JUDICIARY
Tribunal Declines Mbah’s Application to Strike out Certificate Forgery Case

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Enugu has declined the application of the State governor, Peter Mbah to strike out the petition filed by the governorship candidate of labour party, Chijioke Edeoga over the alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate by the governor.
At the resumed hearing last weekend, Mbah through his lawyer Wole Olanikpekun and that of the PDP, Tochukwu Maduka pleaded the court to strike out the petition seeking the disqualification of Mbah over the alleged forged certificate.
Olanikpekun said that section 177 of the Constitution provided qualifications required for contesting election and NYSC was not stated.Maduka also prayed the court to strike out the petition on the basis that the matter was already at the appeal court. He argued that there was a leave of appeal and the tribunal had no jurisdiction to determine the case. His submission was supported by the counsel to INEC, Mr S.I Okolie.
Counsel to Labour party Mr M.J Numa, while responding to the prayer of the counsel to Mbah pleading the tribunal to strike out the alleged NYSC forgery stated that in section 136 sub 4 of the Electoral Act said that “All objections filed by election petitions shall be determined at the time of final judgement, saying there is no exception whatsoever”.
Numa argued that the “provision of section 177 of the Constitution and section 182 respectively are not mutually exclusive, one does not supersedes the other, 182 has more elaborate provisions than 177. So the main fact that the candidate has met the qualifying factors under 177 does not impair the court to disqualify him under 182, so they are two separate provision that stands on their own”.
He further argued that there was no record of appeal on the subject matter hence the 2nd respondent should provide a document to the matter appealed to the court, adding that the court could not speculate the existence of an appeal. Numa pleaded the court to decline such invitation.
The Chairman Justice K.M Akano said that ruling shall be delivered with judgement and adjourned the case to June 22
JUDICIARY
Woman, 42, Docked Over Alleged Theft Of Soft Drinks Worth N7.688m

A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million.
Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs O.
E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum.Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years tax payment to Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers and show evidence of ownership of landed property in Ibadan.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan.
Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31; packs of big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 and packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400.
He said that the defendant also stole 405 packs of Predator valued at N1.903,400 and 14 packs of Schewepps valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include: 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300; 20 packs of big American cola valued at N128,00012 and packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000.
The remaining items were one carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240,000; 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100; 100 cartons of Coca-cola valued at N520,000 and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300.
The other stolen drinks were: 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000 and 395 packs of Bigi American cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
3 People Docked For Alleged Assault, Causing Woman To Miscarry

Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.
The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage
The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace
He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)
CRIME
Police Arraign Man For Alleged Assault

A 38-year-old man, Yusuf Olasunkanmi, was brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday, for allegedly assaulting another man with a blow.
Olasunkanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing three-count charges of assault, conspiracy and breach of peace.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.
O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant alongside others still at large, committed the offences on April 25, at about 5. 30p.m. at Atan Bus-Stop, Ota.Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by assaulting the complainant, Oke Solomon, with a fist of blow.
He added that the assault caused the complainant, a permanent injury.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 351, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fadairo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned to June 10, for further hearing. (NAN)