JUDICIARY
ICPC Docks Fire Official Over Job Racketeering

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
A Deputy Superintendent of the Federal Fire Service, Augustine Abah has been arraigned in court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over allegations bordering on fraud and employment racketeering.
This was contained in a statement signed by ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs.
Azuka Ogugua in Abuja on Wednesday.ICPC in a Charge No: CR/283/2023, brought before Honourable Justice F.A. Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 57, sitting in Apo, Abuja, accused the defendant of defrauding an unsuspecting job seeker to the tune of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000).
In a 2-count charge, the Commission through its counsel, Mr. Mashkur Salisu, told the Court that the accused person fraudulently induced his victim into parting with the said sum of money in the guise of securing employment for the victim in the Federal Fire Service.
His action is contrary to Section 8(i)(a) and punishable under Section 8(i)(b)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and contrary to Section 320(b) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Act.
When the accused person was admitted to take his plea, he entered a “not guilty” plea.
The defense counsel, Mr. G.E. Ejekela, via a “Motion on Notice” thereafter moved a bail application on behalf of his client.
In the application which was supported by a 6-paragraph affidavit, the defense lawyer sought the relief of the Court to grant his client bail in the most liberal of conditions, stating that the accused person was willing to attend his trial.
Although the bail application was not opposed by ICPC counsel, he, however, urged the Court to impose conditions that will compel the defendant to attend his trial.
The trial judge after listening to both parties, admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) and a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant on grade level 12 and above.
Hon. Justice Aliyu also ordered that the surety should submit his Appointment and Promotion Letters to the Court for sighting.
The matter was adjourned to the 13th of July 2023 for hearing.
JUDICIARY
Salesman in Court for Allegedly Diverting N340, 400 Proceeds of Sales

A 30-year-old salesman, Thomas Daniel, on Tuesday appeared before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly diverting N340, 400 proceeds from sales of 74 bags of cement to his own personal use.
The defendant, who lives at Maraba Rido Kaduna, is facing a charge of stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp.
He said the defendant who was the salesman for the complainant, Godwin Moses, sold 74 bags of cement and refused to remit the proceeds to his employer.
He said that the defendant converted the money to personal use.
Leo said the offences contravened Section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel said that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case until Dec. 20, for hearing.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Niger Assembly: Appeal Court Sacks Suleiman Wanchiko, Declares Bako Kasim Winner

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has sacked Suleiman Wanchiko of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of Bida I (North) State Constituency election in Niger and declared Bako Kasim of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the poll.
The three-member panel, while delivering the judgment through Justice Bature Isa-Gafai, held Wanchiko’s appeal was unmeritorious.
The appellate court agreed with Kasim’s counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, that Wanchiko, having presented a forged testimonial to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ought to be disqualified from contesting the election.
Reports says that INEC had declared Wanchiko the winner of the Bida I (North) Constituency poll for the Niger State House of Assembly election conducted on March 18.
The electoral umpire had declared Wanchiko as the winner with 12, 062 votes as against 11, 820 votes scored by Kasim.
Dissatisfied with the INEC’s declaration, Kasim and APC, through their Counsel, Mr Usman, approached the state’s election petition tribunal via petition number: EPT/NG/SHA/11/2023 between Bako Kasim and another Vs. Suleiman Muhammad Wanchiko and another.
Kasim filed the petition on the grounds that Wanchiko was not qualified to contest in the election in that he submitted forged testimonial to INEC and that the election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
At the end of trial, the tribunal found merit in the petitioners’ arguments and disqualified Wanchiko and ordered a re-run without him.
Not satisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, Wanchiko, through his counsel, Aliyu Lemu, SAN, approached the Court of Appeal, praying the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal.
But Kasim’s lawyer urged the court to dismiss the appeal and return his client as the winner of the election.
The appellate court upheld Usman’s argument that Wanchiko, having been disqualified, the proper order was to return Kasim as the winner of the poll and directed INEC to issue him a Certificate of Return.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Man, 35, Arraigned for Alleged Theft of N4m Motor Spare Parts

A 35-year-old man, Yusuf Jimoh, who allegedly stole spare parts worth N4 million from two different trucks, on Monday appeared at an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The defendant is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on stealing.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the police.
The Prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Nov.
19, at 4.30.a.m., at Okofilling bus stop, at Igando area of Lagos.Aigbokhan said the defendant stole one kick starter with electric wires worth N2 million naira from one Man Diesel truck with registration number AGL 844 XL.
He said the Man Diesel truck belonged to one Mr Gbadamos Fuad.
According to him, the defendant also stole one kick starter and some litres of diesel worth N2 million from another truck, a DAF truck, belonging to one Dorosas Global Services Ltd.
He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 287(8) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Miss K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
Ariyo ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case until Dec. 11 for mention. (NAN)