The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo State High Court

  • Between love and hate

    Between avid love and scalding hate, there is but a thin line!  Nothing reinforces this delicate but fatal slip more than reported cases of lovers, sentenced to hang, because they killed girlfriends, or even wives, they once doted on.

    An Ondo State high court just sentenced one Chukwudi Onweniwe to hang for, two years ago, strangling his undergraduate girlfriend, the late Nifemi Adeyeoye, then an HND student of Rufus Giwa Ploytechnic, Owo.  Nifemi, the victim’s name, is rather evocative.  “Nifemi” is Yoruba for “love me”, a plea for love, or more emphatically, an assurance of love.  Love is life and peace and bliss. But alas in this case, love turned fatal!

    Another reported fresh sentence was the one involving the murder of the daughter of a former deputy governor of Ondo State.  The victim and murderer were said to have been in a four-year tryst; broke off for some time, but after resumed their romance.  The girl was also reported to be a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, (AAU), Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.

    But again, an expected sweet tryst turned sour and gory.  Her boyfriend was said to have killed her, shaved her skull and pubic hair (reportedly for money rituals), dug a shallow grave right inside the room where she was killed, buried her and cemented the shallow grave to block any trace — Lord have mercy!

    But the foul ooze from the room gave away the secret.  The boyfriend was reported to be involved in some Yahoo-Yahoo money ritual, of which his former lover was a gory victim!  For his brazen crime, he will also hang.

    Still, what would make someone who professes love for another, to end his lover’s life in such a callous, grisly manner?  Free-wheeling crime?  Mad love for money?  Or plain stupidity that he can get away with the crime?

    It’s even more puzzling for spouses that had tied the nuptial knots, sworn to living for better and for worse, but reported to have killed or seriously armed one another, this time with wife either killing the husband, or the husband killing the wife.

    Beyond crime and punishment, given how rampant what Hardball would call “love crimes” have become, perhaps the Nigerian state should take that extra steps to probe into those hearts of darkness, that see nothing but death and torture from love.

    It’s such a great contradiction in terms that maybe a branch  of psychiatry could do serious clinical probes into such cases.  God is love.  Love is life.  Romance is sheer paradise on earth, at least for the pleasure-seeking.  Even the stoic can do with a little love, to cushion his proverbial stamina to endure.

    But when love turns to hate; and delivers cruel deaths?  Crime and punishment isn’t enough!  High time science proves into this anomaly, to save future victims.

  • Ex-deputy governor’s daughter’s killer sentenced to death

    An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure yesterday sentenced Seidu Adeyemi to death by hanging for killing Miss Khadijat Oluboyo, the first daughter of former Ondo State Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo.

    Adeyemi was charged with killing his girlfriend, Khadijat, on July 2, 2018.

    He buried her inside his room at Aratusi, Oke-Aro, Akure.

    Khadijat was a final year student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA).

    Justice Samuel Bola held that the prosecutor and the government’s counsel had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Adeyemi actually committed the offence he was charged with.

    The convict, a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), was arrested by the police command last July for allegedly killing the former deputy governor’s daughter for money ritual at his home in Akure and burying her in his room for six days.

    Read also: Three die in Ondo auto crash

    Justice Bola said the convict had committed a capital offence and should die by hanging.

    The leader of the prosecution team, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kola Olawoye, expressed delight over the judgement.

    He, however, described the circumstances leading to the death as unfortunate.

    Olawoye said the government was interested in the case because of the circumstances leading to the death of Khadijat, adding that the judgment would deter others.

     

  • Man to die by hanging for strangling lover

    An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a man, Chukwudi Onweniwe, to death by hanging for killing his undergraduate girlfriend two years ago.

    Onweniwe, the boyfriend, had strangled his girlfriend, Nifemi Adeyeoye, an HND student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    Read also: EFCC arrests six `Yahoo’ boys, recovers exotic cars

    After reviewing the case, the presiding judge, Justice Ademola  Bola, found Onweniwe guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging.

     

  • Court sentences man to death in Ondo for stealing N100, 000

    Court sentences man to death in Ondo for stealing N100, 000

    An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure Thursday sentenced a middle aged man, Yahaya Bashiru to death by hanging.

    The court presided over by Justice S.A Bola said the convict was guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and stealing.

    According to Justice Bola said the convict had in December 2015, in Akure, the Ondo State capital robbed one Mrs. Bukola Ademola of her valuables and money amounting to N100,000 on two occasions and on another occasion also stole her generating set.

    Bashiru who pleaded not guilty to the five count charge was also said to be an ex-convict.

    The complainant while testifying before the court said she was returning from her shop when the convict robbed her.

    Police witness, Olakanmi Otadokun, said the Police recovered a locally made gun and other weapons from the convict when he was arrested.

    Delivering his Judgement, the judge said “following the testimony of the complainant which I have no cause to disbelieve and the forensic analysis which led the police to the first defendant, the convict had indeed taken part in the armed robbery.”

    He found him guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms, adding that the prosecution has been able to prove all the charges leveled against him.

    The judge wondered why the convict would go about with a gun in his bag without being a member of any security agency as the police witness had testified before the court.

    Defense counsel, Abdurrahman Yusuf of the Legal Aid Council urged the court to temper justice with mercy, He said his client was a first offender who has aged parents and has been remorseful when he was in the prison custody.

    The judge later sentenced him to death by hanging.

    He however discharged and acquitted his colleague because the complainant could not identify him as one of her attackers.

     

  • Ondo CJ in court over age falsification

    Ondo CJ in court over age falsification

    The Ondo state High court sitting in Akure has commenced hearing in the suit seeking the removal from office the state acting chief judge, Justice Temitayo Osoba for alleged overstaying in office and age falsification.

    The plaintiff and legal practitioner, Mr Femi Emodamori had told the court presided over by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye that the National Judicial Council, (NJC) and the Ondo state house of assembly had not confirmed the appointment of the acting chief judge.

    Emodamori therefore prayed the court to declare the position of the CJ vacant since three months required by the 1999 constitution for the confirmation of justice Osoba’s appointment had elapsed.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to the Acting CJ and the state government, Batife Philip withdrew his appearance for  Genevieve Okoye from Dayo Akinlaja chambers but it was countered by the prosecuting counsel.

    The presiding judge, Justice Aderemi Adegoroye adjourned the case to June 16 and ordered the prosecuting counsel to file an application countering the change of the defence counsels.

  • Court sentences Falae’s abductors to life imprisonment

    Court sentences Falae’s abductors to life imprisonment

    The Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital has sentenced the abductors of the Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae to life imprisonment for kidnapping and armed robbery.

    Falae was abducted by some Fulani herdsmen during his 77th Birthday on September 21, 2015 at his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

    He was released after paying N5million ransom four days after his abduction.

    The convicts were: Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibrahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal and two others.

    Charges against them read: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.

    “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.

    “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did Kidnapped Chief Oluyemi Falae, the Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid.

    “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did conspire to commit a felony to wit armed robbery.

    “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did rob Chief Olu Falae of N15, 000 and his handset while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons”.

    The offence, according to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Adeyemi Kuti from Ondo State Ministry of Justice is contrary to Section 2 of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 5(1)(a) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws, Section3(11)(b) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provision) Act,Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act,Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    However, when the charge sheet was read to the convicts in court on the first date of their arraignment, they all pleaded not guilty to the five counts charge leveled against them.

    However, when the case came up yesterday for judgement after several adjournments, the Presiding Judge, Justice Williams Olamide said he was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the crime with the evidence tendered before him.

    Justice Olamide also said that during the hearing of the matter, the victim, Chief Olu Falae was able to identify three of the convicts as those who kidnapped him and threatened to kill him if he failed to pay the ransom when he was in their captivity.

    He thereafter sentenced seven of them to life imprisonment.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Adeyemi Kuti hailed the judgment, saying justice has been given to the victim.

    But, counsel to the seven convicts, Abdulrahman Yusuf from the Legal Aid Council (LAC)said he would obtain the judgment, study it,to determine whether to Appeal the judgement or not.

     

  • Ondo Judge sued over illegal detention

    A Judge in the Ondo State High Court, Justice O. O. Akeredolu, has been sued by an Akure-based businessman, Chief Raheem Badmus over what the applicant called his illegal arrest and  detention.

    The applicant who also listed Ondo State Commissioner of Police as second respondent in the suit claimed that he was illegally arrested and remanded in Olokuta Medium Security Prisons without being charged to court and given fair hearing.

    According to a Motion on Notice filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Akure,the applicant through his legal team led by Dr  Remi Oyebanji, described the remand order issued and dated August 24, 2016 by the first respondent (Justice Akeredolu) and executed by the second respondent through his officers as illegal and unconstitutional.

    The applicant averred that this constituted a gross violation of an infringement upon his dignity,  personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement as enshrined and guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 36,41,46 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended) and Articles 4,5,6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’Rights .

    The applicant, Badmus, who was arrested at his Ajipowo hotel residence on August 24 and subsequently remanded in Olokuta Medium Security Prisons on the order of Justice O. O. Akeredolu of the Ondo State High Court, was later arraigned before an Oke-Eda Chief Magistrate’s court and granted bail onSeptember 1, after spending eight days in prison custody.

    The applicant is the nominal complainant and father of one Oluwatobi Badmus, a deceased, in a case of manslaughter between the State vs three ex-police officers earlier brought before Justice Akeredolu.

    Oluwatobi was allegedly killed by three police officers who have since been dismissed from the police force.

    They are; Awodeyi Adesola, Adekunle Adedeji and Adepetu Olamilekan.

    It was learnt that the father of the deceased had on August 19,sworn to an affidavit at the High Court Registry asking Justice Akeredolu to withdraw himself from further hearing of the case on grounds of alleged bias among other allegations.

    In the motion on notice, the applicant through his legal team sought an order restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and /or any person, body or authority deriving power or authority through them from further arresting, detaining or causing the arrest or detention of the applicant by whatsoever means in an illegal and unconstitutional manner.

    They also sought an order quashing the remand warrant dated August 24, and the applicant released forthwith for violating the fundamental rights of the applicant.

    The applicant who also pleaded with the court to order the respondents to pay him the sum of N200m as compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights, insisted that his arrest and detention in prison custody between August 24 and September 1, 2016,violated his fundamental rights.

    Hearing in the suit continues on October 17.