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Tag: Igbosere Magistrates’ Court

  • Court remands man over taxi driver’s death

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded in prison Ikechukwu Ozurumba, who was charged with killing a taxi driver.

    Magistrate O. O. Oshin‘s order followed Ozurumba’s arraignment by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Adeniji-Adele, Lagos.

    Ozurumba, 29, and Chima Chukwuemeka, 34, were arraigned on a five-count charge of murder, theft and accessory after the fact.

    They were also accused of stealing the taxi driver’s Toyota Camry car valued at N1.5 million.

    Prosecuting counsel A. O. Fadipe alleged that the duo committed the offence last December 26 in Festac Town and Okokomaiko, Lagos.

    He said Ozurumba, conspired with one Kelechi (aka Sunshine), still at large, and killed a Taxify driver, Olufemi Ebenezer.

    Fadipe alleged that they hit Ebenezer, who hailed from Akoko in Ondo State, with tools, resulting in his death.

    He said Ozurumba dumped the body at Jimoh Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos.

    The prosecutor said the defendant also made away with the victim’s car marked SMK-980 FM.

    He said the second Chukwuemeka, “with the knowledge that the first defendant committed an offence, accommodated him, to prevent his arrest by the police.”

    The offences also violate Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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    Ozurumba’s plea was not taken, because the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

    But Chukwuemeka pleaded not guilty to the charge of accessory after the fact.

    The defendants’ counsel, Mr. Francis Agaoro, prayed the court to grant Chukwuemeka bail, because the charge “is a bailable offence.”

    But Fadipe prayed the court to remand the defendants.

    He said Chukwuemeka was charged under the Robbery and Firearms Act, which falls under the jurisdiction of the high court.

    Ruling, Magistrate Oshin remanded Ozurumba, pending advice by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and granted Chukwuemeka N250, 000 bail.

    The case continues on May 28.

     

  • Ex-banker’s failure to get lawyer stalls trial

    THE non-appearance of a lawyer for a former Wena Bank worker, Kazeem Olawuwo,  yesterday stalled his trial for alleged fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

    The police on January 3 charged Olawuwo, 37, and his female friend, Risikatu Wahab, 35, on a 12-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    At yesterday’s resumed hearing,  Magistrate T. A. Idowu noticed that the defendants had no lawyers.

    She ordered the defendants to ensure that they got lawyers before the next adjourned date of April 2.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said the accused committed the offence sometime between October 2016 and April 2018, at Wema Bank Plc, Orile Iganmu branch, Lagos.

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    He alleged that Olawuwo used his position to fraudulently transfer N2.4 million to different accounts.

    The prosecutor said the money was transferred in tranches from customers’ accounts to Olawuwo’s friends’ accounts.

    Wahab, he said, was one of Olawuwo’s friends who received the cash,  with the knowledge that the transaction was done fraudulently.

    Mameh said Olawuwo fraudulently transferred N500, 000 to Wahab from a customer’s  account.

    The prosecutor said Olawuwo transferred N1.9 million to Kazeem Olanrewaju, who is at large, adding that the transfer was done five times.

     

     

  • Lawyer’s absence stalls banker’s ‘N2. 4m fraud’ trial

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Tuesday adjourned till April 2 the trial of an ex Wema Bank employee, Kazeem Olawuwo, accused of stealing N2.4 million from several of the bank’s customers’ accounts.

    Magistrate T. A. Idowu fixed the date following the absence of defence counsel.

    Olawuwo, 37, was arraigned on January 31 alongside his female friend, Risikatu Wahab, 35, on a 12-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    When the case came up Tuesday, Miss Idowu observed that the defendants had no legal representation.

    She told the defendants to ensure they got a counsel before the next adjournment.

    At their arraignment, Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh alleged that the defendants committed the offences between October 2016 and April 2018, at Wema Bank Plc, Orile Iganmu branch, Lagos.

    He said Olawuwo abused his position as a staff of the bank by fraudulently transferring N2.4m to different accounts.

    According to the prosecutor, the monies were moved in tranches from different customers’ accounts to Olawuwo’s friends’ bank accounts.

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    The court heard that the second defendant, Wahab, was one of Olawuwo’s friends who received the monies despite knowledge that the transaction was fraudulent.

    Olawuwo allegedly fraudulently transferred N500, 000 to Wahab from a customer’s 0222111335 account no.

    The prosecutor said Olawuwo transferred a total of N1.9 million to one Kazeem Olanrewaju, who is still at large, adding that the transfer to Olarewaju was done in five tranches.

    He told the court that the money was the property of Wema Bank.

    The offences, according to Mameh, contravened Sections 287 (7), 365 (1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Onamusi granted each defendant N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum, among other conditions.

    Olawuwo was also subsequently arraigned on a separate one-count charge of fraud.

    Mameh said Olawuwo committed this alleged offence on March 2, 2018, at Wema Bank.

    He said Olawuwo fraudulently transferred N300, 000 to one Wasiu Bakare still at large, in contravention of Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Mameh said the money belonged to Wema Bank Plc.

    Olawuwo pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Onamusi granted him N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

     

     

  • Sales reps steal employer’s N15m

    Two sales representatives, Kate Onyemaechi and Patrick Abu, who allegedly stole N15 million from their employer, were yesterday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

    Onyemaechi, 23, and Abu, 26, are standing trial before Magistrate M. O. Ope-Agbe.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh alleged that the duo committed the offence on 41, Udeco Medical Road, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos, between September 2018 and February 2019, at about 7am.

    He said the defendants stole N15 million belonging to the complainant, Mac-Bena Supermarket and Pharmacy Ltd.

    The prosecutor said the defendants sold some items from the shop, but did not remit the money to the complainant’s account.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Ope-Agbe granted them N7 million bail with one surety each in the like sum.

    The case continues on March 5.

     

  • Complainant’s absence stalls N39.7m fraud trial

    Trial of a 38-year-old self-acclaimed building contractor, Dehinbo Olatunji, accused of obtaining N39.7 million under false pretenses, was on Thursday stalled due to absence of the complainant in court.

    The defendant, whose residential address was not given, is facing trial before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing preferred against him.

    When the case came up for trial, the complainant was absent and the Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Botoku, could not proceed.

    Botoku granted the defendant bail of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

    The magistrate said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government which must be verified.

    She then adjourned the case until March 25 for mention.

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    Police prosecutor, Inspector Ibrahim Haruna, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometimes in June 2018 at Wasimi, Maryland in Lagos.

    Haruna said that Olatunji obtained N39.7 million from the complainant, Emmanuel Sunday, under the guise of using the money to complete a building project for him, but failed to do so.

    The prosecutor said that the money was paid into the defendant’s Zenith Bank account.

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

     

  • Man, 44, faces unlawful damage of property charge

    A 44-year-old man, Ganiyu Rasaq, was on Thursday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly damaging uncompleted classroom blocks worth N6 million.

    The defendant, whose address was not given, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful damage.

    The Prosecutor, Inspector Ingobo Emby, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2017, at Iponri Community, Surulere, Lagos.

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    He said that the defendant and others at large unlawfully damaged three uncompleted classroom blocks worth N6 million, belonging to Iponri Community.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 351 (a) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant denied the charge preferred against him.

    The Magistrate, Miss M. O. Ope-Agbe, granted the defendant N2 million bail with one surety in like sum.

    Ope-Agbe said that the surety must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.

    She also ordered that the surety’s address must be verified by the court.

    The case was adjourned until March 5 for mention.

  • Debtor charged with N900,000 theft

    A 43-year-old businessman, Pius Eke, who allegedly borrowed N900,000 from a leasing firm but failed to pay back, was on Monday charged with stealing at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Eke, 43, is facing a three-count charge of stealing and issuance of dud cheques before Mrs A. A. Famobiwo.

    Prosecuting Inspector Steven Molo alleged that the defendant committed the offences between December 2016 and February 2017, at No. 20, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.

    He said Eke stole N900,000, belonging to Micro Leasing Ltd.

    Molo told the court that Eke obtained the said sum from the firm with a promise to pay back but did not do so.

    The court heard that following demands for repayment, Eke, on April 24, 2017 and May 24, 2017, issued two Skye Bank cheques of N69, 640 each to the firm.

    But both cheques were dishonoured when presented due to insufficient funds.

    The offences, according to Molo, violated sections 287, 321(b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Eke pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Famobiwo granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum, among other conditions.

    The case continues on February 26.

  • Building contractor charged with N39.7m theft

    A self-proclaimed building contractor, Dehinbo Olatunji, who allegedly obtained N39, 730,000 under false pretence, was on Thursday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Olatunji, 38, was arraigned by the Police before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku on a two-count charge of obtaining and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Haruna Ibrahim alleged that the defendant committed the offences sometime in June 2018, at Wasimi Maryland, in Lagos.

    Ibrahim said Olatunji obtained N39, 730,000 from one Emmanuel Sunday, who deposited it in the defendant’s Zenith Bank account number bearing the name ‘Dehinbo Anthony Olatunji.’

    The court heard that the defendant collected the sum following an agreement that he would complete Sunday’s building project at Calabar, the Cross River State capital, but he failed to do so.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Olatunji pleaded “Not guilty”.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N1million, with two sureties in the like sum, among other conditions.

    The case continues on February 14.

  • Man remanded for defiling 10-year-old step daughter

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a 58-year-old man, Sunday Akpan, who allegedly defiled his 10-year-old step daughter.

    Akpan, of Thomas Estate, Ajah, Lagos, was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of defilement before Mrs K. O. Doja-Ojo.

    Prosecuting Inspector Peace Chukwudi alleged that the defendant committed the offence at about 2pm on December 8, at 1004 building, Thomas Estate, Ajah, Lagos.

    She said Akpan had “unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl without her consent.”

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    According to her, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Akpan’s plea was not taken.

    The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant pending legal advice on the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Magistrate Doja-Ojo granted her application and remanded Akpan in prison custody.

    She ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to DPP for legal advice.

    The case was adjourned till January 9 for DPP’s advice.

  • Woman faces N1.7m theft charge

    A 46-year-old businesswoman, Vivian Onwuka, was on Friday docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N1.7 million realised from sale of diesel.

    Onwuka, who resides at No. 10, Top View Estate, off Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Abbass Abayomi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 23, 2017, in Lagos.

    He said that the accused conspired with others still at large, sold 33, 000 litres of diesel belonging to the complainant, Mr Abayomi Bakare, but refused to remit the proceed to the owner’s bank account.

    The prosecutor said that the diesel was valued at N1.7 million.

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    He said that the offences contravene Sections 409 and 278 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr A. A. Adefulire, granted her bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adefulire said that the sureties must be gainfully employed, must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.

    He adjourned the case until Jan. 16 for mention.

    NAN