JUDICIARY
Presidential Election: Tribunal to Hear LP’s Petition May 17
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has further adjourned pre-hearing in the petitions filed by Mr Peter Obi and his Labour Party until May 17.
The panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned after parties agreed on time to exchange processes and responses.
Tsammani said parties have agreed that the matter be adjourned .
“On that note, the petition is further adjourned until May 17 for parties to exchange processes and responses.
He commended them for their unanimous agreement to hasten the process .
The respondents are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen Bola Tinubu, Sen Kashim Shettima and All Progressives
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners, Dr Levi Uzoukwu, SAN informed the court that parties in the matter have agreed that since there are some numbers of processes to file that the matter be adjourned until Wed.
This, he said, will enable exchange of the processes and responses.
The senior counsel also informed the court that before that day, parties will meet to take a look and agree on what to be tendered.
Responding, Abubakar Mahmoud,SAN, counsel for INEC agreed with the senior counsel.
Similarly, Wole Olanipakun, SAN Counsel for 2nd and 3rd respondents, Sen.Bola Tinubu and Sen Kashim Shettima also agreed to the submissions.
“We agreed to exchange applications and replies between Monday and Tuesday so that by Wednesday, all the processes will be ready for adoption.
The All Progressives Congress (APC ) 4th respondent ‘s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also confirmed their agreement.
He said they all have aninomously agreed that the procedures will follow subject to the court approval because they believed it would hasten the proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Chairman of INEC, Prof.Mahmood Yakubu had declared Tinubu winner of the Feb. 25 presidential election after securing majority of votes cast at the poll.
He said Tinubu met the constitutional benchmark of scoring 25% in two thirds of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory according to INEC.
Disagreeing with the outcome of the result, Obi and his party, LP filed a petition challenging the victory. (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)