The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Criminal Law of Lagos State

  • Man in court over assault on girlfriend

    A 26-year-old man, Ugochukwu Ebereonwu, who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Amaka Nwankwo was on Tuesday arraigned in a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused who resides at No. 6, Ilom Close, Sabo, Ajangbadi in Lagos state, is facing a charge of assault.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 19 at his residence.

    He said the accused and the complainant got into an argument over the messages in his cell phone, adding that in the process, the accused beat her mercilessly.

    “They started arguing because the complainant wanted to check his cell phone which he did not agree to.

    “During the argument, he gave her several blows on her face and nose. It was the neighbours, who rescued and took her to the hospital,’’ he said.

    The offence contravened Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The counsel to the accused, Mr Ezekiel Daniels, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, Mr Jimoh Adefioye, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 and two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case til April 11 for mention.

  • Man bags 2 years imprisonment for stealing phone

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 20-year-old man, Hassan Badmus, to two years imprisonment for stealing a mobile phone valued at N85,000.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, did not give Badmus an option of fine.

    She held that the accused was guilty of a two-count charge of stealing and burglary levelled against him.

    The chief magistrate sentenced the accused to one year imprisonment on each of the counts.

    She hoped that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to criminal acts.

    The accused who resides at Badagry, Lagos, was arraigned on Feb. 22.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, had told the court that he burgled the residence of Mr Chibuike Okonkwo and stole his Samsung phone valued at N85,000.
    Inuoha said the accused was apprehended by security guards as he was about leaving the house.

    He said that the theft occurred on Jan. 26 on Agumaje Street, Badagry, adding that the offences contravened Sections 21, 285 and 305 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused had pleaded not guilty on arraignment, and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He, however, could not meet the bail conditions and had been in prison custody until he was found guilty as charged.

  • Man in court for disrupting church service, damaging N5m property

    A 49-year-old man, Abiodun Adeyinka, who allegedly damaged  property worth N5 million belonging to the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), on Monday appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Adeyinka is facing a six-count charge bordering on malicious damage, conspiracy, unlawful assault and manner likely to cause breach of peace.

    The accused, however, pleaded innocence to the charge.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams, said that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 3, 2016, at noon, at No. 64, Adekunle Banjo St., Magodo, Lagos.

    He said that the accused forcibly entered into a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) building located at the address during worship.

    Adams said the accused caused panic among the worshippers before damaging the church property.

    He said the damaged property were Jazz musical instrument, Konga drum, piano, five wireless microphones, six pieces of altar clothes, assorted church perfumes, wedding gowns and sacred pictures of Mary and Jesus.

    The prosecutor said that the accused also assaulted the presiding head of the church and tore her church garment.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 50, 126, 166, 170, 309 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, admitted the accused to a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Omisore said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case till April 10, for further hearing.

  • Woman, faces N168,000 lotto money theft charge

    A 39-year-old woman, who manages her employer’s lotto, was on Monday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with N168,000 fraud.

    The accused, Monsurat Showemimo, is facing a charge of stealing to which she pleaded not guilty.

    Showemimo, 39, resides No. 1, Abisagbo St., Customs Road, Matogun, Oke-Aro in Ogun.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, said that the accused was employed as the manager in charge of lottery (Premier lotto and pool popularly known as “Baba Ijebu) by the complainant, Mrs Roseline Ayodele, who reported the fraud.

    He said the offence was committed sometime in April 2016 at No. 14, Fadeyi St., off Ajayi Road, Oke-Ira, Ogba in Ikeja.

    “The accused was asked to be remitting daily sales to the complainant’s account which she never did. Rather, she converted N168,000 proceeds from sales to her use.”

    Ajebe said the accused disappeared after committing the fraud and was recently apprehended by the police.

    The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 which carries a three-year imprisonment.

    Chief Magistrate Alexander Komolafe granted the accused N50,000 bail with two sureties, who must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case has been adjourned to March 20 for trial.

  • Teenager arraigned for laptop theft

    A 17-year-old printer, Mustapha Okunola, who allegedly stole two laptops valued at N84,000, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

     

    The accused, who resides in Kajola Street, Mushin, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Emmanuel Ajayi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 21 at Oliyide Street, Mushin,.

    He said the accused unlawfully entered the apartment of Mr Jide Johnson, the complainant, and stole his laptops worth N84, 000.

    “The complainant was trying to sleep when he saw the shadow of somebody running out of his room.

    “He raised alarm and with the help of his neighbours they caught the accused as he attempted to scale the fence.

    “The two laptops were recovered from him and he was immediately handed over to the police,” he said.

    The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes a three- year jail term for offenders.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N70, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, adjourned the case to March 27 for mention.

  • Woman in court for slapping employer’s mother

    A 32-year-old female employee, Sarah Oboh, who allegedly slapped and tore the clothes of her employer’s mother was on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Oboh, a resident of Surulere area of Lagos State, is being tried for breach of peace, damage and assault.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on Feb.1 at Bolaji Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said that the accused assaulted Mrs Olubunmi Jeyibo, by slapping her and tearing her clothes.

    “The accused gave the complainant a slap and she also tore her clothes valued at N25, 000,” he said.

    He said that the complainant was assaulted when she went to her late son’s company to check the well-being of staff and discuss with the accused who was managing the company.

    “She went to her son’s company to have discussion with the accused who is in charge after the demise of her son.

    “During the discussion, an argument ensued and the accused slapped the complainant on her right cheek.

    “She went further by tearing her clothes,” he said.

    The offences contravened sections 166, 170 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 170 prescribes a year imprisonment as penalty for assault.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Ekogbule, adjourned the case to March 1, for mention.

  • Armed robbery: Bricklayer sentenced to death by hanging

    Armed robbery: Bricklayer sentenced to death by hanging

    A ‎bricklayer, Femi Adebowale was Tuesday sentenced to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High court, sitting in Ikeja found the convict guilty of a four count charge offence preferred against him by the Lagos state government in accordance with section 295(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    She said the minimum penalty provided by the law is death sentence for each of the four account offence for which the convict was charged.

    “‎In accordance with the provision of the law, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging by the neck until death. May the Lord have mercy on us”, she said.

    The Prosecution, Mr. Akin George had accused Adebowale of robbing one Alhaja Amudalat Olowo-Eyo of gold jewelries‎ valued over N500,000.00; cash of N350,000.00 and other valuable documents at gun point.

    The prosecutor said the convict, with others at large, robbed their victims on December 28, 2012 between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 am at their residence, 10, Aiyetolu street, Abule Egba, Lagos.

    The convict, when arraigned last year, had pleaded not guilty to the four count charge.

    During trial, the complainant, Alhaja Olowo-Eyo had told the court how the convict and others at large robbed her‎ at her residence.

    She had told the court that she and her family were gathered in their parlour and ‎told that they would waste their lives if they refused to cooperate with them.

    She said she identified the convict as being among bricklayers brought in by her landlord for the renovation of the house two days before the incident.

    She said that after robbing then, her husband was able to pin one of the robbers down, a situation that gave her courage to also held to another robber next to her.

    In order to free himself, she said the robber shot her twice in the chest but that God kept her alive.

    She said colleagues of the convict who escaped came back 20 minutes later and rained bullets on their apartment.

    She said one of her daughters was hit in the stomach, another on the back while her son was hit on the thigh.

    She said the incidence was reported at Ile Epo Police station while they were treated at the General Hospital in the area.

    Delivering judgement in the matter, Justice Ipaye dismissed the alibi provided by the convict that he was away in Akure for his marriage introduction ceremony on the day of the incident.

    She also‎ described as not credible, the evidence provided by the supposed father in-law who told the court during trial he met the convict for the first time on the day of the ceremony.

    Citing several authorities, the trial judge noted that the evidence provided before the court by the complainant and her daughter‎ among other evidences were not controverted by the defence led by his counsel, Yemi Omodele.

    Justice Ipaye said the prosecution proved their charge of conspiracy as the act was carried out by more than one person.

    She also said that the prosecution proved the case of armed robbery against the convict.

    Justice Ipaye sentenced the convict to death “by hanging by the neck until death” stressing that the prosecution has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.