JUDICIARY
Supreme Court to Accelerate Hearing in Jailed Senator Case
The Supreme Court has agreed to promptly hear an appeal by a serving lawmaker, Peter Nwaoboshi who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Nwaoboshi currently represents Delta North Senatorial District in the ninth National Assembly.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos in July 2022 convicted and sentenced the lawmaker to seven years imprisonment along with his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, for laundering N322 million in 2014.
Nwaoboshi, however, challenged the judgement before the Supreme Court.
In a ruling, a five-member panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola granted Nwaoboshi’s prayer that his appeal be brought forward and heard promptly.
Justice Ariwoola, in the lead ruling, said Nwaoboshi’s application, having not been opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other respondents, should be granted as prayed.
The CJN subsequently rescheduled the hearing of the appeal for February 9, 2023 as against the earlier date of November 21, 2024.
Counsel for Nwaoboshi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi noted that his client is a serving Senator, who is also contesting in the 2023 general elections.
Agabi added that it was imperative that Nwaoboshi’s appeal is heard on time to prevent a situation where he is made to serve jail term only for his appeal to succeed when it is eventually heard.
Counsel for the EFCC, Abba Mohammed and other lawyers in the case did not oppose the application, following which the court gave its ruling.
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)