JUDICIARY
Court Strikes Out N1bn Suit Against Ex-minister, 3 Others
A FCT High Court sitting in Kubwa has struck out the one-billion-naira suit brought against a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, while he was in office.
Also sued was a civil servant, Ms Asabe Waziri and two others – the office of the former minister and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The suit was brought against the former minister in his personal capacity along with Waziri and the two others by an Abuja-based property developer, Mr Cecil Osakwe.
But Justice Oluyemisi Adelaja on Thursday struck out the matter, citing lack of diligent prosecution by Osakwe.
“The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court.
“They have, therefore, been absent without reason and consequent upon Order 32 Rule 4, this case is ordered struck out for want of diligent prosecution,’’ Adelaja ordered.
It will be recalled that in June 2022, the Federal Government had filed a two-count charge with suit number: FCT/HC/CR/244/2022, against Osakwe for advance fee fraud to the tune of N130 million.
The suit also alleged criminal intimidation of Waziri, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, saying that Osakwe had threatened Waziri with injury to her person and reputation with intent to cause her harm and even death.
Waziri was said to have purchased a two-bed property from Osakwe to the tune of N130 million at Maitama, an up-market district of the FCT.
Following the two-count charge against Osakwe, he proceeded to file a lawsuit against the erstwhile attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.
Others joined in the suit included the Federal Ministry of Justice and Waziri.
Through his Counsel, Mr Victor Giwa, Osakwe sought reliefs, including an order directing Malami to pay the sum of one billion naira to him as punitive damage.
The developer also sought an order directing the defendants to pay jointly and severally, the sum of one hundred million naira to him as general damages. (NAN)
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, sentenced a 31-year old man, Lawan Salisu, to three years imprisonment for sexually abusing a 10-year old boy.Salisu, of Tishama Yan Awakai Farin Bene Transformer in Nassarawa Local Government, Kano State, was convicted on a one-count charge of procurement and sexual exploitation after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Delivering judgment, Justice Simon Amobeda, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. “The offence is punishable by not less than seven years imprisonment and a fine of N1 million.“I have tempered justice with mercy as a first time offender, according to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.“I hereby sentence the convict to three years imprisonment without option of fine. This will serve as a deterrent to others as cases like this are becoming prevalent,” he said.He urged the convict to tender an apology to the victim and his family.Earlier, Mr Hassan Nuruddeen, prosecution counsel, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Command, said the defendant committed the offence at Tishama Awakai Farin Bene Transformer Kano, on June 26.Nuruddeen said that on the same date the defendant procured the minor and sexually exploited him by defilement, in an uncompleted building at Tishama.The prosecution presented four exhibits, including the confessional statement of the convict, and the victim’s testimony to the court, to prove his case.He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and was punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.The defence counsel, Mr Inuwa Umar-Ibrahim, however pleaded for leniency on behalf of the convict, as a first-time offender.(NAN) A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 38 -year-old sales representative to six months imprisonment for fleeing after eating and drinking in a restaurant.
The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N10,000fine or spend three months in prison.
The magistrate also ordered the convict to N23,500 to the restaurant owner or another three months in prison in default.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on Aug.27, at the “A” Division Police station by one Charles Nentok, the complainant.
Gokwat said that the convict went to the restaurant, ordered food and assorted drinks worth N23,500 and took to his heels.
The prosecutor said he was later caught and taken to the police station.
The police said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law.(NAN)
The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai, has granted freedom to one inmate, Napue Chitu, at the Warri Correctional Centre.
The Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Onoriode Etatsemi disclosed this in a press statement in Asaba on Friday.
The statement said that Chitu was released by the chief judge, during a visit to the correctional centre .
It said that a total of 379 warrants were reviewed during the visit but only Chitu was released as other inmates still have ongoing cases in court.
(NAN)
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