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JUDICIARY

Ondo poll: Court Declines to Disqualify Edema as NNPP Candidate

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An Ondo High Court in Akure on Thursday set aside the suit challenging the candidature of Mr Olugbenga Edema as the flag-bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.Delivering judgment, Justice Oluyemi Osadabay, held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by a factional candidate of the party, Mr Michael Akintan, and his deputy, Mrs Kemi Fasua.

They are challenging the emergence of Edema as the candidate of the party.
Edema , a former lawmaker, emerged as the candidate of the party on June 5, after the former candidate, Mr Oluwatosin Ayeni stepped down for him.He chose Dr Rotimi Adeyemi as his running mate.Ayeni was later made the official spokesperson of the candidate and the Director-General of Ondo State NNPP Gubernatorial Campaign Council after his resignation as a candidate.
However, in an originating summons filed by Akintan, Fasua, Dr Gilbert Agbo, and Comrade Oginni Olaposi, members of the party,questioned the emergence of Edema as the candidate of NNPP and his running mate.In the suit, plaintiffs through their counsel, Mr Monday Mawah sought the court’s judgment on whether, in light of Sections 77 (2) and 77(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, the party was required to submit the register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) no later than 30 days before the party’s primary.The primary held on April 26.They also asked whether, based on section 77(3), the defendant, whose name did not appear in the submitted register of the party, could validly claim membership in the party as at the party’s primary date.The claimants were seeking injunctive and declarative reliefs, including a perpetual injunction to restrain Edema from presenting himself as a member and the candidate of the NNPP in on the state for the Nov. 16 governorship election.But the defendants, through their lawyer, Mr Rotimi Olorunfemi, asked the court to dismiss or strike out the suit for constituting a gross abuse of the court process.Olorunfemi said the suit was supposed to be filed at the Federal High Court, being a pre-election matter.He stated that the issue of jurisdiction was a matter that would go to the root and the competence of a court with adjudicatory power on a suit before it.“ Since the court has no jurisdiction, the case should be dismissed with cost against the claimants,” he said.In her judgment, Justice Osadabay struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.She said since the case fell within the pre-election matter, it was only the Federal High Court that could decide to entertain the case.The judge awarded N100.000 against the claimants.Reacting to the judgment, Edema said the judgment had led to rest the issue of whether he was a member or a candidate of NNPP. “We knew a lot of people who are our adversaries were looking forward to dividing us.“But thank God, apart from the judgment of this court, we have come together as a party to be one family.“So, we are going to walk into this election as one family of NNPP.So, to the glory of God, the people of NNPP should rest assured that their candidate of NNPP is now on the ballot in the eye of the law and squarely.“ And come Nov. 16, we will win with the support of the people of NNPP and God,” he said.Similarly, Akintan said he was ready to accept Edema as the candidate of the party.He said the court had decided the candidate and he would abide by the decision.Edema was also the Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).( NAN)

JUDICIARY

Woman in Court for Allegedly Damaging N2.5m Shop

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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)

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JUDICIARY

Woman Arraigned for Alleged N6.8m Theft

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Court Sentences Applicant to 6 Months in Prison for Stealing Cell Phone
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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)

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JUDICIARY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Admits ex-Kogi Governor to N500m Bail

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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))

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