JUDICIARY
APC, Tinubu, Oppose Consolidation of Election Petitions
The All Progressives Congress, (APC) and it’s presidential candidate in the Feb. 25, Presidential Election, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Monday opposed the consolidating of the petitions as raised by the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC).
At the resumed hearing to consider the matter of consolidation, counsels to Tinubu, Mr Akin Olujimi, SAN, and the APC, Mr Charles Edosomwa, SAN, opposed the move to consolidate the three different petitions.
They insisted that merging all the petitions, would affect their ability to effectively defend all the issues raised by the petitioners.
The senior lawyers maintained that the petitioners did not only raise various issues, but were seeking different reliefs.
Mr Shehu Abubakar
announced appearance for the Allied Peoples Party, (APM) Mr Kenny Pinhero, SAN represented the Independent National Electoral Court, (INEC).
Abubakar said the party would not be opposed to consolidation of the petition and counsel to INEC said that he was neither in support or opposition but however, left the decision at the discretion of the PEPC.
The counsel to INEC said that they were neutral on the issue.
The APC in opposing the application for consolidation of the petition said the interest of justice would not be served.
This he held was because the issues raised were different and because of the variance of pleadings.
“The justice factor is a good reason for your lordships not to consolidate the petition.
“The 2nd respondent is afraid of being prejudiced,”he said.
Olujimi submitted that the 3rd and 4th respondents also opposed consolidation of the petitions.
He adopted the submissions of counsel to the 2nd respondent, insisting that though paragraph 50 of 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, donated an in built discretion to the court, however he argued that such discretion was not mandatory.
“The interest of justice should be a restraint on the power of court to exercise discretion in granting consolidation.
“The issue canvassed in each of the petitions vary,” Olujimi said.
For the 5th respondent, Mr Rowland Otaru adopted the submissions of counsel for the 2nd to 4th respondents.(NAN)
A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old travel agent, Adebayo Oyeronke, to four years imprisonment over a N6.2 million visa fraud.
Oyeronke had pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and theft.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, held that Oyeronke was guilty of defrauding Rita Francis and four others of the sum of N6.
2 million.Emmanuel who did not give the convict an option of fine, ordered him to pay N2 million each as compensation to the victims.
The magistrate also ordered him to undertake an affidavit of good conduct, pledging never to engage in any criminal or corrupt activities again.
Earlier, the prosecution Insp.
Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offences between December 2024 and April 2025 at Barnawa Kaduna.Leo said that the defendant collected N6.2 million from the complainants; Rita Francis, Mohammed Sadiq, Christian Baba, Williams Abiodun and Nathan Victor, with a promise to get them Polish visa.
He said after the convict collected the money, he absconded to an unknown destination until he was arrested on May 15.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.
30 p. m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.
According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 40 – year old prostitute, Adeosun Adepeju was on Tuesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing her colleague in the stomach during work period.
Adepeju of undisclosed address was standing trial on a count charge bordering on assault.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Cpl.
Helen Ojo told the court that Adepeju on May 21, at about 12:30 a.m., at Ring road area, Ibadan, stabbed her colleague, Stella Mago with scissors in her stomach.Ojo said that the stabbing caused the complainant bodily harm.
She added that the offence contravened Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. M. Olagbenro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbenro adjourned the matter until May 30, for hearing. (NAN)
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