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Category: Judiciary

  • Man, 43, in court for alleged theft of property worth N999,500

    Man, 43, in court for alleged theft of property worth N999, 500

    Theft

    By Adepote Arowojobe

    Ikorodu (Lagos State), June 21, 2024 (NAN) A 43-year-old man, Raymond Mukaila, on Friday appeared in an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for an alleged theft of property and cash worth N999, 500.

    Mukaila is facing a count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, ASP Christian Okonofua, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between Feb. and March, at Agbalumo, Oreyo in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.

    Okonofua said that the defendant stole aluminium frame valued at N286, 000 and aluminium window valued at N210, 000

    Others are three pieces of flue master valued at N16, 000, three seat cover valued N10, 500, pillar of iron pole valued at N22, 000.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant also stole a cash sum of N455,000 belonging toe Alhaja Kafilat Adebayo who is the complainant.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Sections 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate O.A. Onalaja granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Onalaja adjourned the case until July 11, for mention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    ADEX/JPE

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    Edited by joseph Edeh

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jobless man jailed for stealing coy properties

     

     

     

    Jobless man jailed for stealing coy properties

    By Moronke Boboye

    Imprisonment

    Ikeja, June 21, 2024(NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 20- year-old unemployed man, Jiba Isaac, to nine months in prison for stealing cable wire and a drilling machine, valued, N7million.

     

    The Magistrate, Mrs M. C Ayinde, sentenced Isaac to nine months in Kirikiri Correctional Center without an option of fine.

     

     

    Ayinde said that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

     

    The convict , who lives in Agege , Lagos was tried for stealing and he pleaded guilty to the charge.

     

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Segun Oke told the court that the offence was committed on April 17 at I. T. B Nigeria Limited, Jagal Close, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos.

     

     

    Oke said that the defendant jumped through the fence of the building and stole a drilling machine , 2 rolls of cable wire and 3 cutter tools, all valued N7million.

     

    The prosecutor said that the defendant was about to leave the premises when he was caught by the security guards.

     

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

     

    MTO/BRM

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    Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

     

     

     

  • Ondo Govt. reacts to judgment nullifying 33 LCDAs

     

    Ondo Govt. reacts to judgment nullifying 33 LCDAs

    Judgment

    By Segun Giwa

    Akure,June 21, 2024 (NAN) The Ondo State Government says necessary legal action will be taken on the judgment nullifying the creation of the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    The government’s reaction is contained in a statement by the Attorney General of Ondo State, Mr Kayode Ajulo SAN, made available to  newsmen on Friday in Akure.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice A.O Adebusuoye, of the state High Court had in a judgment on Thursday described the creation of the LCDAs as unlawful.

    The court said it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the State.

    The court said that the Local Government Creation Law 2023 signed by the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu in Ibadan was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

    The statement said the government has taken cognizance of Ondo State High Court’s judgment and had requested for a Certified True Copy of it.

    Ajulo said after it was studied and analysed, a legal opinion would be presented to the state government.

    “Subsequently, all necessary measures, in accordance with our laws, will be taken to safeguard the interests of our citizens, foster peaceful coexistence, and uphold the rule of law.

    “The Attorney General remains steadfast in his commitment to prioritizing the well-being and welfare of our citizens, working tirelessly to ensure that justice and the law are served,” the statement said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    GSD/AOS

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    Edited by Bayo Sekoni

    07037659369

     

  • Man docked for allegedly stealing N350,000 worth phones

    Man docked for allegedly stealing N350,000 phones

    Theft
    By Aisha Gambo
    Kaduna, June 20, 2024(NAN) A 30-year-old man, Umar Hassan, on Thursday appeared  before a Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, for allegedly stealing two mobile phones worth N350,000.
    The prosecutor, ASP Luka Sadau, said that Hassan was brought to a police station by Mr Yahya Aliyu, the Secretary of Phone Sellers Union, Royal Phone Marketplace, on June 14.
    ” He was earlier reported to the union over alleged phone snatching.
    “The union leaders interrogated him but when they went to pray, he used the opportunity to steal two phones.
    ” He hid the phones and denied taking them but he was searched and the missing phones were retrieved,” the prosecutor said.
    Hassan m, however, pleaded not guilty.
    The Judge, Malam Anas Khalifa, granted him bail on the condition that he should present an iman or the traditional leader of his area of residence, as surety.
    The judge  adjourned  the case until June 27 for trial. (NAN)
    AMG/IGO
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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

  • Man jailed 1 year over N1.6m theft

    Man jailed 1 year in over N1.6m theft

    Theft

    By Aisha Gambo

    Kaduna, June 20, 2024 (NAN) A Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State on Thursday sentenced 42 year-old Nura Yahya to one year in a correctional facility for stealing items worth N1.6 million.

    The Judge, Malam Anas Khalifa, gave the judgment after the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of theft.

    The judge stated that Yahya would pay N1 million compensation to the complainant after serving his one year jail term.

    He, however, gave the accused an option of N100,000 fine, pay N1.6 million compensation to the nominal complainant, Muhammad Sani, and also N20,000 cost of prosecution.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Abdilmumin Shuaibu, had said that the accused was taken in by the nominal complainant, who is a tanker driver, as an apprentice.

    “On Aug. 25, 2023, he was given custody of a tanker vehicle carrying gas worth N500,000, but he sold the gas and some vehicle parts worth N1.1m.

    “He has refused to mention the people he sold the stolen items to; he insists that he just met them on the road,” he said.

    He prayed the court to compel the accused to pay for the goods and punish him accordingly.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AMG/AMM

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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

     

  • Teenagers docked for allegedly stealing Chief Magistrate’s AC

    Teenagers docked for allegedly stealing Chief Magistrate’s AC

    Theft

    By Aisha Gambo

    Kaduna, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Three teenagers on Thursday appeared before a Shari’a court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, over alleged criminal conspiracy, house breaking and stealing of split Air Conditioner.

    The prosecutor, Mr Luka Sadau, said the accused were five in number but only three were found, adding that they broke into a chief Magistrate’s house to steal the items.

    The three accused aged 14, 15 and 17, pleaded not guilty to all offenses.

    The Judge, Malam Anas Khalifa, granted bail to the accused on the condition they provide a Muslim cleric or traditional leader of their community as surety.

    The judge adjourned the matter to June 27 for the prosecutor to present witnesses.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AMG/AMM

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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

     

  • Binance: EFCC continues criminal charge against Gambaryan

    Binance: EFCC continues criminal charge against Gambaryan

    Charge

    By Taiye Agbaje

    Abuja, June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, continued with its alleged money laundering charge preferred against Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Ltd at a Federal High Court, Abuja

    The criminal charge continued before Justice Emeka Nwite inspite of  the withdrawal of a charge by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) against Gambaryan in the alleged tax evasion case filed against him and the cryptocurrency exchange platform.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the EFCC filed a five-count charge against Binance and Gambaryan, FIRS filed a four-count charge against the duo.

    The anti-graft agency had accused Binance and Gambaryan of money laundering involving $35.4 million.

    Besides, the company was under suspicion of alleged terrorism financing.

    NAN reports that Justice Nwite had, on Friday, discharged the detained Gambaryan and his fleeing colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the alleged tax evasion charge.

    The judge made the decision in a short ruling following a fresh amended charge filed by the FIRS in view of a notice from Binance about its appointment of a Nigerian representative, Mr Ayodele Omotilewa, to oversee its affairs in tye country.

    However, expectations were high prior to today’s proceedings that the anti-graft agency would follow suit.

    But at the resumed hearing, the EFCC’s lawyer, informed the court that the matter was slated for the defence to cross-examined the agency’s first prosecution witness (PW1), Mr Abdulkadir Abbas, a Director with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    Then Gambaryan stepped forward into the dock.

    While being cross-examined by counsel for the 1st defendant (Binance), Mr Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, Abbas testified against Binance and Gambaryan.

    The witness, who is Director of Registration, Exchanges and Market Infrastructure Department at SEC, stated that a private company that wants to raise capital from the public in Nigeria, must become a Public Limited Company (PLC) before it can engage in IPO (Initial Public Offer).

    He, however, said that Binance did not even registered with his office in the first place.

    He said the SEC’s regulations mandated it to oversight on all Bitcoin trading platforms under the Nigeria law.

    Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until June 21 for continuation of cross-examination.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    TOA/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • Court nullifies reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano

    Court nullifies reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano
    Order
    By Ramatu Garba
    Kano, June 20, 2024(NAN) A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday nullified the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
    Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, who holds the title of Sarkin Dawaki Babba, had, through his counsel, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, filed a motion dated May 23, in which he asked the court to restrain the Kano State government from implementing the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024.
    The law had repealed the 2019 Emirate Council law that established five emirates from the original Kano Emirate.
    With all Emirs sacked, the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, who had been sacked by the Abdullahi Ganduje administration in March 2020, was reinstated as 16th Emir to replace Aminu Ado Bayero, who was was consumed by the repeal of the law.
    Disatisfied with the development, Babba-Dangundi took the matter to court to seek a reversal of the removal of Bayero.
    The respondents were the Kano State Government, Kano State House of Assembly, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney-General of Kano State and  Commissioner of Police in Kano.
    Others are the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Security Service.
    Delivering a ruling, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad-Liman declared that all actions carried out by the state government following the passage of the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 were null and void.
    “I hereby order that every step or actions taken by the respondents in pursuant to Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 is null and void and is set aside.
    “However, this order does not affect the validity of the law,’’ he said.
    He also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante.
    He held that the respondents were aware of the earlier order dated May 23, to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case.
    “I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it.
    “The catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.”
    Muhammad-Liman granted the respondents’ application for stay of proceedings pending hearing and determination of their application at the court of appeal on jurisdiction.
    “I hereby transfer the case to Justice Simon Amobeda, Federal High Court 3,” he said
    Earlier, Counsel to the applicant, M. S. Waziri, had urged the court to nullify the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) law 2024.
    Counsel to Kano State House of Assembly and Speaker, Eyitayo Fatogun, told the court that he had filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal and a motion on stay of proceedings.
    Fatogun also applied to be recused from the matter, asking for an adjournment to enable his clients find another lawyer, and pending hearing and determination of his application at the court of appeal on jurisdiction.
    Counsel to Attorney General of Kano State and the State Government, Mr A. G. Wakil, aligned himself with the position of Fatogun.
    Also, Counsel to the Commissioner of Police Kano and Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ekwe, told the court that the duty of the police was to maintain peace in the state, and that was why they did not file any response on jurisdiction issue.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the State House of Assembly on May 23 dissolved all the four newly created Emirate council’s in the state.
    NAN reports that Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, on May 23, dethroned the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and reappointed Muhammad Sanusi II, as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    RG/ETS
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  • LASG arraigns ex-Punch worker over alleged N998m fraud

    Arraignment
    By Ngozi Njoku
    Ikeja, June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Government on Thursday arraigned a former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd., Olusegun Ogunbanjo, charged with N998 million stationary fraud.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunbanjo, whose residential address was not provided, was arraigned on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit obtaining under false pretence, stealing and forgery.
    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    Following his not guilty plea, the state Counsel, Mrs Qawiat Shomade, asked the court for a trial date  and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison,  pending the hearing and the determination of his bail  application.

    The Defence Counsel, Mr T.E. Okeke, informed the court that he was appearing for the first time in the matter and that he needed ample time  to file the bail application.
    Okeke pleaded with the court for a closer date for him to file and move the bail application on behalf of his client.
    “My lord, I plead for a closer date to tender an application to grant the defendant bail,” he said.
    Justice Ismail Ijelu, thereafter, remanded the defendant in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
    Ijelu told the defence that the court would have looked into the bail application if it was ready.
    “If you had your application, the court would have looked into it but while we wait for it, the  defendant should be remanded at the correctional facility,” he said.
    The judge adjourned the case until Oct.16 for commencement of trial.
    Earlier, the prosecution told the court that the defendant with others still at large allegedly committed the offences  between January 2017 and December 2022 in Ikorodu, Lagos.
    The prosecution submitted one of the court count that the defendant fraudulently obtained  the sum of N417 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun on the pretext that he was going to use the money to purchase stationaries and supplies for financing Local Purchase Order from Punch Nigeria Ltd.
    The prosecutor also alleged the defendant fraudulently collected N581 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin under the guise of purchasing stationaries and supplies for financing Local Purchase Order from Punch Nigeria Ltd.
    The state counsel told the court that the defendant allegedly stole and converted the sum of $5,000, property of lkuyajesin to his personal use.
    The prosecution also alleged that the defendant forged Punch Local Purchase Orders.
    According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences violate Sections 411 (2) 314, 285, 287 and 365 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015) (NAN)
    (www.nannews.ng)
    NG/JNC
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    Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

  • Court adjourns council crisis suit against UniAbuja VC for judgment

    Court adjourns council crisis suit against UniAbuja VC for judgment

    Judgment
    By Taiye Agbaje

    Abuja, June 20, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, adjourned a suit filed against the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Abuja, Prof. Rasheed Na’Allah, for judgment.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter for judgment after counsel for the plaintiffs, Maxwell Opara, and Na’Allah’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, adopted their processes and argued their case for and against the suit.

    Justice Ekwo, who adjourned the case, said a date for judgment would be communicated to parties.

    “If I am unable to give you judgement before vacation, then if 1 have your consent, I can apply for the fiat from the Chief Judge of Federal High Court to deliver the judgement during vacation,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs; Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, Prof. Edmund Nwanna, Prof. Sunday Ejaro, Prof. Kasim Umar, Prof. Wesley Nafarnda and Dr Uju Patrick, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/683/2024.

    The six aggrieved senior lecturers sued the VC; President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and National Universities Commission (NUC) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the originating summons, they prayed the court to determine whether having regard to Section 2A, 2 (3) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (otherwise called the Universities Autonomy Act No. 1, 2007), it is lawful and valid for Na’Allah to arbitrarily call for the conduct of fresh Senate and Congregation council members elections while the last elected members’ four years tenure is still valid and subsisting.

    They, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the VC from taking any steps towards conducting any fresh election for Senate and Congregation Council members until the elapse of the last elected members’ four years tenure which would elapse on July 15, 2025.

    However, the plaintiffs alleged that while the matter was still pending before the court, Na’Allah, on May 28 conducted another election for the Governing Council members of the institution.

    Against this backdrop, the aggrieved lecturers, through their lawyer, Opara, filed an ex-parte motion to stop the inauguration of the newly elected council members.

    In the motion ex-parte dated and filed June 5, they sought seven reliefs, which include an order of interim injunction directing all parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant (VC) and others from conducting any inauguration of the newly elected internal council members of the university pending the determination of the motion on notice, among other reliefs.

    Justice Ekwo had, on June 7, ordered Na’Allah to appear before the court on June 13 to show cause why the planned inauguration should not be stopped.

    The VC, through his lawyer, Onoja, in compliance with the order, they filed on June 11, filed an affidavit to show cause dated June 11.

    He equally filed a counter affidavit and a notice of preliminary objection urging the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    TOA/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza