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JUDICIARY

Alleged $1.6m Fraud: Court Dismisses Pastor’s No case Submission

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An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday dismissed a No Case Submission filed by a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ayodeji Oluokun, standing trial for alleged issuance of dud cheques of $1.6 million.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her ruling held that the prosecution had established a sufficient prima facie case against the defendant.

“After carefully considering the submissions of the prosecution and the defence, the court at this stage is not not to review the evidence of the prosecution but to see whether the prosecution has put enough evidence before the court to warrant the defendant to defend his case.

“The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several documents.

The evidence of the prosecution shows that the prosecution has sufficiently proven a prima facie case against the defendant.

“I hereby dismiss the application of the defence and order that the defendant to open his defence,” Taiwo ruled.

The last proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Edoka Onyeke, had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

He, had therefore asked the court to dismiss the charge against his client.

However, Mr Samuel Daaji, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) had asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced by the prosecution sufficiently linked the defendant to the offenses to warrant him to be called upon to open his defence.

The prosecution had closed its case against the on October 2021 after calling the 7th witness.

The defendant, who was an oil marketer and an assistant pastor of RCCG, City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, was charged before the court alongside his oil firm, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd. by the EFCC.

The defendant and his company were first arraigned before the court on Jan. 21, 2019, on a six-count amended charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense, stealing and issuance of dud cheques.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail.

The EFCC, in a charge, marked ID/8509c/19, alleged that the defendant and his company, had sometime in 2014, approached the management of GOSL Nigeria Limited for a loan of $1.6 million to enable him to carry out operational activities in his company’s oil field in Bayelsa State.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant had assured the complainant that he would repay the money within 60 days.

Following the defendant’s failure to repay the loan as promised, he was alleged to have issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques dated June 26, 2014, for the sum of $1.6 million.

The EFCC stated that upon presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal by the complainant on several occasions, they were returned due to insufficient funds.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap, D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Taiwo adjourned the case until June 10 for the defendant to open defence. (NAN)

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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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