JUDICIARY
Nasarawa, Benue Tribunal Chairman Warns Counsel on ”Frivolous Excuses”
The Chairman of the Nasarawa and Benue Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, has urged counsel handling election cases to avoid frivolous excuses for adjournment.
Justive Ajayi gave the warning during the combined inaugural sitting of the three-member panel of justices.
He called for the cooperation of all the legal counsel for smooth and timely dispensation of justice.
‘We are here for justice, equity and quick dispensation of justice.
We will not entertain frivolous adjournments.”This tribunal is determined to work within the 14 days mandate,” he warned.
Mr Joe Gadzama, SAN who responded on behalf of all the counsel promised to cooperate with the panel of justices to enable them to do their work seamlessly in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.
When the first petition by the Nasarawa state governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 governorship election, David Ombugadu against the governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule was mentioned for pre-hearing, the lead counsel to the petitioner, Gadzama adopted the petition.
While addressing the tribunal, counsel to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents, Ishaka Dikko, Adebayo Ade and Hassan Liman, SANs adopted their answers to the pre-hearing respectively.
Justice Ajayi fixed June 9 for the continuation of pre-hearing.
The tribunal also entertained the petition by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP challenging the declaration of Sule as the governor of Nasarawa state by INEC.
In the case between Gov. Hyacinth Alia of the APC and the PDP governorship candidate Titus Uba, the tribunal adjourned sitting until June 8 for continuation of pre-hearing.
Speaking with newsmen after the pre-hearing, Gazama said the adjournment was for the interest of the parties involved.
Gazama said all cases filed in respect of the governorship petitions are at the tribunal for pre-hearing conference.
On his part, counsel to INEC, Diko said all the counsel to the parties had agreed that instead of having staggered applications, all the petitions should be taken and treated within three days. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Court Remands Landlord for Alleged Defilement of Tenant’s Daughter
A family court sitting at Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday ordered the remand of one Musibau Lamidi, 50, for alleged defilement of his tenant’s six-year-old daughter.
The Magistrate, Mrs S. A . Adesina, ordered that the landlord should be kept at the Agodi custodial facility pending advice from Oyo State Director of Public Prosecutions.
Adesina did not take the landlord’s plea.
She adjourned the case until April 25 for mention.
Reports says that Musibau, a resident of Olode, Ibadan, was charged on one-count of defilement.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Gbemisola Adedeji, told the court that the defendant, on March 13, between 8. 00 a.
m. and 4.00 p.m. defiled his tenant’s daughter.Adedeji said that Musibau had an issue with the child’s mother and asked her to pack out.
The prosecutor said that when the woman went to look for a house to rent, the defendant defiled her daughter.
She said that the offence contravened Section 34 of the Oyo State Child Right’s
Law of 2006. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
4 Friends Docked for Allegedly Threatening Cleric’s Life
Four friends were on Monday docked in a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly threatening the life of pastor Charles Gold.
The police charged Olatunji Musibau, 44;Abiodun Folarin, 50; Kazeem Oluremi, 60 and Yusuf Sodiq, 23, with conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on March 8, at about 2 p.
m., at New Bodija Area in Ibadan.Amusan alleged that the defendants and others at large, threatened violence against pastor Gold, of Echo Evangelical Ministry Ibadan.
He said the offence contravened the probisions of sections 516 and 383 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Court President, Mrs Moji Aworemi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N150, 000 each and one surety each in like sum.
Aworemi held that the surety must be a blood relation to the defendants.
She adjourned the case until April 29, for mention. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
2 Teenagers in Court for Allegedly Stealing Sewing Machine
Two teenagers, Simor Aaron, 19, and Francis David, 18, were arraigned on Wednesday before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a sewing machine and other items worth N325,000.
The defendants, both residents of High-Cost Narayi, Kaduna, are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 11, at Barnawa Kaduna.
According to Leo, the duo burgled a tailoring shop of one Gladys Peter and stole her sewing machine, six wrappers, and four clothing materials all valued at N325,000.
The prosecutor stated that the defendants were caught and handed over to the police by members of the vigilante group on patrol in the area.
Leo said that the offences contravened Sections 281 and 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017, which stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing and two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum, who must be gainfully employed.
Emmanuel adjourned the case until April 22, for hearing. (NAN)