The Nation Newspaper

Tag: stalls trial

  • Ex-banker’s failure to get lawyer stalls trial

    THE non-appearance of a lawyer for a former Wena Bank worker, Kazeem Olawuwo,  yesterday stalled his trial for alleged fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

    The police on January 3 charged Olawuwo, 37, and his female friend, Risikatu Wahab, 35, on a 12-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    At yesterday’s resumed hearing,  Magistrate T. A. Idowu noticed that the defendants had no lawyers.

    She ordered the defendants to ensure that they got lawyers before the next adjourned date of April 2.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said the accused committed the offence sometime between October 2016 and April 2018, at Wema Bank Plc, Orile Iganmu branch, Lagos.

    Read also: President’s victory ’ll guarantee growth of critical infrastructure, says BON DG

    He alleged that Olawuwo used his position to fraudulently transfer N2.4 million to different accounts.

    The prosecutor said the money was transferred in tranches from customers’ accounts to Olawuwo’s friends’ accounts.

    Wahab, he said, was one of Olawuwo’s friends who received the cash,  with the knowledge that the transaction was done fraudulently.

    Mameh said Olawuwo fraudulently transferred N500, 000 to Wahab from a customer’s  account.

    The prosecutor said Olawuwo transferred N1.9 million to Kazeem Olanrewaju, who is at large, adding that the transfer was done five times.

     

     

  • Dasuki stalls trial in absentia

    •Ex-NSA files fresh application

    THE planned beginning of the trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki  in his absence was stalled yesterday, owing to a fresh application he filed, querying the propriety of the trial.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, on November 19, granted the prosecution’s prayer to do away with Dasuki’s presence since the ex-NSA has elected to stay away from the trial.

    Dasuki is standing trial on charges of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, brought against him by the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    The judge’s November 19 ruling was preceded by a letter by Dasuki, in which he requested the court to stop his prosecution on the grounds that the Federal Government has allegedly failed to obey orders made for his release on bail.

    The letter dated November 12, 2018, which he addressed to the Registrar of Court 5, was titled: “Re: Unabated persecution of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    When the case was called yesterday, prosecuting lawyer Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) indicated his readiness to proceed with the case, when defence lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, informed the judge about the fresh application filed by his client.

    Adedipe urged the court to set Dasuki’s fresh application down for hearing, in opposition to Okpeseyi’s request that the court should stick to the business of the day, as per the court’s ruling of November 19, in which it elected to proceed with trial, whether or not Dasuki was present.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Mohammed elected to adjourn further proceedings to allow for the hearing of Dasuki’s fresh application.

    The judge noted that since the fresh application appears to be seeking to stop Okpeseyi from further prosecuting the case, it was incumbent on the court to determine the application before deciding whether or not to proceed with the trial.

    Justice Mohammed adjourned the hearing of the application to January 9 next year.

    In the application filed before the commencement of court’s proceedings, Dasuki is seeking, among others, “an order to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) the trial and/or further trial of the defendant in this case pending compliance by the complainant with this honourable court’s judgment per (delivered by) Hon. Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu on July 2, 2018.

    Justice Chukwu had, in the judgment, ordered Dasuki’s release on the grounds that his continued detention amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to liberty.

    Dasuki is contenting that by virtue of section 268(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Okpesyi (SAN), a private legal practitioner, is required to prosecute this charge according to the directions of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, particularly with respect to the aforementioned judgment, which is enforceable against him and all authorities.”

    He argued that “further prosecution” of the case by Okpeseyi “without compliance with the judgment by Justice Ojukwu, “will be contrary to the direction of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who is the chief law officer of the federation and a judgment debtor to the said judgment”.

    In the application signed by Ahmed Raji (SAN), Dasuki stated that the “application ought to be granted to preserve the integrity of the Bench and to avoid a constitutional breakdown.”

  • Evans: Defence counsel’s absence stalls trial

    The trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, at a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, was stalled yesterday, following the absence of his lawyer.

    At the resumed proceedings, the court heard that Evans’ counsel, Mr. Olarenwaju Ajanaku, sent a letter that he would not be available, and asked for an adjournment.

    Evans is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    In the first charge, Evans is being tried with Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, he is standing trial with Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    At the last adjourned date, a fifth prosecution witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, told the court how he travelled from Lagos to the Southeast to give $1 million ransom to the suspected kidnappers of his employer.

    Ezeuko, a manager in Mr. James Uduji’s   firm (the victim), gave evidence before Justice Akintoye.

    He said he agreed to travel to the East to save his boss.

    Ezeuko narrated how he paid $1 million ransom in two tranches of $800,000 and $200,000 to his employer’s kidnappers.

    Led in evidence by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Ezeuko told the court that on September 7, 2015, his employer came to the factory at Agbara.

    He added that about 5 pm, he received a call that his employer, who had left the factory for home, had been kidnapped.

    The witness said on October 10, 2015, he received a call from somebody using a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.

    The case has been adjourned till October 24.

  • $565,000 green card scam: Absence of defence counsel stalls trial of ‘fraudster’

    The absence of defence counsel yesterday stalled the trial of Marco Ramirez, an American who allegedly defrauded three Nigerians of $565,000 in an American Green Card scam, at an Ikeja High Court.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on June 22, last year, arraigned Ramirez before Justice Josephine Oyefeso on a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false presences.

    The accused plead not guilty to the charges and the judge granted him $250,000 bail with two sureties in like sum on July 10, last year.

    At yesterday’s resumed sitting of the court, Ramirez, who has fulfilled his bail conditions, informed the court that he had no legal representation.

    “I have no legal representation this morning, my Lord. I have been unable to reach my lawyer,” he said.

    EFCC’s prosecuting lawyer, Mrs V. O. Agboje, prayed the court for a new trial date.

    “The defence lawyers were present in court at the last adjourned date. I urge the court for a new trial date,” she said.

    Justice Oyefeso granted the request of the prosecuting counsel and adjourned the matter till June 26 for the parties to pick a trial date.

    Ramirez, who has been convicted in absentia of fraud-related offences in the United States, is said to be the Managing Director of three companies – U.S.A Now Plc, Eagleford Instalodge Group and U.S.A Now Capital Group.

    According to the EFCC, he committed the offences between February and August 2013.

    The American was accused of fraudulently receiving $545,000 from Ambassador Godson Echejue to invest in Ramirez’s company.

    It was learnt that the plan was to procure an American green card (permanent residence card) for the Nigerian.

    Ramirez was also said to have received $10,000 from Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S.A, to make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport.

    The EFCC also accused Ramirez of illegally receiving $10,000 from Olukayode Sodimu in the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American Green Card.

     

  • Ojukwu estate : Bianca’s absence stalls trial

    Ojukwu estate : Bianca’s absence stalls trial

    The suit against Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before the Lagos High Court in Igbosere was stalled as the claimant, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, was absent.

    In the suit filed on behalf of her underaged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, Bianca prayed the court to declare as illegal, the threat of forcible eviction from 29, Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, issued by the defendants.

    Bianca urged the court to declare that her children were entitled to possess the property, pending the harmonisation of the management and administration of assets of the first defendant (OTL).

    Other defendants in the suit are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu; Emmanuel Ojukwu; Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu; Dr Patrick Ojukwu; Edward Ojukwu; Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe & Company).

    Besides the property at 29, Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, Bianca urged the court to declare that the claimants were entitled to possess the following: 13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi; 13, Ojora road, Ikoyi; 32A, Commercial Avenue, Yaba; 30, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, and 30, McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.

    At the resumed hearing before Justice Abdulfattah Lawal yesterday, the matter could not go on because Bianca, who is Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, was said to be in a meeting.

    Counsel to the defendants, George Uwechue (SAN) told the court of a letter signed by Bianca’s lawyer, Chioma Okoro, stating that Bianca could not be in court as a result of a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Dr. Taleb Rafai. Although the court said it did not receive the letter, the judge gave Bianca the benefit of the doubt and adjourned till December 11, for trial.

     

  • N30m land scam: Defence counsel’s absence stalls trial of 86-yr-old suspect

    N30m land scam: Defence counsel’s absence stalls trial of 86-yr-old suspect

    The trial of an octogenarian, Pa Adeola Ajidahun, who was accused of fraudulent land sale, was stalled on Wednesday by the absence of a defence counsel, Abdulkareem Adio.

    The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police had arraigned Pa Ajidahun,86, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island, for allegedly  obtaining money under false pretence.

    During Wednesday’s proceedings,  Adio sent a letter to the court apologizing for his absence, which he said was due to a legal commitment at the Court of Appeal, Lagos.

    Pa Ajidahun was however present in court.

    Adio therefore asked the court to adjourn the trial of the accused.

    The presiding magistrate, Mrs Awogboro said the definite trial would commence on November 25 and emphasized that Adio must be present in court on the date.

    Ajidahun was slammed with a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to defraud by false pretence and stealing with others now at at large.

    He was arrested following a petition forwarded to the police anti-fraud unit by one Kehinde Ola, who claimed he was defrauded by the octogenarian and that he had refused to refund his money despite several entreaties.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    The SFU had alleged that the accused conspired to obtain a sum of N30 million from Ola, under the pretext that the said sum was the cost of two plots of land at Lekki Penninsula Resettlement Scheme in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    An official of the police anti-fraud unit, Mrs Suzan Ezema, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, had told the court that the offence was committed sometime in December, 2013.

    The offence, according to the police contravened Sections 409, 312(1) and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

    The three- count charge reads: “That Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large between 1st and 14th December, 2013 at Mega Chicken Restaurant at Ikota, Ajah, Lagos within Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felonies to obtain money by false pretence and stealing and thereby committeed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    “That you Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N30 million from one Kehinde Ola, under false pretence that you were selling him two plots of land at Lekki Penninsula Resettlement Scheme in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, a representation that you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    “That you Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district did steal the sum of N30 million property of Kehinde Ola, which you fraudulently took from him to sell him two plots of land and fraudulently converted same to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.”

    The case was formerly handled by a magistrate, Mrs O.O Oshin, who granted Pa Ajidahun bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum in December, 2014.

    The court held that the sureties must show evidence of tax remittance to the Lagos State government in the last three years, while one of the sureties must be a senior civil servant on level 16.

    The accused was remanded in Ikoyi Prison until he was able to perfect his bail about seven months later.