JUDICIARY
Kwara Court Sentences Three Students to Suspended Jail Terms
From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, yesterday convicted Abubakar Abdulbashit Opeyemi, a final year Student of the University of Ilorin and two other undergraduate students for Internet offences bordering on love scam and internet fraud.
They two other convicts are Alimi Abiodun and Idowu Rasaq Olarewaju, who are students of the Kwara State University, Molete and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, respectively.
Justice Abdulgafar convicted and sentenced the three undergraduate students to various jail terms after the court found them guilty of various offences preferred against them by the EFCC.
The three convicts, who were arraigned on separate charges by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them.
In his judgment on the cases, Justice Abdulgafar while relying on the plea of guilt entered by the defendants and the various exhibits tendered against them held that the prosecution succeeded in proving its case beyond reasonable doubts.
Consequently, Abdulbashit Opeyemi was sentenced to six months imprisonment, which shall be suspended for one year. The judge also ordered that the convict’s iPhones, hp Laptop which were used as instruments in committing the crime and a draft of N50,000 which he raised as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government
In sentencing Abiodun, the judge gave him three months imprisonment on count one and one year imprisonment on count two, which shall be suspended for one year. He also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone and the sum of N352, draft raised by him (the convict) to the Federal Government.
For Rasaq Olanrewaju, Justice Abdulgafar sentenced him to six months imprisonment at Mandala Correctional Centre, which shall be suspended for six months. He also ordered the forfeiture of his (the convict) 2014 Toyota Venza, 2 iPhones, hp Laptop, the sum of N404,414.93 in his First Bank account to the Federal Government.
“The sentences are without option of fine”, the judge added.
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)