JUDICIARY
INEC Fails in Attempts to Arraign Suspended Adamawa REC, Hudu
Attempts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to arraign its suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, before Adamawa State High Court 9 sitting in Yola, Adamawa State got a step back.
Trial Judge, Justice Benjamin Manji, drew the attention of the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN to the orders of Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, who ordered that parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
Justice Manji, furthermore advised Rotimi Jacobs, to go back to his clients (INEC) and inform them that it will be an affront to the orders of Hon. Justice Okorowo, for the matter to proceed.
The judge further added that, for now, there is nothing the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, can do pending the determination of the matter before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, there was no any legal representation for the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, when the matter was mentioned.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, had on Monday, suspended INEC from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, over his declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as governor in the March 18, 2023 poll.
Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order after a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief. Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, counsel to Senator Dahiru, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.
In the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, the APC candidate in the poll sued INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and another as respondents.
Chief Aondoakaa, SAN leading alongside M S Diri, SAN and others while moving the motion on Monday, argued that until the election petition tribunal decides his client’s fate per section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the prosecution of Mr Yunusa-Ari cannot be valid.
He said the decision of INEC to file an action against any person involved in Senator Dahiru’s April 15, 2023 declaration as winner of the supplementary poll in the state when the tribunal was yet to determine the petition of his client would deprive her of section 285(6) of the law which gives 180 days within which the petition filed on May 6 should be dispensed with.
The senior lawyer informed the court that though a similar suit was filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, where a judicial review of INEC’s action was sought, the sister court ordered the APC candidate to satisfy him as to whether his court has jurisdiction. The suit was withdrawn after it was overtaken by events. Senator Dahiru approached the tribunal with her suit, having been an election-related matter.
Chief Aondoakaa, SAN said an undertaking had been signed to prove to the court that the present suit was not frivolous.
He said in the undertaking that they were ready to face any cost should the court find the case to be frivolous
After listening to Chief Aondoakaa, SAN, Hon. Justice Okorowo ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
The judge, who adjourned the matter until July 18, 2023, for a hearing, ordered the respondents to show cause while the reliefs sought by Senator Dahiru should not be granted as prayed.
The judge further ordered accelerated hearing of matter in view of the urgency of the matter
A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million.
Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs O.
E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum.Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years tax payment to Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers and show evidence of ownership of landed property in Ibadan.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan.
Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31; packs of big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 and packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400.
He said that the defendant also stole 405 packs of Predator valued at N1.903,400 and 14 packs of Schewepps valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include: 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300; 20 packs of big American cola valued at N128,00012 and packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000.
The remaining items were one carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240,000; 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100; 100 cartons of Coca-cola valued at N520,000 and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300.
The other stolen drinks were: 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000 and 395 packs of Bigi American cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.
The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage
The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace
He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)
A 38-year-old man, Yusuf Olasunkanmi, was brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday, for allegedly assaulting another man with a blow.
Olasunkanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing three-count charges of assault, conspiracy and breach of peace.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.
O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant alongside others still at large, committed the offences on April 25, at about 5. 30p.m. at Atan Bus-Stop, Ota.Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by assaulting the complainant, Oke Solomon, with a fist of blow.
He added that the assault caused the complainant, a permanent injury.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 351, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fadairo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned to June 10, for further hearing. (NAN)
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