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JUDICIARY

Alleged $2.2m fraud: Court Adjourns Trial of Ex-NHIS Boss

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A Federal High Court  in Lagos on Monday adjourned untill May 15 and May 16 the continuation in the trial of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Oluwafemi Thomas.

Thomas is standing trial alongside a bureau de change operator Kabiru Sidi, on a four counts charge bordering on 2.

2 million dollars money laundering

The are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and were first arraigned in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu.

They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

The case was however, re-assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji, after Saidu was transferred from the Lagos division of the court.

Trial has since commenced in the suit and the defence had opened its case and still giving evidence in court

When the case was called on Monday, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr O. Gbolahan appeared fro the first defendant.

The second defendant, however, informed the court of the absence of his counsel, on the grounds of ill health

On his part, the prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, adding that he had come in from Abuja since last week hoping to take this case.

He, however, said that in the circumstance, he would accept an adjournment

While noting that the second defendant was entitled to be represented by a counsel, the court also noted that the defendant had narrated to the court his efforts to secure a counsel.

The court consequently, adjourned the case until May 15 and 16 and urged the defendant to ensure he be present in court with his counsel on the next date

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charge against the defendants has been amended severally, with the defendants taking fresh pleas on each amendment.

They were re-arraigned on March 6, 2019

The prosecution closed its case in January 2020 , after calling six witnesses and tendering 26 exhibits

The defence on their part filed a no case submission arguing that the prosecution had not made out any prima facie case against them to warrant them to open their defence .

Meanwhile, the no-case submission filed by defence failed, as Justice Faji on March 13, 2020, dismissed their application and ordered the defence to open its case

An appeal against the ruling of the trial court also failed at the appellate court which delivered judgement on Sept. 30, 2021.

The defence was thus asked to open its case, which is now ongoing

In the amended charge numbered FHC/L/457C/2015, The EFCC alleged that the first defendant and his wife who is said to be at large, had on July 3, 2015, conspired to move out of the court’s jurisdiction, the sum of 2.19 million dollars said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The defendant was said to have procured the assistance of one Bamidele Ibitoye to help move the money, which were proceeds of his alleged unlawful enrichment as a public servant without going through a financial institution.

They were alleged to have concealed the origin of the said sum.

The defendants were also alleged to have made a cash payment of the said sum, to the said Ibitoye, without going through any financial institutions.

The second defendant was alleged to have on July 15, 2015, made a false statement to Mr Afeez Mustapha, an investigating Officer with the EFCC, that he was the owner of the said sum of money.

The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 16(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

It also contravenes the provisions of sections 39(2)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004. (NAN)

JUDICIARY

Court Acquits Medical Doctor of Cybercrime Charges

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police against a female medical doctor, Bolanle Aseyan. Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu discharged and acquitted Aseyan, stating that the police failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.

The Inspector-General had arraigned Aseyan on a four-count charge of defamation, harassment, and intimidation against another doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya.
The police alleged that Aseyan used social media platforms to harm Ogunsanya’s reputation. He was said to be her former boyfriend. The charges were filed under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, which addresses online threats and cyber harassment.
To support the case, the police presented three witnesses. Aseyan also called two witnesses to testify in her defence during the trial. Justice Lifu, while reviewing the matter, noted both doctors were once in a romantic relationship before it turned sour. He further observed that the two had sexual relations while in the United Kingdom and later made conflicting social media posts against each other. The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore could not secure a conviction. Specifically, the judge said the defendant’s alleged Twitter handle used in the cyberbullying was not tendered as evidence before the court. Justice Lifu also said there was no proof of threats or intimidation, but rather evidence of a previous affectionate relationship. Consequently, the judge dismissed all four charges, discharged and acquitted Aseyan, and declared the case closed. He ordered the police to immediately return all seized items, including her international passport, upon service of the judgment. Aseyan said she met Ogunsanya online in 2019 and travelled to the United Kingdom in 2020, where she claimed she was raped. She stated that upon arrival in Leeds on March 7, 2020, tired and disoriented, Ogunsanya offered her wine shortly after she got to his home. She alleged that after taking the drink, she passed out and later woke up to find that he had allegedly had sex with her without consent. Aseyan further claimed that Ogunsanya maltreated her before she returned to Nigeria shortly after the alleged incident. (NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Kwara Court Sentences Abdulrahman Bello to Death by Hanging for Murder of Hafsoh Lawal. 

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From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin. 

A Kwara State High court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced Abdulrahman Bello, a self-acclaimed cleric and the killer of Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of the Kwara State College of Education to death, by hanging. This was contained in a judgement delivered by Justice Hannah Ajayi on Thursday, in which, four other defendants were set free and cleared of any wrongdoings.

‎Charged with five-count, the judge started by acquitting the four out of the five defendants namely Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Jamiu Uthman, Suleiman Muyideen and Abdulrahman Jamiu of any complicity, subsequently setting them free of taking part in the death of the victim (Hafsoh Lawal).

However, Justice Ajayi, while delivering judgment on the main culprit, described Bello’s act as cruel, wicked, and an extreme display of human wickedness, saying all evidence proved that Hafsoh was killed in order to be used for money ritual and trading in human parts.

‎The judge further noted that Abdulrahman’s confession of love and plan to marry the victim, are all concocted lies to lure her to his residence in order to kill her. ‎She therefore sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging while setting free the other four suspects not guilty.

It would be recalled that the victim went missing, sometimes in February 2025, shortly after attending the naming ceremony of a family member. When she left, but didn’t return later in the day, her parents went into panic mode, and search party was raised, and a complaint was lodged at the police station.

Her phone line was tracked, and traced to the suspect’s (as it were) area. Upon invitation and interrogation, it was discovered that he is a serial killer, who had killed many victims before Hafsoh.

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JUDICIARY

Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

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From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.

The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday last week.

The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.

Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.

The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.

The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.

Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.

The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.

“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”

Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.

“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.

Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.

The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.

The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

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