JUDICIARY
Corps Member’s Death: Panel Joins Garki Hospital CMD as Party
The National Human Rights Commission panel, investigating allegations of human rights violations against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Thursday in Abuja, joined the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Garki General Hospital, Abuja as a necessary party in a petition before the panel.
The CMD was joined as a party in the petition filed by a lady, Chinenye Igwetu, on the alleged extra-judicial killing of her younger sister, Linda Igwetu.
The deceased was a member of the National Youths Service Corps as at the time of her death, allegedly caused by one Insp. Benjamin Peters.
Chinenye Igwetu had listed Peters, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police as respondents in the petition.
On Nov. 5, the petitioner told the panel that Peters shot her younger sister on July 3, 2018 in Abuja, a day before her passing out from service.
She alleged that when the deceased was taken to the Garki General Hospital after being shot, the hospital refused to treat her, despite the fact that she lost much blood.
She added that the hospital insisted that she should get a male blood donor to donate blood for the deceased even though she, the petitioner, was ready to donate blood to her sister.
At the panel’s sitting on Nov. 16, the panel summoned the CMD and the Registrar, Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, to appear before it on Dec. 2, although the matter was not heard as scheduled.
On resumed hearing of the petition, Counsel for the police, DCP. James Idachaba, said that Peters was no longer a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force as he was dismissed over the case.
He noted that the police had arraigned the dismissed officer before the High Court of the FCT and that the case file was later submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution.
Counsel to the panel, Chino Obiagwu (SAN), applied that the CMD should be formally joined as a necessary party in the petition.
Obiagwu added that the petitioner had raised certain allegations against the hospital.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima, granted the application as prayed.
Following this, Obiagwu sought an adjournment to enable the panel to regularise its records to reflect the CMD as a necessary party in the petition.
Galadima, however, commended the CMD for honouring the panel’s summon by personally coming before it.
The panel chairman adjourned the matter until Jan. 25 for continuation hearing. (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)