JUDICIARY
Court Lifts Suspension Order on Abure, Other, LP Officers

Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court in Abuja, on Friday granted an order of stay execution on the suspension of Julius Abure , Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) and others.
Others are the National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as LP national officials,
The plaintiffs in the case are Martins Esikpali John; Lucky Shaibu; Isah Zekeri; Omogbai Frank; Abokhaiu Aliu; Ayohkaire Lateef; John Elomah and Dr Ayobami Arabambi,.
They had in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, sought the removal of Abure and the three other national officers of the party which the judge granted order of suspension
The judge after listening to arguments from parties granted the order for stay execution pending the determination of the appeal filed by the defendants.
Justice Muazu had on April 5 issued an interim injunction stopping Abure, Ibrahim and the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as national officers of LP .
This was contained in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, brought before the court by the eight plaintiffs.
At the sitting today, the defendants told the court that they have a notice of appeal pending at the court, of appeal. .
After much arguments from parties, the judge granted order for a stay on the suspension.
Following the April 5 ex-parte injunction made by Justice Muazu, stopping Abure, Ibrahim and two other national officials of the party, Alex Ejesieme, SAN had on April 20 argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The senior advocate had submitted that the matter before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the Labour Party, adding that criminal allegations made by the plaintiffs in the case, could not be ventilated in an origination summon.
He added that the eight plaintiffs that brought the case before the court were not members of the National Executive Council of the party and as such lacked the locus standi to institute the case.
According to Ejesieme, “Our contention is very clear that those criminal allegations cannot be ventilated in an origination summon.
“The issue of locus standi is there. When you referred to LP’s constitution, the claimants are not members of NEC or the party.
They have a duty to present their membership cards to the court which they didn’t.”
While objecting to the preliminary objection raised by the counsel for Abure , counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr George Ibrahim, urged the court to dismiss same.
According to him, the first to fourth defendants had yet to obey the April 5 order of the court as they were still parading themselves as national officers of the LP.
With the ruling of the court on having jurisdiction to hear the case, its order of April 5 subsists.
The judge then adjourned until today to hear the substantive case.
Earlier , the plaintiffs had informed the court, through their counsel, Ogwu Onoja SAN, that Abure and the three other national officials allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court, including receipts, seal and affidavits, to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general election.
Onoja argued that following their indictment by police investigation, the four people are to be arraigned in court, adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Federal High Court Mourns ex-Chief Judge

The Federal High Court (FHC) on Thursday, extends condolences to the family, friends, and associates of its former Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Abutu.
The Chief Registrar of FHC, Sulaiman Hassan, in a statement in Abuja, said the court announced “with deep sorrow, the passing of” Abutu.
“According to family sources, he died on Tuesday after a brief illness.
“He hails from Kogi and was born on March 15, 1946.
“The Late Chief Judge served the court and the nation with distinction.
“He was known for his unwavering commitment to justice and administrative excellence.
“His leadership and contributions have left indelible marks on the judiciary and the legal community at large.
“The Federal High Court extends her heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, friends and all who were touched by his exemplary life and service.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
In honour of his exemplary service and enduring legacy, all divisions of the federal high court are hereby directed to display a portrait of the late chief judge in a dignified and visible area within the respective court premises.”
Hassan said the court has ordered the immediate opening of condolence registers at all its divisions to allow judges, staff, members of the bar, and the general public to pay their tributes and express sympathies to the late Abutu.
He added that further details regarding funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.
NAN reports that Justice Abutu in one of his landmark judgments on Jan. 21, 2010, directed the Federal Executive Council to produce evidence that then President Umaru Yar’adua can continue to discharge his functions as president in the next 14 days or risk a definitive order of the court ordering the swearing-in of the vice.
Justice Abutu gave the ruling in the lawsuit filed by a member of the opposition, Farouk Aliyu asking to declare the sickly ‘president’ incapacitated and therefore swear in his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan.
The suit was filed by civil rights attorney, Bamidele Aturu.(NAN)
CRIME
Court Remands 10 Over Alleged Armed Robbery, Murder

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Thursday, ordered the remand of 10 persons in a correctional facility over alleged armed robbery and murder.
The defendants include Sheriff Lawal, 27, Lawal Bashit, 23, Oyewale Sodiq, 30, Akeem Ogunyemi, 41, and Kazeem Afolayan, 40.
Others are Akeem Raji, 37, Olabode Hammed, 25, Yusuf Lekan, 26, Ayomide John, 23 and Samuel Okezie, 32.
They are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and murder.
The Magistrate, Mrs Gladys Oladele, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.
She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
She adjourned the case until July 21 for mention.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 15, at about 9.30 p.m, at Oak Hotel, around Moniya, Ibadan.
Owolabi said the defendants robbed one Shuaibu Adam of the sum of N100, 000, while armed with sticks and cutlasses.
He said the defendants also unlawfully caused the death of one Abdul Isah, 23, by beating him with sticks and inflicted injury all over Adam’s body.
He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 319 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
CRIME
Man jailed 10 Months for Stealing Neighbor’s Refrigerator

A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday sentenced a 23-year-old man, Abba Danladi, to 10 months imprisonment for stealing his neighbour’s refrigerator and television set worth N500,000.
Danladi, who resides in Kawo area of Kaduna State, was convicted of conspiracy, housebreaking, and theft.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, sentenced him after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged for forgiveness.
Emmanuel, however, gave the convict an option of a fine of N15, 000 and also ordered him to restitute the N500,000 to the complainant, Rebecca Victor.
He held that if the convict failed to restitute the N500,000, he would serve additional 11 months imprisonment.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant of the same address with the defendant reported the matter at the Kawo Police Station, on May 29.
Leo said at about 4.20 p.m. on May 28, the complainant returned from work and discovered that some persons had broken into her room through the window and made away with her refrigerator and television set.
He added that in the course of the investigation, the convict was arrested and when interrogated, he confessed to being one of the perpetrators of the crime.
The prosecutor said that the defendant committed the crime with two other persons, at large.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.(NAN)