JUDICIARY
Lagos Prison Controller Summoned for Alleged Refusal to Remand Man
An Ikeja High Court on Monday has summoned the Lagos State Controller of Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS) Alagbon in Ikoyi to throw light whether or not the Chairman of Confidence Cargo Freight Forwarder, Dada Aigbe, who was committed to a one month prison for contempt, was in custody or not.
Justice Akintunde Savage also ordered that the Deputy Sheriff of Lagos High Court, one Mr Michael Alogaga, be summoned to court to tell the court how he served court process on Aigbe.
Counsel for the claimant, the judgment creditor in the suit marked no ID/3831LMW/2016, Mr Maruf Jimoh-Akogun said the case was instituted by Oba Shakirudeen Adeshina Kuti for themselves and on behalf of the Ajamogun/Onikotun family of Ewu kingdom.
The claimant filed the suit against the Osolo of Osolo, Oba Agbabiaka Kabir Orisedeko Elemo and the Baale Mafoluku, Ajao Estate, Chief Hussam Raheem Shekoni Elemo, as the first and second defendants respectively.
Savage adjourned the case until April 25 for the controller and the Sheriff to be in court and give evidence of the whereabouts of the embattled freight forwarder.
Jimoh-Akogun, in his hearing notice dated April 22, had applied before the court to summon the controller general and the court sheriff to produce Aigbe (contemptnor) or give evidence in court whether or not he was truly in prison.
The judge had on March 11, ordered that Aigbe be committed to prison for a period of a one month until he purged himself of the contempt.
The court order was sequel to Form 48 and 49 contempt proceeding filed against Aigbe, the application which was filed and moved by Jimoh-Akogun.
The judge, in his enrolment order dated Mach 11, had said, “Mr Dada Aigbe is hereby committed to Kirikiri Maximum Prison for a period of one month or until he purges himself of the contempt of this court and files an affidavit to henceforth not disobey this court or any court order.”
In order to effect the court order, the deputy Sheriff of high court took a “Request for Police Assistance” form dated March 18 to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command and the form was received the same date.
Jimoh-Akogun, however, argued that barely a month after the court had ordered that Aigbe be remanded, he had not been taken to any correctional centre in the state.
Jimoh-Akogun argued that following the arrest of Aigbe, the convict had not been taken into Kirikiri custody.
He prayed the court to invoke Section 116 of the Evidence Act.
According to him, Aigbe had yet to purge himself of the flagrant disobedience to court order.
“I urge My Lord to extend the ruling mandating Michael Alogada, a sheriff of this court and Lagos Controller of Correctional Centre to come to this court on Thursday to give evidence whether Dada Aigbe is in prison or not,” Jimoh-Akogun said.
Counsel for the respondent judgment debtor, led by a former Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Kazeem Adeniji (SAN), in a motion dated April 5, attached with the affidavit of extreme urgency, had prayed to court to set aside an order of the court committing Aigbe to prison for a month. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
JUDICIARY
Woman in Court for Allegedly Damaging N2.5m Shop
One Mrs Subomi Kalejaye, on Thursday, appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly damaging a shop worth N2.5 million.
Kalejaye, whose address was not provided, is charged with malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
She, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Sgt.
Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Dec. 9, about 11.49 a.m. at Jericho area of Ibadan.Owolabi said that the defendant maliciously damaged a shop belonging to one Ajomale Ibrahim.
He added that the defendant conducted herself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by engaging in the act.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 249(d) and 451 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Gladys Oladele, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Oladele adjourned the case until Jan. 27, 2025, for hearing. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Woman Arraigned for Alleged N6.8m Theft
A 41-year-old woman, who allegedly stole N6.8 million from a company, has appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.
Irene Onyechi appeared before the Magistrate, Mrs O. M. Ogun, on a count charge of stealing.
She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp Esther Adesulu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence from June to September.
Adesulu said that the defendant stole from the New Concept Pharmacy located at Ojo.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum
It adjourned the case until Jan.
16, 2025 for mention. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Admits ex-Kogi Governor to N500m Bail
A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday, admitted former Governor of Kogi , Yahaya Bello to bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.Justice Maryann Anenih had, on Dec. 10, refused the ex-governor’s bail application, saying it was filed prematurely.Delivering the initial ruling, she said, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, the application was incompetent.
There was, however room for the governor’s lawyers to file a fresh application for bail and apply for hearing date. The former governor is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N110bn, along with two others.He had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.At the resumed hearing on Thursday , Counsel for the former governor, Joseph Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the defence counsel had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsel.He applied to withdraw the further affidavit, saying, “We do not want to make the matter contentious.”There was no objection from the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN. The court, therefore, granted the application for withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.Daudu, also informed the court that discussions had taken place with the leader of the prosecution counsels, resulting in an agreement to ensure a speedy trial.In light of this understanding, Daudu urged the court to grant the bail application.He further requested that if the court would graciously grant the Defendant bail, the court should kindly review the bail conditions for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants.He urged the court to broaden the scope of properties to be used as bail sureties to include locations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rather than limiting the location solely to Maitama.The prosecution counsel, Enitan SAN, acknowledged that Daudu SAN had been in talks with the prosecution team.In accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), the EFCC Counsel gave assurance of their cooperation in expediting the trial.He said, “I confirm the evidence given by the distinguished member of the bar that is leading the Defence, J.B. Daudu, SAN, that he has been in conversation with the leader of the prosecuting team.“It is legal tradition that we should cooperate with members of the bar when it does not affect the course of justice.”We have decided not to make this contentious, bearing in mind that no matter how industrious the defence counsel might be in pushing forward the application for bail and no matter how vociferous the prosecution counsel can argue against the bail application, your lordship is bound by your discretion to grant or not to grant the application.“We are therefore leaving this to your lordship’s discretion.”Delivering her ruling, Justice Anenih acknowledged that the offence Bello was charged with was a bailable one and granted the ex-governor bail in the sum of N500 million, with three sureties in like sum.The sureties must be notable Nigerians with landed property in Maitama, Jabi, Utako, Apo, Guzape, Garki and Asokoro.Bello was also asked to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court.He is to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are met.Daudu also prayed for the variation of the 2nd defendant ‘ bail condition.Z.E Abbas, counsel for the third defendant filed a motion on Dec. 17 for variation of bail conditions and urged the court to grant the application.This variation is based on landed property which earlier restricted them to only Maitama.The prosecution did not object.The judge granted their prayers and granted the property location as Yahaya Bello ‘s.The second and the third defendants were earlier admitted to bail in the sum of N300m each with two surgeries in.like sum with property at Maitama.The case was adjourned until Jan. 29. (NAN))