JUDICIARY
Bayelsa Tasks Lawyers Against Flippant Litigations

From Mike Tayese,Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has urged legal practitioners in the state to properly guide their clients based on the merit or otherwise of the cases at hand to avoid unnecessary litigations.
The state also cautioned individuals and communities to resist the temptation of engaging in subversive activities aimed at dethroning traditional rulers, whose chieftaincy stools have been recognized by law.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the advice on Thursday when he met with the chiefs, elders and other community representatives of Aghoro II community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state at his office in Yenagoa, over the disputed Amananaowei stool of the community.
Ewhrudjakpo also reminded lawyers of their professional ethics, adding that law practice was not just to make money, but required honour, integrity and respect as a profession that promotes justice, peace and order in society.
The Deputy Governor pointed out that in some jurisdictions like Abuja and Lagos, lawyers issue a counselor’s certificate to their clients, which makes them liable to accept responsibility for any inconveniences arising from ill-advising their clients.
“Those of you that are lawyers, you have a duty to advise your clients properly. I want you to go back to your professional ethics regarding the duties of a counsel. Litigation is not always the best option for conflict resolution. That is why we have the multi-door court, that gives options for arbitration, mediation and conciliation.”
Ewhrudjakpo cited section 28 of the State Chieftaincy Law, which states that no individual or group has the right to either dethrone or install a traditional ruler without following due process as stipulated by law.
He, therefore, directed all the parties involved in the Aghoro 2 community leadership conflict to observe status quo with His Royal Highness Ojunkonsin Ibamughan still serving as Amananaowei pending the final determination of the issues raised at the meeting.
The Deputy Governor, however, warned traditional rulers not to see their recognition as a license to oppress and shortchange their people, as the law also provides a window for their removal.
He further directed all the parties in Aghoro II Community to write and forward their petitions to the state government within two weeks for consideration and possible action.
He said, “Government does not and will never protect any Amananaowei who does wrong things. At the same time, we as a government would not sit idly and watch any individual or group of persons take laws into their hand to cause a breach of peace in any community in the state.
“When a traditional stool had been classified by government, it implies that the community cannot arbitrarily remove the occupant of that stool from office; only the government can exercise that power in accordance with the law.”
Presenting his case to the Deputy Governor, a factional leader, Chief Afro Biukeme, alleged that Chief Ibamughan was removed from office as Amananaowei of Aghoro II Community due to misappropriation of community funds amounting to about N90 million.
Biukeme insisted that embattled Amananaowei embezzled the funds with his cronies and had since refused to return to the community to give a proper account of the funds as demanded by the people of Aghoro.
In another development, the Bayelsa State Government has resolved the face-off that resulted from an error in a land survey map involving some communities in Sagbama and Southern Ijaw LGAs of the state.
At a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, urged the people of Akeddei, Isoni, Anyama-Ibeni and Isampou to live in peace as the cartographical error had been corrected.
While thanking the Ibenanaowei of Oyiakiri Kingdom, King Joshua Igbagara for his efforts, the Deputy Governor advised communities in the state not to see carrying of arms over land disputes as the best option, but rather seek redress through dialogue or at the lawcourt.
In his remarks, King Joshua Igbagara, pointed out that the Adegbe lake which belongs to the people of Ossiama was ascribed to Akeddei community in the said survey map submitted at the law court over an ongoing land dispute between Isampou and Anyama-Ibeni communities.
He expressed the confidence that with the correction made in the survey map, the crisis was over for good.
Also speaking, the Amananaowei of Isampou community in Southern Ijaw, Chief Friday Ogbodo, expressed surprised that the Adegbe Lake was mapped in favour of Akeddei community by the surveyor whom his community engaged.
Chief Ogbodo said the fact that the Adegbe lake belongs to Ossiama community was never in dispute and therefore canvassed for peace among the communities in the area.
The paramount rulers of Akeddei, Isampou, Toru-Ebeni, Ossiama, Anyama-Ibeni, and Isoni, including some prominent chiefs from area and top government functionaries, were part of the meeting.
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)