JUDICIARY
Court Threatens to Revoke Ex-JAMB Director’s Bail as Trial Begins

An Abuja High Court on Tuesday, threatened to revoke the bail it granted to Yisa Usman, the sacked Deputy Director, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), over behaviour considered to be improper.Justice H.A. Musa, who cautioned Usman, granted the oral application by N.
Orji, the prosecution lawyer, to commence the trial following the breakdown of out-of-court settlement. The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: CR/654/2024, accused Usman of character assassination and giving false information on a public servant. Usman was named as sole defendant in the two counts charge dated and filed July 18, 2024 by Orji.The ex-worker was alleged to have, on or about June 6, 2022, at JAMB National Headquarters in Abuja assassinated the character of Mabel Ishaku.The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.In count two, Usman was alleged to have on or about June 6, 2022, at JAMB office in Abuja, given “false information to a public servant and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 140(b) of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria.”He was docked and granted bail on Oct. 24, 2024, after he pleaded not guilty to the two counts.Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, the I-G’s lawyer, Orji, informed the court that on Dec. 10, 2024, the court advised parties to explore out of court settlement.She said since the court gave the directive, nothing had happened.The lawyer, however, alleged that instead, Usman came up with a write-up that was averse to the settlement plan.“My lord, the settlement has failed,” she said.Orji then presented a copy of the printout of the write-up to the court for sighting.Justice Musa directed the registrar to read the piece in open court.“Once you want to explore settlement, you don’t look at the back,” the judge told Usman.“What is the problem now?” the judge asked Orji.Orji insisted that with the development, there was no indication that Usman was ready for the settlement.“Settlement has failed and we are ready to proceed with the trial. Our PW-1 (first prosecution witness) is here,” she added.The judge then asked the PW-1, Mabel Ishaku, to step forward and sought her opinion.Ishaku explained that from Usman’s submission in the write-up, his allegations against her still featured, even though he was indirectly trying to point that he was not maligning her.Usman, in his response, said he only made the draft for Ishaku to see that he was committed to the settlement.Justice Musa, who was unhappy over the development, said he advised the parties to reconcile in order to give peace a chance“I am only doing this because I am descending, not ascending. I will soon retire from service“What I am doing is to reconcile you because I know God will reward me.“If you are not interested in the settlement, we should proceed. It looks as if we are for forcing you. We are not forcing you,” the judge told Usman. Responding, Usman said Ishaku asked him to tender an apology and publish this in two national dailies.Besides, he alleged that Ishaku also asked him to withdraw the petitions he wrote against the chief executive officer of the board.But Ishaku disagreed with Usman’s remarks.She said she neither advised him to explore reconciliation nor asked him to withdraw his petitions.She further explained that it was Usman’s first lawyer he engaged that advised that the best option in the case was to settle.The judge said that if whatever action the defendant took would bring about reconciliation, it would not be too much.Usman, however, responded that he was not ready to withdraw his petitions and the case he filed at the National Industrial Court in Abuja against the boardHe said he would rather want the trial to proceed.“I will like the matter to go on,” he said.Justice Musa, however, warned Usman against talking disrespectfully to the court.“I will revoke your bail. You cannot be taking to me this way.“Look at what he said, ‘I want the case to proceed,’ even with Impunity,” the judge cautioned.Usman’s lawyer, O.W. Bamigbaye, however, apologised to the court.The judge, therefore, ordered the prosecution to call their first witness.Orji reminded the court that the matter was for the defence to cross examine Ishaku (witness).While being cross examining by Bamigbaye, Ishaku explained that she works in the I-G’s office but deployed to INTERPOL.“I am serving two responsibilities,” she said.She said she met Usman for the first time at Delta State University of Science and Technology, Abraka, the venue of the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) that took place in 2023, when she went undercover for an investigation.“I introduced myself to him (Usman) as an assistant supervisor since I was undercover and I left the following day,” she responded to the lawyer’s question.The witness said she left the next day after she had completed her assignment.Responding to the question on the defamatory statement, Ishaku said the alleged offence was not only against her but also her office.She said with the image the police are already being perceived with, Usman’s statement could make the public looked down on the force.She also said that the statement could expose her to danger being a police officer and that this could affect her goal in future if such information is traced to her.Besides, Ishaku alleged that Usman had gone to malign her without any fact because all he said was untrue.After re-examination, Justice Musa adjourned the matter until May 6, May 13 and May 14 for continuation of trial.(NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Acquits Medical Doctor of Cybercrime Charges

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police against a female medical doctor, Bolanle Aseyan. Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu discharged and acquitted Aseyan, stating that the police failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.
The Inspector-General had arraigned Aseyan on a four-count charge of defamation, harassment, and intimidation against another doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya. The police alleged that Aseyan used social media platforms to harm Ogunsanya’s reputation. He was said to be her former boyfriend. The charges were filed under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, which addresses online threats and cyber harassment. To support the case, the police presented three witnesses. Aseyan also called two witnesses to testify in her defence during the trial. Justice Lifu, while reviewing the matter, noted both doctors were once in a romantic relationship before it turned sour. He further observed that the two had sexual relations while in the United Kingdom and later made conflicting social media posts against each other. The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore could not secure a conviction. Specifically, the judge said the defendant’s alleged Twitter handle used in the cyberbullying was not tendered as evidence before the court. Justice Lifu also said there was no proof of threats or intimidation, but rather evidence of a previous affectionate relationship. Consequently, the judge dismissed all four charges, discharged and acquitted Aseyan, and declared the case closed. He ordered the police to immediately return all seized items, including her international passport, upon service of the judgment. Aseyan said she met Ogunsanya online in 2019 and travelled to the United Kingdom in 2020, where she claimed she was raped. She stated that upon arrival in Leeds on March 7, 2020, tired and disoriented, Ogunsanya offered her wine shortly after she got to his home. She alleged that after taking the drink, she passed out and later woke up to find that he had allegedly had sex with her without consent. Aseyan further claimed that Ogunsanya maltreated her before she returned to Nigeria shortly after the alleged incident. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Kwara Court Sentences Abdulrahman Bello to Death by Hanging for Murder of Hafsoh Lawal.

From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin.
A Kwara State High court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced Abdulrahman Bello, a self-acclaimed cleric and the killer of Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of the Kwara State College of Education to death, by hanging. This was contained in a judgement delivered by Justice Hannah Ajayi on Thursday, in which, four other defendants were set free and cleared of any wrongdoings.
Charged with five-count, the judge started by acquitting the four out of the five defendants namely Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Jamiu Uthman, Suleiman Muyideen and Abdulrahman Jamiu of any complicity, subsequently setting them free of taking part in the death of the victim (Hafsoh Lawal).
However, Justice Ajayi, while delivering judgment on the main culprit, described Bello’s act as cruel, wicked, and an extreme display of human wickedness, saying all evidence proved that Hafsoh was killed in order to be used for money ritual and trading in human parts.
The judge further noted that Abdulrahman’s confession of love and plan to marry the victim, are all concocted lies to lure her to his residence in order to kill her. She therefore sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging while setting free the other four suspects not guilty.
It would be recalled that the victim went missing, sometimes in February 2025, shortly after attending the naming ceremony of a family member. When she left, but didn’t return later in the day, her parents went into panic mode, and search party was raised, and a complaint was lodged at the police station.
Her phone line was tracked, and traced to the suspect’s (as it were) area. Upon invitation and interrogation, it was discovered that he is a serial killer, who had killed many victims before Hafsoh.
JUDICIARY
Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.
The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday last week.
The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.
Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.
The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.
The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.
Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.
The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.
“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.
“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.
Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.
The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.
The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.