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JUDICIARY

Supreme Court Justices are Amenable to Correction- Tanko

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim  Muhammad, has said that the justices of the Supreme Court are not repository of knowledge, hence are fallible and always amenable to correction.

A statement signed by Festus Akande, the Supreme Court’s Director of Press and Information, said Justice Muhammad made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja.

Akande said the CJN was speaking during a courtesy visit by members of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to the Supreme Court.

“With the way we operate, if any of you has any reservations, please, write us and criticise us within the ambit of your knowledge and experience.

“We can’t claim to know it all. We are still learning because learning, as we all know, is a continuum.

“Our doors are wide open for constructive criticisms. Even our grammar, punctuations have to be corrected to avoid any error in the rulings and judgments we give.”

The CJN informed his visitors that as justices, they did not pick offence when their written drafts of judgments were corrected.

He said this was especially with regard to errors arising from the use of grammar.

He asserted that it was a practice in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to ensure that all judgments came out in an acceptable manner after all the necessary criticisms and corrections.

He said that what every right-thinking and serious-minded judge needed to do was to cultivate the culture of patience and acceptability so that they don’t erroneously assume to be a repository of knowledge and wisdom.

“The rules provide that each judge should give his own independent judgment but they are equally at liberty to adopt what has been offered.

“No coercion, no intimidation and no compelling force to make any judge align with the opinions and views of others.

“We are very free to maintain our stance and even present a dissenting judgment if we feel opposed to a popular view.’’

The CJN said that even though he had not had the opportunity of reading the 2019 AMCON Amendment Act, from the brief presentation made by the visiting team, he was convinced that a good and thorough job was done.

He, however, expressed concern over the poor law enforcement mechanism put in place in the country which he said had largely slowed down the wheel of justice.

“The problem has to do with law enforcement, especially where it touches on financial and property matters.

“The task before you is not a small one. You carry a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders.

“However, with the calibre of people on the board of AMCON, I know it will not be a difficult task to accomplish.’’

He, however, complained that the 60 days prescribed by the 2019 AMCON Amendment Act for the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to hear appeals on the Corporation’s matters was too short and limited for the justices to do a thorough job.

“The six months provided in the Amendment Act for the trial courts is alright but as for the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, the 60 days timeline is not suitable.

“If we were consulted before the amendment was done, we would have suggested something different.”

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AMCON, Mr Ahmed Kuru, expressed the appreciation of the Corporation for the willingness of the court and justices to assist the organisation at every given opportunity.

He pointed out that the various input from previous interactions and the last meeting with the justices of the court were incorporated into the 2019 AMCON Amendment Act.(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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