Tag: Court

Mace Theft: Court Restrains Police, SSS From Arresting Sen. Omo- Agege

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued an order restraining the Nigeria Police and State Security Services, SSS from arresting Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

This came after allegations that the Senator led the hoodlums who invaded the Senate chambers on Wednesday and carted away the mace.

The Police had based on the accusation, arrested and briefly detained the Senator but he was later released.

However, Mr Omo-Agege’s lawyers approached the court on Thursday seeking an interim injunction against further arrest or detention of the senator.

Senator Omo Agege’s team of lawyers led by Aliyu Umar, a Senior Avocate of Nigeria, asked for court’s protection for the embattled senator pending determination of a fundamental human rights case brought against the respondents.

The judge, Ishaq Bello granted the four-point prayers of the Senator and adjourned the matter to May 6.

The case is also reassigned to Court 30 for hearing.

Mr. Omo-Agege was suspended from the Senate on April 12 over his allegations that a bill for reordering of election sequence was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The senator later apologized to his colleagues after the Senate had directed its Ethics & Privileges Committee to investigate the matter.

The committee eventually recommended Mr Omo-Agege’s suspension.

However, on Wednesday, the suspended Senator resurfaced at the National Assembly, accompanied by some individuals who proceeded to take away the mace in a commando style.

Court Dissolves 5-Year-Old Marriage Over Wife’s Suicide Attempt

An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court, Agodi in Ibadan, Oyo on Wednesday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between Selim Osuntade and his wife, Mutiat, over her attempt to commit suicide.

The Court President, Chief Mukaila Balogun held that Selim proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

Balogun said the court could not entertain the plea of Mutiat for reconciliation as the evidence given by both parties had revealed the truth.

He said the court would not fold its arms and wait until the respondent killed herself because her husband had made up his mind not to love her again.

 

”The marriage is hereby dissolved and the custody of the two children from the union is given to the respondent.

”The petitioner should pay N8, 000 monthly for the upkeep of the children.

”In addition, he should pay N12, 000 for the respondent’s house rent and N5, 000 for her to move her luggage,” he said.

Earlier, Selim had approached the court for the dissolution of his marriage, alleging that his wife of five years was too troublesome to live with.

The petitioner told the court that he had denied his wife sex to see if she would change her bad character instead she became suicidal.

”My lord, I decided to starve her sexually so that she can change from her bad behaviour.

 

”Though she pleaded with me and told me that she would change, but i insisted that she should turn a new leaf first, instead, she attempted to hang herself in my room.

”I see the suicide attempt as another way to put me into trouble, therefore, the court should end this marriage to save me from her troubles,” he said.

The respondent, Mutiat, denied the allegation that she attempted to kill herself and urged the court to save her marriage.

“I confirmed that my husband denied me sex for several months and I begged him to forgive me for any wrong thing I have done to him but he refused to accept my apology.

”I am not ready to leave my matrimonial home with our two kids, the court should help us reconcile,’’ she said.

NAN

63 In Jail For Alleged Homicide In Kaduna

A Daura Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kaduna has again ordered the remand of 63 persons charged with unlawful assembly and homicide in Kasuwa Magani, Kaduna State.

The accused, all residents of Kasuwa Magani, are standing trial for conspiracy, rioting with weapons, unlawful assembly and homicide, causing grievous hurt and inciting disturbances.

When the case was called for mention, the prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Baba, informed the court that the accused cannot take their plea as they still await advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions.

Baba however urged the court to remand the accused in prison and adjourn the matter pending the DPP advice.

The Magistrate, Mrs Zainab Mohammed, after listening to the prosecutor’s oral application, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

She, however, handed one of the accused, an underage, to a surety, and adjourned the case till April 24.

The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the accused were arrested and brought to court in connection with a conflict on February. 26, between locals and settlers over girl friends.

Several houses, shops and other properties were set ablaze during the incident in which 12 people died.

The police are yet to arrest the alleged gang leader and mastermind of the crisis.

The 63 accused persons are in custody for allegedly contravening the provisions of Sections 59, 67, 190 and 78 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Laws, 2017.

(NAN)

52-Year-Old Actor In Jail For Killing Animals

An Indian court on Thursday jailed Bollywood superstar Salman Khan for five years for killing endangered animals on a hunting trip.

Prosecution lawyer Mahipal Bishnoi told reporters outside the court in the Rajasthan city of Jodhpur: “The court has given a five-year jail term and fined Salman Khan 10,000 rupees ($150).”

The lawyer said an arrest warrant was being prepared for the 52-year-old actor who would be sent to Jodhpur central jail. Khan, who pleaded not guilty, can still appeal.

 

AFP

Man In Court For Obstructing Governor’s Convoy

Twenty-seven-year-old motorist, Progress Raji, was on Monday brought before an Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin, for allegedly obstructing the convoy of the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Raji is facing two counts of driving against the traffic, thereby obstructing the governor’s convoy and driving on the public highway with expired driver’s licence.

The Prosecutor, Mr. David Akhigbe, told court that Raji committed the offences on February 18 on Country Home Road, off Sapele Road, Benin City.

Akhigbe said the first offence was punishable under Section 18 of Road Traffic Law, Cap 148, Vol. 1 of former Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 now applicable to Edo State.

He said the second offence was punishable under Regulation 42 of Road Traffic Law, Cap 48, Vol. 5 of the former Bendel State of Nigeria Laws now applicable to Edo State.

Raji, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Mathew Adebola, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail due to the nature of the offences.

The Magistrate, M. O. Ojo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 and a surety in like sum.

The magistrate said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must also have a visible means of livelihood.

Ojo adjourned the case until March 2 for further hearing.

Court Strikes Out Case As Defendant Commits Suicide

A Magistrate Court in Osogbo last Tuesday struck out a case of fraud involving a 49-year old Asimiyu Salawu after he had committed suicide on December 21, 2017.

Salawu was arraigned before court 5 in Osogbo on November 10, 2017.

He was accused of defrauding one Monsurat Adeleke of her N270,000 under the pretence to secure her a piece of land at Ijetu Area, Osogbo.

The deceased was said to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 390(9) and 419 of the state criminal law2003.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge leveled against him.

However, at the resumed hearing, the police prosecutor, Inspector Olayiwola Rasaq told the court that the accused person had committed suicide by jumping into Osun River in Osogbo.

The prosecutor stated that the dead body has been confirmed with certificate issued by LAUTECH hospital mortuary.

He also said the corpse of the accused dead person has been released to his family for burial.

In his ruling, Magistrate O.T. Badmus said, “May the soul of the dead rest in perfect peace, as the case died natural death.”

My Son Was Murdered Two Semesters To Graduation – Father Told Court

Sonibare Oladiran, the father of a 400-Level student of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Timileyin Sonibare who was murdered and mutilated for ritual purpose has told an Osun State High Court that his son was murdered when he was just less than two semesters away from graduation.

He spoke while giving evidence during the trial of the five suspects in the matter, AbdulRafiu Zakariyau, Yusuf Kareem, Ayuba Ibraheem, Ishaq Yusuf and AbdulKareem Adeoti which resumed before Justice Kudirat Akano on Monday.

Timileyin was murdered last year June, 2017 around Oke Baale area of Osogbo.

The deceased father, in an emotion laden voice told the court that the death of his son was a great loss, as the life of his son was cut short at a time his family was expecting to celebrate his success in the university.

During the hearing, the court had to first determine whether the first accused, 22 years-old AbdulRafiu Zakariyau who had pleaded guilty to murder should be summarily tried or tried alongside other accused who pleaded not guilty.

Having held that the first accused should also face proper trial, the prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the state, Ajibola Bashiru opened its case by calling four witnesses.

The first witness, Segun Akinloye, who is the victim’s cousin told the court how Timileyin went missing on the 26th of June, 2017 and how a number found on his mobile phone led them to AbdulRafiu Zakariyau, who later told the police that himself and one Yaya  Toyin killed and cut off the head and wrist of the victim for ritual purpose.

A police officer, Sergeant Adelakun Najeem told the court that apart from admitting the crime, the first accused also led them to an uncompleted building near his house where the decomposing body of Timileyin was found.

A pestle, live tortoise and a clay pot, where the burnt head of the victim was kept were tendered and admitted in court as exhibits.

More prosecution witnesses and exhibits are expected in court on the next hearing date, January 29 when the case has been adjourned to.

Court Adjourns Trial Of Ex-Abia Governor, Orji Kalu

A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has adjourned the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu to January 22 and 23rd.

Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the proceedings after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to produce one of its major witnesses in court.

The former governor is being tried on a 34 count charge alongside one of his aides, Udeh Udeogu and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited for allegedly diverting the sum of N2.9bn from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

They have however pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed proceedings of the case today, January 16, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told Justice Idris that the witness in question, one M.A. Udoh had been evasive, and the anti-graft agency was having difficulty bringing him to court.

He urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable him to locate and bring the witness, a retired employee of the Abia State Government House, Umuahia, to court to testify.

The defence counsel promptly opposed the move for an adjournment, describing it as frivolous.

They expressed disappointment at the EFCC’s request for an adjournment and indicated their readiness to continue. They also told the court that most of them had flown to Lagos from Abuja just to ensure that there was no further delay in the case that had lasted for over 10 years.

The defence then urged the court to either foreclose the prosecution’s case or in the alternative order the EFCC to bear the cost of their transportation and hotel accommodation.

But the EFCC prosecutor countered by reminding the court that the case was delayed for over 10 years at the instance of the defendants who pursued an interlocutory appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.

In his ruling, Justice Idris described the development as unfortunate.

He noted that the case had been adjourned on four different occasions at the request of the prosecution.

Though he conceded to an adjournment, the judge warned that it would be the last of its kind.

He then fixed further proceedings for January 22 and 23rd.

Court Remands Bricklayer For Defiling A Minor

A Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, State of Osun, on Tuesday, remanded a 23-year old bricklayer, Lukman Moshood, in prison for allegedly raping and defiling a 6-year-old girl for two days.

The suspect was accused of luring the victim, simply identified as Omode Kekere into his room located at 3, Durojaye Street, Testing Ground area, Osogbo, while her mother sent her on an errand.

Police prosecutor, Fatoba Temitope, a police sergeant, informed the court that the accused person forced the minor to bed two times at about 2:30pm on 23rd and 28th of December, 2017.

Moshood was said to have gagged the minor while having carnal knowledge of her repeatedly.
It was learnt that the victim’s parents discovered stains of blood in her private part before Moshood was confronted and reported to the police.

The charge sheet obtained by our correspondent from the court reads, “That you, Lukman Moshood, on the 23rd and 28th days of December, 2017 at about 14:30hours at No. 3 Durojaye Street, Testing Ground area, Osogbo in the Osogbo Family Court District did unlawfully and indecently assault one Omode Kekere, aged 6, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

The second charge reads partly, “ That you (accused) on the same date, time and aforementioned Magisterial district did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of Omode Kekere, aged 6 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vil. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

But Moshood pleaded not guilty to the two count-charges of indecent assault and rape slammed against him by the police.

Though the accused person’s counsel, Okobe Najite, made efforts to secure bail for his client, the presiding Magistrate, A. Ayeni, ordered that Moshood be remanded in Ilesa Prison custody.

He adjourned the matter till January 30, 2018, for mention.

Meanwhile, the parents of the victim have appealed to the police and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that their daughter gets justice over her ordeal.

Speaking with journalists at the Police Command Headquarters, the parents revealed that they had sent Kekere on an errand before Moshood allegedly lured her into his room and defiled her.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olafimihan Adeoye, then advised parents to always ensure that their wards do not go to where they could be abused.

Court Remands 300 B/Haram Suspects In Secret Trials

Three hundred Boko Haram suspects who were due in court on Tuesday will now have to wait until at least next month to learn when they will be formally tried.

The individuals were remanded in custody for 90 days on October 10 by a civilian court set up at a military base in central Nigeria.

“The case was slated for resumption today (Tuesday) but it has been postponed to February. No date has been fixed yet,” a justice ministry source told AFP.

“The law allows for an extension of the remand order for another 90 days, so we are still within the limit provided by the law.

“There are ongoing investigations into the individual cases of the suspects and these investigations have not been concluded.

“We need further investigations before the court resumes so that we won’t be asking for more adjournments.”

Nigeria began the first mass trials linked to the Islamist insurgency in October last year, more than eight years after the start of violence that has killed at least 20,000.

Human rights groups have accused the military of arbitrarily arresting thousands of civilians and holding them in unsanitary conditions and without access to lawyers.

The prosecutions were welcomed but the government was criticised for ordering the hearings to be held behind closed doors, with the media and public banned.

Four civilian courts have been set up at a military base in Kainji, in Niger state, to try 1,669 suspects.

The government said on October 13 that 45 people were convicted and sentenced to
between three and 31 years in jail but gave no further details.

AFP

Suspected Killers Of UNIOSUN Student Remanded In Prison

By Nofisat Adeoye

An Osun State High Court presided by Justice Kudirat Akano has ordered that the five suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Timileyin Olufemi Sonibare, a four hundred level, microbiology student of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, be remanded in prison custody.

The suspects who had also been arraigned before a Magistrate Court were charged with three counts charge of conspiracy, murder and misconduct with corpse which are contrary to section 516, 319, 242 and punishable under section 319(1) of Criminal Code Cap 34, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

The accused persons, Abdurafiu Zakariyah, Yusuf Kareem, Aruba Ibrahim,  Ishaq Yusuf and Abdulkareem Adeoti were alleged to have killed Sonibare for purposes of money rituals on the 26th of June 2017, at Jafariyah Avenue, Oke-Bale Area in Osogbo.

The deceased head and right hand were cut and burnt inside a pot which was caught with the first suspect, Zakariyah.

When paraded by the police, the first suspect had confessed that he carried out the act together with one yahayah who is still at large and with the second and third suspects.
Zakariyah also confessed that the account book for the procedure of money rituals was gotten from the 5th suspect, Adeoti.

However, on further investigation, the pot used in burning the deceased body parts was recovered from the house of the 4th suspect, Yusuf.

Speaking in court today, the counsels for the accused persons, Barrister Badmus Kazeem and Barrister Abayomi Alayoku prayed the court for the bail of their clients in the most liberal terms.

Justice Kudirat, however, remanded the accused persons in prison custody and adjourned the case till the 15th of December, 2017.
She also ordered that the counsels come by way of written bail application on the adjourned date.