JUDICIARY
Alleged Certificate Forgery: Absence of Judge Stalls Mbah’s Suit Against NYSC

The absence of Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, stalled the hearing of a suit filed by Enugu State Governor-elect, Mr Peter Mbah, against the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC).
Justice Ekwo was said to be on official assignment.
Mbah had sued the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad, for publishing a disclaimer, denying the issuance of a discharge certificate issued to him on Jan.
6, 2003.Justice Ekwo had, on May 15, restrained the NYSC, Muhammad and any of their agents from, henceforth, engaging in such publication pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
The order followed an ex parte motion moved by Mbah’s counsel, Mr Emeka Ozoani, SAN.
The judge, however, did not grant prayer two of the motion on the ground that it was said to be far reaching.
He said that the second prayer was an issue to be adjudicated upon in the substantive suit.
Instead, Ekwo ordered that the defendants be put on notice.
The judge, who directed the plaintiff to serve the defendants with court processes within two days of the order, fixed today for hearing.
But the court did not sit on Monday and the matter, which was on number 14 on the cause list, was adjourned until May 31 for hearing of the motion on notice.
Ozoani had brought the motion under Section 13(1) & (2) of the FHC Act Cap F12, Vol. 6, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Order 26 Rule 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
The motion ex parte was predicated on 10 grounds.
Mbah averred that after graduating in Law from the University of East London in 2000, retuned to Nigeria and as a pre-requisite to practice as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, applied and was admitted into the Bar part 1 programme of the Nigerian Law School.
Mbah said upon completing the bar part I exam, he had to wait for the bar part 2 programme, and was advised that instead of spending time idling around, he should proceed to the mandatory one year NYSC programme.
He said he was called up for NYSC and was deployed initially to Nigerian Ports Authority Apapa for his primary assignment but was rejected by NPA, before securing the law firm of Ude & Associates.
“The plaintiff in the course of his service year and after six months of NYSC, applied and was granted approval to defer the NYSC in order to enable him complete the bar final exam.
“Thereafter, the plaintiff was remobilised to finish the NYSC programme, which he did complete.”
Mbah further averred that upon completion of the NYSC, he was issued the certificate of National Service No. A.808297 dated Jan.6 2003.
The NYSC had, on Feb. 1, written a letter signed by Mr Ibrahim Muhammed saying that the NYSC certificate belonging to Mbah was not issued by the corps.
Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the Enugu State governorship election held in March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).(NAN)
CRIME
Man Bags 18 Months Imprisonment For Gambling With Employer’s N1m

An Ota Magistrates ‘Court in Ogun, on Monday, sentenced a 24-year-old Point of Sales (POS) attendant, Yusuf Olamilekan, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing N1 million belonging to his employer.
In her judgement, the Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Fadairo, sentenced the convict to 18 months imprisonment with an option of fine of N60, 000.
Fadairo said that the convict should also restitute N1 million to the complainant, Emeka and Jane Company.
She added that the Prosecution Counsel had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the charge preferred against him.
Olamilekan, whose address was not provided, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 7, at 6 p.m., at Sango-Ota.
Adaraloye said that the defendant unlawfully withdrew N1 million from his employer’s account, Emeka and Jane Company, without consent, to play a game of chance.
He said that the now convict subsequently lost the money, adding that the offence contravened Section 383 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IGE/DCO
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Edited by Deborah Coker
An Ota Magistrates ‘Court in Ogun, on Monday, sentenced a 24-year-old Point of Sales (POS) attendant, Yusuf Olamilekan, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing N1 million belonging to his employer.
In her judgement, the Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Fadairo, sentenced the convict to 18 months imprisonment with an option of fine of N60, 000.
Fadairo said that the convict should also restitute N1 million to the complainant, Emeka and Jane Company.
She added that the Prosecution Counsel had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the charge preferred against him.
Olamilekan, whose address was not provided, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 7, at 6 p.m., at Sango-Ota.
Adaraloye said that the defendant unlawfully withdrew N1 million from his employer’s account, Emeka and Jane Company, without consent, to play a game of chance.
He said that the now convict subsequently lost the money, adding that the offence contravened Section 383 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Woman, 42, Docked Over Alleged Theft Of Soft Drinks Worth N7.688m

A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million.
Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs O.
E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum.Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years tax payment to Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers and show evidence of ownership of landed property in Ibadan.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan.
Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31; packs of big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 and packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400.
He said that the defendant also stole 405 packs of Predator valued at N1.903,400 and 14 packs of Schewepps valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include: 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300; 20 packs of big American cola valued at N128,00012 and packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000.
The remaining items were one carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240,000; 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100; 100 cartons of Coca-cola valued at N520,000 and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300.
The other stolen drinks were: 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000 and 395 packs of Bigi American cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
3 People Docked For Alleged Assault, Causing Woman To Miscarry

Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.
The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage
The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace
He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)