Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara High Court on Monday in Ilorin fixed Dec. 3 for commencement of trial of the immediate-past governor of Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Report says that Ahmed is to be tried on a 15-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3 billion public fund.

The former governor, who was re-arraigned from the Federal High Court in Ilorin, is being charged for diverting Universal Basic Education (UBEC) fund for other purposes.

Report says that, on Monday at the State High Court, Ahmed and a former Finance commissioner in the state, Demola Banu, were charged with alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds.

The prosecution said the funds were meant for the execution of some projects and security of the state.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N100 million each.

The presiding judge therefore adjourned till Dec 3, for the commencement of the trial.

Speaking with journalists, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs, gave reasons for the fresh re-arraignment of the former governor and the Finance Commissioner.

He said this followed the case’s withdrawal on Wednesday from the Federal High Court where they were formerly standing trial by the EFCC.

“This was sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, to another division,” he said.(NAN)

An Ikeja High Court has ordered an online activist, Vincent Otse (alias Very Dark Man) to remove defamatory posts against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana and his son, Folarin, also called Falz.Justice Matthias Dawodu also ordered VDM to bring down the alleged defamatory video which he made on Sept.

24 against the Falanas.The court also ordered the service of originating summons against VDM through his lawyer, Mr Deji Adeyanju within 14 day. The judge said: “the defendant, his agents and privies are hereby restrained from further releasing, publishing or circulating any defamatory videos, comments about the applicant.“He is to bring down the defamatory video about the applicant which was published on Sept. 24 on all his online social media handles pending compliance with the pre-action protocol of the court.“Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to serve the pre-action bundles, originating processes and all other court processes between parties herein on the defendant by substituted means through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.“The applicant must file and serve the pre-action bundles, originating processes and other accompanying processes on the defendant within 14 days.”The court made the orders following an ex parte originating application made by Falana and his son against the actions of VDM where he published “unverified audio recording of a one sided narrative by cross dresser Bobrisky” alleging perversion of justice by the family.Falana had in a lawsuit numbered ID/8586GCM/2024, filed against VDM, sought the order of the court to award a sum of N500 million fine for defamation of character against him.Falana in the lawsuit, also prayed the order of the court, directing the defendant to publish an apology on all his social media handles for the defamatory words contained in the viral video. (NAN)

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Monday, has sentenced 33-year-old Nasiru Isa to seven years in the correctional centre for sexually exploiting an 11-year old girl.

The Presiding Hon. Justice S .M. Shu’aibu convicted Isa, who resides in Darmanawa Bayan Gidan Kallo of Tarauni Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, on a one-count charge of sexual exploitation.

Shu’aibu summarily tried and sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He held that the Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Babale, proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently sentenced the defendant to seven years without an option of fine.

According to him, the convict is to pay additional N1 million fine as compensation.

Earlier, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano State Command, alleged that the defendant committed the offence at Darmanawa Quarters,Tarauni LGA, Kano State on October 5.

Babale said that the defendant allegedly lured his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter into his wife’s room and sexually exploited her.

“The defendant had sex with the survivor on three different occasions.

“Once in the defendant’s wife’s room and twice at an uncompleted building.

“The defendant gave the survivor bread, groundnut and N20 before sexually exploiting her,” Babale told the court.

The prosecution presented two exhibits, including the confessional statement of the defendant and the survivor’s testimony, to the court to prove his case.

Babale said that the offence contravened the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under Sec 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015. (NAN)