The Nation Newspaper

Tag: docked

  • Three docked over alleged contempt of court order

    Three docked over alleged contempt of court order

    Three men, who allegedly disobeyed a court order by possessing plots of land already awarded to one Ogunlana’s family, were on Friday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    However, the accused were granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    The trio; Safari Sadiku, 67; Bayo Lawal, 53, and Bakare Ololade, 23, are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful interference, contempt of court and forcible possession.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that they committed the offences between February and March, at Agunfoye, Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    He said that the accused unlawfully entered into the plots of land belonging to Chief Kolawole Ogunlana’s family with the intent to cause breach of peace.

    Molo said that the accused forcefully took possession of the said land without any claim of right.

    “The land which was recently obtained by Ogunlana’s family through a writ of court,’’ he said.

    He alleged that the accused through their actions conspired to pervert and defeat the course of justice.

    Mole said the offences contravened sections 52, 53,104 (1), 123 (1), 97 (1), 338 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Martin’s Owunmi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

    He added that the sureties must be gainfully employed.

    Owunmi adjourned the case to April 22 for mention.

     

  • Two lawyers docked for alleged malicious damage

    Two lawyers, Bayo Adebowale, 34, and Austine Izuagie, 48, last Friday appeared in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly causing malicious damage and grievous harm.

    Each of them faces a four-count charge of behaving in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, malicious damage, conspiracy and grievous harm.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate B.O. Ope-Agbe granted them N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum and adjourned the case to April 12.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Jimah Iseghede said the lawyers committed the offences on February 26 at Faith Mission Estate in Satellite Town, Lagos.

    He alleged that the men dispatched two armed men to Faith Mission Estate to demolish two buildings belonging to another lawyer, Dr Marian Adeleye.

    He said the offence contravene Sections 166(d), 243, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

  • Woman docked for attempted murder of fiancé, theft 

    The Police have accused a 46-year-old woman, Victoria Alaegbu, of attempting to kill her fiancé and stealing his 1.5 million dollars cash, equivalent to N295.5 million.

    Alaegbu, whose address was not given, was arraigned Wednesday at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempt to kill, stealing, unlawful detention and possession of a fake document.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on December 13, 2015, at 8:30 p.m, at Ojora Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant attempted to kill one Prince Hillary Unachukwu by administering a noxious chemical substance on him.

    It was also alleged that the substance administered on Unachukwu knocked him out from 8:00 p.m to 12:00 midnight, which gave the defendant time to steal his $1.5 million, equivalent to N295.5 million.

    The prosecutor further alleged that after taking Unachukwu’s money, the defendant locked him up inside his apartment with a padlock.

    He then alleged that when the noxious substance administered to him gradually wore off and Unachukwu awoke, he was too weak to free himself from the unlawful detention by the defendant.

    The prosecutor also claimed that the defendant was unlawfully in possession of a SIM card with number 07087773669, without properly registering the number with her name and address.

    He added that the registration of the sim card was done with the intent to commit fraud.
    The alleged offences contravened Sections 228, 270, 285 (1) (f) and 404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, the prosecutor said.

    The defendant, however, denied all of the charges.

    Magistrate S. K. Matepo (Mrs) granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, show evidence of tax payment, and one of the sureties should be a blood relation of the accused.

    The case adjourned till February 10 for mention.

    Last Tuesday, the police arraigned Unachukwu’s 22-year-old security guard, Isaac Onoja, of conniving with unknown persons to steal the $1.5 million.

    Onoja, from Benue State, had claimed that some unknown armed men forcibly gained entry to the premises and tied him up before stealing the $1.5m from the complainant’s room.

  • Visa agent docked over alleged fraud

    Visa agent docked over alleged fraud

    A 41-year-old visa agent, Okotie Alfred, on Monday appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in Osun for allegedly defrauding Mr Alex Adedunwon of N502, 000.

    The suspect, whose address was not disclosed in court, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and fraud.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Abiodun Fagboyinbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb. 14 at about 3.p.m. in Ota Efun, Osogbo.

    Fagboyinbo said the accused collected N502, 000 from the complainant on the pretext of helping him to process a visa to South Korea.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 390, 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The counsel to the accused, Mrs. Bose Adeyinka, prayed the court to grant him bail in the most liberal terms.

    The magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Sodamade said the surety must reside within the court jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment, two passport photographs and an affidavit of means.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till Jan. 25 for mention.

  • Man docked for defiling minor

    Man docked for defiling minor

    An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Tuesday remanded a 41-year-old man, Yusuf Garuba, in prison custody for allegedly defiling a four-year-old girl.

    Garuba, who resides at No. 29 Adura St., Ijaye, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried on a charge of defilement.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rosemary Samson, told the court that the accused had an unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl at No. 4, Ajayi St., Ota, Ogun.

    He said that the offence contravened Sections 215 and 249 of the Criminal Code, Revised Law of Ogun, 2006.

    The Magistrate, Miss Temitope Adebutu, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Adebutu, however, adjourned the case till Dec. 4 for mention.

  • Two docked for ‘stealing’ N4.2 million phones

    Two men, Isah Ali and Kashalla Hassan, have been arraigned at a Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing two cartons of brand new phones at Computer Village in Ikeja.

    Ali, 36, Hassan, 35, and others now at large, were accused of committing the offence at about 5am, on October 10, 2015, at No. 4, Otigba Street, Ikeja.

    The court was told that the suspects conspired with each other and stole the phones, valued at N4.2million, property of one Mr. Duru Remy.

    The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samson Ekikere, informed the court that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused, who were read the charges in Pidgin English, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Y. O. Aje-Afunwa, granted the suspects N500,000 bail each and two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the matter till November 25 for trial.

     

  • Saraki…docked

    Saraki…docked

    Senate President pleads
    not guilty

    Tribunal fixes Oct. 21 for hearing

    WHO SAID WHAT

    The Judiciary saved the nation …One can just imagine what would have happened if there were contradictory decisions by the courts
    —Prosecution

    I am puzzled why I should be before the tribunal. I thought that the…Bureau should have first called on me, according to the…law. —Saraki

    The defendant…must enter the dock and take his plea, and thereafter any other application shall be taken. That is the order of the tribunal. —Tribunal

    Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial for alleged false declaration of assets yesterday began on a dramatic note at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). He made valiant effort not to enter the dock (accused box) and answer to the 13-count charge brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    Saraki, who was compelled by the tribunal to submit himself for arraignment, over one hour after the commencement of proceedings, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him by the tribunal’s official.

    The Senate president on Monday lost at the Court of Appeal, Abuja; the Federal High Court, Abuja and the CCT his bid to prevent the execution of the bench warrant issued against him by the CCT three days earlier. He showed up before the tribunal (CCT) around 9.30 am.

    Proceedings were delayed for about 30 minutes owing to power outage (the tribunal having earlier planned to begin sitting by 10 am). Saraki refused to enter the accused box despite request by prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the proper thing was for him to “enter the dock and take his plea”.

    Saraki sat among his supporters and fellow Senators, who formed the audience in the courtroom, while his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) argued frantically that his client was not required to first enter the dock before his objection to his trial was heard.

    Daudu, who queried the jurisdiction of the tribunal, argued that the CCT, unlike the regular court, lacked criminal jurisdiction. He said a trial before the tribunal was not criminal, adding that its order was for his client to appear before the tribunal, and that having appeared, he must not be made to enter the dock before his objection could be taken.

    Jacobs disagreed. He contended that Daudu’s argument was a repeat of the defence’s failed attempt the last day to stall proceedings. He noted that jurisdiction, the competence of the charge and the application of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by the tribunal raised again early yesterday by Daudu had been decided by the tribunal last Friday.

    He urged the tribunal to reject attempts by the defence to ridicule the nation’s judicial system and praised the Judiciary for not yielding the alleged attempt by the defence to ridicule it the previous day (Monday).

    “The defendant is working to overstretch the administration of criminal justice in the country. Yesterday (Monday), this tribunal said he should come and face trial. The Federal High Court ruled and asked him to go and face his trial. The Court of Appeal said it does not want to interfere with what is going on.

    “The Judiciary saved the nation yesterday. They wanted to put us in a state of quagmire. One can just imagine what would have happened if there were contradictory decisions by the courts,” Jacobs said and urged the tribunal to proceed with the day’s business.

    Ruling, Tribunal Chairman Justice Danladi Umar, overruled Daudu and insisted that Saraki must submit himself for arraignment.

    “It is the tribunal’s opinion that the charge before the tribunal is criminal in nature. As decided in the case of the Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Atiku Abubakar, where Justice Aboki (of the Court of Appeal) ruled that trial in the tribunal is criminal in nature.

    “It is also our ruling that the defendant in this case must enter the dock and take his plea, and thereafter any other application shall be taken. That is the order of the tribunal,” Justice Umar said.

    Saraki walked to the “accused box” where he was offered a chair to sit, following which an official of the tribunal approached him and began to read the charge to him, a count before another.

    Before responding to the first count, Saraki complained that he ought not to be before the tribunal if due process was adhered to. He said his presence before the tribunal was because he was a law-abiding citizen.

    Citing the provision of Section 3(d) of the law establishing the CCB, Saraki argued that he ought to have been confronted with any contradiction in his asset declaration form and made to provide explanation, failing which the case should be referred to the tribunal for trial.

    When told by the tribunal Chairman that it was not his duty to address the tribunal, Saraki insisted on making the point that he ought not to be before the tribunal if due process was adhered to.

    “Mr. Chairman, I will not go ahead. I just want to make this point for you to understand that, as a layman, I am puzzled why I should be before the tribunal. I thought that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) should have first called on me, according to the provision of the law. This is because the prosecution is talking about a new Nigeria.

    “We are all before the world and not just before Nigeria and we ought to be seen how we conform to due process. And that is why I felt before now; some of these issues need to be raised. So, as stated, I want to say that I am not guilty,”Saraki said. He answered “not guilty” to the other 12 counts.

    At the conclusion of the arraignment, Jacobs, as required by the ACJA, gave a summary of what the case was about. He said it was about how Saraki made anticipatory asset declaration in the forms he filed between 2003 and 2011.

    “He filed one in 2003, two in 2007 and one in 2011. These are the four asset declaration forms he filed as at when the charge was filed. The court should note that in the form he filed in 2003, he added properties on 15A and 15B Macpherson Road, Ikoyi. We will call only five witnesses to prove our case that the defendant made an anticipatory asset declaration,” Jacobs said.

    He said Saraki actually bought the assets from the Federal Government in 2007 and that he also allegedly operated a foreign account, with which he purportedly move funds out of the country while serving as governor of Kwara State. He said the prosecution needs just two days to conclude its case.

    As Jacobs spoke, Saraki’s supporters, who filled up the courtroom, intermittently interrupted him, murmuring. Some even wondered aloud why he was in haste to have the case heard.

    Daudu urged the tribunal to allow his client sufficient time to prepare his defence.

    Before adjourning, the tribunal Chairman vacated the bench warrant against Saraki. He also admitted Saraki to bail on self-recognition (since Jacobs did not object to Daudu’s application for bail) and adjourned till October 21 for the hearing of all pending applications and possibly, commencement of trial.

    As Saraki stepped off the accused box after the case was adjourned, he raised his hands and, as if on cue, his supporters, roared “Sai Bukky!”  They continued shouting his name while they all exited the tribunal, trailing him as security men led him through the rowdy crowd into his waiting car.

  • Man docked for alleged N10.5m fraud

    A 38-year-old man, Kazeem Giwa, has been arraigned in an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly absconding with N10, 518,400 given to him by one Emeka Okeke to buy baby goods.

    The prosecutor, Woman Corporal Kemi Adeniran, told the court that Giwa, of No.16 Odoleke Street, committed the offence of stealing on February 29, 2015, at No. 22, Shina Street, Ijegun Road, Lagos.

    “He obtained the money in two installments of one million and nine million naira on the pretext that he would deliver baby holding goods to the complainant,” the prosecutor told the court.

    “He had earlier won the complainant’s confidence by supplying baby goods worth two million naira at a very good price. There was a balance of one million naira left with him, but he persuaded the complainant to give him nine million naira more so that he could get more goods.”

    She said the offence contravened Sections 285 (3) (5)b and 312 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and was granted bail in the sum of one million naira and two sureties in the like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mr. O. O. Olatunji, adjourned the case till September 17, 2015.

     

     

  • Driver docked for impregnating 16-year-old girl

    Driver docked for impregnating 16-year-old girl

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 45-year-old driver, Ganiyu Afolabi, for allegedly impregnating a 16-year-old girl.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the accused should be held in prison custody until Sept. 9, when the court would deliver its ruling on his bail application.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the accused, who lives at 9, Ayinde Close, Meiran, a suburb of Lagos State, is facing a three- count charge of sexual assault, defilement and attempt to procure abortion.

    Iseghede said that the alleged offences were committed sometime in May 2015 at the accused residence.

    Iseghede alleged that the accused had called the 16-year-old victim to his room under the pretext of sending her on an errand and defiled her.

    “And when the victim told the accused that she had missed her monthly flow, he procured a drug for her to use but the girl told her mother and the accused was apprehended,” the prosecutor said.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 137, 145 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

  • Three docked for ‘raping’ teenager

    Three men have been arraigned before an Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly raping a 19- year-old girl.

    The accused are Ogundimu Iliyas, 25, a plumber who lives at 12 Salau Street, Iju; Kehinde Aderinoye, 25, an aluminium apprentice, and Ganiyu Habeeb, a welder. Aderinoye and Habeeb reside at  8, Folorunso St, Iju Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

    The suspects who are facing a two- count charge of conspiracy and rape, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Magistrate Adenike Shonubi granted them N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Shonubi also ordered them to pay N50,000 each into the registrar’s account as part of the bail conditions.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams told the court that the offences were committed on June 17 at 8, Folorunso St, Iju at around 9:30am.

    Williams said that the victim was asked to come for an important discussion by the first accused, and when she got there, she met the other two accused in the room.

    “The victim and the three accused live in the same area and they all know themselves, so the victim did not have an idea on what they planned for her.

    “When she got there, she met the three accused listening to music and before she knew what was happening, they had locked the door and threw her on the bed.

    “She shouted for help but the volume of the music was too high that no one in the compound heard her.

    “It was after they had raped and threw her out of the room that her cry attracted the neighbours,” she said.

    Williams said that the offence contravened Sections 258(1) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till July 10.