JUDICIARY
ENDSARS Panel Orders Police to Produce Victim’s Death Certificate
The National Human Rights Commission’s independent investigation panel on Thursday in Abuja ordered a Chief Superrintendent of Police, Isah Hassan, to produce proof of the of a victim, Ovoke Godwin.
The panel also ordered the police to produce three officers who are allegedly linked to the extra-judicial killing of Ovoke to enable it to unravel the circumstances of the victim’s death.
The panel is investigating the allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Police.
Justice Suleiman Galadima (Rtd), chairman of the panel, said it was important for CSP Hassan and three other accused police officers, Sgt.
Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku, to appear before it.He explained that this would help to clarify some issues in respect of the victim’s death.
The panel therefore directed the police legal team, led by James Idachaba, to ensure that the affected officers are brought before the panel on the next adjourned date of Nov 24.
Earlier, Counsel to the petitioner, Onome Juliet, told the panel that CSP Hassan had in his testimony stated that Sgt. Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku were in the police vehicle when the late Ovoke jumped off and sustained serious injuries.
He added that Hassan said the action of the deceased led to his subsequent death in the hospital in Delta state.
She further said that the panel was right to have ordered Hassan to come back to the panel with the necessary documents.
Okoroze added that the documents were necessary in order to prove that Ovoke actually received treatment in the hospital, courtesy of the police before he died.
She also aligned herself with the position of the panel that the necessary documents to show that the body of Ovoke was deposited in the mortuary after his death must be tendered before the panel to really establish how the victim died.
The counsel further reminded the panel that it was the third time that the panel was adjourning the matter on the instance of the police, who she said were not taking the matter with the needed seriousness.
Responding, the police legal team, led by James Idachaba, informed the panel that some of the officers needed at the panel were around shortly before the panel went on break in April.
In addition, he told the panel that the police had been cooperating with the panel, and recalled that Hassan who left Abraka Police Division in Delta state had been traced and brought to the panel to give his testimony.
The police had arrested the deceased over an alleged armed robbery incident in Delta state.
The police had claimed that while they were investigating the case, the deceased unsuccessfully attempted to escape by jumping from a moving vehicle, and was injured in the process, thereby resulting in his death.
The respondents in the petition are CSP Isah Hassan (DPO Abraka), Mr. Odiri Emeni, Head of Igun Vigilante, Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, and Inspector General of Police. (NAN)
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)