CRIME
Court Adjourns Trial of Bayelsa Teenage Cyber Stalker Till April 22

FROM TAYESE Mike, Yenagoa.
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Thursday adjourned the trial of a teenage girl facing trial for allegedly circulating nude video of a retired Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa, Dr Walton Liverpool, 60.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had on October 18, 2021 arraigned a teenage girl before the court on a one count charge of cyber-stalking.
According to the prosecution, the defendant engaged in cyber-stalking by circulating the retiree’s nude picture on a Whatapp group after she failed to blackmail the retired civil servant into paying her N15 million.
Mr Liverpool who is a DSS witness following a petition he submitted to the Service had earlier told the court that the teenager made a nude video of him when they had sex at a hotel in Yenagoa in August 2021.
Liverpool had in his testimony before the court in November 2021 lamented that he was traumatised by the experience and told his alleged blackmailer that he could not raise the money they demanded and hence his nude video was exposed on social media networks.
When the case was mentioned, the counsel to the teenage girl Mr Andrew Arthur told the court that he had filed a Notice of Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the charge.
The trial judge, Justice Isa Ndahen asked Andrew and prosecuting counsel Mr Victor Uchendu to adopt their application and responses before the court.
Andrew, a former Attorney-General in Bayelsa said that he was challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the grounds that the DSS under its establishment Act and the National Security Agencies Act lacks prosecuting powers.
He said that DSS was set up as a National Security protection agency and not a law enforcement agency.
Andrew argued that if the DSS does not have the powers of prosecution in its enabling Act, it cannot assume such powers by itself and urged the court to strike out the case.
However, Uchendu contended that the DSS under the Cybercrimes Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015 was listed as one of the relevant law enforcement agencies to prosecute offenders under the Act.
He maintained that DSS was indeed a law enforcement agency with prosecuting powers bestowed on it by the Cybercrimes Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015 under which the suspect is being prosecuted.
Uchendu told the court that DSS has competently prosecuted several cases successfully and secured convictions and urged the court to dismiss the application and proceed with the prosecution.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until April 22 for ruling on the application.
CRIME
Wife Seeks Divorce Over Domestic Violence

One Rihanat Kuranga of Egbejila Area, Ilorin, on Wednesday filled for divorce from her husband, Shuaib AbdulRahman at the Area Court, sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, over domestic violence.
Kuranga told the court that her husband started beating her after she gave birth to their second born, saying that it has become unbearable.
According to her, whenever my husband decides to beat me, he will beat me and the children until we start bleeding from our bodies.
”I had to pack out of his house when I gave birth to my fifth born and he didn’t stop beating me and the children mercilessly.”
The woman told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and wanted divorce, child custody and maintenance.
”I want their father to pay N50,000 monthly for feeding of our five children and be responsible for their education,” she said.
The Presiding Judge, Toyin Aluko ordered that a fresh hearing be served on the defendant, to enable him have knowledge of the court case.
The case was adjourned until June 30, for Defence or hearing. (NAN)
CRIME
Police Evacuates Remains of Bolt Driver Shot Dead in Yenagoa

Police operatives from the Bayelsa command have evacuated the remains of a bolt driver, who was shot dead on Friday morning at Samphino Road Junction , Yenagoa.
The lifeless body of the middle-aged yet-to-be-identified driver was discovered early Friday morning inside his vehicle at the Samphino Road Junction in the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa.
Residents, who discovered the scene raised the alarm which prompted a swift response from police operatives, who quickly cordoned off the area.
The body of the commercial driver has been deposited at the mortuary for possible autopsy.
The residents, who got to the scene early suggested that the victim might have been shot at close range by suspected armed robbers.
Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer, who spoke on anonymity at the crime scene, said that a full-scale investigation was underway.
“We are working to gather all necessary intelligence.
“Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits,” he said.
The Police Spokesman in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Mohammed confirmed the incident to NAN and said that investigation was already in progress. (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)