JUDICIARY
Fani-Kayode Files Counter-Affidavit to Estranged Wife’s N800m Claim
Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, has joined issues with his ex-wife, Precious Chikwendu, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Precious instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against Fani-Kayode, the Inspector-General of Police (I-GP) and his officers, claiming N800 million as damages.
Listed as respondents in the suit are Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force CID, Commissioner of Police FCT, and CSP James Idachaba, Officer-in-Charge, Legal (CID), FCT Command.
Precious is demanding the N800 million as damages because of the role allegedly played by the respondents in intimidating and harassing her during the pendency of her custody suit.
Specifically, she is asking the court to restrain the IGP and his officers and men from intimidating and harassing her in any form pending the hearing and determination of her suit seeking the custody of her four children.
In a bid to clear his name, however, Fani-Kayode filed a counter affidavit to her suit.
He asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of merit and for constituting an abuse of court process.
The former minister deposed that he had read the 23-paragraph supporting affidavit filed by Precious and that they were concocted and presented by subterfuge in order to mislead the court and frustrate the administration of justice.
“I know that the instant suit is nothing but a smoke screen intended to avoid the long arm of justice and to malign me.
“There is no merit whatsoever in this suit, which was filed in abuse of court and judicial process.
“It is in the interest of justice to dismiss this suit for lacking in merit.
“I conscientiously depose to this counter-affidavit from facts within my personal knowledge, and in good faith, believing same to be in accordance with the Oaths Act currently in force,’’ Fani-Kayode deposed in his counter-affidavit.
On the alleged separation from her children, Fani-Kayode deposed that Precious opted to leave her matrimonial home and consciously abandoned the children.
“As a fact, it is not surprising that Precious is capable of such reckless abandonment, because whilst she was with me in the house, she employed 12 in-house nannies to cater to the children, excluding supervisors and nurses who equally attended to them.
“She did not at any time extend maternal care to the children, for the reason that she had a medical condition which deprived her of any filial bond with them,’’ Fani-Kayode further deposed.
The matter comes up for hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Poultry Farm Manager Faces N160,000 Fraud Charge
A 30-year-old poultry farm manager, Stephen Nwachi, on Thursday, appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged N160,000 fraud.The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge bordering on felony and advance fee fraud.The police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 24, at 04.
00 p. m. at a poultry farm opposite Zomelo hotel on Okitipupa-Aye Road in Okitipupa.Orogbemi said that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N160,000 from one Morenike Orukotan, under the pretext of supplying some crates of eggs to her but failed to do so.The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Philip Akinlosetu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.He ordered that the surety should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.Akinlosetu also held that the surety should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state government.He adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for further hearing. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Remands Man, 44, for Allegedly Defiling 9-year-old Girl
A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 44-year-old man, Sunday Lukas in custody, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, ordered that Lukas be remanded at the Awarjigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry, after he pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.
He ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Adekomaiya, however, adjourned the case until Oct. 28 for ruling on the bail application filed by Lukas and for DPP’s legal advice.Earlier, the police prosecutor, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 28, at 12.20 p.m., at No. 4, Aribena Site, Ijanikin area of Lagos.He said that Lukas indecently assaulted the nine-year-old girl by inserting his fingers in her private part.The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)JUDICIARY
3 Docked Over Alleged Theft of Transformer Valued N50m
Three men, were on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing an electricity transformer valued N50 million.
The defendants, Kehinde Akinkugbe, Tope Salisu, and Isiaka Amusa, whose addresses were not given, are being charged with conspiracy, stealing and malicious damage.
The defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that Akinkugbe, Salisu and Amusa, committed the offences at about 2.
30a.m on Aug. 22, at Ajeri Street, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos.Isaac said that the defendants maliciously damaged an electricity transformer, belonging to the Federal Government.
The prosecutor said that the defendants were apprehended by residents of the area, who later reported the matter to the police.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 411, 287 and 339 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbegi-Adelabu, ordered that one of the sureties must own a landed property, and should present evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Magistrate adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for mention.(NAN)