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Tag: Lagos High Court

  • Man bags 15 years for kidnapping Emzor Pharmaceuticals’ MD’s sister

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Thursday sentenced a man, Chidiebere Nwoye, to 15 years imprisonment for his involvement in the kidnap of Mrs Gloria Emole, the wife of his gang member’s former boss.

    According to the prosecutor, the Lagos State Government, Gloria Emole is a sister of Emzor Pharmaceuticals’ Managing Director.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo convicted Nwoye after his plea of “guilty” to an amended two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted armed robbery.

    The judge held that the jail term will run from July 13, 2013, when Nwoye was first remanded in prison custody.

    Nwoye and four others – Chukwunonso Victor, Ifeanyi Maduako, Obinna Nwanko, and one Azeez, who is at large – were arraigned in July 13, 2013 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.

    Victor, Maduako and Nwanko are still on trial.

    During their arraignment, Deputy Directors of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on November 19, 2012, at about 8:30am.

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    He said they kidnapped Mrs Emole while she was leaving her home on Unity Street, Ogudu Government Reserved Area (GRA), Lagos.

    Mrs Emole was released after her abductors were paid a ransom of $70,000.

    According to Martins, the offences contravened sections 297, 295 (2) and 269, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    But, following the commencement of trial, Nwoye opted for a plea bargain.

    The charge against him was then amended to conspiracy and attempted armed robbery to which he pleaded guilty.

    During the trial, a prosecution witness, Inspector Gbenga Faguiro, who was led in evidence by Martins, narrated how the kidnap occurred.

    Faguiro said the first defendant, Chukwunonso Victor, was a former employee of Mr Chika Emole, the husband of Mrs Emole, before he was sacked for fighting in the office.

    The Inspector told the court that during investigation, the first defendant told him that the victim’s husband was his boss before he was sacked for fighting in the office.

    He testified that Victor felt Mr Emole had a hand in the death of his only child, because of his opposition to his marriage.

    Faguiro said: “The first defendant said he travelled to China and spent four years there. On his return, he met a lady friend and they got married. She gave birth but after some time, the baby died.

    “So the first defendant got angry and said it was his boss that killed his child because his boss warned him not to marry the lady.

    “The first defendant called the other defendants and one Azeez, who is at large, and they kidnapped the victim.”

    He said on November 19, 2012, at about 8:30am, Mrs Emole was about to leave her house on Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, and she gave key to her security guard to open the gate.

    The guard opened the gate and, as she was getting into her car, six gunmen accosted, grabbed her and covered her head with a hood.

    Faguiro said they threatened the security guard with their weapons and “The Mallam, (security guard) started shouting ‘Allah, Allah, don’t kill me’.”

    The court heard that the gang drove their victim to an abandoned hotel in Ikorodu.

    The witness continued: “When they got inside, they asked her to call her husband and they started demanding a ransom of $300,000.”

    Faguiro said the victim’s brother eventually paid $70,000 to one of the suspects, who is at large, at Ojodu Berger area of Lagos.

    “Chukwunonso and the other defendants, after collecting the money, took one of the victim’s phones from her bag. They also used her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw money from her account,” he added.

    The court further heard that after her kidnap, Mr Emole reported the case at Ogudu Police Station, from where the case was transferred to the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) Ikeja.

    Faguiro added that following her release, “She (Mrs Emole) said the defendants were still with one of her phones. The SIB then collected the phone number and tracked it. That was how the first defendant, Chukwunonso, was arrested, which led to the arrest of the other defendants.”

  • Evans: Absence of defence counsel stall trial

    The trial of alleged Kidnap Kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere was stalled on Monday due to the absence of his lawyer from the court.

    At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the court was informed that Evans’ counsel Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku sent in a letter that he would not be available and asked for an adjournment.

    Evans is facing two separate charges, bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    At the last adjourned date, a fifth prosecution witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, had told the court of how he travelled from Lagos to Eastern part of the country to drop $1 million ransom to the alleged kidnappers of his employer.

    Ezeuko, a manager in the firm of the victim of the alleged kidnap kingpin, Mr James Uduji, had made the revelation while giving evidence before Justice Akintoye.

    He had also told the court that he agreed to travel from Lagos to the east to drop the ransom in order to save his boss’ life.

    Ezeuko had narrated to the court how he paid $1 million ransom in two tranches of $800, 000 and $200,000 dollars to the kidnappers of his employer.

    Led in evidence in Chief by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Lagos State Mr Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Ezeuko had told the court that on September 7, 2015, his employer came to the factory at Agbara as he usually does, adding that at about 5.00pm he received a call that his employer who had left the factory for home was kidnapped.

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    However, after some weeks of the alleged kidnap on October 10, 2015, he got a call from somebody on a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.

    “My boss then spoke to me and said if I want him alive, I should go to the east to deliver money to the alleged kidnappers.

    “I went to FESTAC and met Mr Edwin Uduji, the victim’s brother, who arranged the first $800, 000 for me to travel with.

    “On October 11, which was the next day, I drove down to the east with the victim’s elder sister, in the east, a voice gave us instructions on how to drop the money,” Ezeuko said.

    Another witness, Sergeant Kingsley Harold had also given evidence in the first charge in which Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba, for alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus.

    Harold who was led by Dr Jide Martins said after Evans was arrested, he was asked to make a statement at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS)office Ikeja but Evans said he was not too good in writing.

    The case has been adjourned till October 24, for continuation of trial.

  • PDP chief’s murder: Court hears suspects’ bail application Thursday

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere will on Thursday hear five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members’ bail application following their remand for alleged murder.

    The applicants are Rotimi Kujore, Ismaila Abiola, Kehinde Fasasi, Fatai Adele and Amos Fawole.

    They were accused by the police of involvement in the killing of the PDP’s Apapa Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman, Adeniyi Aborishade, on July 21.

    Vacation judge Justice Emmanuel Ogundare fixed the date on August 16 following an application by their counsel, Mr K.O. Osinowo, seeking leave to apply for their bail.

    Osinowo brought the application by way of an August 7 motion ex parte, explaining that the matter was for urgent hearing.

    According to him, the defendants were being held for an offence they were innocent of.

    “They were in a meeting and one of them got shot,” Osinowo told the judge.

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    He drew the court’s attention to the dismissal of the same charge against the Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Moshood Salvador and 10 others, by an Ikeja High Court, following a DPP report exonerating them.

    He said: “I believe that the same thing will also happen when the DPP’s advice concerning these defendants is out.”

    The police docked the men before Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe of the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on July 25 for alleged conspiracy and unlawful killing.

    Mr Komolafe granted the police’s request for their remand for 30 days in prison custody pending a Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advice on the case.

    But they challenged their detention at the high court.

  • Alleged murder: Court to hear five PDP members’ bail application

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Thursday adjourned till August 23 to hear five People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members’ bail application following their remand for alleged murder.

    The defendants are Rotimi Kujore, Ismaila Abiola, Kehinde Fasasi, Fatai Adele and Amos Fawole.

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    They were accused of involvement in the killing of the PDP’s Apapa Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman, Adeniyi Aborishade, on July 21.

    The police docked the men before Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe of the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on July 25 for alleged conspiracy and unlawful killing.

    Mr Komolafe granted the police’s request for their remand for 30 days in prison custody pending a Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advice on the case.

    But they challenged their detention at the high court.

    When the matter, came up yesterday before vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, the defendants’ counsel, Mr K. O. Osinowo, sought the leave of the court to apply for their bail.

    He brought the application by way of an August 7 motion ex parte, explaining that the matter was for urgent hearing.

    According to him, the defendants were being held for an offence they were innocent of.

    “They were in a meeting and one of them got shot,” Osinowo told the judge.

    He drew the court’s attention to the dismissal of the same charge against the Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Moshood Salvador and 10 others, by an Ikeja High Court on Tuesday, following a DPP report exonerating them.

    He said: “I believe that the same thing will also happen when the DPP’s advice concerning these defendants is out.”

    Justice Ogundare granted his prayer and adjourned the hearing of the motion ex-parte till August 23.

  • Alleged murder: Court releases Lagos PDP Chairman, Moshood Salvador

    A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has released the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Moshood Salvador and 10 others charged trial for alleged murder.

    Vacation judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson also released 10 others who were docked for the offence alongside Salvador.

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    They were charged following the death on July 21 of the party chairman in Apapa Local Government Area, Adeniyi Aborishade.

    The prosecution alleged that Aborishade was murdered during the PDP’s “visitation meeting” that held at Igbosuku Village, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

    The 10 others are: Kehinde Fasasi, Rotimi Kujore, Fatai Adele, Ismaila Abiola, Amos Fawole, Victoria Falowo, Mukaila Odukoya, Oropo Isaac, Mohammed Babangida and Ugochukwu Nwoke.

    Details later…

  • OPC man jailed 25 years for killing trader

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Thursday sentenced Jelili Falana an ‘Assistant Vigilante’ in the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) office at Agege, Lagos, to 25 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya convicted Falana of the 20l4 shooting to death of a herbal medicine hawker, Afolashade Adedoyin Salami.

    The court found that the convict shot Salami and dumped her corpse in a disused soak away.

    The sentence followed Falana’s second re-arraignment on December 7, 2016 on a one-count amended charge of murder contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

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    The convict was previously arraigned by the Lagos State Government on January 11, 2016 and re-arraigned on an amended charge on February 1, 2016.

    He pleaded not guilty on the three occasions following which trial commenced.

    But in her judgment, Justice Ogunsanya held that the facts of the case were more consistent with manslaughter than murder.

    The sentence, which was without an option of a fine, takes effect from 2016.

    According to prosecution counsel Adebayo Haroun and Adeyemi Bamgbose, Falana committed the offence on or about June 15, 2014 at about 10:30pm at an OPC Vigilance Office 1n Agege.

    The case was reported to the Railway Police Division, Agege, by the OPC Coordinator or Chairman in the area, Mr. Adekunle Adegoke.

    In the convict’s statement to the police, which was admitted in evidence, Falana said he knew the deceased as a “local nurse’ and drug hawker who placed him on malaria medication on the morning of the incident.

    Falana said the deceased was on her way home but stopped at the OPC office to check on him at about 10pm.

    As she sat beside him he began fondling his single-barreled gun, but it went off and shot her in the head, following which she died.

    He became confused and afraid so he dumped her body and the gun in the soak away.

    The office and the soak away was divided by the rail track along Old Abeokuta Road, Agege.

    A prosecution witness, Inspector Gloria Anumo, testified that during interrogation Falana stated that he seized the gun from hoodlums and was using it for vigilance work, but that he neither had a license for nor knew how to operate it.

     

  • Trader on trial for ‘defiling 11-year-old girl in toilet’

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Tuesday ordered a trader, Emmanuel Egejuru, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter in a toilet, to enter his defence.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya dismissed Egejuru’s no case submission to a one-count charge of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The judge held that the Lagos State prosecution team led by Mr Adebayo Haroun had made a prima facie case against Egejuru, which required some explanations from him.

    Justice Ogunsanya held: “The defendant has been sufficiently linked with the offence as to require an explanation from him.

    “His no-case submission is overruled. The defendant is hereby called upon to enter his defence.”
    Egejuru, 58, was accused of committing the offences “sometime in the month of November 2017 and February 2018.”

    He pleaded not guilty.

    In his no-case submission, Egejuru disputed the prosecution’s claim that Hayatu was a minor.
    His counsel, Christian Emewulu, who later withdrew from the case, said the age of the victim was not established and there was no birth certificate. He faulted the prosecution’s failure to tender a medical report to prove defilement.

    Emewulu said Egejuru did not rape Hayatu. He argued that Egejuru and Hayatu had consensual sex in the toilet.

    But the prosecution insisted that Hayatu was defiled.

    Haroun told the court that the crime was reported to the police by Hayatu’s elder brother Isiaka Mohammed with whom she lived in the tenement building in Iyana Ipaja.

    Mohammed told the police that when he returned from work, he became suspicious when he saw Hayatu “walking somehow.”

    The prosecution also told the court that another neighbour, Mrs Grace Ubong, corroborated Mohammed’s claim.

    Ubong reportedly saw Hayatu go into the toilet, followed soon after by Egejuru. The girl later came out crying and walking awkwardly, she said.

    Haroun also submitted that the girl was below 18, so, there was no need to produce a birth certificate.

    Following the ruling, however, Egejuru declined to enter a defence.

    His new counsel, Chief O. Etudo, said the defendant would not testify.

    Etudo added: “Therefore, we ask for a date to file our final written address.”

    Justice Ogunsanya adjourned till June 27 for adoption of the parties’ final written addresses.

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  • Breaking: Fake engineer bags 1,230 years for N28m scam

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has sentenced a self-proclaimed site engineer and housing agent, Babatunde Habeeb, to 1,230 years imprisonment for a N28 million scam.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye convicted Habeeb, also known as Babatunde Salaudeen, of defrauding 101 accommodation seekers under the pretext of renting them 13 apartments in a building at Alapere-Ketu, Lagos.

    She found him guilty of 82 counts of conspiring with his elder brother, Alhaji Ishola Salaudeen, and obtaining the N28m under false pretence.

    According to the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Alhaji Salaudeen, who owns the property, is at large.

    The court said the EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    According to the commission, the convict committed the offences in 2013.

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  • Barber bags 42 years for robbery

    Barber bags 42 years for robbery

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has sentenced an apprentice barber, Samuel Edet, to 42 years in prison for robbery.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya convicted Edet of robbing an aluminium technician Adewale Elelo of his Nissan Pathfinder on February 21, 2012.

    She sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit robbery and another 21 years for robbery.

    The sentences, which were without an option of a fine, will run concurrently, meaning Edet will spend only 21 years in jail.

    Edet, from Akwa Ibom State, was arraigned on April 27, 2015, on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.

    Prosecuting counsel Haroun Adebayo said the offences contravened sections 297 and 295(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Edet pleaded not guilty.

    During a nearly three-year trial, Elelo testified that the incident occurred on June 15, 2012 between 10 and 11pm.

    Elelo said: “I was returning from a C & S Church after a revival when, at St. Paul Street, along Agbado Road, leaving Toyin Bus Stop, the second street by the left, I saw a black Jeep waiting ahead of me. I drove towards it slowly and the car flashed its full headlights at me. I became afraid.

    “He (Edet) alighted from the Jeep and accosted me, asking me to alight and demanded for my key. He asked me to get into the boot of my vehicle, but I ran away and pressed the remote control of my vehicle that was in my pocket.

    “I got to a police check point at Toyin Bus Stop and alerted the police that I had been robbed. The policemen and passers-by came to my rescue and found the defendant in the car because the remote control had made the car immovable.”

    According to Elelo, Edet’s accomplices zoomed off as soon as the crowd arrived.

    But Edet denied the allegations. He described himself as the victim of police illegal arrest.

    Edet said: “I live at Ajegunle and work as an apprentice barber. I was on my way to look for a shop or work when at Ojuelegba Bus Stop I saw people running and shouting ‘Ole’ ‘Ole’ meaning thief, thief and I was arrested and taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), where the police wrote something on paper and asked me to sign.”

    According to Edet, he was threatened that if he refused to sign he would be shot; hence, be signed.

    But Justice Ogunsanya held that Elelo’s testimony, as well as that of the other eyewitnesses were credible.

    She observed that there were several inconsistencies in Edet’s testimony, including his statement that he was looking for a shop or work at about 10:30pm on the night of the robbery.

    The judge said: “The court believes the witnesses’ evidence that it is the defendant that stole the car. The victim positively identified the defendant as the person who robbed him.”

    The court also noted that in Edet’s written statement to the police, he confessed to the crime, and that the confessional statement was not challenged by his counsel when it was tendered in court by the prosecution.

    Justice Ogunsanya said: “The court is satisfied that the defendant is as guilty as charged.”

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  • Unemployed man remanded for robbing bishop of $500

    Unemployed man remanded for robbing bishop of $500

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Wednesday remanded an unemployed man, Soliu Adeniran, who allegedly robbed a cleric of $500 at gun point.

    Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile made the order following Adeniran’s arraignment for conspiracy and armed robbery by the Lagos State Government.

    Justice Okikiolu-Ighile remanded Adeniran in prison custody and adjourned till May 7 for trial.

    Earlier, prosecuting Counsel J. A. Koku and S. O. Fashola said the defendant and his accomplices, who are at large, committed the alleged offences at about 5:45pm on February 17, 2014 at the Festac Extension area of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area (LGA).

    They accused Adeniran and his gang of accosting the cleric, Bishop Ray Bakeh, on the street and dispossessing him of his phones, wristwatch and wallet containing $500 cash.

    According to the prosecutors, the offences contravened sections 295 and 295(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    Adeniran pleaded not guilty.