CRIME
Strange Bat Disrupts Cross-examination of GTBank Customer, Obi in Court
By Prosper Okoye, Abuja
The cross-examination of Light Obi, a customer of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), was interrupted by a strange bat in the court room. The incident occurred during the proceedings of a case between Obi and GTBank at the FCT High Court, Gwagwalada yesterday.
Despite attempts by court officials to get the bat out of the room, it continued to disrupt proceedings, causing panic among those present.
After a series of efforts, calm was eventually restored and the cross-examination continued.Obi had filed a lawsuit against GTBank, accusing the bank of illegally withdrawing approximately N13,000 from his account without his authorization.
The bank has denied the allegation. The case has been ongoing for some time and has drawn the attention of members of the public who are interested in the outcome.DAILY ASSET reports dramatic scenes of what took place during the cross-examination by GTBank’s counsel, Nathaniel Ojila:
Nathaniel: Mr. Obi, can you confirm the name of your organization while under oath?
Obi: Vision Trends Network.
Nathaniel: And how many accounts do you have with GTBank?
Obi: I have four accounts, a current account and three domiciliary accounts in Euros, Pound sterling, and USD.
Nathaniel: Can you recall the account numbers?
Obi: No, I cannot remember all of them off the top of my head.
Nathaniel: Which of these accounts is relevant to this case?
Obi: It is my Naira account.
Nathaniel: Did you direct GTBank to purchase 1,400 Euros from your Naira account on March 15th, 2022?
Obi: No, I did not.
Nathaniel: (smiling) On March 17th, 2022, did you transfer 1,400 Euros from your Euro account to an offshore account?
Obi: No, I did not.
Nathaniel: (addressing the judge) Your Honor, may I present a copy of Mr. Obi’s statement of account for identification?
Judge: Yes, you may proceed, counsel.
Nathaniel: Mr. Obi, can you confirm the transaction you made on March 15th, 2022, from the document you are holding?
Obi: It was a forex purchase.
Nathaniel: (frowning) Do you still stand by your previous answers?
Obi: Yes, I do, and that is because those dates you quoted earlier are incorrect. I did not make any transactions in 2022; they were all in 2021.
Judge: (interrupting) Counsel, that is correct. All the dates you mentioned are for 2022.
Nathaniel: (Looking a little embarrassed) I apologize, my lord.
Judge: It is okay. You may proceed.
Nathaniel: (with a slight bow) yes my lord! (Turns back to Obi, now musing in the witness box) Witness, on the 15th of September 2021, did you instruct GTBank to purchase from your current account?
Obi: Yes, I did.
Nathaniel: And on the 17th of September 2021, were you charged 6,000 Naira as commission?
Obi: Yes, that charge was from the same current account.
Nathaniel: This purchase of 1400 Euro was credited into your Euro account on the 15th of September as authorized by you.
Obi: No!
Nathaniel: (speaking to the judge) My Lord, may we present a copy of the account statement for identification?
Judge: You may proceed, counsel. (The document is taken to Obi by a court clerk)
Obi: This is not my Euro account number, my lord.
Nathaniel: (Looking frustrated) Please tell this honourable court your Euro account number.
Obi: (Requests for his phone and scrolls through it gently)
Nathaniel: Witness, please go ahead and do not waste the time of this honourable court.
Obi: (reluctantly calls out) 0334534545
Nathaniel: (Looking through his document now) Please go over it again, witness.
Obi: (calls it faster) 0334534545
Nathaniel: How much did you have in the account on the said date of this transaction?
Obi: I use that account regularly, and I do not remember the balance on the said date.
Nathaniel: On the 17th of the same month, do you remember transferring 1,400 Euros to France?
Obi: Not at all!
Nathaniel: Would it be correct to say that when you opened an account, you were given a package which you signed and returned?
Obi: Yes!
Nathaniel: (Speaking to the judge) My Lord, may I request that the complaint form from the witness exhibits be tendered to him?
Judge: (signaling the clerk to bring the requested document) Counsel, you may go on with other questions while we await the document.
Nathaniel: Yes, my lord. (Turning to Obi) In your statement of oath, you admitted to the court that you ordered GTBank to purchase forex? (Clark rushes in with the requested document and shows it to Obi)
Obi: Yes I did!
Nathaniel: What proof do you have that you filled and submitted a complaint form to the bank?
Obi: We all know that the bank does not acknowledge complaint forms, so mine was not acknowledged.
Nathaniel: How long have you been a customer of GTBank?
Obi: I am not quite sure, but it has been over five years.
Nathaniel: What do you do?
Obi: I am an educational consultant.
Nathaniel: What are the objectives of Vision Trend, your organization?
Obi: As stated in the CAC..
Nathaniel: (Interrupting) Witness, this is a straight question. Tell the court what your organization’s objectives are.
Obi: As stated in the CAC document of my organization, we are in entertainment, advertising, as well as general contracting services.
Nathaniel: (Agitated) I’m sure you know that for every transaction you make in the bank, the bank is entitled to a commission?
Obi: Yes, as you earlier mentioned, I was charged a commission.
Nathaniel: That’s all, my lord.
Judge: Counsel to the plaintiff, (Obi’s lawyer, Nnamdi Mba) do you have any other witness?
Nnamdi: No, my lord.
Judge: Okay, this case is hereby adjourned to the 20th of June, 2023 for the defense.
All in court: As the court pleases!
The Nigerian Police Command in Borno has apprehended two suspects and recovered 25 stolen mobile phones during a stop-and-search operation along Damboa Road, in Maiduguri.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Daso explained that the suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubako, and Ibrahim Mohammed, were intercepted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Dec.
10 while riding a tricycle.He said that during the search, the operatives uncovered various mobile phones reportedly stolen from individuals across communities and villages along the Borno -Adamawa State border.
He identified some of the communities as Mubi, Tashan Alade, Miringa, Kwaya Kusar, and Biu Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to snatching the phones from their victims.
“The police have initiated efforts to return the recovered devices with their rightful owner.
“Also, the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.
Daso reiterated the commitment of the Police Commissioner in the state, Yusufu Lawal, to maintain public safety during the Yuletide season. (NAN)
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
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