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)
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)
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)
A 38-year-old man, Yusuf Olasunkanmi, was brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday, for allegedly assaulting another man with a blow.
Olasunkanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing three-count charges of assault, conspiracy and breach of peace.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.
O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant alongside others still at large, committed the offences on April 25, at about 5. 30p.m. at Atan Bus-Stop, Ota.Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by assaulting the complainant, Oke Solomon, with a fist of blow.
He added that the assault caused the complainant, a permanent injury.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 351, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fadairo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned to June 10, for further hearing. (NAN)
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