Author: Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Death
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has described the death of Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of Oyo State High Court as a rude shock to its members.

Chairman of the branch, Mr Ibrahim Lawal, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

NAN reports that Gbolagunte, a senior judge in the state judiciary, died on Monday at the age of 64, after a protracted illness.

The NBA chairman said that with Gbolagunte’s death, the state judiciary had indeed lost a courteous judge.

“Lawyers who appeared before my lord always have good reports about his reverence for the bar. We pray the Almighty to repose his soul,” he said.

Lawal said that the death of the judge was a reflection of the kind of difficult terrains judges were passing through in rendering their services to the country.

According to him, judges have so much to contend with, saying the cases an average judge in Oyo state has to adjudicate upon at every given time are too many due to inadequate number of judges.

“In Oyo state, we are supposed to have 40 judges to man our courts but in the last four years, we have only 21 judges, and with the demise of Justice Gbolagunte, we now have 20.

“Imagine the pressure on those judges to discharge their duties faithfully and speedily,” he said.

The NBA chairman, therefore, renewed the call for appointment of more judges and improvement in the conditions of service of the serving ones.

“This is not limited to judges; our Magistrates and President of Grade A Customary Courts too should not be left out. There should be proper funding of the judiciary, going forward,” Lawal stated.

Also, a former NBA Chairman, Ibadan branch, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi, described the late Gbolagunte as a brilliant and astute jurist.

“As a judge, he extended professional courtesies to all legal practitioners who came before him.

“Before he took ill, his lordship was a very diligent judge, who sat early and went through his case list, dispensing justice without fear or favour.

“He demonstrated the right candour, while litigants leave his court with the satisfaction that justice had been done in their cases.

“May the soul of the well-respected jurist rest in peace,” Aladeniyi prayed.

Similarly, a former Publicity Secretary of the branch, Mr Tobi Fatoki,
said the late judge always ensured that justice was done to the cases brought before him.

“His death came to me as a rude shock; he really battled with the illness that led to his death.

“However, he left a legacy behind as an erudite judge, who did his best on the bench.

“His records are there; he delivered sound judgments which would forever speak for him. His death is indeed a great loss to the bench and the bar” he said.

Fatoki prayed God to uphold the family, the judiciary, the bar and the well-wishers left behind by the deceased. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
CC/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Arraignment

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Two men, Babatunde Olawale, 29, and Ganiyat Ariyo, 42, on Wednesday appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly aiding the escape of a suspect.

The duo whose addresses were not provided were charged with conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, to which they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp. Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence between May 17 and June 9 around Ojoo bus terminal in Ibadan.

Oladoyin alleged that the defendants aided the escape of a suspect who the police wanted to arrest for investigations.

She said the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by committing such acts.

Oladoyin said the offence contravened Sections 516 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adebola Adeola, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 30 for hearing.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
CC/GOM/BRM

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Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Bashir Rabe Mani

Assault

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Three motorcyclists, Aliasatu Sharafadeen, 19, Shettuum Uka, 27, and Abubakar Bello, 20, were on Wednesday arraigned in  a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan over  alleged assault.

The defendants, whose addresses were not provided in court, were charged with conspiracy, assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on Monday at about 9.45 a.m. at Elebu area of Ibadan.

He alleged that the motorcyclists assaulted Gbenga Falola, a member of the Oyo State motorcycle task-force, by hitting him with plywood on the head.

“The defendants fought Falola who asked them not to park on an obstruction and not to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace,” he said.

Accroding to him, the offences contravened Sections 516, 355 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The court president, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 23 for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CC/DEB/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Proprietor docked for allegedly embezzling money meant for NECO

Arraignment
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A 67-year-old man, Segun Oyedepo, Owner of Fedeco International College, Ibadan, was on Wednesday docked in a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly embezzling money meant for the National Examinations Council (NECO) for students.

Oyedepo is charged with theft and obtaining money under false pretence.

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence between September 2023 and June 2024, at the aforementioned school.

Amusan alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained  N1.7 million which was meant for about 13 students’ NECO registration.

He alleged that the defendant obtained the money from one Hammed Olayode and 12 others to register the students but failed to do so.

Amusan said the offence contravens the provisions of Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Court’s President, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf, admitted the  defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Yusuf held that one of the sureties must be a relation of the defendant and have evidence of two years tax clearance.

She adjourned the case until July 19 for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
CC/ACA/SH

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Edited by Chidinma Agu/Sadiya Hamza

Fraud

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A 24-year old Point of Sale (POS) Machine Operator, Chukwuemeka Jidije, on Wednesday, appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, over alleged N1.4 million fraud.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is being charged with stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on May 6, at Bodija Market branch of First Bank, Ibadan.

Tellang said that the complainant, Mrs Modester Okafor lent Jidije the sun of N1.4 million with an agreement that he would repay.

The prosecutor further said that Jidije fraudulently refused to repay the loan, and converted the money into his personal use.

Tellang said the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty of the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. Olagbenro granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 16, for hearing.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
CC/KOO/AZU

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Azubuike Okeh

Stealing

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Two men,  Opeyemi Olalere and Oluwatimileyin Oladeji, were on Wednesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing iron rods worth N120,000.

Olalere, 30, and Oladeji, 24, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp Olalekan Adegbite told the court that the defendants committed the offence at about 6.00p.m, at the Agodi Garden area, Ibadan.

He alleged that the defendants stole the rods belonging to the complainant, Mr Olapade Yahaya.

He said that the offence contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwabusayo Osho, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with two reliable sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 29 for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Azubuike Okeh

Man, 50, docked for alleged impersonation in Ibadan

Impersonation

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 25, 2024 (NAN) A 50-year-old man, Tayo Ayoola, on Tuesday, appeared  before  an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly falsely posing as a landlord to sell a house.

Ayoola, whose address was not provided, is charged with conspiracy and impersonation, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, ASP Anthony Igori, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between April 2023 and June 2024, on Alabidun Street, Alakia, Airport, Ibadan.

Igori alleged that the defendant pretended be a property owner and attempted to  sell a building at the aforementioned area to one Prophet Emmanuel Olajide.

He alleged that the property belonged to one late Mr Bilinminu Ayoola.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 484 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mr Olaolu Olanipekun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until July 23 for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Court remands man, 40, over alleged burglary

Remand

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 24, 2024 (NAN) An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Monday, ordered the remand of one Tunde Olubayo, 40, facing a charge of burglary.

Olubayo, whose address was not provided, is facing charges of conspiracy and burglary.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, did not take the plea of the defendant for want of jurisdiction and ordered his remand in the correctional centre.

She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

The magistrate thereafter adjourned the case until Sept. 18 for mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences between April and May 2024.

Opaleye said that the defendant allegedly burgled the premises at Akinfenwa Olugbon Street, Ibadan, at 1.00a.m.

He alleged that Olubayo burgled the house of one Kunle Omotosho and stole valuables worth N31 million.

According to him, the valuables stolen include washing machine, air conditioner, generator, home theatre appliance, fan, among others.

Opaleye said that the offences committed contravened sections 516 and 427 of the criminal laws of Oyo State 2000.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that if found guilty of burglary, the defendant is liable to life imprisonment.

The prosecutor further accused Olubayo of selling the stolen items to his alleged accomplice, Tejumola Olaoye, who was also arraigned before the court.

The prosecutor accused Olaoye, 34, of receiving the stolen property knowing they did not belong to Olubayo.

He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Olaoye however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs Ogunkanmi subsequently granted Olaoye bail in the sum of N1 million and two reliable sureties in like sum. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
08039440128

Court remands 2 students over alleged attempted murder

Remand

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, June 24, 2024 (NAN) An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Monday remanded two teenage students, in a correctional facility in Ibadan for allegedly attempting to murder a student.

The duo, whose addresses were not provided were charged with conspiracy and attempted murder.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. Olagbenro, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

She directed the Police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

She adjourned the case until July 10, for mention.

The Prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on May 21, at about 2.40 p.m., at Saint Louis Secondary School, Molete, Ibadan.

She alleged that the duo conspired and unlawfully attempted to cause the death of a 14 year student of the school, by matcheting him on his head.

Adedosu said the offence contravened Sections 516 and 320 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2,000. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CC/DEB/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh