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JUDICIARY

Defection: PDP Prays Court To Sack Lawmaker

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the removal of Rep Oluwole Oke as lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP, in a fresh suit filed on Monday by its lead counsel, Raphael Oyewole, prayed the court to make an order of mandamus compelling the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to, forthwith, declare Oke’s seat vacant.

It said this would be in strict compliance with Section 68(1)(g) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), having defected without any verifiable division, merger or faction within the  political party.

The PDP urged the court to direct Abbas and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge their constitutional duties as provided by the law by declaring the seat vacant and initiating processes for the conduct of a bye-election into the vacant seat in the constituency.

The party sought an order directing the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) to withdraw all entitlements and stop payments of salaries, allowances, including benefits to Oke.

It equally sought an order directing the embattled lawmaker to refund all salaries, emoluments, benefits and allowances received from the date of his resignation from PDP to the date of judgment, having unlawfully retained a legislative seat in violation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiff (PDP) had, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1040/2025, sued Oke, House Speaker, Clerk of NASS, Tajudeen Abbas and INEC and 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The party sought seven questions for determination and eight reliefs.

One of the questions is “whether by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a member of the House of Representatives, such as the 1st defendant is not liable to forfeit his legislative seat, for resigning his membership of the plaintiff’s political party upon whose platform he was elected, to join another political party, in the absence of a division, merger or faction in the plaintiff political party.”

The matter is yet to be assigned to a judge.

NAN reports that Oke, a six-term lawmaker, who represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun, had said his decision to leave the PDP was after consultation with his political associates, friends, and family members.

Oke, in his resignation letter, dated April 16 and addressed to the PDP chairman in Ward 7, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun, also copied the national and state chairmen of the party.

Meanwhile, in a related development, prominent legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has indicated interest in the seat for Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, and has begun to canvas support from his people, following the development.(NAN)

JUDICIARY

Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

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 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)

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JUDICIARY

Man Seeks Divorce After 17 years, Citing Loveless Marriage

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 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)

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CRIME

Man Remanded for Allegedly Raping Physically Challenged Teen

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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)

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