The Nation Newspaper

Tag: magistrate

  • Father remanded over sexual intercourse with daughter

    Father remanded over sexual intercourse with daughter

    A 56-year-old man, Abdullahi Zakari, who allegedly had sexual intercourse with his 18-year-old daughter, is to remain behind bars pending the perfection of his bail condition, a Lagos court has ruled.

    A Surulere Magistrates’ Court, which gave the order, said the man should be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons until the bail conditions were met.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Magistrate, Mrs. M.I. Dan-Oni, had admitted the accused to a bail of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

    One of the sureties, she said, must be a blood relation of the accused and the other must be living in his own house.

    In addition, the magistrate said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.

    Zakari, who lives at No.42, Gaskiya St., Ijora-Badia in Apapa area, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    But the prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande told the court that the accused committed the offence at his apartment between February and August.

    “It is a shameful act that should not be condoned.

    “This is a serious offence and an abomination. The complainant said the father used to fondle her breast anytime she was in the room.

    “The accused had sex with the daughter against her wish,” she said.

    The offence contravened Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The case was adjourned to Sept.19 for mention.

  • Customs boss begs CJ over attack on magistrate

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Ikeja has apologised to Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, over its officers’ attack on Magistrate Lekan Aka-Bashorun and members of his mobile court.

    A Ministry of Justice source told The Nation yesterday that the June 15 apology letter was sent to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode through the Attorney-General for onward delivery to the chief judge.

    Some Customs officers with the Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Ikeja, attacked Magistrate Aka-Bashorun for impounding their vehicles parked on the roadside.

    The apology letter reads: “We unequivocally condemn the attack in the strongest terms and hereby wish to apologise without reservations”. We assure you that the incident will not repeat itself.”The customs also promised to ensure the success of the mobile court saying it has taken steps to that effect by dismantling the car wash located near the FOU premises.

    Sources said the customs officers allegedly slapped Magistrate Aka-Bashorun, while two policemen and two paramilitary officials attached to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, were also beaten up.

    Court exhibits and recording gadgets were also allegedly damaged by the customs officers, who reportedly questioned the magistrate’s authority to impound their cars.

    The officers were said to have forcefully removed the number-plates of the impounded vehicles.

    FOU spokesman, Ejesieme Uche, confirmed the clash, but said the heads of the NCS and police had resolved the matter.

    He said it was an unfortunate incident between “some of our operatives and the security men attached to the Lagos State Mobile Court. The security men came for an operation around our vicinity.  We were accused of slapping a magistrate. I am not confirming or debunking that, but in that situation, the magistrate did not wear uniform, so no one could identify him.  But the heads of the security agencies have met and the matter has been resolved.”

     

  • RCCG’s security man docked for impersonating Pastor Adeboye

    RCCG’s security man docked for impersonating Pastor Adeboye

    A security man with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Awobola Babatunde, who allegedly opened a bank account in the name of the General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, was arraigned in Lagos on Monday.

    The accused, 32, whose address is unknown, is facing a four-count charge of stealing, impersonation, conspiracy and opening an account in Adeboye’s name and attempting to cash a cheque of N600, 000.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Aighoi Gbemileke, the accused with others still at large committed the offences on June 6 at No. 1/9, Redemption Way, Ebute Meta, at 9.00 a.m.

    He said the accused stole a Fidelity Bank cheque valued at N600, 000 belonging to the RCCG General Overseer.

    “The accused falsely presented himself as Pastor Adeboye by opening a savings account at Aguda, Surulere branch of Fidelity Bank in his name.

    “He opened the account in order to cash the cheque and convert the money to personal use.

    “Babatunde also opened the account in order to be stealing money from the church as they plan to pay in more cheques,” Gbemileke alleged.

    He said the offences violated Sections 285, 378, 404 and 408 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs B. Folarin-Williams, admitted the accused to a bail of N100, 000 in addition to two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties, she said, must be blood relations of the accused and also produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

    The case was adjourned to Aug. 4 for mention.

  • Housekeeper jailed five- year for stealing employer’s jewellery

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday sentenced a 22-year-old housekeeper, Kennedy George, to five years’ imprisonment for stealing his employer’s jewellery and cash worth N6.3 million.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A. T. Omoyele, convicted George after he admitted to stealing his boss Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw the money.

    The housekeeper, however, claimed he was not the only one that spent the money.

    George, who lived with his employer, was arraigned on June 19, 2015, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted N250,000 bail with the two sureties in like sum.

    Prosecuting police Corporal, Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that George and others at large committed the offences between February 6, 2015 and June 2015, at about 10:00am, at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Osuji alleged that the defendant stole the sum of N300,000 and assorted gold jewellery worth N6 million, property of his employer (name withheld).

    He called two witnesses and said the offences contravened Sections 285(7) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos Stat, 2011.

  • Man bags three-year jail term for stealing N300,000

    Man bags three-year jail term for stealing N300,000

    A 20-year old man, Joseph Nanchang, was on Friday sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin for stealing N300,000.

     

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Olatoye Oluwaseun, told the court that the convict with others now at large committed the crime on Feb. 23 at No. 18 off Muritala Mohammed Way, Benin.

     

    Oluwaseun said that convict stole the sum of N300, 000 belonging to one Mrs Victoria Owie.

     

    The convict, of no fixed address, was charged on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

     

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo.

     

    Nanchang, however, pleaded not guilty to the first count charge of conspiracy, but accepted his guilt on the second count charge of stealing.

     

    The Magistrate, Mrs C.E. Oghuma, sentenced the convict to a three years imprisonment without option of fine.

  • Magistrate, woman to settle traffic case amicably

    Magistrate, woman to settle traffic case amicably

    THE case between a woman, Mrs Yetunde Osijo, and a magistrate, Mrs Funke Sule-Aminat, is to be settled-out-of court, the parties said yesterday.

    Counsel to Lagos State Judiciary, Ali Emmanuel told Magistrate Tajudeen Elias of Ogba Magistrates’ Court that the defendant, Mrs Osijo,? is making moves to settle the matter amicably.

    Emmanuel said the defendant has approached the claimant for peaceful settlement.

    The defendant was charged before the court on March 21 for allegedly ramming into the official car of Magistrate Sule-Amzat around M.K.O Abiola Gardens, near Ojota.

    ?The charge, with number MIK/D/37/2016, and dated March 21, showed that the defendant is facing a three-count charge of? dangerous and reckless driving, driving in a careless and inconsiderate manner and attempt to pervert justice by escaping from the scene of crime.

    The charge reads: “That you Osijo Gbadamosi Yetunde, 32 years, of No 35 Ramlat Timson Street, Surulere, being driver of Toyota Camry drove same in a careless and inconsiderate manner contrary to Section 18 (1) of the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012.

    “That you Osijo Yetunde did attempt to pervert the cause of justice by escaping from the scene of crime after using your car one Toyota Camry marked AKD 999 CW to hit one Toyota Corolla property of one Mrs. Funke Sule-Amzat and committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011?.”

    Yesterday, Messrs Bamidele Ibironke and Abdul Kehinde, who claimed to be amicus curae (friends of the court) and holding watching brief for the complainant aligned with Emmanuel’s submission.

    They confirmed that the matter between Osijo and their client may eventually be settled-out-of-court.

    Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ahmed Kazeem, also aligned with the submission.

    Emmanuel prayed the court for a short adjournment to perfect the conciliation.

    Magistrate Elias granted the prayer and adjourned the matter till April 19.

     

  • Kidnappers abduct Magistrate, two others in Edo

    Kidnappers abduct Magistrate, two others in Edo

    Kidnappers operating along Benin-Auchi express road on Wednesday abducted a serving Senior Magistrate simply identified as Hassana.

    The police orderly of Hassana whose name was given as Marcus was shot and currently receiving treatment.

    Family sources said Hassana was going to Ehor, headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government when she and two others were abducted.

    The source said the kidnappers randomly picked motorists along the road and whisked them away.

    It was learnt that after Hassana orderly was shot, he driver managed to drive the vehicle into an earth road which led to a village where he thought they would be safe.

    But the kidnappers struck again and took the Magistrate away.

    As at press time, no contact has been made to her family.

    A police source the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has already directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Chris Ezike to ensure the immediate release of the abducted persons and arrest of the abductors.

    Spokesman for the police, DSP Abiodun Osifo, confirmed the abduction and said policemen were already combing the bush with a view to releasing the victims.

  • ‎Why I barred magistrates from issuing remand warrant – Bello

    ‎Why I barred magistrates from issuing remand warrant – Bello

    Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Ter‎ritory (FCT), Abuja, Justice Ishaq Bello, has cleared the air on his recent directive barring magistrates under his jurisdiction from issuing remand warrant on cases brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Bello had, during his visit to the Keffi Medium Prison in Nasarawa State on January 12 faulted the practice where magistrates in the FCT grant remand orders in cases which they lacked the jurisdiction to try.

    He directed the magistrates, who were part of his entourage to the prison to desist from entertaining cases on which they lacked jurisdiction, including money laundering cases often brought before them by the EFCC, with the aim of procuring remand warrant.

    Justice Bello, while speaking on Friday, at the resumed hearing in the case involving the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, said his directive was not directed solely at the EFCC, but to prevent an abuse of such power by the magistrates.

    He said his position was informed by what he saw at the prison, where he noticed that the problem of long remand of suspects, which had been effectively addressed in the past, was discovered to be rearing its head again.

    Justice Bello said he discovered that many were now being remanded for a period as long as four years on the orders of magistrate’s courts, for offences which, even the FCT High Court, not to talk of magistrates, lacked jurisdiction to handle.

    “Many of them were remanded for terrorism which not even triable by FCT High Court.

    “Some of them were on record to have been in remand for four months but when the person came to me, he said, no ‘I have been here for four years. This was taking us back to the gloomy days,” Justice Bello said.

    He said his directive was to prevent the situation from degenerating, stating that “We cannot allow things to go haywire. We cannot allow the degeneracy.”

    Justice Bello urged the EFCC and other anti-graft and security agencies to always approach the High Court for orders for the remand of a suspect instead of going to the magistrate courts, which lacked jurisdiction to entertain most of the cases usually handled by them.

    “I said on no account should a case which the magistrate’s courts do not have jurisdiction on be filed before the magistracy. The cases being handled by the EFCC and the ICPC (the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission) are part of those cases.

    “But commentators, who in my view are doing their best to contribute to the development of the criminal justice system singled out EFCC as if it is the target of the directive.”

  • Magistrate’s absence stalls Kanu’s trial

    Magistrate’s absence stalls Kanu’s trial

    The absence of Magistrate Shuabu Usman yesterday stalled ruling on whether the Federal Government could withdraw its charges against leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    Usman was said to have stayed away because he lost his father.

    The prosecution did not also produce Kanu to the disappointment of his supporters who had besieged the court.

    On the last hearing on November 22, prosecution lawyer, Moses Idakwo applied to withdraw the charge before the Magistrate Court.

    But Kanu’s lawyer, Vincent Egechukwu Obeta objected to the application, insisting that an earlier court order granting bail to the accused must first be obeyed before any application for a transfer could be heard.

    Chief Magistrate Shuaib Usman adjourned till December 1 for ruling.

    When parties arrived at the Court yesterday, they were told the court would not sit because the magistrate was bereaved.

    Despite his absence in court, his supporters turned out in large numbers, with some holding the Biafra flag and others displaying placards with inscriptions of solidarity with Kanu. They were however restricted by policemen.

     

  • Magistrate shuns lawyer’s request to bar reporters

    A Lagos Magistrate, Mrs. I.O. Omotosho, yesterday turned down a request by a defence lawyer to bar reporters from covering an alleged illegal firearms case.
    The lawyer, Rotimi Seriki, at the arraignment of the son of late businessman Chief Abdul-Rasak Sanusi, Sulaiman Sanusi alleged that journalists had been publishing untrue and embarrassing stories against his client.
    “As I am talking, journalists are inside the court and even cameramen are outside, waiting to take shots. The last time when the court did not sit, cameramen came to the court to video the court room,” he said.
    Seriki’s request was denied by Magistrate Omotosho who stated that the court is a public place, adding that she cannot stop reporters from covering its proceedings.
    She also told the counsel to make a formal application to that effect.
    Sanusi is standing trial for alleged illegal possession of firearms under Section 27(a) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as amended.
    Prosecuting Inspector Stephen Molo told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 16, last year.