JUDICIARY
Ondo State Judiciary Generates N165m in 2021
Ondo State’s Judiciary generated N165 million in 2021, the highest revenue generated by Ministries, Departments and Agencies that year.
Mr Tolu Adegbie, Chairman, Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), made the declaration on Friday in Akure at the inauguration of newly-built toilets and another renovated toilet at the state’s High Court.
He said it was the first time that the service embarked on such projects similar to Corporate Social Responsibility for another arm of the government with the approval of the governor.
The chairman also said that the judiciary generated N136 million in 2020, and the ODIRS had always given back by grading roads leading to the courts and providing street lights.
According to him, this is a form of encouragement to areas and people doing well in terms of payment of tax and land use charge to the government.
“The service has always rewarded productivity and it is the reason, with the approval of the governor that the toilet was built at the High Court.
“In early 2021, we had a meeting with all the top 20 generating Ministries Departments and Agencies to make sure that in 2021, figures go up.
“We got approval of the governor and when it got to the turn of the Judiciary, it requested for toilet, that once they get that toilet, they will work like never before.
“By November last year, when we looked at the figures, the Judiciary made the highest amount of collection of revenue in the history of Ondo State,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Williams Akintiroye, appreciated ODIRS for the gesture and promised to give back.
Akintiroye promised that the Judiciary would improve on its revenue collection with a target of N200 million in 2022.
He said the target was feasible, with the creation of more courts in areas, communities, and towns where there were none.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who was represented at the event by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Charles Titiloye, urged the judiciary to continue the revenue generation drive.
Akeredolu called for more incentives for the people working at the court’s registry as a way of encouragement. (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)