The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FCT High Court

  • Court to deliver judgment on Apo six March 9

    Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court would on March 9 deliver  judgment in the alleged extra judicial killing of six Apo traders.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the slain traders were Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwodike and Augustina Arebun.

    The Attorney General of the Federation in 2005 charged six police officers to court for the alleged crime.

    The defendants are Danjuma Ibrahim, Othman Abdulsalami , Nicholas Zakaria, Ezekiel Acheneje, Baba Emmanuel and Sadiq Salami.

    They were arraigned on a 9-count charge of conspiracy and culpable homicide, which contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 221 (a) of the Penal Code Law.

    NAN recalls that the absence of the defendants (Ibrahim) presently enjoying a court bail had stalled the judgment earlier slated for Feb.13.

    The defendants allegedly played different parts in the killing of the victims, aged between 21 years and 25 years, while they were returning from a night party on June 7, 2005 in Abuja.

    Following their deaths and the subsequent public outcry, an official panel of inquiry was set up by ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to unravel the plot.

    The report of the panel said that the victims were at a nightclub located at Gimbiya Street, Area 11 in Abuja on the night of the incident.

    The panel further said that face-off had ensued between Ibrahim and the group when the female victim (Augustina) allegedly turned down Ibrahim’s love advances at the club.

    NAN further recalls that the other five policemen accused of the killings and eight other police witnesses had testified that Ibrahim, the senior police officer among them, had allegedly ordered the killings.

    However, the defendants, including Ibrahim, had pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

    NAN further reports that the provisions of Sections 97 and 221 (a) of the Penal Code Law with which the defendants were tried attracts death sentence.

     

  • Fresh application stalls commencement of Dasuki’s trial

    Fresh application stalls commencement of Dasuki’s trial

    A fresh application filed by retired Col. Sambo Dasuki on Friday stalled commencement of his trial at an FCT High Court, Maitama.

    His counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court that he was not ready for the commencement of trial because he has an application for consolidation, pending before the court.

    “It will amount to a waste of time if the issue of the application is not resolved because it has a connection with the sister case” he said.

    Responding, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the prosecuting counsel, decried delay in commencing trial, adding that after arraignment in 2015, trial was yet to commence.

    “Your lordship gave a sufficient time since the last sitting on Jan. 24 in which the 2nd defendant (Dasuki) could have filed any motion, but he filed it only yesterday, and the sister case has commenced already.

    “He just wanted to try his luck, this should not be a legal gambling” he said.

    Other defendants in the suit are: Amb. BashirYuguda, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, Dalhatu Investment Ltd, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State.

    They were arraigned on a 22- count charge bordering on diversion, conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and criminal breach of trust of about N19.4 billion.

    In the sister case Dasuki was arraigned on a 19-count charge bordering on diversion of funds.

    Other defendant are: Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director, among others.

    All the cases are now pending before Justice Husseni Baba-Yusuf

    Justice Baba-Yusuf after listening to the submissions from parties adjourned the case till March 2 for hearing of Dasuki’s motion.

  • Witness absence stalls Dariye’s trial again

    Witness absence stalls Dariye’s trial again

    The trial of former governor of Plateau state, Chief Joshua Dariye, was once again stalled in an FCT High Court, Gudu,Abuja, due to the absence of defence witness.

    Dariye, who was present in court on Tuesday, is facing a 23-count charge of money laundering and diversion of Plateau State ecological fund to the tune of N1.162 billion.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Garba Pwul (SAN), told the court that one of the witnesses had travelled  out of the country and could not be served with summons.

    He said the court bailiff could not reach the witness because there had been no working day in between the last adjourned date and Tuesday.

    The trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who expressed dissatisfaction at the development, adjourned the case to January 18 and 19 next year for the continuation of defence.

  • Dariye: Absence of defence witness stalls trial

    Dariye: Absence of defence witness stalls trial

    The trial of former governor of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye, was on Friday stalled in an FCT High Court Gudu, due to the absence of defence witness.

    Dariye, who is facing a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of an ecological fund to the tune of N1.162billion, was present in court.

    The defence counsel, Mr Fidelis Kaatpo, holding the brief of Mr Garba Pwul (SAN), told the court that two of the witnesses were yet to be served summons.

    “The court bailiff was unable to serve them because they were not reachable,’’ he said.

    He also said that the witnesses reside in Jos.

    In his response, the EFCC lead prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed concern that unnecessary adjournments may delay the conclusion of the matter.

    The trial judge, Justice Abebukola Banjoko, ordered that a fresh court summons is served on the witnesses.

    She adjourned the case till Tuesday, Dec.13 for the continuation of defence.

  • Dasuki: Absence of 2nd defendant stalls proceeding, adjourned until Jan. 25

    Dasuki: Absence of 2nd defendant stalls proceeding, adjourned until Jan. 25

    The absence of Salisu Shuaibu, the 2nd defendant and former Director of Finance and Account (DFA) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) stalled proceedings in Sambo Dasuki’s case at FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

    Dasuki, former NSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on diversion of about N13.6 billion.

    He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, former DFA in the NSA Office, together with Aminu Baba-Kusa, former NNPC Executive Director.

    Also tried were two firms — Acacia Holding Ltd. and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd.

    At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said he had been served with the medical report of the 2nd defendant confirming that he (Salisu Shuaibu) had been hospitalised.

    Atolagbe also told the court that the trial could not proceed in the absence of the second defendant and therefore applied for a short adjournment pending the recovery of the defendant.

    Shuaibu’s Counsel, Mr Adetayo Adeyemo, also apologised to the court that his client could not be in court because of illness.

    He told Justice Baba-Yusuf that the medical report of his client had already been made available to the court, the prosecution and other parties in the trial.

    Counsel to other defendants did not object to the application for an adjournment.

    Thereafter, Justice Baba-Yusuf noted that since the charge was filed, the second defendant had always been in court and for that reason, the court is obliged to grant the request for the adjournment.

    He then adjourned the trial until Jan. 25.

    Meanwhile, the second charge referred from Justice Peter Affen to Justice Baba-Yusuf was similarly adjourned until Jan. 24 for re-arraignment.

    Salisu Shuaibu is the 3rddefendant in that matter also.

    In the matter before Justice Peter Affen, Dauski is the second defendant, while Amb. Bashir Yuguda is the first defendant.

    Others are Dalhatu Investment Ltd., Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafaarawa, former governor of Sokoto State.

    They were arraigned on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28,315 million.

  • Court grants bail to former FCT minister

    Court grants bail to former FCT minister

    An FCT High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sen. Bala Mohammed, former Minister of FCT.

    Mohammed, minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since Oct. 21 following public petitions against him.

    He filed a motion on Notice on Nov. 16 before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf for enforcement of his fundamental right which he said EFCC had violated.

    Baba-Yusuf said the bail was granted according to the provisions of sections 165 and 158 (b) of the Administration of Justice Act 2015.

    The judge held that “the right to bail includes the right to fair hearing.

    The judge held that the applicant met the bail conditions given to him by the EFCC but EFCC failed to verify it.

    Baba-Yusuf granted the applicant bail in the same conditions as was given by EFCC without any amount.

    He is, however, to produce two sureties of the rank of directors in federal civil service who must have certified landed properties in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    He also ordered that the applicant should deposit his international passport in the court.

    Baba-Yusuf fixed Dec. 14 to hear the substantive case. 

  • Absence of defendant stalls alleged recruitment scam case

    The absence of a 56-year-old former Fire Service staff, Dada Olatunji,on Wednesday stalled his trial in an FCT High Court, Abuja.

    Olatunji resident of Kubwa Abuja is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense.

    The judge, Justice Mamman Kolo, adjourned the case till Oct. 17, for continuation of hearing.

    EFCC counsel Andrew Akoja said that he was informed that the defendant was remanded in Keffi Prison Nasarawa State, in a sister case at Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court.

    Akoja said the offence contravened sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

    He said that the former fire service staff collected N570,000 from Robert Matthew and Theresa Abah.

    The defendant collected the money under false pretense that the money represented payment for processing their employment at the Federal Fire Service, Abuja.

    The defence counsel, Mr Teslim Agboola, had told the court that the defendant was absent in court due to circumstances beyond his control.

    He said the defendant was remanded in Keffi Prison in a sister case at the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court and his bail was yet to be perfected.

  • Court rules on alleged fake doctor’s case October 31

    Court rules on alleged fake doctor’s case October 31

    An FCT High Court, Apo, will deliver ruling on October 31 in suit against a fake doctor, Ugwu Martins, for alleged making false statement to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had slammed an eight-count charge against Martins bordering on false statements and impersonation on June 28, 2015.

    Justice Abubakar Idris-Kutigi fixed the date on Monday after the Defence Counsel, Oghenovo Otemu, argued his preliminary objection dated May 20.

    Otemu, who also adopted his written address, urged the court to strike out the charges against Martins because same proceeding was going on at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He further said that Martins was charged with forgery, stealing and impersonation by the Inspector –General of Police.

    “The proof of evidence attached to both charges against the defendant is also the same and the offences are both punishable under the ICPC Act and Penal Code.

    “The languages and laws used are the only differences but the offences are the same,” he said.

    The prosecutor, Akponimisingha Osuobeni, who adopted written address dated May 31, argued that Martins had not been convicted in any of the courts yet.

    Osuobeni also said that Otemu had not shown to the court that the trial of the defendant was going on in any Federal High Court, adding that Otemu’s application was misconceived.

    “The preliminary objection is a distraction, and I urge the court to hold our position that the charges against the defendant in the Federal High Court are not the same with that of this court,’’ he said

    The ICPC had charged Martins with making false statement to the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission and presented educational certificates of Dr George Davidson to gain employment.

    Martins, however, gained employment to the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, and earned salaries and allowances from Sept. 21 2006 to May 31, 2015 to the tune of N17.02 million

    The defendant claimed he was the next of kin to Davidson and also Davidson himself.

    He also applied for a staff Identity card with the name from the ministry and applied to participate in the 2014, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme.

    The defendant applied for updates of his promotion arrears, annual leave, and casual leave with the name.

    The offences contravened Section 25(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 132 of the Penal Code.

  • Court slams N50m bail on AVM Alikali Mawu

    Court slams N50m bail on AVM Alikali Mawu

    An FCT High Court on Friday granted bail to AVM Alikali Mawu, a former Air Officer Training Command, bail in the sum of N50 million for alleged bribery.

    Mawu, a member of Committee for Procurement in the Ministry of Defence, was arraigned on June 21 before Justice Salisu Garba on a three-count charge of bribery.

    Garba, in his ruling, held that the defendant had been on an administrative bail and never defaulted.

    “Only in capital offences are bail not granted to the suspect, I have considered the affidavits filed by the defendant and I am convinced that he desired the bail.

    “The defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million, a surety in the like sum, who must have a property within Abuja with title deed in Abuja,’’ he said.

    Garba ordered that the defendant should deposit his international passport with the court.

    Mawu’s counsel, Tawo E. Tawo (SAN), had prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail.

    Tawo said that the motion was brought pursuance to sections 162, 163 and 164 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    EFCC Counsel Cosmos Ugwu urged the court to commence trial after ruling on the bail application, noting that the prosecution had two witnesses in the court.

    But, Tawo objected and prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable the defendant to properly brief him.

    Tawo told the court that he was yet to get in touch with the defendant since June 21 when he was remanded.

    At the last sitting, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission had alleged that Mawu collected a cash gift of N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque.

    He also received two vehicles -Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon valued N15 million and N12 million, respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

    The court adjourned the matter till Sept. 30 for commencement of trial.

  • Judge decries Oronsaye’s counsel absence

    Judge decries Oronsaye’s counsel absence

    An FCT High Court on Thursday decried the absence of the counsel to Steve Oronsaye, a former Head of Service of the Federation.

    Oronsaye was arraigned on a two-count of criminal breach of trust and was granted bail at the last hearing.

    He alleged deposited N190 million meant for the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, which he chaired into a fixed bond in different banks.

    The judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck said that when matters were fixed based on the consent of all counsel it should be kept.

    She expressed worries that out of the three senior advocates handling this case, not even one appeared.

    “This suit was fixed by consent and participation of all counsel for the hearing of this matter today. This court frowns at the absence of the lead senior advocate in this suit.

    “The adjournment will be reluctantly granted in the expectation that the defence team will accord this suit the seriousness it deserved.

    “In other words, an adjournment of this kind will not be entertained nor allowed in the future,’’ she held.

    She, therefore, adjourned the case till April 13 for hearing.

    Earlier, Mr. Barth Ogar, hold the brief of the lead counsel to Oronsaye, applied for adjournment.

    Ogar said that the lead counsel could not appear because he was joining Chief Kanu Agabi to appear in another case at Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Prosecuting Counsel Offem Uket opposed the application, and submitted that other senior advocates in the suit should have appeared.