Category: Judiciary

Chrisland
By Adenike Ayodele
Ikeja June 6, 2024 (NAN) A Deputy Director with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Jubril Yakubu, told the Ikeja High Court that the late Whitney Adeniran visited the hospital on Jan. 20, 2023 before the inter-house sports.
Yakubu also told  the court on Thursday that the deceased was in school on Feb.1, 7 and 9, 2023 to participate in the inter-house sports.
The witness, however, said the deceased opted out of activities on the day of the inter-house sports.
Under cross examination, the counsel to Chrisland Schools, Mr Ademola Animasaun, asked the witness if he was aware that Whitney did not participate in the inter-house sports.
“Are you aware that she did not participate in activities on the inter-house sports day,”?
“Yes and she was not forced by the school to participate,” the witness said.
The social worker noted that matters concerning emergency measures were not within his purview.
According to him, the provision of nurses at the inter-house sports should be part of emergency preparedness and not just for emergency.
He, however, said that he had the competence and authority at the fact-finding meeting with the school to speak on emergency signals.
The witness, however, said he did not know the actual number of schools in district six as at Dec. 31, 2023.
He confirmed to the court that he was responsible for  over 1,722 schools approved by the Ministry of Education.
The witness, however, was unable to tell the actual number of schools within district six and referred this to the Ministry of Education.
The social worker said: “Mine has to do with social services and I have the competence to speak about district six.
“I also do not know off heart how many students are subject to social risk exposure in district six
“But in each of the school, the school should have designated safeguarding and child protection officer appointed among the staff of the school that take lead.
“Mrs Tawa Sodiq, a school social officer, in District six reports to me.”
The witness insisted that  Chrisland Schools failed to comply with the Safety and Child Protection Policy for schools in Lagos state.
The third prosecution witness said the late Whitney Adeniran visited the hospital on Jan. 20, 2023.
The witness added that Whitney was in school on Feb.1, 7 and 9 to participate in the inter-house sports.
He, however, noted that the deceased opted out of the activities on the day of the inter-house sports.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala discharged the witness and adjourned the case until June 13 for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government on March 31, 2023, charged Chrisland Schools Ltd. Opebi, its principal and vice principal and two others with the killing of Whitney.
Those charged alongside the school are Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (Principal) and Victoria Nwatu.
The defendants are standing trial for allegedly causing the death of  a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adediran, during the school inter-house sports.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences violate Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
OAR/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Former Minister  for Works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with other dignitaries while  receiving award  from  from the Egbe Amofin Oodua Conference (Yoruba Forum of Nigerian Bar Association) in Lagos on Thursday.

Infrastructure

By Adenike Ayodele

Ikeja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Former Minister for Works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has called on government to develop an infrastructure that would make art, tourism and talent thrive as  drivers of growth.

Fashola, made this submission while delivering a keynote address at the Egbe Amofin Oodua Conference (Yoruba Forum of Nigerian Bar Association) in Ikeja on Thursday.

The former Lagos State governor said that what Nigeria needed to achieve the desired change was inclusive and expansive growth.

He encouraged members of Egbe Amofin Odua to promote dispute resolution mechanisms among their clients.

The learned silk also urged the Yoruba lawyers to rethink their roles as lawyers and act as agents of development in the interest of national growth by ensuring that investors had confidence in the judiciary.

Fashola reiterated that the prospect for development growth required enabling law reforms to ease doing business.

The senior advocate further related the rate of enforcement of arbitral awards and the number of challenges to them as he emphasised that these were very serious soft infrastructure drivers or inhibitors of growth and development.

According to him: “In cases where injunctions have been granted ex-parte or on notice and the party who got them turned out not to be entitled, what has been the consequence?

“How many lawyers, judges have been involved in trial to enforce the indemnity given for a wrongly granted injunction and what was the outcome?

“The prospects for economic growth depend on our collective professionalism to help overcome challenges that stand in the way.

“As an Egbe of legal practitioners, a lot exists that we can do including but not limited to enabling law reform, reforming training curriculum of how to incorporate new areas of economic output such as sports, entertainment and tourism.”

Fashola also urged the promotion of an efficient dispute resolution process that helped ease of doing business and the removal of legal hurdles to ease  construction and delivery of hard infrastructure.

“These are my thoughts on the prospects and challenges for economic growth because the possibilities are enormous but we must act deliberately and in collaboration to realise them,” he said.

Dr Kemi Peinhero (SAN) said, in his welcome address, that an efficient judicial system provided the framework for stability and economic development.

Peinhero said justice was the great interest of man on earth and the ligament which held civilised society together.

According to him: “Without it, there is neither security of life nor liberty.

“It is crystal clear that a working and functional judicial system plays a major role in the society in maintaining not just law and order but boosting the economy.

‘The government must as a matter of great importance take active steps towards reforming the judiciary to ensure the expeditious and fair administration of justice.

“No serious nation prioritises matters relating to the elections over the economy. An efficient judicial system provides the framework for stability and economic development.”

Senator Ajibola Bashir, another member of the Egbe Amofin, in his goodwill message, also called on government to take into cognisance and have a thorough thought that development was not for elites to gather wealth for themselves but for even distribution of wealth among the lower, middle and lower class.

Mr Adebayo Haroun, who represented the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), in his goodwill message, said that administration of justice must be improved in all sectors. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OAR/COF

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Edited by Christiana Fadare

Alleged N1.85bn fraud: Court orders arrest of 3 Electricity Agency officials

Fraud

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest three officials of Rural.Electrification Agency for failure to appear in court for their arraignment.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, gave the order for the issuance of arrest warrant against the officials; Emmanuel Pada Titus, Umar Musa Laraye and Henrientta Onomen Okojie, involved in an alleged N1.853 billion fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ICPC had preferred separate four-count charges against the affected officials over allegations of misappropriation of public funds meant for the provision of electricity to rural communities across the country.

In the first charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/204/24, the anti-corruption agency sued Titus as sole defendant.

The commission sued Karaye in the second charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/202/24, while Okojie was equally sued in the charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/203/24.

When the three cases were called, none of the three defendants was in court to take a plea.

The prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the Justice Nwite that Titus, Karaye and Okojie were served with copies of the charges and duly informed of the day’s proceedings, but chose to stay away on their own volition.

Akponimisingha explained that the defendants were on administrative bail, but owing to their absence from the court, he urged the judge to issue a bench warrant for their arrests.

He cited Sections 114, 124 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to back his application.

In a short ruling, the judge granted the lawyer’s application as prayed.

He held that he was convinced that the defendants deliberately absented themselves from the court, while delivering separate rulings on each of the applications.

Justice Nwite, who ordered the trio’s arrest, directed that they should be produced in court in the next adjourned date.

While the judge adjourned Titus and Karaye’s cases until June 13 for arraignment, he fixed June 14 for the arraignment of Okojie.

However, the ICPC arraigned Usman Ahmed Kwakwa, also an official of REA on a four-count charge bordering on fraud.

Kwakwa pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against him.

Justice Nwite admitted him to a N50 million bail after the prosecution lawyer, Akponimisingha, did not oppose the defence lawyer’s bail request.(NAN)(wee.nannews.ng)
TOA/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

EFCC
By Adenike Ayodele
Ikeja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) An Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced two men, Ugwu Chijioke and Ibrahim Adekunle, to 22 years imprisonment for impersonating officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe sentenced the duo to 22 years and eight months imprisonment.
The sentence followed their plea bargain agreement to the five counts bordering on impersonation, attempt to obtain property, possession of documents containing false pretence and unlawfully wearing of the EFCC uniform .
The judge sentenced them to seven years each on count one to three, one year on count four and eight months on count five.
She, however, ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.
Earlier, the EFCC counsel, Mr Abdulhamid Tukur, in his review of facts, urged the court to convict the defendants as charged and sentenced accordingly.
Tukur submitted that the defendants had in their possession  false documents to impersonate officials of the EFCC and extorted unsuspecting members of the public.
He said the items recovered from the defendants at the point of arrest included fake EFCC identity cards, jackets, and a court order purported to have emanated from Mushin Magistrate Court.
The convicts, in their plea for mercy, urged  the court to temper justice with mercy and promised never to go to their vomits again.
“I am very sorry for the crime I pleaded guilty for, having been in the correctional facility for over a year now, have learnt a lot.
“I am very sorry and I beg the EFCC to forgive me and I will never go back to any crime.
“I plead with the court to temper justice with mercy,” the first defendant had said.
“My lord, am already guilty of this case and I beg this court to temper justice with mercy
“I also beg the EFCC to forgive me,” the second defendant said.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene Sections 8(b), 11(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 79(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng
OAR/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Court delivers judgment in a case of attempted theft filed against a 20-year-old man

Stealing
By Adepote Arowojobe
Ikorodu (Lagos State), June 6, 2024 (NAN)A Magistrates’ Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State has adjourned until June 27 for sentencing in a case of theft filed against a 20-year-old man, Abass Apanpa.

Magistrate T. A. Shotobi, fixed the date on Thursday, following Apanpa’s plea of guilty to attempted theft.

He was also charged with willful damage and attempt to steal before

According to the prosecutor, ASP Christian Okonofua, the defendant committed the offence on June 1 and June 2 respectively at about 10.30 p.m. at No 57, Oba Sekumade Road, Ebute area of Ikorodu.

He said that Apanpa attempted  to steal an air condition worth N350, 000 belonging to ABF Enterprise Ltd.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 350 and 405 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ADEX/CEO/SH

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Edited by Chidi Opara/Sadiya Hamza

Man, 37, docked over alleged N3.4m school fees theft

Fraud

By Ngozi Njoku

Ikeja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) A 37-year-old man, Mosuro Hammed, was on Thursday docked in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly converting N3.4 million meant for payment of a lady’s school fees to another purpose.

Hammed whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Insp John Iberedem , told the court that the defendant,  and another still at large, conspired and committed the offences on April 18, at Ladoje Street, Oko-Oba,  Agege, Lagos.

Iberedem alleged that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace, by stealing the sum of N3, 450,000 under false pretence.

According to him, the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N3, 450,000 from one Tonia Okoye on the pretext that he would help her to make payment  for her school fees.

He said that the defendant stole the money from the complainant by conversion after deceiving her, and failed to return it.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 280(2), 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

The magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

She ruled that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Kubeinje adjourned the case until July 3, for mention. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

NG/DCO/SOA

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Oluwole Sogunle

EFCC arraigns TStv MD, executive director on money laundering charge

Arraignment
By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, arraigned Bright Echefu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Telecom Satellites Limited (TStv) and three others on nine-count money laundering charge.

Others arraigned alongside Echefu before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abua include the Executive Director of TStv, Felix Igboanuga; TStv and Briechberg Investment Ltd as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Upon their non-guilty plea, EFCC’s counsel, Tahir Sylvanus, SAN, prayed for an order remanding Echefu and Igboanuga in a correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Sylvanus hinged his application on the grounds that it took almost a year after filing the charge before the defendants could be arraigned.

The lawyer, who said Echefu and Igboanuga were flight risk, alleged that the duo refused to turn up for arraignment after being admitted to adminstrative bail and the charge filed on June 9, 2023.

He, therefore, asked for a speedy trial of the matter.

But Eyitayo Fatogun, SAN, who appeared for the defendants, informed the court that bail application had been filed on his clients’ behalf in October 2023.

He urged the court to admit them to bail, pledging that the defendants were ready to stand their trial.

But Sylvanus disagreed with Fatogun.

The prosecution lawyer said a counter affidavit was filed on Oct. 16, 2023 in opposition to their bail plea.

He said though the court had a discretionary power to grant bail, the antecedent of the defendants had proven that they were flight risk.

Justice Ekwo then asked if the defendants were earlier granted administrative bail and Sylvanus responded in affirmative.

The judge consequently admitted Echefu and Igboanuga on the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted by the anti-graft agency.

He ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar and not to travel outside the court jurisdcition without the prior leave of the court.

Justice Ekwo, however, threatened to revoke their bail if they failed to show up in court for their trial.

The judge, who adjourned the matter until June 15, June 16 and June 17 for trial commencement, threatened that Echefu and Igboanuga would remain in remand until their trial lasted if their bail is revoked.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were alleged to have, on or about May 18, 2020, committed the money laundering offence, including tax evasion, unremitted Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax and Pay As You Eam (PAYE) deducted from the salaries of 165 staff.

The offence is said to be contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.

In count five, Echefu, being the MD of Briechberg Investment Ltd on or about May 18, 2020 in Abuja, with intent to defraud, was alleged to have obtained the sum of N150 million from Mr Turaki Kabiru Tanimu, SAN, MD of Kalsiyam Farm.

In count six, Echefu was also alleged to have defrauded Mr Tanimu, MD of Kalsiyam Global and also former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, the sum of N380 million.

The monies were said to have been paid into Briechberg Investment Lid account number: 1015561485 domiciled with Zenith Bank Pic under the false pretence of representing loan advance to Telcom Satellite for the purpose of enhancing the acquisition of modern technology.

Echefu was alleged to have misappropriated and converted the said monies to his personal use, among other counts.

The offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

TOA/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Arraignment
By Funmilayo Okunade
Ado-Ekiti, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The police on Thursday arraigned a 29-year-old man, Leke Babatunde, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged conversion of fund and breach of peace.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conversion of fund and breach of peace.

The Prosecutor, Insp Moyosola Adesola, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between March and May at Oke Bola Area of Ado-Ekiti.

Adesola said that the defendant converted the sum of N80,000 meant for digging well to his own personal use.

She said that the money belonged to one Babalola Oluwasola.

The prosecutor further stated that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.

According to her, the offences contravene Section 295 and punishable under Sections 302 and 181(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

Adesola urged the court to adjourn the case to enable her study the file and assemble her witnesses.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Olawumi Olowolafe, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Awosika, granted the defendant bail in the sum N20,000, with one surety in like sum.

Awosika adjourned the case till July 4 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
FOA/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq