JUDICIARY
Ex-CBN Aide reveals No Records of Alleged $400,000 Received for Emefiele

The seventh prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, told an Ikeja High Court that he did not document the alleged $400,000 he handed to the former Central Bank Governor (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Adetola, an executive assistant to the former CBN governor, said this on Monday while being cross-examined by Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), in the ongoing trial of Emefiele.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
Adetola, also admitted that he did not present any WhatsApp chat or telephone conversation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informing Emefiele about collecting the $400,000 on his behalf.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adetola had, in his evidence-in-chief testified that he delivered $400,000 to Emefiele.
However, under cross-examination, Adetola admitted that he did not keep any record of the alleged $400,000 receipt.
He narrated that in 2018, Mr Eric Odoh sent him a WhatsApp message instructing him to collect the sum from one John Ayoh and hand it over to Emefiele when he arrived in Lagos.
“I went to John Ayoh’s house at Lekki; he gave me an envelope. I came back to the office and gave it to the former CBN governor,” the witness said.
The witness also told the court that in his extrajudicial statement, made while in EFCC custody, he did not mention any WhatsApp or telephone conversation with Emefiele regarding the $400,000.
Adetola denied any agreement with the EFCC to testify against Emefiele in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
He added that the EFCC confronted him with WhatsApp printouts related to the alleged money.
While being cross-examined by Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, the witness confirmed he had no dealings with the second defendant in relation to his testimony.
During re-examination by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness was asked why he did not document the $400,000 he allegedly collected on Emefiele’s behalf.
“I didn’t see any need for it,” he replied.
Justice Rahman Oshodi thereafter discharged the witness and adjourned the case until May 27 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
CRIME
3 Docked for Allegedly Breaking into Bank, Stealing Laptops

Three men, Olufemi Faleti, 59, Ayoade Adewale 41 and Idowu Yusuf, 41, on Friday, were brought before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court Ibadan charged with breaking into a bank and stealing laptops.
The defendants,whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy, house breaking and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on March 24, at 7:30 p.
m, at First Bank, Asogo, Oyo.He alleged that the defendants broke into the bank and stole two laptops worth N800, 000.
Tellang said the offences contravened Sections 516, 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Moyosore Atanda granted each defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 and with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Sept. 8, for hearing. (NAN)
CRIME
Ex-convict Bags 2 years Imprisonment for Stealing Speaker, Mobile Phone

An Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun, on Friday, sentenced a 21-year-old ex-convict, Habeeb Jimoh, to two years imprisonment for stealing a Zealot speaker, Infinix mobile phone and other goods worth N595,000.
In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs O.
O.
Fadairo, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.Fadairo said that the prosecution counsel had proven beyond reasonable doubt that he was guilty of the charge preferred against him.
The convict, of no fixed address, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. E. O. Adaraloye, told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 28, at about 3.
00 a.m. at Singer area, Ewupe in Sango-Ota.Adaraloye said that the security guard identified him after stealing a Zealot speaker, an Infinix phone and other items, worth N595,000, after which he fled.
According to him, the offence contravenes Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)
CRIME
Man Bangs 7 years Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Chekwube, to seven years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Justice Lewis Allagoa sentenced the convict after he had pleaded guilty to the four-count charge of drug trafficking.
Allagoa, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had arraigned Chekwube on charges of conspiracy, illegal storage of restricted drug, unlawful use of premises to store banned narcotics and unlawful deal in narcotics.
He had pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the Prosecutor, Ms M.
I. Erondu, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several exhibits before the court, such as: a statement of the defendant, a drug analysis form and packaging of substance form.Also tendered were: remnant of the narcotics, request for scientific aid form and transparent pouch, among others.
The prosecutor then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea as well as the evidences adduced.
Consequently, the judge convicted the defendant as charged.
Before the sentence, the defence had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that as his client was a first time offender and that he would turn a new leaf.
Delivering his verdict afterwards, Allagoa sentenced Chekwube to seven years imprisonment on each count, which, he said, would run concurrently.
He, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.
In the charge, the convict was said to have committed the offences on May 7 at Amukoko, Ijora area of Lagos.
He was said to have used the premises to engage in illegal storage of 56.2 kg Tramadol Hydrochloride, 1.2 kg Nitrazepam and 72g of Swinol
All the substances are said to have been listed in the NDLEA schedule as banned narcotics, thus contravening the provisions of Sections 12 and 14(b) of NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)