JUDICIARY
Okowa Preaches Delta Unity After Supreme Court Victory

Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa called on people of the state to be more united, following the re-affirmation of his victory at the polls by the Supreme Court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highest court in the country on Wednesday declared Okowa as the duly elected governor of the state.
Okowa made the call on Wednesday evening at a thanksgiving service held at the Government House Chaplaincy, Asaba, to celebrate the Supreme Court verdict.
“I want to thank Deltans for all your prayers and support and as we move forward, it is time to work for the good of the state.
”I cannot do it alone; as a government, we require the cooperation of all; it is time for us to partner together; it is time to forget the bitterness.
“I will use this opportunity to call on my opponent, Chief Great Ogboru of All Progressives Congress (APC) for him to realise that it is time for him to work together with the state government to build our state.
”I believe that truly everyone can make his contributions and impact whether he is in office or not as it is truly time for us to be united.”
Okowa said that working together would be in the best interest of the state, adding that sustained continue are needed for God’s strength to move the state forward.
“God took us through the elections, through the tribunal, Appeal Court and now the Supreme Court and in each of the victories, we have always returned thanks to God because He alone has made it possible.
”We trusted in God and he has seen us through and today we have victory.
“This victory is dedicated to God because God willed it to be, to settle the state and to ensure that there is peace to bring oneness among us because without peace and without oneness we cannot move forward as a people.”
On 2023 elections, the governor said: “I know that 2023 is not so far but it is also not too near so, there is a time for everything.
”When the time to play politics comes, we will play politics. For those of us in government, I want to plead that the best thing for us to do now is to work.
”There will be room to play the politics and by His grace when the time comes, everything will work out smoothly; no one can make a governor; only God can decide who becomes governor.
”So for now we have to work together to achieve a stronger Delta as we need to spend the next few years working for the people of Delta State.”
The Chaplain of Government House Chaplaincy, Ven. Charles Osemenem, in his sermon, said that God works in miraculous ways.
He added that “many a time when you see results, you forget that there was a battle over which God gave you victory; we thank God because this victory is a sign of what he will do in Delta state”.
The Supreme Court had earlier reaffirmed the March 9, 2019, election victory of Okowa.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, the court held that the appellant, Mr Great Ogboru of APC failed to prove his allegations of over-voting at the polls.
The judgment which was concurred to by six other justices of the court, held that the appeal lacked merit and that the court was putting a final nail on the appealant’s forensic Golgotha.
Nweze said that the appeal was a waste of the precious time of the apex court.
He noted that majority of the documents tendered by the appellants were based on hearsay, adding that the petition is a sheer waste of the genuine time of the court.
“There are plethora of decisions of this court on the position of card readers and they are too numerous to begin to mention them or for the appellant to claim they are not in the know.
“The appeal was against the valid election of Okowa and it is hereby dismissed for lack of merit,” he declared. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.
The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday last week.
The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.
Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.
The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.
The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.
Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.
The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.
“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.
“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.
Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.
The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.
The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
JUDICIARY
Court Bars Bello from Acting as Nasarawa APC Chairman

A Senior District Court 3, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday restrained Mr Aliyu Bello, the embattled Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, from presenting himself as Chairman or a member of the party.This followed a motion filed by Suleiman Turaki, Counsel to Ibrahim Iliyasu, the Chairman of APC in Gayam Electoral Ward of Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
Report says that on July 1, Iliyasu, alongside 13 other officials of the party in the ward, suspended Bello from the party over alleged anti-party activities. The order signed by Abdullahi Lanze, Senior District Judge of the court, stated that the prayer was granted after hearing the application presented by the applicant’s counsel.The order specifically restrained Bello, his agents, privies, supporters or any person acting on his behalf, authority, or direction, from presenting himself as a member or Chairman of the party.The court also barred Bello from issuing statements, carrying out functions, or acting in any manner whatsoever, through the media or otherwise, as a member or Chairman of APC.This would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. (NAN).JUDICIARY
Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

A 30-year-old unemployed man, Sadiq Usman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly parading himself as a military officer.
Usman is facing a two-count charge of impersonation.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 24 at about 3.
30 p. m. at Alaba Rago Market area of Ojo, Lagos State.Ikhayere said that the defendant, who was unemployed, unlawfully had in his possession a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, cap, belt, and boots.
“He paraded himself as a member of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession two Nigerian Navy identity cards,” she said.
According to her, the defendant was arrested when he failed to give a satisfactory account of the items.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 77(a)(b) and 79(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 77 stipulates a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of impersonating a member of the armed forces or the police.
Section 79 stipulates two years imprisonment for unlawfully wearing the uniform of the armed forces.
The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
Owolabi adjourned the case until July 1 for mention. (NAN)