The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Criminal Law of Lagos State

  • Man accused of stealing N80, 000 from bread seller for betting

    The police in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned a 20-year-old man, Prosper Okeke, who allegedly stole N80, 000 from a bread seller and spent all on betting game and lost.

    Okeke, who lives at No 1, Samuel St., Ogudu, is facing a count charge of stealing, but he pleaded not guilty.

    According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, Okeke stole the money kept under the bed by Mrs Pricilla Kanu, on Feb. 28, at No. 45, Gafari St., Ogudu.

    “The complainant (Kanu) said that the defendant entered her room on Feb. 28 and stole the money which she kept under her bed.

    READ ALSO: 40-year-old admits stealing pepper

    “When she came back from her shop on that day she discovered that the money she kept in her handbag under her bed wasn’t there anymore.

    “She raised alarm, and her daughter told her that Okeke came to their house to see her son.

    “On March 4, she traced Okeke to his workplace and he confessed to have taken the money and used all of it to play a betting game in which he lost,’’ he submitted.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stealing contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and is punishable with  three years’ jail term.

    Substantive hearing in the case will start on April 8.

    NAN

  • Police arraign “fake pastor” for allegedly raping a woman

     The police on Thursday arraigned a 32- year-old fake pastor for allegedly raping a woman in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, Micheal Akpan, who resides at 17, Unity Close, Obawole, Iju, a suburb of Lagos is charged with one-count of rape.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem told the court that the offence was committed on Aug. 17 at the accused’s residence.

    Raji said that the accused pretended to be a pastor and told the complainant, a 29- year -old, who was on her way to work, that he had powers to deliver her from satanic oppression.

    He told the court that the accused told the complainant to buy seven bottles of olive oil for cleansing and also told her to meet him in his house later that day.

    On getting to the house, he said, the accused shut the door at her and raped her.

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    Raji added that the complainant reported the case at the police station and the accused was arrested.

    The offence, he said contravened Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jadesola Adeyemi -Ajayi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adeyemi -Ajayi who also ordered the accused to pay additional N20,000 as part of the bail condition, adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for mention.

    NAN

  • Arabic teacher denies defiling three-year-old pupil

    An Arabic teacher, Adekunle Isiaka, charged with defiling a three-year-old child in her Lagos home, on Monday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that he never touched her.

    Isiaka, 36, opened his defence to a one-count charge of sexual assault contrary to Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

    According to the prosecution, at about 10am on October 24, 2015, the defendant fingered the girl – her neighbour’s child – and ejaculated in her private part and on her dress.

    But Isiaka, who was arraigned on February 27, 2017, pleaded not guilty.

    Testifying in Yoruba, while being led in evidence in chief by his counsel, Mr Lanre Egberungbe, the defendant told Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye that he was falsely accused.

    He said on the day of the alleged incident, he returned from teaching his pupils around 1pm and rushed home to use the toilet, but that the child’s mother came after him.

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    Speaking through an interpreter, Isiaka said: “Because of my religion, we don’t talk inside the toilet. She stood by the toilet door and was shouting, asking me what I poured in her daughter’s vagina. But the victim’s uncle and other tenants in the compound said whatever it was, it didn’t look like sperm”.

    He claimed that he was beaten and videod by the police at the Police Station three days later, while being forced to make a statement to a non-Yoruba speaking police woman, thus the statement was not accurate.

    During cross examination, the defendant added: “I have been living in that house for five years prior to the incident, I am not related to the child’s parents and I was even the one that named the child when she was born”.

    Isiaka said he was surprised the day a doctor from the Mirabel Centre at Lagos State University Teaching University (LASUTH) tendered a medical report showing that the child was defiled.

    Responding to a claim that he ran to the toilet to clean himself up after committing the crime, Isiaka said: “I did not defile her. I was pressed and ran to take my kettle to use the toilet. I was surprised when the victm’s mother was shouting that I defiled and poured sperm on her.”

    After the defence closed its case, Justice Ipaye adjourned till July 10, for adoption of final written addresses.

  • Cashew nut seller docked for N3m theft

    A trader, Uteno Kindness, who allegedly obtained N3million under the pretext of supplying cashew nuts to a buyer, was Tuesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Kindness, 38, whose residential address was not given, is standing trial before Mr K. O. Ogundare on a three-count charge of fraud, stealing and issuance of a dud cheque.

    According to Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji, the defendant committed the alleged offences last April 28, at about 10:22 am in Lagos.

    He said Kindness obtained N3 million from the complainant, Mr. Taiwo Idewo, under the pretext of supplying him truckloads of cashew nuts, but failed to do so.

    Osuji said: “When the defendant could not supply the trucks of cashew nuts, he issued two bank cheques of N1million and N2million respectively to the complainant.

    “Both cheques were dishonoured on presentation due to insufficient funds in the defendant’s account.”

    The offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 321 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Kindness pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Ogundare granted him N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case continues on May 22.

    Read Also:Two docked for theft of $2,700

  • Two bankers charged with N500, 000 fraud

    Two bankers charged with N500, 000 fraud

    Two Skye Bank Plc staff Aina Tolulope, 30, and Lukman Okunade, 28, who allegedly defrauded the bank of N500,000, were Tuesday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court Lagos.

    ‎The defendants were docked by the police before Magistrate A. F Botoku on a three-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation and stealing.

    Tolulope, of 12 Aric Close, Bariga and Okunade, of No. 8 Alayaki Street Mushin, Lagos respectively, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Chinedu Njoku said the defendants and two others Ekeolere Sheriff and Auwa Garba, who are still at large, committed the alleged offences on July 14, 2017.

    He said that the incident took place at Skye Bank Plc, Apapa Road Branch Lagos, at about 12:30pm.

    According to Njoku, the duo impersonated as both Transaction Officer and Customer ‎Service Officer and fraudulently transferred the said amount to Sheriff and Garba’s accounts

    The prosecutor said the money was the property of the bank’s customer, Hassan Ibrahim, who approached the bank to convert Euros to Naira, when he was defrauded.

    “Ibrahim went to the bank to change foreign currency when he met Tolulope and Okunade, who gave him a fake form to fill which he did. He then asked them to transfer the money into his bank account, which they did in his presence with a fake alert confirming that the money was in his account. Unknown to him, the money was transferred to the two suspects.

    “Afterwards when the complainant tried to withdraw the sum he found nothing in his account, only a fake bank alert. He immediately returned to the bank and complained following which the defendants were arrested,” Njoku said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences were punishable under Section 411, 325 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate Botoku admitted each defendant to N500, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    The case was adjourned till September 13.

     

  • Badoo members docked in Lagos court

    Badoo members docked in Lagos court

    Seven alleged members of the dreaded Badoo cult who have been causing unrest in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State were on Friday brought before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, Afolabi Kessington (25), Ismaila Shaibu (36), Mutiu Nurudeen (26), Ibrahim Bello (25), Lukman Mohammed (35), Gift Itafa (50) and Sheriff Adewunmi (23).

    The accused faced a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and belonging to an unlawful society.

    They, however, pleaded innocence of the charges.

    The Prosecutor, ASP Fidelis Dike, said that the accused committed the offences between July 3 and July 5 at Powerline, Agbala area of Ikorodu and also at Irawo Estate, Owode-Onirin in Lagos.

    He said that the accused, who are members of the Badoo cult, had conspired and gathered in the above mentioned areas to have their meeting, which was deemed illegal.

    The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 42(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Kofo Ariyo, admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a blood relation.

    The case has been adjourned until Aug. 9, for mention.

     

  • Togolese charged with beating three year-old niece to death

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a Togolese trader, Afi Koumebio, who allegedly beat her three-year-old niece to death.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, 30-year-old Koumebio, who resides on Mosafejo Road, Amukoko, Lagos.

    The court could not take the plea of the accused as the magistrate said that she needed advice from the state’s director of public prosecution.

    Folarin-Williams adjourned the case until May 10 for mention.

    According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Olatunde, the accused beat the minor, hit her head on a wall and killed her on March 26 at 8.00p.m. at her residence.

    Olatunde submitted that Koumebio beat the girl because she entered her neighbour’s room.

    He noted that murder contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes death sentence for convicted murderers.

  • Man docked for raping, impregnating sister-in-law

    A 47-year-old man, Magaji Mohammed, who allegedly impregnated his sister in-law by raping her, was on Monday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, a driver who resides at 18, Atobaje St., Agege, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge bordering on rape.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 2016 and Feb. 28, 2017 at the accused residence.

    Ogu said that the accused raped his 16-year-old sister -in-law, impregnated her and gave her a harmful drug to use with the intention to abort it.

    “The accused raped the girl when his wife traveled out of town. And when the girl discovered that she missed her period, she told the accused.

    “The accused gave the girl a herbal concoction which made the girl to abort the pregnancy,” he said.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 147 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused, however, entered a “not guilty” plea.

    The chief magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, granted the accused bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Akanni adjourned the case until April 12 for mention.

  • Man arraigned for impersonating CDA chairman

    A 49-year-old, Henry Edhebure, who allegedly impersonated the Chairman of a Community Development Association (CDA) and stole N100, 000, was on Monday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Edhebure is standing trial on a five-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, stealing and breach of peace.

    Police Prosecutor Innocent Odugbo told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 6, 2016, at Mowekekere Royal London CDA, Ijede in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    He said the accused forged the signature of the chairman of the Royal London CDA, Valentine Onu, and signed some cash receipts with the intention to convert the money on the receipts to his own.

    Odugbo said the accused stole N100, 000 belonging to the complainants — Onu, Luke Nwachukwu, and Emmanuel Idowu — members of the association.

    The prosecutor said the accused also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace by declaring himself as the chairman of the association.

    He also said that the accused threatened to damage the house of the three members to intimidate them.

    The offences, Odugbo noted, contravened Sections 56 (1), 57 (1), 285 (1), 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omoyele, granted him N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties, who must be gainfully employed, should also show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until April 25 for mention.

  • Man docked for damaging co-tenant’s eyes

    Man docked for damaging co-tenant’s eyes

    A 40-year-old driver, Ikechukwu Offor, who allegedly beat up a co-tenant for not opening the house gate and damaged his eyes, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    A resident of Lagos Street, Agege, Lagos, Offor is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on Feb. 23 at a tenement building.

    He said the accused assaulted a co-tenant, Mr Idowu Onajobi, by beating him and causing damage to both eyes.

    Okuoimose said following an agreement by tenants, the complainant was nominated to be locking the gate at  11.00 p.m. and keep the key.

    “The complainant was nominated by his co-tenants to be locking their gate at 11.00 p.m. as a result of wave of robbery in the area.

    “The accused, who came home late after the gate was locked, started knocking the gate loudly, threatening to destroy it if the gate was not opened for him.

    “When the complainant finally opened the gate, the accused descended on him for the delay.

    “He punched him several times in the eyes and damaged the eyes,” he said.

    He said the complainant was still in the hospital receiving treatment as he could not see clearly.

    The offences contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 prescribes three years imprisonment for assault.

    Offor pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Y. O. Ekogbule, adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.