JUDICIARY
Businesswoman, 44, Docked for Allegedly Abandoning Husband, Absconding with Children

A 44-year-old businesswoman, Edward Ogochukwu, was, on Tuesday, arraigned before an Upper Area Court, Gwagwalada, FCT, for allegedly abandoning her husband and absconding with his children and belongings.
The police charged Ogochukwu, who resides in Dagiri Gwagwalada, Abuja, with abandonment of spouse and theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that the matter was reported at Gwagwalada police station by one Mr Tony Umegborodu on July 28.
Tanko said that the complainant had, on July 27, upon his return from his brother’s house, discovered that his wife (defendant) had made away with his belongings.
He said that the defendant made away with chairs and kitchen utensils (values yet unknown), an Itel cell phone, valued at N36,000 and cash of N850,000.
He said that the defendant also left with their children to an unknown destination.
According to him, the offences contravene the provisions of Section 16 of Violence Against Persons (VAP) Act and Section 287 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.
The Judge, Abdullahi Abdulkarim, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000, with one reasonable surety in like sum.
Abdulkarim said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the matter till Sept. 28 for hearing. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
My Ex Wife Wants To Kill Me, Man Cries To Court

A businessman, Abdulrazak Yunusa on Monday dragged his former wife, Latifat Sanusi before a Sharia court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna state, alleging that she is threatening to kill him.
The counsel to Yunusa, Faham Ahmad told the court that she threatened to stab him.
“Sometimes she threatens my client with a pestle.
I am afraid she wants to kill me”, he said.He prayed for a restraining against Yunusa to go to her parent’s house and stay pending when the case was finalized.
On her part, the accused denied the claim saying she had no intention of killing the father of her children.
The Judge, Malam Muhammad Kabir referred the case to the police for investigation and adjourned to June 11 .
(NAN)JUDICIARY
Judiciary Workers Threaten Strike from June 2

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has directed its members in all federal courts nationwide and other judicial institutions to withdraw their services from June 2.Mr Mustapha Laminu, National Vice President, North Central said this in a statement signed and issued on Friday in Abuja.
Laminu said the strike had become imperative to press home its demands as their members were yet to receive the one month wage award recently paid by government. According to him, this action is to protest against the non payment of five months arrears of wage award, non implementation of N70.000 national minimum wage and the non implementation of the 25/35 per cent salary increase.“The union had written severally to the management on the need to see reasons through 21 day ultimatum, seven days ultimatum and have to shelve the action following the intervention of my lord the Chief Justice of Nigeria.“It is unfortunate that the Judiciary, as an arm of government, is being punished while other arms of government have since been enjoying.“All what we are saying is that our members are stoning us, accusing us of compromising considering the unfold hardship brought about by government policies.“We will continue this action until and unless the government pay us this money,” he said.Laminu alleged that they gathered that the Ministry of Finance had released the new amount to the Accountant General of the Federation but he refused to pay the Judiciary.He therefore called on all Chapters chairmen to ensure compliance to the directive. (NAN)CRIME
Court Remands 18-year-Old Student for Alleged Murder

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered the remand of an 18-year old student, Joseph Chive, at a Makurdi Correctional Centre for allegedly killing a 14-year-old girl.
Chive, who lives at Veterinary Layout, Northbank, Makurdi, was charged with illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kevin Mbanongun, did not take the plea of the defendant for want of jurisdiction.
He remanded the defendant and adjourned the case until Aug. 28 for mention.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 25, at Veterinary Layout, Northbank, Makurdi.
He said the case was reported at the ‘C’ Division Police Station, Northbank, Makurdi, by the deceased’s father, Mr Victor Ayom.
According to him, the defendant had an altercation with the victim, a 14-year-old girl, Mimidoo Victor.
“While the altercation was going on, the defendant rushed into his room, brought a loaded dane gun and shot the girl on the head.
“The defendant was arrested during police investigation and he confessed to the crime.
“The dane gun was recovered from him,” Ato said.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and Section 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue, 2004. (NAN)