JUDICIARY
Court Fixes March 25 for Judgment in $418m Paris Club Fund Suit
An Abuja Federal High Court has fixed March 25 for judgment in the Paris Club Fund suit instituted by the 36 states of the federation. Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, fixed the date on Tuesday after lawyers made final submissions. The plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1313/202 seeking to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari and others from effecting the planned deduction of $418 million from states’ funds to settle the debt owed consultants engaged by states and LGs.
The controversial payment of $418 million to consultants over the Paris Club refund had become a contending issue between the three tiers of government.
Consultants had claimed the amount as a percentage for the payment of services rendered to the states and local government councils. But the amount did not go down well with the governors who requested a forensic audit over the claim made by consultants.The court, had on November 5, restrained the federal government from deducting $418 million from states’ accounts to pay the disputed debt. While the 36 states’ attorneys-general are the plaintiffs, 43 defendants joined in the suit, including the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Debt Management Office (DMO), among others. On December 7, the court declined the federal government’s request to vacate the previous order.
At the court session on Tuesday, Sunday Ameh, plaintiffs’ lawyer, in his final submission, argued that the defendants misconstrued his clients’ suit. Ameh faulted the argument by the defendants that the suit was challenging existing judgments given by the court in favour of some of the consultants. “We are not challenging the judgments. We are saying the way the federal government and its agencies are going about enforcing the judgments violates sections 120 and 162 of the Constitution,” Ameh said.
However, lawyers to the defendants, including Wole Olanipekun, Maimuna Lami Shiru (acting director, civil litigation, federal ministry of justice) and Olusola Oke, faulted the competence of the suit and urged the court to dismiss it.
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)