JUDICIARY
Supreme Court Affirms Lalong, Mohammed’s Victory
The Supreme Court on Monday in Abuja, upheld the victory of Simon Lalong and Senator Bala Mohammed as duly elected governors of Plateau and Bauchi states respectively.
A seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court took the decision shortly after counsel to parties adopted their written addresses as their brief of arguments in the suits.
Useni, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Prty(PDP)had challenged the election of incumbent Governor, Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress(APC)as duly elected governor of Plateau on grounds that he did not win majority of the votes cast at the poll.
He also alleged substantial non compliance with the electoral laws and other irregularities as grounds for nullification of the return of Lalong.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations.
The court in a unanimous judgment held that the appeallants, Useni failed to prove allegations made against the victory of Lalong at the March 9 governorship election in Plateau.
The apex court in the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Paul Galinje accordingly affirmed the election of Lalong as duly elected governor of Plateau.
The apex court upheld the decisions of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal which affirmed Lalong as duly elected governor.
Similarly, the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Sen. Bala Muhammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Bauchi state in the 2019 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Musa Dantijo, the court dismissed the petition by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammed Abubakar for lacking in merit.
Abubakar in their petition against the election of Sen. Bala Mohammed, alleged non compliance with the electoral laws.
The Supreme Court, however, held that the appellant failed to prove that there was non compliance that substantially affected the conduct of the election.
According to Dantijo, the Supreme Court holds that he failed to demonstrate the perverseness of the concurrent judgment of the lower courts to warrant the court to grant his prayers. (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)