JUDICIARY
Alia Signs 10 Bills Into Law
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia has signed into law 10 bills recently passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.
Performing the exercise at Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, Alia explained that the laws were meant to protect the general safety of Benue people and also ensure that their rights as citizens are not abuse by other people.
The laws now include: A Law to Make Provisions for Benue State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency and Other Matters Connected Therewith 2024; A Law to Prohibit Harassment, Extortion of Money from Land Developers (Marching Ground), Violent and Fraudulent Conducts in Relation to Landed Properties and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024; A Law to Provide for the Establishment of Benue State Civil Protection Guards and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024 (Here, the Livestock Guards and the Community Volunteer Guards will be merged); A Law to Establish the Benue State Legislative Budget and Research Office and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024; A Law to Repeal a Law to make Provisions for the Maintenance of the Former Elected Governors of the State and their Deputies and for Other Matters Connected Therewith 2024.
Others include A Law to Provide for Benue State Youth Development Commission, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and Other Matters Connected Therewith 2024;A Law to Amend the Public Procurement Commission Law and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024; A Law to Regulate the Engagement of Casual Workers in the Benue State Public Service and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024; A Law to Provide for the Retirement of Magistrate, Judges and Other Matters Connected Therewith 2024 and A Law to Regulate the Benue State House of Assembly Commission Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith 2024.
After assenting to the bills, the Governor advised the people of the state to forget about partisanship when it comes to law and order, stressing that what he signed into law had nothing to do with APC, PDP, APGA, Labour or any other party.
He said he signed into law what would make the people understand that Benue is their home and that they would protect their home and pass onto those coming after them their genuineness, their legitimacy, their sincerity, and their truth, adding that the already existing Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was not tempered with.
Governor Alia who revealed the intention of his administration to guarantee wholesome peace in Benue State, warned against intra and inter state crises and called on traditional rulers to see what they could do to ensure that permanent peace returns in their respective communities.
Presenting the bills to the Governor, Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh said the bills were a testament to the commitment of the 10th Benue Assembly to making laws that will impact positively on the people of the state
Earlier, the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim explained that no part of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was repealed.
Local Government Caretaker Chairmen, the leadership of the 10th Benue Assembly, and some traditional rulers across the three zones in the state witnessed the exercise.
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)