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JUDICIARY

Lagos Bishop Jailed for Life for Raping Assistant Pastor, Bags 3 Years for Sexual Assault

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Court Sentences Applicant to 6 Months in Prison for Stealing Cell Phone
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An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Friday sentenced a Lagos bishop, Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, to life imprisonment for raping his 23-year old  assistant(name withheld).

Justice Rahman Oshodi also sentenced the embattled bishop of “I Reign Christian Ministry” to three years imprisonment for sexually  assaulting a member of his church, aged 19 years.

Reports says that Oshodi delivered the 324 pages of judgment in two hours.

Oshodi held that prosecution had established the ingredients of rape and sexual assault against ( count one and three) against the convict, beyond reasonable doubt.

He held that the cleric should spend the rest of his life at the Kirikiri custodial facility, Lagos.

According to him, the evidence of the first prosecution witness was corroborated with that of the third witness.

He, however, discharged and acquitted him of  rape (count two) of another survivor (name withheld) on the ground that there was an element of consent.

The judge also discharged and acquitted him of attempted rape (count four) on another member of his  church, aged 19-year-old girl, (name withheld).

According to him, the convict who did not have regard for truth,  committed the offences  by using his dominant character and position as a clergyman.

He said: “Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, I have convicted you of sexually violating two women who were members of your church.

“The first one, you raped ferociously and caused her so much pain.

“The second, you sexually assaulted using your dominant character and position as a clergy.

“These offences are grievous as rape attracts life imprisonment while sexual assault is punishable with three years imprisonment.”

The judge said though the defence counsel, Mr Adebayo Adegbite, urged the court to use its discretion in sentencing, the Lagos State law, however, have mandatory sentence for rape.

“Due to the seriousness  and the ferocity of the attack on his victims, accordingly, I sentence you as follows;

“On count  one, I sentence you to life imprisonment.

“On count three, I sentence you to three years imprisonment and you shall also serve your term in the maximum security custodial centre where you are currently being held,” he said.

Oshodi said that the sentencing should run concurrently and the name of the convict be registered in the Lagos State Sexual offences Register.

Earlier, NAN reports that the convict stayed silent when the court asked him if he had anything to say, following his conviction.

The defence counsel, in his  allocutus, (plea for mercy) had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Adegbite told the court that the convict was a first time offender with no previous charges.

He said the convict was a bread winner of his family and urged the judge to use his direction in sentencing.

The state prosecution team, led by Mr Babajide Boye, however, urged the court to convict the bishop as charged.

The prosecution had called five witnesses while defence also called five witnesses during trial through whom various documents were tendered in evidence.

Boye submitted that the convict raped his assistant pastor in her home in Ikota Villa Estate,  sometimes in June 2020.

He also said that the convict sexually assaulted one of his church members by forcefully sucking and touching her breasts without her consent, sometimes in April 2021 at the church office in Ikeja.

Daniels faced an amended four-count charge bordering on rape, attempted rape and sexual assault which he pleaded not guilty to on April 17 and May 9, 2023, following his arraignment and re-arraignment, respectively.

The offences contravened Section 260 (2)  and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Court Strikes Ex-Kogi Governor’s Bail Application

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Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello
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Justice Maryann Anenih o a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court on Tuesday struck out the bail application filed by former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi.Anenih struck out the application on the grounds that it was filed when the former governor was yet to be taken into custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The application was filed on Nov.
22, while the former governor was taken into custody of the anti-graft agency on Nov.
26 and arraigned on Nov. 27.(NAN)

Details later….

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JUDICIARY

5 Men Face N25m Worth of Milo Products Theft Charge

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Court Sentences Applicant to 6 Months in Prison for Stealing Cell Phone
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Five men, on Monday appeared before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, for allegedly stealing a truck load of Milo products worth N25 million.The defendants, Temidire Ramon, 35, Aminu Yusuf, 26; Olusola Opadare, 35; Oludayo Adeleye, 38, and Amodu Jimoh, 51, are standing tial on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

The prosecutor, Insp E.
O.Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Oct.
13, 2020, at Agbara in Ogun.Adaraloye, said that the defendants conspired and stole a truck load of Milo products valued at N25 million, belonging to Nestle Company.He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr O.A Onagoruwa, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.He ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.Onagoruwa also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government.He adjourned the case until Dec.12 for hearing. (NAN)

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Court Grants Mother Custody of 2 Children 

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A Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa has granted Maryam Muhammad custody of two children from her former husband, Bashir.

The judge, Musa Sabo ordered Bashir to pay Muhammad N175,000 for a self contained apartment in arrears following the plaintiff’s claim of already paid rent.

Sabo added that Bashir should secure a self contained apartment or pay the plaintiff N250, 000 annually for accommodation.

He said that the children would spend first and third term holidays with their father and second term holidays with their mother.

The judge said the father could pick his children up every weekend for outings within 10a.m to 6.

pm from the mother and notify her before hand.

He also ordered him to pay outstanding school fees if any and pay the plaintiff arrears for the fees she claimed to pay after verifying same as she failed to prove it.

Sabo ordered Bashir  to pay N40,000 from October 2023 To February 2024 and subsequently pay N45,000 monthly for the children’s upkeep..

Regarding the children’s medication, he ordered Bashir to make an arrangement based on his financial capability.

Earlier, the plaintiff approached the court for custody of her children, maintenance, Islamiyya school fees, enrollment of one of the children in a special needs school and transportation.

She also sought for Bashir to refund N770, 000 which she paid for her house rent with the children and pay for the medicals of the children.

Bashir however said his ex-wife paid the rent without his consent adding that he is a civil servant and not financially capable.

“I do not earn up to N2 million annually and I am currently paying N600,000 rent annually. My children are already under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” he said.(NAN)

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