JUDICIARY
Legal Year 2021/2022: EKSG Promises Digitalization of Courts, Welfare of Judges
Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment towards digitalizing all courts in Ekiti State, provision of adequate working tools for judges among others.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Mr. Bisi Egbeyemi, made the promise on Friday in Ado Ekiti, during the legal year for year 2021/2022.
He said he will seek continuous and harmonious relationship among judiciary and other arms of government, and congratulated the judiciary for witnessing another Legal year. Declaring the new legal year open, Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice John Adeyeye, said, following the enactment of Ekiti State Judiciary Fund Management Law, 2021, Ekiti State Judiciary is on track to henceforth enjoy a measure of financial autonomy. Adeyeye said a total of 3,794 cases are pending across High, Magistrate and Customary courts in Ekiti State at the end of the Legal year in August, 2021.Justice Adeyeye said measures are already being put in place to accommodate Information and Communication Technology in court processes, including e-filing, Virtual court sitting, on-line record processes, indicating that efforts are on to create a data base of all cases and judgments where such can be assessed online through the data base on judiciary website. He promised to improve welfare of all staff within available resources and solicited for symbiotic relationship among members of the bar and bench to achieve the goal of effective justice delivery. Earlier in his sermon at a special church thanksgiving at Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral in Ado Ekiti, Bishop Christopher Omotunde charged the Judges and others in the administration of justice to seek God’s face for wisdom in judging between humanity. The Bishop urged the police to be professional in carrying out their duties and turn a new leaf in this new legal year, adding that “the position we occupied today is transient.” Dignitaries at the special court sitting includes the Deputy Governor, Egbeyemi, former Attorney Generals and Commissioners for Justice in Ekiti State, Dayo Akinlaja SAN, Obafemi Adewale SAN, members of the Nigerian Bar Association within and outside Ekiti State, traditional rulers, among others. (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)