The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Igbosere

  • Man, 37, faces N18m fraud charge

    Man, 37, faces N18m fraud charge

    Usman Balumi, a 37-year-old man, on Tuesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly obtained N18 million on the pretext of supplying petroleum products to a company.

    Balumi, who resides at No. 21, Ilasan New Road, Ilasan in Lagos State, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Innocent Odugbu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 19 at 10.00 a.m. at No. 7b, Gaboro Close, off Amodu Ojikutu St., Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Odugbo said the accused obtained N18 million from one Emeka Okoli, on the pretext of supplying him petroleum products.

    According to him, the product was deemed to have been sold to the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc.

    The offences, he said, contravened Sections 285 (5) and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

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

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 provides 15 years’ imprisonment for false pretences.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. F. M. Dalley, admitted the accused to a bail of N200, 000 in addition to two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties, who should be gainfully employed, must show evidence of tax payment to the state government as part of the bail conditions.

    The case was adjourned to February 3, 2015 for mention.

  • Amen Estate tussle: Court adjourns till Oct. 9

    Amen Estate tussle: Court adjourns till Oct. 9

    A Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has adjourned till October 9, the legal tussle over the ownership of a large expanse of land on the Ajah-Epe Expressway way, known as Amen Estate.

    A firm, RedBrick Homes International Limited, said to be developing the estate, is back in court seeking to stop the execution of a judgment which was in favour of the claimants.

    But the claimants said since the firm did not appeal against the verdict, it cannot apply to restrain the judgment’s enforcement by injunction.

    Justice Habib Abiru of the court’s Ikeja Division, had on November 3, 2010, declared the claimants the rightful owners and the persons entitled to the statutory right of occupancy in respect of “all that vast area of land” at Iberekodo village in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The court granted the claimants “immediate possession” of the land, and restrained the defendants from entering or developing it.

    The land is said to be in an approximate area of 48.012 hectares, recorded by the government in Official Gazette No. 11, Vol. 30, of May 1 1997 with survey No. MISC 1109.

    RedBrick Homes had appealed a ruling by Justice Olubunmi Femi-Adeniyi of the same court, in which she declined jurisdiction when asked to set aside Justice Abiru’s judgment.

    The estate firm, which bought the land from the defendants, returned before Justice Ibironke Harrison, asking for a stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.

    During proceedings last week, counsel to the claimants (now respondents), Mr Gbenga Ojo, told the court that he had filed a preliminary objection, in which he is urging the court to strike out the application.

    But another lawyer, Femi Otairu, told the court that he had an application for change of counsel on behalf of the claimants, but Ojo insisted he still held their brief.

    The judge said: “As it is now, representation is an issue. Let’s deal with it.”

    The claimants (respondents) are: Mr Ramoni Seidu, Musefiu Rabiu, Chief Kamoru Sekere, Chief Imam Lateef Eleso, Mukaila Salau, Taiwo Aro, Alugbere Adunaini, Kamilu Agbo, Bashiru Arogungundade and Kehinde Apena. They had sued for themselves and on behalf of Iberekodo Community.

    The defendants are Mr Samsonde Arogundade, Hassan Arogundade, Idowu Arogundade and Oluwadaisi Argundade (for themselves and on behalf of Arogundade Family of Iberekodo).

    Ojo, in the Preliminary Objection, said the since the “final judgment” by Justice Abiru has been executed and warrant of enforcement as well as certificate of enforcement (Forms N and O) issued by the court’s Deputy Sherriff, an injunction cannot be granted to restrain “a completed act.”

    “Having declined jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter, the court has no jurisdiction to grant the prayers sought or make any other order at all in this matter,” the claimants said.

    Adjourning, Justice Harrison said she would take all applications regarding change of counsel on the next date.

    In its appeal, Redbrick Homes said Justice Femi-Adeniyi erred in law by refusing to assume jurisdiction, and asked for an order allowing the appeal and remitting the case-file back to the lower court for retrial before another judge.