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JUDICIARY

Drama as 2 Lawyers Appear for Edo Assembly in Contempt Charge Against Omobayo 

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There was a mild drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, as two lawyers announced appearance for Edo House of Assembly in the contempt charge filed against.former Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s deputy, Godwins Omobayo.

When the matter was called before Justice James Omotosho, Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, announced his appearance for the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Immediately Ogunleye was done with his, the new Attorney-General (A-G) of Edo, Samson Osagie, announced appearance for the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th defendants in the matter.

The Deputy Governor of Edo, the AG, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Edo State House of Assembly are 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th defendants respectively.

No sooner had Osagie mentioned the name of the 6th defendant (the assembly) than Mr Ken Mozia, SAN, stood up to challenge him.

 Mozia said he had been representing the assembly and that Osagie cannot just come now to announce appearance on his client’s behalf.

Osagie, however, told the court that as A-G, there was no document before him showed that the 6th defendant was being represented.

He said the only document brought to his attention from the state’s liaison office was the hearing notice of today’s sitting.

Mozia, however, disagreed with Osagie.

The senior lawyer argued that if Osagie wanted to take over the case, he knows what to do.

After intense argument, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until March 11 for the lawyers to resolve the issues of representation.

Report says that though Shaibu was in court, Omobayo was not.

Justice Omotosho had, on July 17, 2024, voided the impeachment of Shuaibu as the deputy governor of Edo by the house of assembly.

The judge, in the judgment, ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the house of assembly failed to comply with due process in the purported impeachment.

Justice Omotosho also held that the allegation on which the assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute a gross misconduct.

The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 with Shuaibu as the plaintiff.

The reinstated deputy governor had sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Deputy Governor of Edo, the AG, Chief Judge of Edo, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Edo State House of Assembly as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

Omobayo was, on April 8, sworn in as the new deputy governor after Shaibu’s impeachment by the state’s house of assembly.

However, after the court judgment reinstating Shaibu, Omobayo allegedly refused to vacate the deputy governorship position, prompting Shaibu to file contempt charge.(NAN)

JUDICIARY

Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

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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.

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JUDICIARY

Court Bars Bello from Acting as Nasarawa APC Chairman

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A Senior District Court 3, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday restrained Mr Aliyu Bello, the embattled Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, from presenting himself as Chairman or a member of the party.This followed a motion filed by Suleiman Turaki, Counsel to Ibrahim Iliyasu, the Chairman of APC in Gayam Electoral Ward of Lafia Local Government Area of the state.

Report says that on July 1, Iliyasu, alongside 13 other officials of the party in the ward, suspended Bello from the party over alleged anti-party activities.
The order signed by Abdullahi Lanze, Senior District Judge of the court, stated that the prayer was granted after hearing the application presented by the applicant’s counsel.
The order specifically restrained Bello, his agents, privies, supporters or any person acting on his behalf, authority, or direction, from presenting himself as a member or Chairman of the party.The court also barred Bello from issuing statements, carrying out functions, or acting in any manner whatsoever, through the media or otherwise, as a member or Chairman of APC.This would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. (NAN).

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JUDICIARY

Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

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 A 30-year-old unemployed man, Sadiq Usman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly parading himself as a military officer.

Usman is facing a two-count charge of impersonation.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 24 at about 3.

30 p.
m. at Alaba Rago Market area of Ojo, Lagos State.

Ikhayere said that the defendant, who was unemployed, unlawfully had in his possession a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, cap, belt, and boots.

“He paraded himself as a member of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession two Nigerian Navy identity cards,” she said.

According to her, the defendant was arrested when he failed to give a satisfactory account of the items.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 77(a)(b) and 79(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 77 stipulates a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of impersonating a member of the armed forces or the police.

Section 79 stipulates two years imprisonment for unlawfully wearing the uniform of the armed forces.

The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

Owolabi adjourned the case until July 1 for mention. (NAN)

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