The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Presiding Magistrate

  • Evangelist docked for defiling 10 years old girl 

    An Evangelist, Benjamin Uzoma, has been docked at the Edo Family Court for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a 10-year old girl.

    Benjamin who pleaded not guilty was arraigned on two count charges bothering on indecent assault and having carnal knowledge against the victim’s will.

    He was said to have committed the offence at No 6 Oviawe Street, Aduwawa Quarters in Ikpoba Okha local government area.

    Read Also:Court remands two for ‘defilement’

    The accused was said to have forcefully removed the pants of the victim, applied cream to her vaginal and lay down on her against her will, an offence punishable under section 222 of the Criminal Code.

    He was also alleged to have defiled his victim, an offence punishable under section 218 of the Criminal Code.

    During hearing of the case Wednesday, the court was informed that the accused committed the offence a day after he had a prayer session with victim’s family.

    Presiding Magistrate, J.O Ejale adjourned the case to July 18 for further hearing.

  • Domestic violence: court admits oil worker to bail

    Domestic violence: court admits oil worker to bail

    …as FIDA sues him for alleged neglect and wife battering

    A chief magistrate court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, yesterday granted bail in the sum of N100,000 to one Austin Oziegbe, a manager in one of the Oil Servicing Company in the state, over alleged neglect of his pregnant wife, and baby boy.

    Members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), had summoned the young father before the presiding magistrate, Mr. S.D. Andrew-Jaja, on a “Private Prosecution Summon” in accordance to sections, 59(1), 78(a), among others, of the criminal procedure Act, for failing to provide necessary needs for his nuclear family, wife battering and abandonment.

    In a complaint form filed before the court by FIDA, number PMC/1419/2016, Oziegbe, who is the logistics manager of his company (name withheld by me), clearly titled, Private Prosecution summons” sighted b the Nation, and the petition by the wife Blessing Oziegbe read out to him before the court, the accused person had on April 11, battered the wife and threw her out of the house to be wondering about without a home.

    The beating caused her serious bleeding, (being few months old pregnant) and her admission in the accused person’s company hospital in Port Harcourt, and two pints of blood were reportedly transfused into her.

    He was consequently charged for failure to provide necessaries for his family, Assault, and abandonment of his wife, unborn child and his under 2-year-old son.

    He pleaded not guilty to the three count charges and was admitted to bail.

    The magistrate said the surety to sign his bail form must be a civil servant in grade level 10, and must be resident in Port Harcourt. The surety must summit two colour photo passports, copies of his letter of employment and last promotion respectively and his staff Identity card.

    He will also swear an affidavit of means and his residence verified by the assigned officials of the court.

    He adjourned the case till August 1, for hearing.

  • Man jailed for stealing stabilizer

    An unrepentant thief, Blessing Obazuwa, who previously served two years jail term, has been jailed again for stealing a 500 KVA stabilizer.

    Blessing, aged 40, was jailed by an Evboriaria Magistrates sitting in Benin City.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Esther Aimofumhe, said the accused person was not ready to change his lifestyle and repent after spending time in prison.

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Violet Soyemi said the accused person committed the offence at No 21, Nova Road, Ugbowo in Egor local government.

    Inspector Soyemi informed the court that the accused person was found at her residence of one David Osaghae and stole one stabilizer valued at N35,000.

    Soyemi said the accused person was found with a knife with intent to commit felony and when arrested, confessed to the crime

    Blessing who pleaded guilty to the crime admitted the exhibits, but plead for leniency.

    The Presiding Magistrate, however, sentenced the accused person to six months imprisonment with an option fine of N50,000 in count 1, and one year imprisonment in court 11 with an option fine of N50,000

  • Community leader docked in Ondo

    An Ondo Chief, Joseph Akinawonu has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town over alleged conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of money.

     

    According to the charge sheet ,the community leader along side one Nureni Akinola were alleged to have committed the offence for which they were arraigned on a three count in February at No. 29 Mode street, Ondo.

     

    Akinnawonu and  Akinola were said to have allegedly used trick and obtained the sum of N500,000 from one Madam Eunice Ajayi under the pretence of selling 10 plots of land for her and fraudulently converted the money to his personal use.

     

    The duo were also said to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N150,000 from the complainant under the pretence of assisting her to grade the landed property which the accused persons later sold to another person.

     

    The offence which according to the charge sheet are contrary to section 516, 419 and 249 of the criminal code cap 37 vol. 1 laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 2006.

    When the charge sheet was read to the accused person.

     

    They pleaded not guilty, subsequently the police prosecutor, Corporal Gbenga Akinsulure, said he was ready to prosecute the case by inviting three witnesses.

     

    He urged the court to give him short adjournment to assemble his witnesses.

     

    Also,the defence counsel to the accused persons, Bade Awosule, urged the court to grant bail to his clients in liberal terms and on self recognition, saying chief Akinawonu being an Ondo chief would not jump bail.

     

    Awosule pleaded with the court that his clients have concluded plans to settle the case out of court with the complainant,

     

    After listening to the applications of both parties, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Odenusi Fadeyi, granted bail to the accused person on self recognition and ordered that the defence counsel should stand surety for the accused person and thereby adjourned the case till May 11.

  • Man arraigned for defiling minor in Edo

    A 40-year old man, Johnbull Omoike, has been arraigned before an Egor Magistrate Court for allegedly defiling an eight-year old girl.

    Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Lucky, told the court that the offence was committed at Uwelu Street in Egor local government area of the state.

    Sergeant Sunday said the offence was punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal a Code.

    Johnbull was said to have committed the offence at the residence of the victim’s father.

    He was however granted bail in the sum of N200,000 or a surety in like sum who must be a level nine civil servant.

    Presiding Magistrate, P.E Akhere, adjourned the case to September 9 for hearing.