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JUDICIARY

Absence of Judge Stalls Hearing of Motion Challenging Jurisdiction in Okorocha’s Suit

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The absence of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, stalled the hearing of a motion challenging court’s jurisdiction in the suit filed by former Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha, against the state government and others.

The matter, which was for mention on the cause list, could not proceed because of the judge’s absence.

The case was, however, fixed for June 7 for mention.
The defence in the suit, including Eze Duri-Ihuoma, SAN, who is 44th defendant, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

Duri-Ihuoma had, on Sept. 22, 2021, said that the suit filed by Okorocha did not disclose any reasonable cause of action, hence, the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

According to him, the subject matter jurisdiction is not there in the suit and that the application is alien to the law.

“The applicant (Okorocha) is claiming that because the EFCC is investigating him, the state government should fold its hands and not probe him. “That is alien. Some of us had also argued that the former governor was simply saying, ‘extend my immunity.’ “But his immunity ended when he left office and he wants that immunity extended,” he told newsmen.

The lawyer said he was hopeful that the suit would be dismissed because it lacked merit. Okorocha, representing Imo West at the National Assembly, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2020 filed on May 28, 2020, had urged the court to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others from probing him.

While the EFCC is the 1st respondent, the 2nd to 48th respondents are the Attorney General (AG) of Imo and members of the seven panels set up to probe previous administrations in the state.

Okorocha had, on June 29, 2021, urged the court to make an order setting aside the seizures and sealing of some of his property by the state government.Okorocha also asked the court to restrain the defendants from investigating him or implementing the recommendations of the seven panels set up to probe him while he served as the state governor between June 2006 and May 2019 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The judge, on Aug. 11, 2021, declined Okorocha’s application seeking to stop the Imo State Government from taking further steps concerning his property on the grounds that the jurisdiction of the court had been challenged. In a ruling, the judge held that making an order was tantamount to assuming jurisdiction in the suit.(NAN)

CRIME

Court Remands 3 men for Alleged Defilement of 16-year-old Girl

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 An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday remanded three men at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl (name withheld).

The state government arraigned Owhe Oghenero, Kingsley Oni,  and  Olorunwa Abina on a one-count charge of defilement.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Rahman Oshodi thereafter remanded them at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, where they were currently being held.

Oshodi adjourned the case until Oct. 27 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in 2023 at Aradagun Area in Badagry, Lagos.

Okeowo alleged the defendants defiled the girl, by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

She said the prosecution would present  five witnesses against the defendant.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.(NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Woman in Court for Allegedly Hitting Sister With Log of Wood

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 A 35-year-old woman, Jennifer Monday, was on Tuesday charged before a Kaduna Magistrates Court for allegedly hitting her sister (Ruth John) with a log of wood.

The defendant, who lives at of Maraba Rido Kaduna, is facing a two-count of assault and causing grievous hurt.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 6 at about 7.

00 p.
m. at her residence.

He said the complainant went to the defendant’s house to discuss their sick mother and in the process an altercation ensued in which the defendant hit her sister on the head with a log of wood.

Leo said the complainant was rushed to the hospital and reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the defendant.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 58 and 284 of the penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Section 58 attracts one year prison term if found guilty, while Section 284 attracts a prison term not less than five years if found guilty.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.

Emmanuel ordered that the surety must be a blood relation to the defendant and should submit four recent passport photographs to the court.

He further ordered that the surety must show evidence of tax payment from the Kaduna Government.

He adjourned the case until July 20, for hearing.(NAN)

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CRIME

Court Convicts 9 Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

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 A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each, for economic sabotage and financial terrorism.

The defendants, including two females, were also given a fine of one million naira each, by the court.

The defendants are: Xiang Hui, Hai Rong, Liu Gang, JI Geng, Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Feng and Deng Qiang

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), on Dec.

10, 2024, invaded a building at Oyin Jolayemi area of Lagos, where over 700 people were arrested over cyber terrorism and economic sabotage.

On Thursday, EFCC counsel, Mr Nnemeka Omenwa, informed the court that the nine Chinese nationals  had opted for plea bargain.

Defence counsel, Mr Folarin Damela, also confirmed the position, and urged the court to accept the plea bargain agreement.

Consequently, the charge was read to the defendants, and they all pleaded guilty.

The defendants also admitted that they freely consented and signed the plea bargain agreement.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the plea bargain agreement.

Defence did not object to submission.

Justice Daniel Osiagor consequenly convicted and sentenced the defendants in line with the plea bargain agreement.

The court held that the prison term would take effect  from the Dec. 10, 2024.

The court also ordered that the Nigeria Immigration Service should repatriate the convicts to their country of origin upon completion of the prison term.

Osiagor also ordered that all items found on the convicts, including furnitures and  laptops, should  be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to EFCC, the convicts committed the offences on Dec. 10, 2024 within the court’s jurisidiction.

EFCC said that the convicts wilfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria.

The commission added that the convicts employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantages for themselves.

The offences contravene Sections 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act of 2015 ass amended in 2024, and Section 2(3) (d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022. (NAN)

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