JUDICIARY
Edo 2020: Judge Withdraws From Suit Seeking Disqualification of Ize-Iyamu

By Gowon Emakpe, Abuja
Attempt to disqualify Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the September 19 governorship election in Edo state, may have suffered a setback as Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo has withdrawn from the trial.
He withdrew yesterday, following the second petition filed against him by one of the lawyers in the APC legal team,
Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja was shocked on receipt of the second petition against him by a lawyer and regretted that his integrity has been maliciously called to question.
“As Judges and lawyers in the temple of justice, it is our duty to protect the integrity of the court and that of the judiciary.
“It was disturbing to receive a petition from a party in the suit seeking for the transfer of the case.
“The contents of the said petition are wicked and unsubstantiated. It is very disturbing that counsel would write this petition and even back it with an affidavit.
“It is not only Corona Virus that has become a pandemic, the spate at which politicians write petitions against judges should be declared a pandemic and should be checked.
“Unfortunately judges cannot respond to petitions against them through the media
“I do not for the record have any affiliation, personal or political with any of the parties in this case” the Judge lamented.
He told the crowd of lawyers and litigants in court that the petitioner from the Chamber of one of the senior lawyers present in court even went to the ridiculous extent of supporting the petition with affidavit.
Immediately after lawyers in the suit announced their appearances for proceedings to begin, Justice Taiwo cut them short and announced that he was no longer prepared to go ahead with the matter.
The Judge said it was a matter of regret that a legal practitioner would have the effrontery to write a malicious, scandalous and outright blackmail against a Judge adding that with the petition questioning his integrity, he can no longer proceed with the case.
Some of the senior lawyers in court tried to wash their hands clean and distanced themselves from the petition, but the Judge however, stood his ground not to go ahead with the case.
The Judge subsequently remitted the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another Judge.
The APC had in a separate petition two weeks ago raised strong opposition to the speedy hearing of the suit seeking disqualification of its governorship candidate from the election.
APC in the strongly worded petition against Justice Taiwo prayed the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Tsoho to withdraw the suit from Justice Taiwo.
In the petition dated August 20,/2020 by the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator. John Akpanudoedehe, the party had accused Justice Taiwo of moving faster in the hearing of suit against Ize-Iyamu by granting abridgment of time to plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs, led by Hon. Momoh Abdul-Razak had through their lawyer, Sir Friday Nwosu, sued the APC, Ize-Iyamu, INEC and Audu Ganiyu praying for an order of court to stop Ize-Iyamu’s participation in the election on account of alleged ineligibility.
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)
JUDICIARY
Man Seeks Divorce After 17 years, Citing Loveless Marriage

One Moshood Kolobo of Temidire Community, Oko-Olowo area, Ilorin, on Wednesday applied to the Area Court, Centre-Igboro, for the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Hafsat Kolobo, citing lack of love.
Moshood told the court that he was no longer interested in the 17-year Islamic union, saying that the marriage lacked love and emotional connection.
He therefore urged the court to grant his request for a divorce.
The defendant (Hafsat) pleaded with the court to give her two weeks, saying, “I was just called and informed to appear in court today without knowing the details.
“This is shocking, after 17 years and five children. I am asking the court to give me two weeks.
”The Presiding Judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, adjourned the case until June 23 for further mention. (NAN)
CRIME
Man Remanded for Allegedly Raping Physically Challenged Teen

An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 50-year-old man, Linus Anozie, in a correctional center for allegedly engaging in anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged person.
Anozie, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a one-count charge of sexual assault.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B.
A. Sonuga did not take the defendant’s plea.He remanded him in a correctional facility and ordered that the file be sent to the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Sonuga adjourned the case until July 31, pending legal advice.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 9 at about 11.
00 a.m. at Ogunlana Estate, Akin Ogunlewe Street, in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.He told the court that the defendant unlawfully had anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged man (name withheld), without his consent.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravene the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)