JUDICIARY
Tribunal Judgment, a Miscarriage of Justice – Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on Friday, described the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal judgment nullifying his March 22 election, as a miscarriage of Justice.
The tribunal sitting in Abuja, while delivering judgment in the petition filed by Sen.
Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress(APC), nullified the election and ordered for a fresh one to determine who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District.Melaye in his reaction to the jugment, said it wss full of importation of information alien to the case.
His reaction was contained in a statement signed by him and issued in Lokoja.
“I , however , commend the courage and moral strength of the chairman of the tribunal for resisting evil and standing on the part of justice.
“I have confidence in the appeal court to right the wrongs as contained in the pronouncements of the judgment. I also want to tell those jubilating that their jubilation will be short lived.
“While appealing to my teaming supporters to remain calm as their mandate is safe and secured and cannot be taken away through any mischievous means
“However, Our legal team is already working on appealing the judgment and I assure all that justice will prevail, ” he said.
Also reacting to the tribunal judgement, Mr Bode Ogunmola, the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi, said the pronouncement would not stand the test of time as he alleged some high level complicity.
“we are going to fight it with everything we have. As a party, the seat belongs to us and whatever they say is not our headache.
“It will have no effect. we are going on appeal immediately and by the grace of God we hope to come out of it a better and stronger party,” Ogunmola assured.
In reaction, Mr Abdul Miliki, a Rights activist and Executive Director , Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) said the court process was yet to be exhausted.
“As far as we are concerned , the court process has not been exhausted and it is only when it is exhausted that one can make a categorical statement,” Miliki who is also from Kogi West said.
Mr Williams Aliwo, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lokoja branch, said though , the judgment viuld be frustrating for Melaye and his constituents, the Judiciary has provided an inherent redress for him to exploit.
“Dino has right of appeal and by the virtue of the Right of Appeal, if exercised within the prescribed statutory period, he will still be in office and will not vacate his seat in the Senate until the determination of his appeal,” he said. (NAN)
From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.
The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday last week.
The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.
Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.
The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.
The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.
Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.
The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.
“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.
“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.
Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.
The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.
The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
A Senior District Court 3, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday restrained Mr Aliyu Bello, the embattled Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, from presenting himself as Chairman or a member of the party.This followed a motion filed by Suleiman Turaki, Counsel to Ibrahim Iliyasu, the Chairman of APC in Gayam Electoral Ward of Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
Report says that on July 1, Iliyasu, alongside 13 other officials of the party in the ward, suspended Bello from the party over alleged anti-party activities. The order signed by Abdullahi Lanze, Senior District Judge of the court, stated that the prayer was granted after hearing the application presented by the applicant’s counsel.The order specifically restrained Bello, his agents, privies, supporters or any person acting on his behalf, authority, or direction, from presenting himself as a member or Chairman of the party.The court also barred Bello from issuing statements, carrying out functions, or acting in any manner whatsoever, through the media or otherwise, as a member or Chairman of APC.This would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. (NAN). A 30-year-old unemployed man, Sadiq Usman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly parading himself as a military officer.
Usman is facing a two-count charge of impersonation.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 24 at about 3.
30 p. m. at Alaba Rago Market area of Ojo, Lagos State.Ikhayere said that the defendant, who was unemployed, unlawfully had in his possession a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, cap, belt, and boots.
“He paraded himself as a member of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession two Nigerian Navy identity cards,” she said.
According to her, the defendant was arrested when he failed to give a satisfactory account of the items.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 77(a)(b) and 79(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 77 stipulates a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of impersonating a member of the armed forces or the police.
Section 79 stipulates two years imprisonment for unlawfully wearing the uniform of the armed forces.
The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
Owolabi adjourned the case until July 1 for mention. (NAN)
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