The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prosecution counsel

  • Prosecution counsel withdraws from Justice Ngwuta’s trial

    Prosecution counsel withdraws from Justice Ngwuta’s trial

    Prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun-Philips, on Thursday withdrew from the trial of Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on money laundering charges of over N500 million.

    Adeogun-Philips, engaged from the International Criminal Court, announced his decision to withdraw from the case when the case up for continuation of trial before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The lawyer announced his withdrawal when the case was called for cross-examination.

    Adeogun-Philips, rose to tell the judge that he had decided to withdraw from the case, but he did not give reason for his withdrawal.

    Mrs Hajara Yusuf, a counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, however, took over as the leader of the prosecuting team.

    She said: “I have been instructed to inform the court that Mr Charles Adeogun-Philips, the lead prosecuting counsel, will no longer be appearing in this matter.

    “In view of this change, myself and my colleagues will be appearing, subject when arrangement will be made in due course.”

    The judge thanked Adeogun-Philips for his courtesy in the course of his appearance for the prosecution.

    “The court has taken into notice of the withdrawal of the prosecution counsel Mr Charles and the court wishes him success in his further endeavours,” the judge said.

    The lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), also commended the erstwhile prosecuting counsel’s conduct and wished him success too.

    The lead defence counsel, Agabi, however, cross examined Mr Nwaba Linus, the first prosecution witness.

    Linus said he was paid for the services he rendered to the defendant because he thought it was legal

    “I would not have accepted the payment if I thought it was a crime, but he explained the source of the money that was why I accepted.

    “The work I did for the defendant was in the open, I documented all the construction I did for him and the document cannot be regarded as illegal.

    “I have never received any complain against the defendant or heard of any report from police or any enforcement agency,’’ he said.

    The witness further stated that he was arrested and detained for seven days by the DSS, adding that he did not consider his arrest and detention as justified.

    Yusuf asked for an adjournment to enable her put things in order because of the changes.
    Justice Tsoho adjourned the case till Feb. 13, for continuation of hearing.

    Ngwuta was arraigned on a 16-count charge including money laundering and offences relating to obtaining multiple passport.

  • Court reserves ruling on Fani-Kayode, Usman’s bail applications

    Court reserves ruling on Fani-Kayode, Usman’s bail applications

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday reserved ruling on the bail applications of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his Finance counterpart, Nenadi Usman.

    They are to remain in prison till July 4.

    Fani-Kayode and Usman alongside Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited were on June 28 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice M. S. Hassan on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law.

    The accused persons allegedly diverted about N4.9 billion belonging to the Federal Government to political and personal uses.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The accused persons’ counsel,  Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and S. I. Ameh (SAN) moved the motion for bail, having filed separate applications in which they prayed the court to release their clients on bail.

    But the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he needed time to respond to the applications.

    Justice Hassan consequently adjourned proceedings to July 1 for hearing of the bail applications.

    At the resumed hearing on Friday, the counsels argued the applications.

    Orbih prayed the court to admit the first accused person to bail based on self-recognition pending the hearing and determination of the charges preferred against her.

     

    Justice Hassan consequently adjourned to July 4 for ruling.

  • Ohakim: Court fixes June 30 to rule on no case submission

    Ohakim: Court fixes June 30 to rule on no case submission

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 30 for ruling on the application for a no-case-submission filed by the former governor of Imo, Ikedi Ohakim.

    Ohakim was to open his defence on Monday, on a three- count charge of money laundering he allegedly committed while serving as governor between 2007 and 2011.

    The charges hinged on the property he acquired but failed to declare in his assets declaration form.

    At the resumed hearing counsel to the defendant, Mr Awa Kalu (SAN), told the court that he had no case to answer and as such he had filed a no-case-submission.

    Kalu also told the court of Ohakim’s willingness to withdraw the initial confessional statement he made as regards ownership of the property he acquired.

    “When he was arrested, he was drilled for eight hours, these are some of the things that led to the alleged confession.

    “There is nothing to show that his house where his documents were kept was not burnt and his documents were not destroyed.

    “It will be injurious to ask the defendant to enter the witness box to explain the transaction that has no witnesses.”

    The counsel, therefore, prayed the court to ask the defendant to go home as he had no case to answer.

    The prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, however, objected to the plea saying he had filed an application to that effect.

    “On the issue of withdrawing the statements, those statements were made under caution. It cuts the grass under the feet off the defendant.

    “If he was not free to make the statement, he would have said so, but he signed the statement that he made it free and without compulsion.”

    Kayamo added that Ohakim made efforts to conceal the origin of the property acquired by money laundering, by not being not straightforward in his statements.

    “A man cannot forget how he acquired his house. I ask the court to take judicial notice of the fact that a man does not forget how he acquires his house. It shows effort to conceal the origin of the house.

    “We want the court to invite the accused person to explain how he acquired the house. He should be made to enter his defence.”

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola reserved June 30 for ruling.

  • Man in Court for hawking petrol in gallons

    Man in Court for hawking petrol in gallons

    A 35-years-old man, Ganiyu Suleiman, was on Tuesday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly hawking petrol in gallons.
    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested him on March 15 along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
    Prosecution counsel, Matthew Omosun said 10 gallons of 50-litre petrol was found in a Toyota Camry Car belonging to the accused.
    Suleiman allegedly conspired with others now at large to engage in the sale of petroleum products without lawful authority, the court heard.
    The alleged offence is contrary to sections 1 (17) and 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous offence Act, 2004‎.
    Suleiman pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted the accused bail for N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
    The sureties must be around 40 years of age, with a landed property in Lagos, and must depose to an affidavit of means, to be verified by the court’s registry.
    He adjourned until June 14 for trial.