JUDICIARY
JUSUN Strike Stalls Defence, Says Alleged kidnap kingpin ‘ Evans’ Lawyer
Mr Victor Okpara, the defence counsel of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans has said the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has stalled the trial of his client.
Evans was scheduled to continue his defence on Wednesday before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for the alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of the Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Okpara said that Evans had opened his defence and testified that he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him by the state.
“He has testified before the court as to his innocence regarding all the charges leveled against him as contained in the charge sheet.
“The matter was adjourned until April 14, for continuation of trial, because we have some other witnesses who are to corroborate what he has said but we cannot go on due to the strike,” he said.
Okpara, however, noted that though the ongoing strike by JUSUN had stalled the case, but said that the demands of the judicial workers was for the overall good of the judiciary.
“JUSUN is fighting for the financial autonomy of the judiciary which every right thinking lawyer should actually support.
“We cannot say our judiciary is truly independent when they are tied to the apron strings of the executive and they usually go cap in hand asking for money,” he said.
Okpara said though that every defendant has a right to have his day in court as provided in the 1999 Constitution, the most recent delay in the case is caused by unforeseen circumstances.
NAN reports that Evans was arraigned before Justice Oshodi on Aug. 31, 2017 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping alongside five co-defendants.
His co-defendants are – Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly kidnapped Dunu along Ilupeju Road, Lagos on Feb. 14, 2017 and collected 223,000 Euros as ransom from his family.
The trial has been delayed due to Evans’ changing his legal representation five times and most recently, the ongoing JUSUN strike which began on April 6.
Four prosecution witnesses including Dunu testified during the trial on behalf of the state.
As at the time of filing this report, no new date has been given by the court for the continuation of the trial due to the strike.(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)