JUDICIARY
APC, Tinubu, Oppose Consolidation of Election Petitions
The All Progressives Congress, (APC) and it’s presidential candidate in the Feb. 25, Presidential Election, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Monday opposed the consolidating of the petitions as raised by the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC).
At the resumed hearing to consider the matter of consolidation, counsels to Tinubu, Mr Akin Olujimi, SAN, and the APC, Mr Charles Edosomwa, SAN, opposed the move to consolidate the three different petitions.
They insisted that merging all the petitions, would affect their ability to effectively defend all the issues raised by the petitioners.
The senior lawyers maintained that the petitioners did not only raise various issues, but were seeking different reliefs.
Mr Shehu Abubakar
announced appearance for the Allied Peoples Party, (APM) Mr Kenny Pinhero, SAN represented the Independent National Electoral Court, (INEC).
Abubakar said the party would not be opposed to consolidation of the petition and counsel to INEC said that he was neither in support or opposition but however, left the decision at the discretion of the PEPC.
The counsel to INEC said that they were neutral on the issue.
The APC in opposing the application for consolidation of the petition said the interest of justice would not be served.
This he held was because the issues raised were different and because of the variance of pleadings.
“The justice factor is a good reason for your lordships not to consolidate the petition.
“The 2nd respondent is afraid of being prejudiced,”he said.
Olujimi submitted that the 3rd and 4th respondents also opposed consolidation of the petitions.
He adopted the submissions of counsel to the 2nd respondent, insisting that though paragraph 50 of 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, donated an in built discretion to the court, however he argued that such discretion was not mandatory.
“The interest of justice should be a restraint on the power of court to exercise discretion in granting consolidation.
“The issue canvassed in each of the petitions vary,” Olujimi said.
For the 5th respondent, Mr Rowland Otaru adopted the submissions of counsel for the 2nd to 4th respondents.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Court Strikes Ex-Kogi Governor’s Bail Application
Justice Maryann Anenih o a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court on Tuesday struck out the bail application filed by former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi.Anenih struck out the application on the grounds that it was filed when the former governor was yet to be taken into custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The application was filed on Nov. 22, while the former governor was taken into custody of the anti-graft agency on Nov. 26 and arraigned on Nov. 27.(NAN)Details later….
JUDICIARY
5 Men Face N25m Worth of Milo Products Theft Charge
Five men, on Monday appeared before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, for allegedly stealing a truck load of Milo products worth N25 million.The defendants, Temidire Ramon, 35, Aminu Yusuf, 26; Olusola Opadare, 35; Oludayo Adeleye, 38, and Amodu Jimoh, 51, are standing tial on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Insp E. O.Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Oct. 13, 2020, at Agbara in Ogun.Adaraloye, said that the defendants conspired and stole a truck load of Milo products valued at N25 million, belonging to Nestle Company.He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.The Magistrate, Mr O.A Onagoruwa, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.He ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.Onagoruwa also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government.He adjourned the case until Dec.12 for hearing. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Grants Mother Custody of 2 Children
A Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa has granted Maryam Muhammad custody of two children from her former husband, Bashir.
The judge, Musa Sabo ordered Bashir to pay Muhammad N175,000 for a self contained apartment in arrears following the plaintiff’s claim of already paid rent.
Sabo added that Bashir should secure a self contained apartment or pay the plaintiff N250, 000 annually for accommodation.
He said that the children would spend first and third term holidays with their father and second term holidays with their mother.
The judge said the father could pick his children up every weekend for outings within 10a.m to 6.pm from the mother and notify her before hand.
He also ordered him to pay outstanding school fees if any and pay the plaintiff arrears for the fees she claimed to pay after verifying same as she failed to prove it.
Sabo ordered Bashir to pay N40,000 from October 2023 To February 2024 and subsequently pay N45,000 monthly for the children’s upkeep..
Regarding the children’s medication, he ordered Bashir to make an arrangement based on his financial capability.
Earlier, the plaintiff approached the court for custody of her children, maintenance, Islamiyya school fees, enrollment of one of the children in a special needs school and transportation.
She also sought for Bashir to refund N770, 000 which she paid for her house rent with the children and pay for the medicals of the children.
Bashir however said his ex-wife paid the rent without his consent adding that he is a civil servant and not financially capable.
“I do not earn up to N2 million annually and I am currently paying N600,000 rent annually. My children are already under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” he said.(NAN)