According to Justice Onunkwo, the death of Okwuchukwu was enmeshed in suspicious circumstances which the Prosecuting Counsel failed to unravel due to the lustre and shoddy investigations.

    Declaring the accused not guilty of the offence, the Judge however stressed that the deceased’s murderers might escape human justice but could not escape divine justice.

    It would be recalled that the deceased decomposing body was found in the underground floor of his brother’s house in Umuohi Okija on May 14, 2018 by the deceased father, Mr. Oliver Okeke, who wanted to bury him immediately but was stopped as he did not report the matter to the police.

    The deceased uncle, Mr. Ibodimma took the matter to court and the deceased relations alleged that the two cousins were responsible for his murder.

    Reacting to the judgment, the Counsel to the accused persons, Chief Oselloka Osigwe expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stressing that there was no proper investigation into the case to substantiate the allegations.

    One of the accused, Monday Ewuzie Okeke thanked God for the judgment that set him free.

    The prosecuting counsel Mr Okafor, could not be reached for reaction as he did not appear in court while efforts to speak with the deceased father was unsuccessful as he left immediately after the ruling.

  • Buhari has sacked you, Judge tells Ofili-Ajumogobia

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Friday held that President Muhammadu Buhari dismissed Mrs. Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judicial officer on November 7, 2018.

    Justice Mohammed Rilwan Aikawa held that, thus, Ofili-Ajumogobia cannot – by claiming that she is a judge – stall her trial for alleged money laundering.

    The charge was brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

    Justice Aikawa stated this while dismissing Ofili-Ajumogobia’s preliminary objection challenging her trial as well as the court’s jurisdiction to try her.

    The judge read out the President’s memo of November 7, 2018, approving Ofili-Ajumogobia’s dismissal from the Bench as recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    He said: “The president has approved the recommendation of NJC and has therefore approved the dismissal of the 1st defendant/applicant.

    “In my view, the first defendant (Ofili-Ajumogobia) has been dismissed as a judicial officer.

    “In the light of this, she can stand trial as she is no longer a judicial officer.

    “The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed” the judge held.

    Earlier in the ruling, the judge disagreed with the argument of the first defendant’s counsel that the exhibit marked ‘Restricted’ is a private document.

    He held that the document exhibit EFCC 02, though marked ‘Restricted’ but bearing the coat of arm of Federal Republic of Nigeria qualified it as a public document.

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    “An official letter from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chief Justice of Nigeria is a public document,” Justice Aikawa said.

    In the same vein, the application filed by the second defendant Godwin Obla (SAN) to quash counts one, two and three for abuse of court process or in the alternative separate his trial from the charge against the Ofili-Ajumogobia and be tried separately was also dismissed by the court.

    Referring to the trial of the defendants at the Ikeja High Court of Lagos State, Justice Aikawa said in that judgement, the case was only struck out.

    “The defendants in that trial were not discharged and acquitted.

    He held that they could therefore be re-arraigned before another court if the prosecution wishes to reopen the case.

    On issue of the matter in the Appeal Court, the judge said provisions of ACJA had not rendered trial in the matter invalid.

    Consequently, the court rejected Obla’s first prayer.

    It also refused the second leg of the application.

    In conclusion, Justice Aikawa held: “The trial of the two defendants will go together. I therefore refuse the second application.

    After the ruling, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo made an oral application for accelarated hearing of the matter. He prayed for a date for commencement of trial.

    After conferring with the defence counsel comprising Mr F.O. Dawodu (SAN), for first defendant, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), for 2nd defendant, a date was agreed on.

    Justice Aikawa then adjourned the matter to October 24 and 25 for commencement of trial.

    The EFCC charged Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of NIGERIA (SAN) Godwin Obla, on 18 counts bordering on Conspiracy, Unlawful Enrichment, retention of Crime Proceeds and Money Laundering.

    They pleaded not guilty and were each admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

    The defendants were first brought before an Ikeja division of the High Court of Lagos State which struck out the charge on jurisdictional grounds.

    The EFCC then preferred same charges against them at the Federal High Court.

    In the charge, EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired on May 21, 2014, to indirectly conceal different sums of money, in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd, a company alleged to be operated by Ajumogobia.

    They were further alleged to have conspired to retain in same account, the sum of N500 million, which they both reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful acts of unlawful enrichment.

    Specifically, Ajumogobia was alleged to have on different dates in 2014, retained sums of monies like: N5million, 150,000 dollars, 20,000 dollars, 30,000 dollars, 50,000 dollars, and 55,000 dollars in the Diamond bank account of Nigel and Colive.

    Besides, the Commission also accused Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing the sum of N12million in the same account, and making false statement to the EFCC that the money was payment for sale of a landed property.

    The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

  • Woman arraigned for assaulting neighbour over loud music

    The police on Friday arraigned a 30-year-old woman, Ndigwe Adaorah, in a Life Camp Magistrates’ Court Abuja for allegedly assaulting her neighbour, during an argument over loud music.

    Adaorah, who resides at House 4 Plot 6, Goodness Avenue Pollo Estate Kubwa, Abuja, is charged with two counts of criminal trespass voluntarily causing grievous hurt with provocation and destruction of documents to prevent production of evidence.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Fedelis Ogbodo, told the court that Ms Madge Jime, of Plot 6 Goodness Avenue Pollo Estate Abuja reported the matter at the FCT Command on Feb. 27.

    Ogbodo alleged that the defendant, who claimed that the complainant was playing her car stereo too loud, trespassed into her car and switched off the engine.

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    He alleged that when the complainant tried to collect the car key from the defendant, she deliberately refused.

    ”The defendant then, got into her own car and sped off, in the process she inflicted grievous injuries on the complainant.

    ”The complainant fractured her leg and also had a tooth removed,” Ogbodo alleged.

    Ogbode said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 247, 348 and 166 of the Penal Code.

    However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Ubong Udosen, counsel to the defendant, made an oral application for bail, citing sections 35 (4) and 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

    Udosen also cited sections 58, 162 and 165 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    The Judge, Celestine Odo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of  N300,000 with one surety who must be a civil servant.

    Odo ordered that the surety reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The judge adjourned the case until July 22 for trial.

    (NAN)

     

  • Court dissolves ‘lazy’ man’s four-year marriage

    An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Tuesday dissolved the four-year-old marriage of a businesswoman, Mrs Lydia Nwaru and Daniel, her husband.

    The petitioner told the court that Daniel, with whom she had a daughter, wanted to be “househusband”.

    The court’s President, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, held that the husband’s repeated refusal to appear in court would not stop the proceedings.

    “Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes, in spite of being served with all court processes. Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

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    “The court pronounced the marriage between Lydia and Mr Daniel Nwaru dissolved. Both parties, henceforth, cease to be husband and wife.

    “Each of you should go on his or her separate way. The court wishes both of you well in your future endeavour,” he said.

    Koledoye said the only child of the marriage should be in the petitioner’s custody.

    He ordered Daniel to be responsible for the child’s upkeep and education, whenever the need arises, and when he is gainfully employed.

    Earlier, the petitioner said: “my husband is not ready to work. He prefers to stay at home. Whenever I complain about his idleness, he turns it to fight.

    “I have been responsible for the upkeep of the family, including school fees and rent.”

    She said she raised N120,000 for him to start a business but two weeks after she gave him the money, he did not do or say anything concerning the money.

    “I gave him another N86,000 to register for a job; the money went into nothing.

    “Thereafter, he started complaining that Nigeria was not suitable for progress; that he wanted to travel abroad to hustle,” she added.