Court sentences man to death by hanging for armed robbery

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old man, Nojeem Badmos, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Delivering judgment, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt, the ingredients of the two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery.

Mrs Abike-Fadipe described the defendant’s account of the incident as inconsistent.

According to her, evidence of the prosecution witness, Adetokunbo Solomon (victim), were proven cogent and true. She held that the defendant in company of two others still at large did rob Solomon of his bag and other valuables early one morning as he stood at a bus stop on his way to work sometime in July 2019.

Mrs Abike-Fadipe said;

“On his way to work at the bus stop somewhere in Alagbado area of the state, noticed a motorcyclist carrying two passengers approaching him.

“He suspected danger and began to run but the two passengers on the bike came down and ran after him. He fell in the mud and the two others chased after him, caught up with him and beat him up.

Justice Abike-Fadipe said;

“In respect to the offence of conspiracy to commit robbery, I sentence you to 21 years jail term.

“In respect to armed robbery having being found guilty, you will be hanged on the neck until you are dead and may the Lord have mercy on you.”

Meanwhile, the judge told the defence counsel that the law was clear on the punishment of armed robbery, however, gave him an opportunity for his allocutus.

The defence counsel, Ajibade Benson, in his allocutus prayed for the court to be lenient as the defendant was a first time offender.

Prosecution counsel Adebanke Ogunde did not object to the judgement. Conspiracy and armed robbery contravenes the provisions of sections 299 and 297 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Court jails security guard for sleeping on duty

An Area Court in Jos on Thursday sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment a security guard, Danjuma Abdullahi, who slept on duty resulting in the stealing of motorcycles.

The judge, Thomas Ajitise, sentenced Mr Abdullahi after he pleaded guilty to negligence of duty and prayed for leniency.

The judge gave the convict an option of a N100,000 fine.The prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gowkat, told the court that the case was reported at the C Division Police Station on January 3, by Messrs Musa Alhassan and Musa Ali.

Mr Gowkat said that the complainants asked the convict to watch over their motorcycles, but he slept off while on duty, paving the way for thieves to steal the two motorcycles.

Court remands seven over alleged kidnap of Benue commissioner, terrorism

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded seven men at the Makurdi Correctional Centre for allegedly kidnapping the Benue Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, on Ado/Otukpo Road.

The suspects, Nuhu Musa, Mohammed Danjuma, Yunusa Usman, Abubakar Usman, Usman Saleh, Hamza Sani and Monday Samuel are all of various addresses in Oju/Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping and act of terrorism.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Roseline Iyorshe, did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Jonah Uletu, told the court that the police received a report of the incident on December 31, 2022, from Operation Zenda Joint Task Force through a signal.

He said the signal stated that operatives of Operation Zenda trailed and arrested the suspects following the kidnap of the commissioner on December 4, 2022.

He added that it was discovered that the suspects were members of the kidnap gang terrorising Benue South district and that one Beretta pistol was found on them at the time of arrest.

Mr Uletu said the suspects confessed to the crime voluntarily during police investigation and that other members of the gang remained at large.

The offences, he said, contravened provisions of the Benue Robbery and Firearms Act 2004, and the Abduction, Hostage-taking, kidnapping, Secret Cult and similar activities Prohibition Laws of Benue, 2017.

Mrs Iyorshe referred the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned till February 22 for mention.

Two Nigerians arrested over $500,000 fraud in Canada

Two Nigerians, Gbemisola Akinrinade and Adebowale Adiatu, have been arrested by the Canadian police for allegedly enriching themselves with the proceeds from the sales of valid flight tickets to unsuspecting customers.

According to Canada Today, the suspects fraudulently sold more than 250 airline tickets at a value of more than $500,000 in the racket scheme.

The majority of the customers who purchased the tickets were from the Calgary area and the flights were primarily to Africa, a press release by the Peel Regional Police on January 26, 2023, stated.

The suspects are facing charges which include fraud, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, possession of property obtained by crime, obtaining by false pretences, and unlawful use of a computer.

According to the police authorities, in many fraud-related cases, people in vulnerable situations are coerced, manipulated and taken advantage of for the profit of the fraudster.

However, they urged individuals to properly source the website they are dealing with and verify its legitimacy. Peel Regional Police said;

“Anyone who recognises or has information about this type of case is asked to contact the 21 Division C.I.B or Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 2133 or 3335 or to your local police service.

Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.”

ASP Vandi pleads not guilty for alleged murder of Lagos lawyer, Bolanle Raheem

Drambi Vandi, the suspended assistant superintendent of police who was arrested over the murder of female lawyer Raheem Bolanle, has pleaded not guilty after being arraigned in court today, January 16.

Vandi who was arraigned on one count of murder before the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square annex, was accused of shooting Bolanle in Ajah area of Lagos on Christmas Day.

Bolanle’s death generated widespread criticism from many persons and groups in the country, as they condemned what they described as extrajudicial killing, linking the incident to be one of such reasons for the nationwide #EndSARS protest of 2020.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) granted approval for the police officer’s suspension on December 29, after which he was arraigned by the Lagos state government.

Vandi’s arraignment which was scheduled for 9am, suffered some delay until about 11am when his counsel, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola arrived.

Trial of police officer accused of killing lawyer Bolanle Raheem begins as family prepare to lay her to rest

The trial of Assistant Superintendent of Police [ASP], Drambi Vandi, alleged to have killed Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day, December 25, 2022, will commence at the Lagos State High Court today, January 16.

Vandi who is attached to the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State, allegedly shot Raheem while she was returning from an outing with her family members.

A statement by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said the trial would be before Justice I.O. Harrison at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

“The trial of ASP Vandi who allegedly killed Raheem on December 25, 2022, on the Ajah Expressway, will begin before Justice I.O. Harrison at the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).”

Vandi appeared before Chief Magistrate C.A. Adedayo on December 30, 2022, a day after the Police Service Commission (PSC) approved his suspension.

The Magistrate ordered that he be remanded at the Ikoyi custodial facility pending advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

He will be tried under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Meanwhile, the remains of the late Lawyer will be laid to rest on Tuesday, January 17 in Lagos. A service of songs will be held in her honor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Olive Tree Parish, today, January 16. Until her passing, late Bolanle was a dedicated Sunday School teacher in her church.

Two Nigerian nationals and American man sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in Cambodia for drug trafficking

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, sentenced two Nigerians, an American and a Cambodian to imprisonment ranging from three to 25 years, and also fined them ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, in connection with selling over two kilograms of meth to an undercover police officer in the capital, in 2021.

The Presiding Judge Kim Sokunthea named the four accused as Theam Tola, 36, a former Chinese-English-Interpreter; Chineme Nwoko Precious, 41; David Vincent; 48; both Nigerians and a former English teacher; Matthew David Sample, 40; American national.

Judge Sokunthea said among them, Theam Tola was sentenced to three years in prison and was fined 4 million Riels (about $1,000) to put in state’s budget, while Chineme Nwoko Precious, David Vincent and Matthew David Sample were sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined 40 million Riels (about $10,000).

“They were all charged with “drug possession, transportation and trafficking” under Article 40 of Cambodian Law on Drugs Control, she added.

Relating to Tola’s arrest, Judge Sokunthear said on February 5, 2022 he was arrested in Chroy Changvar district’s Chroy Changvar commune, with a package of drugs to sell to an undercover police officer, posing as a drug dealer.

She noted Matthew David Sample’s arrest was on the same day around 7:30 pm in Tuol Kork district’s Phsar Depo commune and police seized more than 1kg of meth from him.

“Based on Sample’s confession and his cooperation, police later arrested David Vincent around 8:30 am on February 6 in Dangkor commune and police seized about 1kg of meth from Vincent,” she added.

She added that based on Vincent’s confession and cooperation, police then arrested Nwoko Precious Chineme, currently interned at Prey Sar prison for 27 years for a previous drug offence in 2009.

Court remands killer cop of Bolanle Raheem

A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday remanded the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, over alleged unlawful shooting and killing of a pregnant lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, in Lagos on Christmas Day.

The Chief Magistrate, Miss Adeola Olatunbosun, ordered that Vandi be remanded till January 30, 2023, pending the legal advice on the case from the Office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The defendant was remanded following an application by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.

Raheem was coming from an eatery with some family members on Christmas Day and had tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge when the cop shot her.

The 41-year-old woman was rushed to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

Onigbanjo based his application on a temporary one-count murder charge against Vandi and under Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2015.

The charge, read;

“That you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road, along the Lekki Expressway, Lagos, unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem by shooting the deceased in the chest contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

The Attorney General told Magistrate Olatunbosun that the basis for the remand was to allow the police to conclude its investigations into the matter.

The magistrate granted the request to remand the defendant at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, for legal advice.

She adjourned till January 30, 2023, to await legal advice.After the remanded of Vandi, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin also tweeted that the defendant had been remanded.

He made the disclosure on his official Twitter handle.

Ajah Police Killings: LERSA Pays Condolence Visits to Victims’ Families

Meanwhile, the Executive Council of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association on Friday paid condolence visits to the families of Bolanle Raheem and Gafaru Buraimoh, who were recently shot dead by the police in separate incidents.

Man charged to court for defrauding church investor

The police have arraigned a man, Daniel Ogbonna, before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly obtaining N1.4m from some residents under the pretext of investing the money in a scheme and paying back N5m within six months.

It was gathered that the complainant met the defendant at a Catholic church, where the latter claimed to be a member.

Ogbonna was alleged to have also claimed that investors in the scheme, tagged, Grace Families and Friends, met regularly on the church premises.

The police prosecutor, Haruna Magaji, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in August 2021 at the Saint Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos State, together with one Ngozi Ugwu, a worker in the administrative unit of the church.

According to him, the offences contravene sections 411, 168, 315 (1) and punishable under Section 316(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The charges read in part,

“That you, Daniel Ogbonna, and others at large, between August 19, 2021, till date at the Saint Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit a felony, to wit, obtaining the sum of N1.424,000, from one Paul Ogwuche, by false pretence to transact in an Internet scheme called Grace Families and Friends, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 315(1) and punishable under Section 316(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, O.Y. Adefope, admitted him to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till January 31, 2023, for trial.

Judge orders Kenneth Petty to settle lawsuit against r*pe accuser

Kenneth Petty, the husband of Nicki Minaj, has been ordered by a judge to settle his lawsuit with his s*xual assault accuser, Jennifer Hough.

Hough filed a lawsuit against Petty in 2021, citing infliction of emotional distress, harassment, and witness intimidation.

However, Judge James R. Cho has referred the case go to mediation in hopes of the two parties reaching a settlement.

Court documents state:

“Parties to select a mediator by 12/20/2022 and complete mediation by 3/6/2023.

“[They] may participate in the mediation remotely. [Both sides] shall file a joint status report two weeks after completing the mediation, but no later than 3/20/2023, whichever date is earlier.”

Hough had previously sued Minaj, accusing her of participating in the alleged harassment and intimidation.

She also claims Minaj threatened her in an effort to get her to recant her allegations of Petty assaulting her when both were minors, which led to him being convicted of first-degree attempted rape and serving nearly four years in prison.

Hough has since dropped her case against Minaj, who dodged a $20 million default judgement against her when Hough’s legal team claimed she failed to respond to the lawsuit.

Army silent as court jails COAS over contempt

The Nigerian Army has declined response after a court ordered the remand of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, and the Commandant, Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, for alleged contempt.

A High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State, had issued a warrant of arrest and subsequent remand of both Yahaya and Olabanji in the custodial centre.

The case was said to between one Adamu Makama and 42 others, versus the governor of Niger State and seven others.Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mohammed Liman, had prayed the court to send the army chief and commandant to the custodial centre for disobeying an order made on October 12, 2022.

Ruling on the application, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, said, “An order is made committing the Nigerian Army Chief of Staff, General Farouk Yahaya, and the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, i.e the 6th &7th respondents, into the custody of the correctional centre for contempt of the order of this honourable court made on 12/10/2022.”

The judge ordered that the army chief and commandant should remain in custody until they purged themselves of the contempt.

The case was adjourned till December 8.

Several attempts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Army were not successful.Calls and a text message to the phone number of the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, were not answered.

The ruling is coming barely a few days after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to three months’ in prison over a similar offence.

Another Federal High Court in Abuja also ordered the remand of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, at the Kuje Custodial Centre.

Court orders arrest and imprisonment of Army chief

A Federal High Court sitting in Minna, the Niger State Capital, has ordered that the Chief of Army Staff, General Farouk Yahaya, be arrested for contempt.

Justice Halima Abdulmalik, who issued the warrant and presided over the case, said the order followed notice brought before the court in pursuant of order forty two rule ten of the Niger State High Court Civil Procedure 2018.

The judge ruled that the order is commuting Yahaya to be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of order of the court on October 12, 2022, adding that the COAS is to remain in custody till he has been “purged”of the contempt.

Also, the judge issued that the Commandant Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Olugbenga Olabanji, be arrested and imprisoned for a similar offense.

Justice Abdulmalik then adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation.

NPG had reported that on November 29 a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja sentenced the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

The IGP’s committal followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.

The court also ordered the payment of N10 million to the applicant, being special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional denial of his (Patrick’s) rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.

Zamfara court grants bail to ex-information minister

The Zamfara State Shari’a Court has granted bail to former Information Minister, Ikra Bilbis.

Bilbis was arrested by the police last Tuesday and brought to the court for allegedly destroying billboards of the All Progressives Congress and other government property during a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday.

Delivering the judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Jibril Ibrahim, said he granted bail to the accused person based on sections 300 and 301 of the Zamfara State Shari’a Penal Code.

He, however, gave the accused person three conditions to fulfil.

He said, “Considering the fact that, both prosecutor and counsel for the accused person James Shaka have reached an agreement and based on sections 300 and 301 of the shari’a penal code I hereby grant bail to the accused person”.

“He should however fulfil the following conditions:

“He will bring two sureties. One of the sureties must be a serving permanent secretary in the state’s civil service.

“The other surety must have a house in Gusau town valued between N20 million and above.Ikra Aliyu Bilbis was the Minister of Information during the Goodluck administration and is currently contesting for a Senatorial position for Zamfara central zone.

He was arrested last Tuesday and detained at the state police headquarters in Gusau for allegedly taking part in the destruction of APC billboards and other government properties during a rally organized by the PDP gubernatorial candidate Dr Dauda Lawan Dare.

Five other PDP stalwarts included the gubernatorial candidate Dauda Lawan Dare, his deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni, PDP acting chairman, Muktar Lugga Salisu Maibuhu Gummi and Shehu Ahmed Regan.

The matter has been adjourned to December 14 2022 for further hearing.

Court convicts top Sokoto civil servant of job scam

A Director at Sokoto State Commodity Board, Hassan Bello, was on Wednesday, November 16, sentenced to seven years imprisonment for obtaining money through a job scam.

EFCC had arraigned the convict for fraudulently obtaining about N1.3 million under the guise of offering non-existent employment to hapless job seekers.

The charges against Bello read;

“That you, Hassan Bello, Male, while being the Director Administration Sokoto State Commodity Board sometime in August 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of One Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira from one Aliyu Adamu Tsaki, Yusuf Abubakar, Yahaya Salihu Mohammed and others in the presence of one Dahiru Muhammad, when you falsely represented yourself to them that you will secure employment for them in the Sokoto State Commodity Board and issued them letters of provisional appointments, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related (Offences) Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

He pleaded guilty to the charge during his arraignment. Following his guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, S.H Sa’ad, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

The judge then convicted and sentenced Bello to seven years in jail with an option of N100, 000 fine. Mr Mahmud also ordered the convict to pay restitution of N850, 000 to the victims through the EFCC.

The convict would serve a two years jail term should he fail to pay the restitution within six months

Singer, Trey Songz’s $20million s*xual assault civil suit ‘dismissed after statute of limitations expired on alleged victim’s claims’

A s*xual assault civil suit against Trey Songz has reportedly been dismissed after legal documents proved the statute of limitations had expired on the allegations.

Back in February, a woman who identified as Jane Doe in court documents had claimed Songz, 38 forced her to have anal s*x against her consent at a house party in Los Angeles on March 26, 2016.

The woman said that Songz behaved like a ‘savage r@pist’ during a s*xual encounter where she screamed and pleaded with him to stop what he was doing but that Songz allegedly overpowered her physically.

Another person quickly entered and exited the room, the woman told the court, and Songz continued raping her.

He has vehemently denied the accusations. At the time of the alleged assault (before January 1, 2019), the statute of limitations in California to file a civil claim for s*xual assault if the victim is over 18 was two years.

The alleged victim filed her complaint six years after the alleged rape. She was suing Songz for $20million in damages.

The publication reports that Songz’s suit was thrown out on Monday October 31, after attorneys for the star successfully argued the statute of limitations had expired well before the alleged victim reported the complaint.

In April, Songz was cleared in a s*xual assault investigation stemming from a Las Vegas incident that happened in November 2021. The singer will not face criminal charges following an investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

‘The LVMPD has concluded the investigation into the s*xual assault allegations against Tremaine Neverson and determined that no criminal charges will be filed,’ the department revealed in a statement released via local 8newsnow.

‘If any new evidence comes to light, the case will be reopened for further investigation.’ Law enforcement officials confirmed no arrests were made at the time, and Songz cooperated with police throughout the investigation.

His attorneys told TMZ: ‘We are pleased that Trey Songz’ has been cleared of wrongdoing and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigation has officially been closed.’

They added: ‘We are grateful to the LVMPD for the professional police work done and their thorough investigation, which included findings of inconsistency in witness testimony and insufficient evidence. We are pleased that Trey can now return to what he does best, entertaining.’

The woman had been represented by lawyers Ariel Mitchell and George Vrabeck, who are involved in two other cases, in Miami and Nevada, in which Songz is accused of s*xual assault.

Adamawa court sentences two young men to jail for stealing a goat to roast because of hunger

The Jimeta Area Court II, in Adamawa state, has convicted and sentenced two young men identified as Buhari Abubakar and Nasiru Abdullahi, to three years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy and theft of a domestic animal.

The convicts were arraigned before the court by police prosecutor, Inspector Coleman Micheal, on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft.

Inspector, Coleman, informed the court that the convicts who reside at Sangere along Numan road conspired and made away with a she-goat belonging to one Hashimu Hassan.

According to him, the convicts stole the animal valued at N17, 000 on the September 7th, 2022, saying that they were sighted by a man who immediately alerted the police.

He said that the convicts were pursued and arrested while trying to escape after their tricycle broke down.

While in the dock, Buhari informed the court that they stole the animal to go and sell to their customer at Ngurore in Yola South LGA.

However, his accomplice, denied this. He claimed they stole the goat so they could eat it because they were hungry.”

What Buhari, said is not true. We stole the she goat to roast and eat because of hunger”.

The area court presided by Hon. Muhammad Alamin Diya Lamurde, sentenced Buhari Abubakar and Nasiru Abdullahi, for the offences which pleaded guilty.

For the offence of criminal conspiracy, the convicts were jailed 1 year with N25, 000 option of fine each, while for the offence of theft, they were slammed 2 years and given N50, 000 option of fine.

Furthermore, the court has ordered them to pay the sum of N17, 000 compensation to the nominal complainant.

Chinese suspect denies killing Kano lover in court

At the resumed hearing on the case involving a Chinese national, Geng Quangrong who was accused of killing his Nigerian lover, Ummukulsum Sani Buhari, the suspect denied all the charges levelled against him.

Appearing before a Kano High Court presided over by Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji, the state counsel led by the Kano State Attorney General, Musa Abdullahi Lawal, presented the court with an interpreter courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Guo Cumru.

Lawal who noted that there was an adjournment of the trial over the absence of an interpreter, said Kano state’s ministry of justice wrote to the embassy and they availed them with one.

After presenting the interpreter, the prosecution counsel then filed an application of trial of the accused person under Sections 123 sub 1a of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kano State.

It read;

“That you, Geng Quangrong of railway quarters in Kano, on the 16th of September 2022 about 21:00, went to a house at Janbulo Quarters of Gwale Local Government Area of Kano, did commit culpable homicide punishable with death.

“That you caused the death of Ummukulsum Sani Buhari of the same address by stabbing the said Ummukulsum on different parts of her body with a knife with knowledge that her death will be the probable consequence of your act, thereby committing an offence 221(b) of the penal code law as amended.”

After Geng denied the charge levelled against him, the Attorney General prayed the court to adjourn the case by two weeks to enable them tender witnesses on the 14th, 15th and 16th of November.

However a defence counsel, Muhammad Balarabe Dan’azumi objected to this while stating that it wasn’t convenient for him. He also asked for another date.

The judge, Sunusi Ado Ma’aji adjourned the case to 16th, 17th and 18th of November for further hearing after the prosecution counsel moved a motion that the interpreter comes from Abuja and should be considered.

Alleged cocaine deal: Abba Kyari files fresh application seeking to strike out case

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has filed a fresh application to strike out the drug trafficking charges preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In the motion filed by his counsel, Ikpeazu Ikpeazu, he argued that the alleged offense his client is being tried for was committed during a police investigation and the Police Service Commission (PSC) has the authority to discipline the offenders.

He said the five-count charge is similar or related to allegations previously made by the applicants’ Police Service Commission in respect of disciplinary action against police officers and it was for the same subject matter and for the same period.

“This charge against the applicants’ affected the completion of this constitutional procedure.

The application adds that the internal disciplinary action of the Police Service Commission provided by the Constitution against Abba Kyari and other applicants is a condition precedent before they can be charged by any other security agent/agency.

The disciplinary action by the Police Service Commission commenced earnestly and timely.

The applicants had previously answered a query issued to them by the police authority before the charge herein was filed against the applicants.

I know as a fact that the Police Service Commission has through the office of the IGP commenced the disciplinary procedure against the applicants and other defendants prior to the institution of this charge.

Without subjecting the applicants to the police disciplinary procedures that are constitutionally set down, the applicants are charged before the federal high court with counts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 under the NDLEA act and alleged to have committed the offenses in the course of the performance of their duties as police officers.

Failure of the complainant herein to await the disciplinary action against the applicants renders the charge incompetent and deprives this court of jurisdiction to entertain this charge.”the court notice read in part

It added that Abba Kyari and others have not waived their rights under the police disciplinary control which has begun before the instant charge was filed.

Two magistrates sacked in Lagos over misconduct

The Lagos State Judicial Service Commission has terminated the appointments of Magistrates Oluwatoyin Gwendolyn Oghre and Humenu Olajuwon Amos as members of the State Judiciary for misconduct.

In a statement signed and released by the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Olubukola Salami, the commission said the termination of appointments of both magistrates was effected after a thorough investigation into allegations of misconduct leveled against them was carried out and found to be culpable.

The Commission warned the general public to desist from dealing with the affected Officials in any official capacity as Magistrates and officers of the Lagos State Judiciary.

The duo were said to be serial offenders and some of the offenses allegedly bordered on corruption.

“The Commission hereby informs members of the public that the appointments of Magistrate Oluwatoyin Gwendolyn Oghre and Magistrate Humenu Olajuwon Amos have been terminated as members of the Lagos State Judiciary with effect from Tuesday, 11th October, 2022 and Wednesday, 12th October, 2022, respectfully for acts of misconduct”the statement in part read

Farm labourer sentenced to life imprisonment for raping teenager in Lagos

A farm labourer, Isiaka Adeoye, who raped a 17-year-old girl was on Wednesday October 12, sentenced to life imprisonment, by Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Asides ruling that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Soladoye also held that the testimony of the survivor corroborated the evidence of the investigating police officer and the medical reports.

The Judge who said that the judgement will serve as a deterrent to others, added that there’s no substantial contradiction to raise reasonable doubt in prosecuting the defendant.

The Judge said;

“I believe the testimony of the survivor in total as she eloquently and brilliantly told the court that the defendant had a c*nd*m on before he had s*x with her.

“The survivor told the court that her aunt sent her to do some work for her on her farm where the defendant works and that the defendant sent her to fetch water.

When she came back, she met the defendant drunk and he asked her if she wanted to have fun and he ended up having s*x with her.

“She said it was the farm manager that reported the case to the survivor’s sister when she narrated her ordeal in the hands of the defendant.

“The evidence of the three prosecution witnesses has sufficient proof that the defendant had s*xual intercourse with the survivor.

The address of the defence, no matter how beautifully written, cannot amount to vindicating the charge of defilement that the defendant truly committed.

“The evidence before this court shows that the defendant forcefully had s*x with the survivor as this is corroborated in the medical report that there were bruises in her private parts, which can be the result of a struggle between her and the defendant.

“This should serve as a deterrent to others as adults should not take undue advantage of young children and defile their purity. The defendant was busy telling lies before this court, but the court is not fooled.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment. He should have his name written in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.”

Outlining the need for sexual education, moral re-awakening and training of underage children to maintain sexual purity in society, Justice Soladoye added;

“The survivor, in this case, was insensitive as a 17-year-old girl ought to be proactive and run for her life when she saw a c*nd*m on the private parts of the defendant.

“Instead, she waited until the defendant forcefully had his way and had s*x with her.”

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