The Nation Newspaper

Tag: magistrate

  • Magistrate nabs pastor who poses as lawyer

    Magistrate nabs pastor who poses as lawyer

    Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus has nabbed a pastor identified as Temidayo Olajimi, who pretended to be a lawyer for the purpose of standing as a surety to bail a defendant.

    Al-Yunus apprehended Olajimi while questioning him in his office after the defendant, Vincent Oriade, jumped bail.

    Olajimi had on May 8, 2023, approached the court to secure the bail of Oriade, who was arraigned for fraud.

    The Magistrate released Oriade after Olajimi wrote a letter of request to stand as a surety for the defendant, who he claimed to be his brother and also a church member.

    Read Also: Two arrested for alleged manufacturing of fake drinks in Lagos

    It was gathered that Oriade jumped bail, and a bench warrant of arrest was issued against him and his surety, who also refused to appear in court.

    The police later arrested Olajimi in Ondo town and when questioned by the Magistrate, his lack of knowledge of the law and exhibition of ignorance of legal terminologies gave him away.

    A source said the Magistrate probed his educational background and Olajimi could not mention the name of one of his mates or the date he was called to the bar.

    He told the Magistrate he was called to the bar in 2007, the same year he concluded his first degree and master’s degree.

    During questioning, he said: “I am not saying I’m a lawyer, but I can tell you I’m a graduate with two degrees. I don’t know the number of years I have spent in the bar. I was called to the bar in 2007 and I had my master’s degree in the year.”

    He was handed over to the police for further investigations.

  • Accident kills magistrate, son, relation, driver

    Magistrate Banji Ayeomoni of Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, his son Dara, another relation and his driver were reported dead in an inferno caused by a petrol tanker spillage in Ekpoma.

    An official of the court, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday the incident happened on Friday night close to Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma.

    The official said that the late Ayeomoni went to visit his children at Ekpoma, adding that while returning his vehicle ran into the petrol spillage of a tanker which caused fire and other vehicles behind were also affected.

    The source added that the Magistrate, Dara, who is a 500 level student of Medicine of Ambrose Alli University, Akpoma, a young boy of the deceased wife’s sister and the driver died at an undisclosed hospital shortly after the accident.

    “We heard that the late Magistrate went to visit his children at AAU when the incident occurred through a petrol tanker oil spillage, which claimed their lives.

    “It was indeed very sad news to all members of staff and lawyers in our court,’’ the source said. The court prosecutor, Inspector Zedekiah Orogbemi, who also confirmed the incident, said that he was shocked when he got the news.

    The 59 year-old Magistrate, who was due for retirement next year, left behind his wife and two other children.

  • Man bags one month in prison

    An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on Monday sentenced a driver, Seun Taiwo, to one month imprisonment for damaging two side mirrors of a jeep.

    Taiwo, 37, a resident of Ibuloko Street, Lanfenwa, Ogun, had pleaded guilty to a malicious damage charge and urged the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing him.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.I Raji, who sentenced him to one month imprisonment, did not give an option of fine.

    “You are hereby sentenced to one month imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine,” Raji said.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on March 7, at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

    Nwosu said that Taiwo damaged two side mirrors of a Chirokee jeep belonging to Mr Johnson Adeyemo.

    “The accused maliciously destroyed the two side mirrors of the complainant’s car, valued at N28,500,” he said.

    Nwosu said that the convict damaged the complainant’s car side mirrors because one of his drivers beat him up.

    “The accused sneaked into one of the complainant’s buses to sleep; the complainant’s driver sighted him and insisted that the accused must not sleep in the bus.

    “An argument ensued and it generated into a fight; the complainant’s driver beat the accused up.

    “The accused went to report to the complainant that his driver beat him up because he wanted to sleep in his bus.

    “While the complainant was going home, the accused came to block his car and damaged the two side mirrors for refusing to deal with his driver that beat him,” he said.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

     

  • Student arraigned for stabbing man

    A 20-year-old student, Idris Isah,who allegedly stabbed one Abbas Salihu with a knife and stole his cell phone, appeared before a Jos Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

    The accused, a resident of Tudun Wada, Jos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, causing hurt and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Mr Joshua Kasuwa, told the court that Salihu, a resident of Yan-Doya, Gadan Bako, Jos, reported the matter at the Nasarawa Gwom police station, on March 24.

    Kasuwa said that the accused, and some others still at large, accosted the complainant on the road, and started beating him “without any reason”.

    “The accused used a knife and stabbed the complainant on his forehead; while he was on the floor writhing in pains, they stole his phone valued at N70,000,’’ he said.

    Kasuwa said that the accused was arrested in his house after a tip-off to the police, by a member of the public.

    “ During investigation, Isah confessed that it was one Kabiru, who is still at large, that stabbed the complainant,’’ he said

    The offence contravened Sections 97, 288 and 323 of the Penal Code.

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

    The Magistrate, Mr Jovita Binjin, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Binjin said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and should submit two recent passport-sized photographs and their national ID cards to the court.

    The case was adjourned to April 19, for mention.

  • Man arraigned for impersonating CDA chairman

    A 49-year-old, Henry Edhebure, who allegedly impersonated the Chairman of a Community Development Association (CDA) and stole N100, 000, was on Monday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Edhebure is standing trial on a five-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, stealing and breach of peace.

    Police Prosecutor Innocent Odugbo told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 6, 2016, at Mowekekere Royal London CDA, Ijede in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    He said the accused forged the signature of the chairman of the Royal London CDA, Valentine Onu, and signed some cash receipts with the intention to convert the money on the receipts to his own.

    Odugbo said the accused stole N100, 000 belonging to the complainants — Onu, Luke Nwachukwu, and Emmanuel Idowu — members of the association.

    The prosecutor said the accused also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace by declaring himself as the chairman of the association.

    He also said that the accused threatened to damage the house of the three members to intimidate them.

    The offences, Odugbo noted, contravened Sections 56 (1), 57 (1), 285 (1), 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omoyele, granted him N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties, who must be gainfully employed, should also show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until April 25 for mention.

  • Cart pusher charged with stabbing colleague over N500

    A 28-year-old cart pusher, Jegede Adetayo, was brought before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in Lagos for  allegedly stabbing a man with a broken bottle over N500.

    Jegede is facing a charge of assault occasioning harm.

    The  prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky had told the court that on March 3 the complainant, Idris Ibrahim, also a cart pusher, came to Ogudu Police Station to report the incident.

    Ihiehie said the complainant had invited Jegede on March 2 to follow him to carry some iron rods at Maryland but the accused refused in spite of the promise to give him N1,000.

    “In the process, a boy popularly known as Chelsea, decided to go with the complainant.

    “The complainant said when they came back,  he gave them N500 each and they all left.

    “The accused  woke up at about 9.30 p.m. to demand the balance of N500 and after much argument, he took a broken bottle and stabbed the complainant, ” he said.

    The accused, however, denied the charge.

     

    In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N40, 000 with two sureties who must be gainfully employed.

    she adjourned the case to March 27.

  • Magistrate bars reporter from court

    Magistrate bars reporter from court

    There was mild drama at the Igbosere Magistrates Court, last Friday when Magistrate H. O. Amos ordered a reporter out of his court.
    Amos said Onozure Dania from the Vanguard did not obtain his permissioný before entering his court.
    The magistrate was hearing an application filed by a surety, Mr Gbenga Badmus, seeking to withdraw his suretyship for a defendant, Mr Akindele Afolabi.
    Afolabi is the former holder of power-of-attorney for the late Madam Efunroye-Tinubu family of Lagos.
    During proceedings, the court registrar observed Dania taking notes and informed Amos of her presence.
    The magistrate stopped proceedings and asked the reporter to identify herself.
    “Who are you?” Amos asked.
    “I am a journalist. My name is Onozure Dania and I write for Vanguard,” she replied.
    “What is your interest in this matter?” he asked.
    Dania replied: “I have no interest in the matter; I cover court proceedings that is why I am here.”
    “Did you take permission from me before entering the court?” Amos asked.
    “Your honour, I understand that the court is a public place. I don’t need to take permission. I cover even the high courts and I have never been asked to obtain permission before covering proceedings.”
    But Amos persisted saying: “I agree that the court is a public place and this is a public document, but did you take my permission before entering the court? You think you can just come into the court and start writing? If you want to write anything from this court, I must veto it before it is published.”
    “You can’t veto my story before publication,” Dania answered.
    “Then walk out of my court,” the magistrate said, following which Dania left the room.
    On February 8, last year, Amos was reported to have told reporters from The Nation and Vanguard that they were not welcome in his court unless they obtained the Chief Magistrates’ permission.
    Earlier, Badmus said he was withdrawing his suretyship because he no longer had confidence in Afolabi.
    Afolabi, 48, and Alhaji Adio Kazeem, 79, were arraigned by the police on August 11, 2014, ýon an eight-count charge of conspiracy, forcible entering, forcible possession, impersonation and breach of peace.
    The police also alleged that Afolabi impersonated “as the lawful attorney of Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu family, a representation you knew to be false.”
    According to prosecuting, Inspector Haruna Ibrahim, the offences are punishable under Sections 52, 126, 166(d), 300, 378(1) and (2) and 410 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

  • Osun monarch must be arrested and brought to court, magistrate insists

    Osun monarch must be arrested and brought to court, magistrate insists

    An Osun State Chief Magistrate Court yesterday insisted that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi must be arrested for his failure to appear before the court.

    The presiding magistrate, Olusola Aluko, ordered the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, to arrest the  first class monarch and produce him in court on Friday January 6, 2017.

    The magistrate had earlier issued a bench warrant on Friday, December 20, 2016, for Oluwo’s arrest and also restated his order last Wednesday compelling the monarch to appear in court on Friday December, 30, 2016 but the traditional ruler was absent when the case came up for hearing.

    According to the Aluko, a criminal case was brought before him against the Oluwo of Iwo and by the bench warrant he had issued “the accused person was supposed to have been arrested.”

    Although, the defendant’s counsel, Barrister Olayide Yekeen, wrote the court on why Oluwo  himself would not be present for the proceeding but counsel to the applicant, Barrister Soji Oyetayo, explained that no reason was given for the absence of his client.

    It would be recalled that the applicant, the Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye, had dragged Oba Akanbi, before the court for allegedly sponsoring an attack on him and his property located in Iwo.

  • Oluwo threatens to ‘arrest’ magistrate

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Abdul- Rasheed Akanbi, has threatened a chief magistrate, Olusola Aluko, with a “traditional arrest warrant ”.

      Aluko, on Monday, ordered the arrest of Oba  Akanbi for failing to appear in court.

    Oba Akanbi denied receiving a bench warrant of arrest, saying he read about it in the papers.

    Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, he cautioned those trying to denigrate the traditional institution, saying: “I too have a traditional arrest warrant I can invoke against the magistrate”.

    The Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kadiri Oba Adeoye, approached the Magistrates’ Court, accusing Oba Akanbi of concealing facts about his past to the government when he was installed monarch about a year ago.

    Oba Akanbi described the court order as an insult against his throne, saying it was obvious the judge was out to intimidate and harass him for “reasons best known to him and his sponsors”.

    The monarch, who insisted he had no case to answer, however, said he had great respect for the judiciary and the law, adding that he would answer any serious charge against him in any court.

    Saying the court had no jurisdiction in the case, he accused Aluko of “playing the tune dictated by a piper”.

    He said: “Because somebody or some people somewhere do not like my guts they are making use of an available tool to do their bidding.

    “But I don’t care and I want them to know I cannot be intimidated and harassed by anybody.

    “I’ve got so much to do for my people and I would not tolerate any distraction.

    “They are certainly envious of my selfless service to the people of Iwo and its environs but that is their headache, not mine. They are desperate, using the idle hands and those without integrity to carry out their diabolical plans.

    “I don’t have any skeleton in my cupboard. My detractors just want to drag the name of the Oluwo of Iwoland in the mud.

    “I don’t even involve myself in land matters or sale of lands.  I don’t even have a private house. My utmost priority is the well-being of my people.

    “I toil day and night for the progress of my town. The magistrate and the oba in question are being paid and sponsored by my detractors and this is the price I’m paying for my success and fame.”

    Oba Akanbi urged traditional rulers not to sit back and see the “insult” as only his predicament but to speak  against it because of the implication.

    Commissioner of Police Fimihan Adeoye said he was not aware of any bench warrant of arrest on the monarch.

    Speaking in Osogbo, the police boss, who said he was not briefed about the development, warned that the police should not be dragged into any obaship tussle.

    He said: “I have not been briefed about any bench warrant of arrest on the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi.

    “The police cannot be dragged into this because obaship tussle is a sensitive matter. We have our legal department in the police and we will act appropriately within the ambit of the law.”

  • Man gets N500, 000 bail for attempted murder

    Man gets N500, 000 bail for attempted murder

    A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Friday granted N500, 000 bail to a 27 year-old-man, Ayomide Ilesanmi, who allegedly attempted to kill one Okwudili Obiora by pushing him down from a storey building.

    The Court’s Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, granted the accused bail with two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy, attempted killing, breach of peace and assault.

    Nwachukwu said one of the sureties must be a property owner in Lagos State, while the other should be a blood relation of the accused with evidence of tax payment and verified addresses.‎

    ‎The Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence on Nov.1 at Motor Spare Part Plaza in Itire area of Lagos at about 3.00p.m.

    Osayande told the court that the accused pushed down Okwudili Obiora from a storey building which caused him bodily harm.

    “Obiora is battling to survive in an hospital here in Lagos,’’ she said.‎‎

    She alleged that there had been an existing rift between both parties over “hi-jack” of a customer.

    ‎The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 166(d) 171, 228(2) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.‎

    ‎The magistrate adjourned the case till Dec. 15 for mention.