STOP HARRASSING OLOGBO DUKEDOM – COURT TELLS ATSELEGHE

A Benin High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, has granted bail to Johnson Atseleghe with an order to enter into an undertaking of good conduct.

The development was sequel to earlier submissions of Edo State Attorney General, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, who urged the Court to make Johnson Atseleghe enter into a formal written undertaking and file same before the Court.

Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, also urged the Court to prevail on Atseleghe to keep the peace and stop harrassing or threatening witnesses in the matter, particularly in Ologbo Dukedom, before the Prosecution will withdraw the counter affidavit against his bail.

On his part, Johnson Atseleghe’s Counsel, Ighodalo Imadegbelo,SAN, submitted that the Defendant has agreed to enter into an undertaking made on oath in view of section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

In view of the concession of the Prosecution, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, consequently granted bail to Johnson Atseleghe in the sum of one million naira and a surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the Court.

The Court also ordered Johnson Atseleghe to stay away from the complainant.

Hon. Justice Ikponmwoba then transferred to matter to another Court for trial.

CONFUSION: BRIDE-TO-BE ABSCONDS 2 DAYS TO MARRIAGE

There was confusion in Benin City as a Bride-to-be absconded from the sight of her proposed husband and family two days to their marriage.

Preparations were already at top gear when the incident occurred.

PRIMACY NEWS gathered that the Benin City home of the Groom-to-be, a Europe based businessman, was filled with family members, friends, well-wishers as well as business associates in readiness for much awaited marriage ceremony.

Perishable and nonperishable items, gifts and assorted drinks were already in place for celebration which was slated for Saturday 25th June 2022 at the Marriage Registry.

According to sources, trouble started, Thursday 23rd June 2022, when the Groom-to-be, who was having merriment with some of his friends, placed several calls through to her obviously to ensure that preparations were in order in her own side and the calls were not going through.

Worried by the development, the young man whispered to some of his friends(two of them), and they entered his car and drove straight to the house of the Bride-to-be in Uselu axis, where they met her mother and a few siblings.

Upon enquiry on her whereabouts, the suppose Mother-in-law told the Groom-to-be that his Bride-to-be had return to Lagos where she resides, hence, the marriage has been cancelled.

Explaining further, the suppose Mother-in-law disclosed that her daughter said she doesn’t understand the young man who is too autocratic and that she needed time to think about it.

The suppose Mother-in-law, who said none of them could get in touch with her daughter because she switched off her handset, however, tried to pacify the Groom-to-be that the marriage will come up in six months time.

She then told the young man to come and remove the cow which he bought for the marriage and was tied to a tree in the suppose in-laws compound, else they will untie same and let it stray away.

The young man looked at his suppose Mother-in-law, turned to his friends, winked for few seconds and left a slow but loud “shiiiit” then made his way towards his car disappointed.

OLOGBO VIOLENCE: COURT AGAIN REMANDS JOHNSON ATSELEGHE

A Benin High Court, Criminal Division, has remanded the Iyatsere of Warri, Johnson Atseleghe, in Police custody for alleged conspiracy, malicious damage and war-like undertaking related charges.

Johnson Atseleghe and others now at large, on 2nd February 2022, allegedly conspired with others now at large to unleash war-like undertaking against the Enogie(Duke) and people of Ologbo Dukedom in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to the charges, Johnson Atseleghe and others now at large on same date and place, maliciously damaged a dwelling house and vehicles belonging to one Felix Okotie during the war-like undertaking.

It was also alleged by the Prosecution that Johnson Atseleghe and others now at large maliciously damaged the Edo State Revenue Produce Point and a signboard of the Oba of Benin.

His Counsel, Ighodalo Imadegbelo(SAN), in an oral application, urged the Court to grant the Defendant, Johnson Atseleghe, bail due to his ill health.

Imadegbelo SAN, told the Court that the Defendant has a stent in his heart which enable him breath well.

After conferring with the Defendant in the choice of facility where he could be remanded, Imadegbelo SAN, urged the Court to remand the Defendant in Police custody.

He submitted that Johnson Atseleghe have been dragged before various Courts on the same charges of Native war which is unknown to the law, emphasizing that the Defendant will not jump bail if granted him.

In opposing the bail application, the State Counsel, Orobosa Okunbor, argued that the Defence Counsel ought to have filed a written bail application, instead of oral application which is not the practice of the Court.

Okunbor who submitted that the Defendant once jumped administrative bail granted him by the Police.

The State Counsel submitted that the Defendant previously created lots of tension in the Dukedom, after been granted bail and urged the Court to refuse the bail application by the Defence Counsel.

Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, directed the Defence Counsel to file a written bail application on Monday 27th June 2022.

HOUSE MAID SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING FORMER EDO GOVERNOR’S MOTHER

A house maid, Dominion Okoro, who murdered her Boss, Madam Maria Oredola Igbinedion, mother of former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion has been sentenced to death by hanging on the orders of a Benin High Court.

In her judgment, trial Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, held that the convict violently murdered the deceased with a stool with intent to rob her if the sum of one hundred thousand naira in 1st December 2021.

The Court noted that the convict, after also used cotton wool to stoke the nose of the deceased and thereafter, called a cab man to escape from the house early the next morning.

The Court also observed that the convict confessed to the police that she bought Indian hemp which she uses in preparing meal for her Boss in order to weaken and kill her without a struggle.

Hon. Justice Ikponmwoba, held that the evidence of the Pathologist on the cause of death, evidence of other Prosecution witnesses coupled with the convict’s confessional statement, it was safe for the court to send the convict to the gallows.

On the case of Patience Okoro, elder sister of the convict in the matter, the Court noted that the only evidence linking her with the case was that called her to inform her after committing the act.

She was accordingly discharged and acquitted of the charge of offence of accessory after murder.

PASTOR ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFILING 12-YEAR-OLD HOUSE HELP

A Pastor and Lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl.

Confirming arrest of the suspect, Spokesperson of the State’s Police Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, who did not disclose the identity of the suspect, disclosed that the suspect was currently making statement at the time he was contacted.

He assured that he will send the full detail of the incident to Journalists once it was ready.

A Source disclosed that Wednesday night, when the girl jumped down from the two-storey building they reside in, on Wednesday night to escape rape after the Pastor whom she was living with as a house help tried raping her.

“She is currently in the hospital receiving treatment as she fractured her leg, after jumping down from the height.“

“We are calling for justice for the little girl, as she has been able to speak to some neighbours from her hospital bed, saying that from the very day she came to the man’s house, he started sleeping with her.“

“The girl said on Wednesday, after taking care of the house chores, she was about to go to bed when the man came again. She excused herself that she wanted to ease herself, and while the man was making phone call, she used the toilet window to jump down,” the source stated

DEFECTION NOT ENOUGH GROUNDS TO REMOVE GOVERNOR, DEPUTY FROM OFFICE -COURT

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that defection was not one of the grounds stated in the Constitution for removing a Governor and his Deputy from office.

Hon. Justice Taiwo also held that Governors and their Deputies can only be removed from office in line with sections 180, 188 and 189 of the constitution which stipulated that elective office holders can only be removed from office on account of death, resignation or impeachment.

‘’The point must be made that it is not the duty of the court to make law. If a gap is disclosed, the remedy lies in amending the Act”.

“This court has no power to declare vacant the seat of the Governor and Deputy, ” Justice Taiwo said.

Earlier, Justice Taiwo directed the lead counsel to the PDP, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), to address the court on the position of the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division in respect of Governor David Umahi and his Deputy’s defection from the PDP to APC.

Ukala (SAN), argued that the subject matter, issues raised for determination, interpretation of certain provisions of the constitution in the cases of Umahi and Ayade were not the same because, Umahi’s prayers at the Abakaliki High Court were different from what the PDP were seeking at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In his reply, Counsel to APC, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), submitted that the case decided at the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division was same with the instant case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, emphasizing that reliefs 12 and 13 in Ayade’s case are same with reliefs two of Umahi’s case in Enugu.

“The entire case boils down to defection and the issue is whether a Governor and his Deputy after being sworn in can be removed from office,’’ Ozekhome (SAN), submitted.

COURT THROWS AWAY ABBA KIYARI’S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SUIT AGAINST NDLEA

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a fundamental enforcement rights suit filed by suspended DCP Abba Kyari against National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit after counsel for the NDLEA, Joseph Sunday, prayed the court that the matter be struck out.
When the matter was called, Cynthia Ikena, lawyer to Kyari, was absent.
Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, urged the court to strike out the suit.
Justice Ekwo said he was informed that Ikena sent a letter, praying the court for an adjournment.
But the letter was not filed by the lawyer and therefore not in compliance with the court rule.
The judge directed that the letter be shown to the NDLEA’s counsel.
Sunday, who expressed surprise with the development, said he was not copied in the letter in accordance with the rule of the court.
He prayed the court to strike out the matter.

After listening to NDLEA’s lawyer, Justice Ekwo struck out the case.
Also, the judge, after going into the substantive matter and seeing that parties had joined issues in the suit, went ahead to dismiss the case.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekwo had, on March 15, threatened to strike out the fundamental enforcement rights suit following the delay by Ikena to serve Sunday her further and better affidavit after being served with the counter affidavit since Feb. 28.
Justice Ekwo, in a short ruling, had threatened to strike out the suit if the lawyer was unprepared in the next adjourned date.
“Put your house in order before the next date of hearing and if you do not, I will assume you are frustrating this matter and the suit will be struck out,” he said.
NAN reports that Kyari had said that the NDLEA’s allegations against him were fictitious.
The suspended DCP disclosed this in an affidavit in support of his motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ANJ/CS/182/22 and filed before Ekwo.
The affidavit, dated Feb. 16 and filed Feb. 17, was deposed to by Kyari’s younger brother, Muhammad Usman.
Kyari, through Ikena, had filled the application to seek for his fundamental rights enforcement.
In the document, Kyari described the allegations against him by NDLEA as “trump-up.”
He said the agency had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
He averred that the allegation linking him to an international drug cartel by the anti-narcotic agency was untrue.

He said since the Nigerian Police Force arrested him and handed him over to the NDLEA, he had been kept in custody since Feb. 12, without having access to his medical treatment.
He averred that his arrest and continued detention was an infringement on his fundamental human rights.
Kyari, a former head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), in an originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, dated Feb. 16 and filed Feb. 17 demanded a N500 million in damages from the NDLEA over alleged unlawful arrest and detention.
He also sought for an order, directing the NDLEA to tender a written apology to him in two national dailies.
Kyari, who said that his fundamental rights would continue to be infringed upon by the NDLEA if the court did not intervene, urged the court to grant the application for bail in the interest of justice.
Kyari and his co-defendants, who are police officers, in the alleged drug trafficking charge preferred against them and two others before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, are currently in Kuje Correctional Centre based on the order of the trial judge. (NAN)

SOLDIER ARRESTED FOR KILLING 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL, 6 OTHERS

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of a soldier who allegedly killed seven civilians, including a 3-year-old girl in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence Coordinator, Theatre Command of the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Col. Obinna Azuikpe, disclosed this, on Friday, while briefing Newsmen on the military’s operations in the North-East.

Azuikpe disclosed that about 16 other persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident which occurred on Tuesday in Mafa market.

The Intelligence Coordinator, who attributed the incidents to ”post traumatic stress disorder and drug abuse” said, the injured victims had been hospitalised.

He disclosed that the soldier was arrested by the Military Police, adding that there was another incident of two police men killing soldiers in Maiduguri.

According to him, the Theatre Commander, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, has set up a joint committee to review the existing codes of conduct in the operations and assured of commitment of the military authorities towards improving the welfare of the troops.

FIRST NIGERIA’S FEMALE VC PASSES ON AT 89

The first Nigerian female to obtain a Doctorate degree and first female Nigerian vice-chancellor, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, died on Friday at the age of 89.

The late Alele-Williams, a Professor of Mathematics was appointed Vice-chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 1985 by the regime of former Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.