JUDICIARY
Yenagoa High Court Orders Immediate Conduct of LG Polls in Bayelsa
-
A Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa, has adopted out of Court settlement terms by parties in a suit instituted against The Governor of Bayelsa State; the Byelsa Independnet Electorla Commission(BYSIEC); The Bayelsa State Government; and The State Attorney General by Accord Party and nine others. - The petitioners, including Mr. Victor Fisi, State Chairman of Accord Party were among other things praying the court to declare that: the failure and refusal to conduct local government council elections is unlawful; and also that appointment of local government caretaker committees is illegal, null and void. They had further asked the court, presided over by Justice Y.E. Ogola for an order setting aside the appointments of Local Government Caretaker Committees; and an injunction restraining the defendants by themselves or through persons appointed by them from withdrawing, using, spending or allocating funds of the local government councils.
- However, following series of negotiations for amicable out of court settlement by both parties they, among other things, mutually agreed to ask the court to grant “An order directing the defendants to immediately conduct the said local government council elections in Bayelsa state having earlier agreed to conduct it.
- Reacting to the court ruling, Commissioner for Legal Services in the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, Marshal Abraham said it has conferred legal competence on the commission to carry on with processes of the council elections slated for August 10, emphasizing that the date remains sacrosanct.
- Abraham equally explained that an ex-parte order granted some persons by an Abuja High Court on conduct of the elections lasted only seven days and with the substantive judgement delivered in Yenagoa on July 24, 2019, there was no legal constraint in conducting the August 10 local government elections in Bayelsa State.
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)