The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawyer

  • Why we attacked lawyer, by suspects

    The two suspects arrested for attempting to kill a Lagos lawyer, Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha, have told the police that they attacked him for not paying their salary when due.

    This was contained in a statement by police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), in reaction to reports on Mbadugha’s attack.

    According to Oti, the suspects identified as Kingsley Asuquo, 19 and Isaac Edet, 18, both guards attached to the lawyer from Strongcity Security Services Ltd, said they planned to kill him if it became necessary.

    It was gathered that the suspects were angry that they were not being paid when due despite the money being made by the lawyer from his clients.

    Denying that the victim was attacked by unknown assailants, Oti said both suspects were guards attached to him, adding that efforts were being made to apprehend their accomplices.

  • Nnamdi Kanu: Lawyer confirms Jerusalem appearance

    •Fani-Kayode too, says IPOB leader promises to oppose Buhari in 2019

    Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, said yesterday that the Biafra agitator is alive and will address his supporters today direct from Jerusalem, Israel.

    Ejiofor, who had previously accused the Nigerian Army of abducting Kanu during the September 2017 invasion of his residence in Umuahia, said the video showing him praying in Israel 13 months after he disappeared was authentic.

    Former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani -Kayode who claimed recently that his intelligence sources told him that Kanu was being detained aboard a Nigerian Navy vessel off the coast, also made a dramatic u-turn yesterday, saying Kanu had called him by phone saying he is “alive and well.”

    Ejiofor, in a statement, said, “This morning (yesterday), I received a direct confirmation from my client, hearing once from him after 13 months in captivity.

    “I am very delighted therefore, to use this singular opportunity to announce to the world that my client is the very person seen in the pictures /video. That I can confirm authoritatively.

    “Furthermore, the shocking tale of how he made it alive once again will be made public in his scheduled world press broadcast to be beamed live within the next 24 hours.

    “The world will now hear from the horse’s mouth, the gory accounts of what happened in my client’s home on the 14th day of September 2017, only tomorrow (today).”

    Kanu to partner with us in removing Buhari – Fani-Kayode

    On his part, Fani-Kayode said on Twitter yesterday that he “just received a call from my brother Nnamdi Kanu.

    “I am delighted that he is alive and well. I commend his strength and courage even as I marvel at the loyalty, resilience and commitment of his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and IPOB. We have agreed to work together to VOTE Buhari out.”

    Mixed reactions trail public appearance

    There were mixed reactions yesterday in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State, to the Thursday public appearance of Nnamdi Kanu in Jerusalem, Israel.

    The issue was the subject of discussion in areas such as Power line, Ariaria, Cemetery, Shopping Centre, St Michael’s road, Pound road and other parts of Aba.

    While some people said they were happy that he is alive after all, others expressed disappointment that Kanu and his associates took the people for a ride, by claiming that he was killed during the September 2017 incident when indeed he went into hiding.

    One  Chukwuemeka Okoroafor said  that  the video and pictures of Kanu praying in Israel is a reassurance that the “march to freedom is not yet over.”

    A security analyst who does not want to be named said: “We knew that Kanu was alive.

    “We knew that he escaped during the army raid on his father’s home. We probed and from inside sources in the military, we were reliably told that Kanu indeed escaped.

    “This video and pictures  have vindicated former Governor of Abia State  Orji Uzor Kalu who had earlier stated that Kanu was in the United Kingdom.

    “I have, since yesterday, been asking why IPOB would now order people to stay away from business in honour of a man that they said was missing when they know that he is still alive. I pity those that died and those that are still going to die for this man.”

     

  • Assault on journalist: lawyer writes Buratai, demands apology, N50m compensation

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Tukur Buratai, has been asked to tender an “unreserved apology” for the October 6, 2018 alleged “unlawful arrest, grievous assault, inhuman and degrading treatment of Friday Olokor of the Punch newspapers by soldiers under his command, led by Captain Rabiu of 3 Division, Nigerian Army.

    The request is contained in a pre-action notice issued on October 10  by Olokor’s lawyer, Olisa John Tochukwu, who also demanded the “immediate payment of N50million as compensation for the assault, humiliation and inhuman treatment”.

    Olokor, who is the Punch correspondent in Plateau State, was on October 6, this year, arrested with some other innocent residents of Jos by soldiers said to be of the Special Squad from Maiduguri, Borno State, who allegedly engaged in indiscriminate arrest and detention in Jos.

    The lawyer vowed to initiate legal process against the COAS should he fail to honour the demands within 48 hours of the receipt of the letter.

    The letter reads: “We are Solicitors to Friday Olokor (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and on his instruction we write. Our client is a seasoned journalist and Senior Correspondent with Punch newspapers authorised to cover Nigeria Army and its activities.

    “Our brief revealed that on Saturday,  October 6, 2018, our client received a statement from the Nigerian Army through Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, and decided to immediately work on it and dispatch to his employers while taking his dinner at Anne Breeze Restaurant, Rayfield area Jos, Plateau State.

    “Our client arrived the restaurant before 9:pm, but while working on statement and waiting for his dinner to be served, three truckload of Soldiers fully masked led by one Captain Rabiu invaded the area, arrested our client and many others without giving our client any reason for the arrest.

    “Our client promptly identified himself as a journalist, but was ignored. Our client was informed that the Special Squad from Maiduguri was deployed by you for his arrest.

    “He (our client) was later taken to the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Rubuka Barracks, Jos, and kept in an uncompleted building where all his belongings were confiscated and he was held incommunicado.

    “His plea to be allowed to communicate with his family or his editors was refused as the soldiers threatened to waste him if he does not keep quiet. Our client was kept in the most dehumanising condition with more than 30 other persons and made to urinate or pass faeces in the same room.

    “The next day, he was interviewed more than five times by Military Police officers, who kept him at constant watch. Several photos of his were taken as well as his house address. It took the intervention of Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations in 3 Division Army, who sent him the press statement to work on, before he was released.

    “Based on the above stated facts, we demand as follows: A written unreserved apology for the treatment meted to our client.  Immediate payment of the sum of N50million as compensation for the assault, humiliation and inhuman treatment.

    “Take notice that, if you fail or neglect to heed the above stated demand within 48 hours from the time of receipt of this letter, we shall immediately commence cogent legal action against you and your agents. We hope to hear from you soon.”

     

     

  • Lawyer arraigned for ‘procurement of false judgement’

    A Lagos lawyer, Mr. Edward Oseghale, 40, has been arraigned at an Ogba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly procuring false judgement.

    He was alleged to have used the forged judgment to evict tenants on behalf of his client.

    Oseghale was arraigned before Magistrate O.O. Ojo on a five-count charge of forgery contrary to Section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Ojo granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in the like sum.

    He said one of the sureties must be a property owner in Lagos with a valid Certificate of Occupancy

    The second surety, the magistrate ordered, must be employed with evidence of tax payment, which must be verified.

    The case was adjourned till November 8.

  • Lawyer arraigned for procurement of false judgement

    A Lagos lawyer, Mr. Edward Oseghale, 40 has been arraigned before an Ogba Magistrate Court for procuring false judgement.

    He was alleged to have used the forged judgment to evict tenants from their homes on behalf of his client.

    He was arraigned before Magistrate Mr O.O. Ojo on a five count charge of forgery contrary to section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Count 1: “That you Edward Oseghale (M) being a legal practitioner on 29th day of June 2018 at about 10.00 hrs at Yaba Magisterial Court in Lagos State magisterial district did forged a court judgement with suit No. MCY/368/15 purported to have been prepared by Chief Magistrate T.O Abayomi (Mrs), of court 4, Surulere Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3)y) of criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Count 2: “That you Edward Oseghale (M) on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did forged the signature of Mrs. Busola Banjo (f) Registrar of Yaba Magistrate Court and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3)(n)(u) and (y) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

    Count 3: That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the 6th day of July 2018 at Yaba magisterial court in the aforesaid magisterial district did forge a court judgement with suit No. MYC/103/18 purported to have been prepared by honour O. A. Ojo (Mrs) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3) (j) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

    Count 4: That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the same date , time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did forge the signature of Honour O.A Banjo (mrs) on a forged judgement with the suit No; MCY/103/18 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 363(3) (n) (u) and (y) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Count 5: “That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did forge a magistrate court of Lagos State cashier stamp and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3) (t) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Oseghale however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Magistrate Ojo granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in like sum.
    The trial Magistrate said one of the sureties must be owner of property in Lagos with valid Certficate of Occupancy

    The second surety, he ordered, must be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment which must be verified.

    Magistrate Ojo thereafter adjourned the matter to November 8.

    Count 1: “That you Edward Oseghale (M) being a legal practitioenr on 29th day of June 2018 at about 1000 hrs at Yaba Magisterial Court in Lagos State magisterial district did forged a court judgement with suit No. MCY/368/15 purported to have been prepared by Honour T.O Abayomi (Mrs), Chief magistrate court 4, Surulere Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3)y) of criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Count 2: “That you Edward Oseghale (M) on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisteriat district did forged the signature of Mrs. Busola Banjo (f) Registrar of Yaba Magistrate Court and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(3)(n)(u) and (y) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

    Count 3: That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the 6th dayof July 2018 at Yaba magisterial court in the aforesaid magisterial district did forge a court judgement with suit No. MYC/103/18 purported to have been prepared by honour O. A. Ojo (Mrs) and thereby committted an offence punishable under section 365(3) (j) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

    Count 4: That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the same date , time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did forge the signature of Honour O.A Banjo (mrs) on a forged judgemet with the suit No; MCY/103/18 and thereby committed an offence punishable under sectioon 363(3) (n) (u) and (y) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

    Count 5: “That you Edward Oseghale (m) on the same date, time and place in the aofresaid magisterial district did forge a migistrate court of Lagos State cashier stamp and thereby committeed an offence punishable under section 365(3) (t) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

  • Lawyer joins House of Reps race

    An arbitration law expert Dr Dorncklaimz Enamhe has declared his intention to represent the Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency, Cross River State, in House of representatives.

    Enamhe, former president of the Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators (APNM),  also teaches law at the University of Calabar.

    He resigned from Governor Ben Ayade’s cabinet as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Communications and Branding to contest for the position.

    Enamhe, a former student union leader, was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River and became its first Youth Leader.

    He mobilised students and youths to support former Governor Donald Duke in 1999 and served as Chief of Staff to former Deputy Governor Chief John Okpa.

    He also served as Special Assistant on Youth Matters to former Governor Liyel Imoke.

    A knight of St John International is, Enamhe has four chieftaincy titles and is married with children.

     

  • Lawyer makes no case submission in forgery case

    Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja High Court has fixed October 5 for ruling on a ‘no case’ submission filed by a lawyer,  Kole Bello.

    Bello is standing trial for allegedly forging a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for a landed property in Lekki, Lagos.

    He is standing trial with Chukwu Victor, Friday Palmer and Osumah Terry.

    They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

    According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves and forged a C of O with reference no. 63/63/1989, dated Sept. 28,1989.

    The  defendants allegedly forged C of O to take over a plot of land belonging to the late Mrs Francisca Awolaja.

    Bello and  co defendants were also accused of in personating the late Awolaja to fraudulently sell her land to one Mr Rotimi Olubeko for the sum of N5 million.

    Bello was expected to open his defence in the forgery case brought against him at resumed proceedings on Friday but chose to file an application asking the court to drop all the charges against him.

    At  resumed proceedings,  Bello’s counsel,  Oke Akintunde (SAN),  informed the court of the pending application.

    He said his client was asking the court to quash the charges against him as the prosecution had not been able to prove any case against him.

    “My Lord we have an application before the court where he filed a no case submission on the basis that the defendant does not have any case to answer before the court “ Akintunde said.

    Counsels to the second,  third and fourth defendants also informed the court of their intention to file similar applications.

    The prosecution led by Ms O. A. Bamisaiye, however, informed the court that the prosecution had closed its case and was waiting for the defence to open its case.

    Justice Taiwo, thereafter, adjourned the matter till October 5, to hear the pending applications and to also give a ruling on the no case submission of the defendant.

  • Lawyer to court: compel INEC to extend voter registration

    A Lagos  lawyer, Olumide Babalola, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its plan to suspend the voter registration exercise.

    He is praying the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the continuation of the exercise beyond August 17.

    Babalola is seeking the interpretation of Section 9(5) of the Electoral Act concerning INEC’s powers to suspend the continuous voter registration exercise this month.

    According to him, the law provides that the registration should continue for a period of 30 days before the general elections.

    By his originating summons dated July 30, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that, by virtue of Section 9(5) of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), INEC ought not stop or suspend the continuous voter registration on August 17, a period of about six months before the general elections in February 2019.

    He is praying for a declaration that the respondent’s plan is a violation of sections 9(5) and 10 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended).

    Babalola is praying for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from suspending the registration exercise until 30 days before the 2019 general elections as provided in Section 9(5) of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended).

  • Prosecute Fayose for electoral offences, lawyer tells INEC

    A Lagos lawyer, Mr. Kabir Akingbolu, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka, for alleged electoral offences.

    Akingbolu said Fayose and Eleka, with the Acting Chairman of Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Lere Olayinka, allegedly committed at least 10 electoral offences during the June 14 election in Ekiti State.

    He made the claims in an August 6 letter to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, polled 197,459 votes in the election to beat Eleka, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 178,121 votes.

    Akingbolu urged INEC to prosecute the trio in line with Section 150 of the Electoral Act, 2010, adding that it “will go a long way to curb official impunity during elections”.

    The lawyer noted that because Fayose and Eleka have constitutional immunity from prosecution until their tenure expires in October, investigation of the “serious electoral offences” ought to commence without delay.

    He threatened to apply to the Federal High Court for an Order of Mandamus to compel INEC to carry out its “statutory duty forthwith”, if it “fails or refuses to commence the investigation of the serious electoral offences disclosed in the petition before August 15”.

    Akingbolu said: “Throughout the campaign, the trio campaigned against Dr. Fayemi and urged voters not to vote for him, in contravention of Section 129(c) of the Electoral Act.

    “The campaign of the trio was tainted with abusive language, which injured religious, ethnic and sectional feelings, contrary to Section 95(1) of the Electoral Act.

    “The trio threatened to make use of force and violence, in contravention of Section 131(a) of the Electoral Act.”

    According to him, the trio prevented government aspirants, apart from Eleka, the free use of the Ekiti State Radio and Television station in contravention of Section 131(d) of the Electoral Act.

    Also, he claimed Fayose paid N3,000 to every civil servant on June 13 with intent that such money would be expended on bribing the electorate to vote for Eleka.

    Akingbolu added: “The governor campaigned for Prof Eleka in the Governor’s Lodge on June 14, within 24 hours prior to the polling day, in contravention of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

    “They prevented the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation from allotting equal coverage and conspicuity to all political parties, in contravention of Section 100 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010.

    “In the morning of June 14, they assembled a crowd at the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge where they prayed and persuaded voters to vote for Prof Eleka…”

  • Lawyer donates borehole to Ogun community

    To help solve the problem of lack of potable water in Igan-Okoto in Ilupeju, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, a Lagos lawyer Kayode Adegbola has donated a borehole to the community.

    According to him, it will help prevent diseases from unclean water.

    He said: “The borehole is capable of producing 5,000 litters of water per hour and would work for six hours daily to produce 30,000 litters.

    “I’m sure that the 30,000 liters of water from this borehole will conveniently serve a minimum of 1,000 people daily,” he said.

    The Adokun of Igan-Okoto, Oba Mukaila Salako, represented by Otunba Sarafadeen Adeleye, said Igan-Okoto had suffered from lack of potable water for many years, adding that their nearest water source was over two kilometers away.

    A resident, Mrs. Oyelanke Odunlami, praised Adegbola for the gesture, saying it would help to end water scarcity in the area.

    Adegbola, who is aspiring to represent Yewa North Constituency in the House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC), also gave fully-funded secondary school scholarship to two pupils to the Vale College Ibadan.

    “I wanted to give the opportunity to others to get the kind of education I got because I am a proud alumnus of the school”, Adegbola said.