The Nation Newspaper

Tag: remands

  • Voter’s cards: Court remands LP chieftains in prison

    Voter’s cards: Court remands LP chieftains in prison

    A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Olaolu Oladapo, and a middle-aged woman, Omolade Raphael, have been remanded in prison.

    They were arraigned by the police before an Akure Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit unlawful possession of voter’s cards and unlawful possession of 1,123 voter’s cards, contrary to Section 23(1)(a)(b) and (c) of the Electoral Act 2010.

    They were alleged to have committed the offence on October 5 about 4.30pm at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The offence was said to have been committed by the LP chief and his accomplice at Ondo town.

    They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison by Magistrate J. O. Adelegan till today.

    An Akure lawyer and human rights activist, who also coordinates the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) legal team in the state, Titiloye Charles, hailed the police for the arrest of the suspects.

    He urged INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega to take over the prosecution pursuant to Section 150 (2) of the Electoral Act 2012, which gives the commission power to prosecute electoral offenders.

    Charles said the era of open electoral fraud was over, adding that every voter is entitled to one voter’s card and one vote.

    He said the suspects must be prosecuted to guard against rigging.

  • Ondo Mega rally: Court remands five ACN members.

    The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure has ordered five Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] supporters in Ondo State to be remanded in prison custody. They were arrested from different locations after ACN rally in Ondo, the home town of Governor Olusegun Mimiko and accused of conduct likely to breach peace and assault.

    The six accused, Jimoh Adebiyi, Ojo Gbenga, Joseph Ogah, Samson Otugbo and Oyewole Gabriel, however, denied the allegation. Applying for the bail of the accused, Akure lawyer and right activist, Titiloye Charles who led the ACN legal team urged the court to take judicial notice of the old age of the 4th and 5th accused persons who are 66 and 67 years old.

    He said they could not have conducted themselves in riotous manner and presumes the accused person innocent pending trial.

    The Attorney General of Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede represented by Taiwo Olubodun took over the case and opposed the bail application. The presiding Magistrate F. A. Akintoye ordered the accused to be remanded in prison till 0ctober 18. Earlier, there was a mild drama in court when a Press Officer [PO] from the Governor’s Office started using camera to film Charles and his clients. The lawyer demanded to know why camera was deployed to court and asked whether it was to intimidate lawyers and the judiciary.

    The PO apologized and stopped the video coverage of court proceedings. He claimed to be from the office of the Governor. Lawyers present in the court decried the judicial intimidation taking place in the state.