JUDICIARY
Alleged Certificate Forgery: SDP asks Judge to Recuse Self from Case

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday lost confidence in a High Court Judge, Justice A.S. Ibrahim, whom it asked to recuse himself from a case of alleged certificate forgery labeled against its governorship running mate in the Kogi Nov. 11 election.
The Kogi Government had filed a suit against Mr Sam Ranti-Abenemi, the running mate of the SDP Governorship Candidate, Alhaji Yakubu Ajaka, for allegedly submitting to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a forged GCE O’Level certificate for the upcoming governorship poll in the state.
The state government through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Badama Kadiri, had charged Ranti-Abenemi with perjury, false declaration, use of false documents as genuine and possession of a forged 1979 Ordinarily Level Certificate tendered in his Form EC9 to INEC.
Reports says that when the case came up for hearing on Monday, the Counsel to the accused, Mr JibrinOkutepa (SAN), told the court that he had two Motions, viz: Motion to quash the charge against Sam Abenemi, and Motion for the Judge to disqualify himself from the case.
Okutepa explained that the motion became imperative on the grounds of likelihood of bias on the side of the judge.
“My Lord, our first motion which is very important to us is the one asking you, the Judge, Justice A.S. Ibrahim, to recuse/disqualify yourself from this matter that is before you.
“Your lordship, this motion or application became imperative on the ground of likelihood of bias on your side as the judge in this case.
“Our reason being that you were the judge in a matter involving the SDP governorship candidate, Yakubu Ajaka, sometimes in April while he was still card carrying member of All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It’s on this premise that we completely lost confidence in you on this matter that also affects his (Ajaka’s) political ambition.
“The second Motion is for the charge against the defendant, Sam Abenemi, be quashed on grounds that the court do not have jurisdiction to take cognisance of the charges labeled against him.
“We will only be ready to take this second motion, when you have recused yourself of this matter,” he said.
But Kadiri, the Prosecution Counsel, objected to the application, which he described as lacking in merit and should be discarded by the court.
“My Lord, I don’t think this motion has any strength to stand as it is completely lacking in merit and should be refused.
“We don’t think there’s any relation between this case and that one which the defence counsels are referring to. This is just a delay tactic that shouldn’t be allowed,” Kadiri argued.
Justice Ibrahim, who keenly listened to the arguments of both parties on the said motion, reserved ruling till a date to be communicated to the parties. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Man Seeks Divorce After 17 years, Citing Loveless Marriage

One Moshood Kolobo of Temidire Community, Oko-Olowo area, Ilorin, on Wednesday applied to the Area Court, Centre-Igboro, for the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Hafsat Kolobo, citing lack of love.
Moshood told the court that he was no longer interested in the 17-year Islamic union, saying that the marriage lacked love and emotional connection.
He therefore urged the court to grant his request for a divorce.
The defendant (Hafsat) pleaded with the court to give her two weeks, saying, “I was just called and informed to appear in court today without knowing the details.
“This is shocking, after 17 years and five children. I am asking the court to give me two weeks.
”The Presiding Judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, adjourned the case until June 23 for further mention. (NAN)
CRIME
Man Remanded for Allegedly Raping Physically Challenged Teen

An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 50-year-old man, Linus Anozie, in a correctional center for allegedly engaging in anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged person.
Anozie, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a one-count charge of sexual assault.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B.
A. Sonuga did not take the defendant’s plea.He remanded him in a correctional facility and ordered that the file be sent to the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Sonuga adjourned the case until July 31, pending legal advice.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 9 at about 11.
00 a.m. at Ogunlana Estate, Akin Ogunlewe Street, in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.He told the court that the defendant unlawfully had anal intercourse with an 18-year-old physically challenged man (name withheld), without his consent.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravene the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Police Arraign Man Over Alleged Assault

The Police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned a 36-year-old man, Joseph Obuseh, in a Badagry Chief Magistrates` Court for allegedly assaulting a man by cutting his forehead with a cutlass.
The defendant, whose address is unknown, is being charged with assault; however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun told the Court that the defendant committed the offence on Feb.
22, at about 11. 00.a.m, at No. 24, James Arigbabuwo Str., Igbekele, Morogbo, Badagry, Lagos.Adeosun alleged that the defendant unlawfully assaulted Imonigia Ameem by using a cutlass to cut his forehead, which caused him bodily harm.
“He ran away for two months after the incident but was arrested and handed over to the Police for prosecution.
“The offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015,” he said.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He said one of the sureties must be gainfully employed.
Adekomaiya adjourned the case until July 15, for mention. (NAN)