COURT REMANDS “WARLORDS”

Three persons have been arraigned before a Benin
High Court, Criminal
Division, for alleged attempted murder, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and cartridges, malicious damage and promoting
communal war.

The Suspects Roland Egbe,40, Romson Nosakhare, 46, and Richard Imalele, 48 and others now at large numbering over fifty, on 15th June 2021, who allegedly dressed in Army camouflage uniforms, conspired to storm Izakagbo Community, Off Benin Lagos Road, in a military style and warlike manner.

It was also alleged that the suspects, armed with cutlasses battle axes and shot sporadically, ransacked the Community, engaged the Odionwere and other indigenes in a war like undertaken, robbed some of the indigenes of various cash sums and valuable properties and maliciously damaged properties worth several millions of naira in the Community.

Consequent upon an application made by the Edo State Police Command Legal Team, the court then remanded the suspects in Police custody for initial fourteen days to enable the Police continue with their investigation.

The offences are: Conspiracy contrary to Section 6 (b), Armed Robbery contrary to
Section 1 (2 a & b), Unlawful Possession of Firearm, contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Promoting Communal War contrary to Section 42 and Malicious Damage contrary to Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Vol. Il Laws of Defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo State.

OLOGBO MURDER: LEGAL FIREWORKS HEIGHTENES

As the legal fireworks in the alleged kidnap and subsequent murder of Mr. Sunny Etchie the Okaighele of Kolokolo in Ologbo Dukedom, continues before a Benin High Court, Counsel to both parties in the matter have argued for and against inclusion of one Orighomisan kaka as the 9th Defendant.

Counsel to Prince Johnson Atseleghe who is the 8th Defendant, Ighodalo Imadegbelo, SAN, filed a motion to stop the Prosecution from trying to ammend the charge.

He argued that the State Counsel failed to first seek the leave of the court before filing a further and better counter affidavit.

The development, according to him, will bring about undue delay of the matter, emphasizing that there was an interlocutory appeal before the Court of Appeal in respect of the matter.

The state counsel, Osasu Ewemade, submitted that the Ist to 8th Defendants are charged with the same offence with Orighomisan kaka.

The State Counsel argued that because the parties are the same parties, same deceased, same date of commission of offence and same list of witnesses, the Prosecution can charge the 9th alongside others.

She submitted that it will be quicker and cost effective for the state as the winesses can come and testify in the matter.

According to the State Counsel, the 8th Defendant has not shown the court the particular miscarriage adding Orighomisa to the charge would cause him.

She stated that the 8th defendant’s Counsel made heavy weather of an interlocutory before the court of appeal, there is no stay of proceedings barring the high court from carrying on with the matter, even as she submitted that the state is within the law to ammend the charge.

She contended that that since the matter was starting denovo, the previous evidence expunged by the court, as it stands, there is no evidence before the court, hence, the Prosecution can ammend the charge.

Counsel to 1st to 7th Defendants, O. T. Okeke, opposed the Prosecution’s proposed ammendment to the charge.

He, however, said the Prosecution can ammend a charge provided that such an ammendment is not over-reaching.

Okeke added that Section 208 should be read together with sections 216, 217, 218 and 219.

He argued that since the court earlier granted leave to the Defendants to go on appeal, it cannot also allow the Prosecution to ammend the charge and bring in a new party into the ongoing charge.

Reacting to argument by Counsel to the 1st to 7th Defendants, the State Counsel submitted that the 1st to 7th Defendants were not parties to the appeal filed.

She emphasized that the court has powers to consolidate the parties to the matter, moreso, the party sought to be joined was copiously mentioned in the previous case.

The trial Judge, Hon. Justice mary Itsueli consequently adjourned the matter to 23rd July 2021 for ruling.

The offence contravens Sections 324 punishable under  the Criminal Code Act , Cap C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 2 (2) and punishable under section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2013 of Edo State.

Standing trial alongside Prince Johnson Atseleghe the Iyatsere of Warri are; Oluwa Etsemaje, Ayokotse Robinson, Nosa Omoregie, Felicia Otikpere, Ayuwa Mofe and Benjamin Erewa.

OSAKPAMWAN NOMOLESS DISCHARGED AND ACQUITTED OF ASSAULT ON OBASEKI’S CSO

A Benin High Court, Criminal Division, has discharged and acquitted OSAKPAMWAN Eriyo(AKA NOMOLESS) and one Sunday Osaguona on a two count charge of conspiracy and assault brought against them.

Delivering judgment, the trial Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba held that the Prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Whereas the Court noted that a petition written by one Chief Osaro Idah was the genesis of the petition alleging assault on the Chief Security Officer to Governor Obaseki, Yusuf Haruna, the CSO who was alleged to have been assaulted on 21st December 2016, never mentioned in his statement to the Police the following day that he was pushed or dragged out of the Banquet Hall in Government House.

Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo, Usunobun Lawson Evbayiro, described the judgment as a victory for the common man as reinforced by the sayin

STRIKE LOOMS AS EDO TIPPER DRIVERS BATTLES CHIEF PRIEST

The Edo State Tipper Drivers Association has handed down a seven-day ultimatum to the Chief Priest of Okhuoromi Community, Ovbokhan lgbinovia, to return their landed properties.

Chairman of the Association, Comrade Austin Uhunmwagho, while briefing Newsmen at the association’s head office in Benin City, called on the State Government, Oba of Benin Kingdom and other stakeholders to prevail on Igbinovia to return the properties bought by their members and other individuals.

Comrade Uhunmwagho stated that failure by the Ohen to comply with the call will compel the Association to embark on a strike action.

“They destroyed our
buildings, buildings that were up to roofing level, all went down the drain, just Iike that. We are not the only victims of this whole evil act you can see some other persons here” Comrade Uhunmwagho lamented.

While emphasizing the need for prompt intervention by concerned authorities, Uhunmwagho said the Association is in receipt of over 50 petitions with evidence of houses that have been demolished.

He noted that the action of the community chief priest was worse than that of the disbanded Community Development Association(CDA), whose activities were retrogressing development in Benin kingdom.

The Ohen, Chief Priest of Okhoruomi, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, accused the Association’s Chairman of poke-nosing into an affairs of the community and that thesaid Comrade Uhunmwangho and his members did not buy any landed property from authorities of the community.

JUSUN SUSPENDS 64 DAY OLD STRIKE

The Judiciary Staff Union ofNigeria (NJC) has suspended its nationwide strike which lasted over two months.

Members of the union had
embarked on the strike on April 6 to press home their demand for the financial autonomy of the
judiciary.

The decision to suspend the strike was reached at a
meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.

It cited the intervention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other stakeholders in reaching the decision to suspend the strike. NEC-in-session discussed.

A statement jointly issued by the by the union’s Deputy President, Emmanuel Abioye and General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, says JUSUN convened the NEC meeting with the NJC at the instance of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammed, who appealed to the union to end the nationwide strike.

“NEC-in-session discussed extensively and after putting so many issues into consideration i.e. the intervention of the NJC and other stakeholders, the NEC has resolved that the strike is hereby suspended” the statement added.

OBASEKI APPOINTS FORMER CHIEF WHIP AS CHIEF OF STAFF.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has approved the immediate appointment of Hon. Iyoha Osaigbovo Toni, as his Chief of Staff.

Born 6th July 1973, Hon. Iyoha, is a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering holder from the then Edo State University now Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma.

He also bagged a Masters of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

He is presently concluding a Ph.D in Industrial Engineering from UNIBEN. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

A former Legislator of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iyoha was a member of the Edo State House of Assembly who represented Oredo East Constituency, between 2015 and 2019 and rose to the position of Chief Whip.

EDO PDP CHAIRMAN SUSPENDED

Press Release


June 2, 2021

….Edo PDP Chairman Suspended

….A three member committee set up to investigate allegations.

….Deputy State Chairman Hon. Harrison
Omagbon now acting Chairman.

At a State Working Committee meeting that held at the state party secretariat on Tuesday, 1 June 2021, two thirds majority of members resolved in a motion that the
state chairman Dr. Tony Aziegbemi should step aside and therefore suspended from his position and Hon. Harrison Omagbon, the State Deputy Chairman, will act in his place until the determination of the allegations levied against him.

An Investigative Committee is hereby set up, headed by the State Legal Adviser
Barr. Arthur Esene, and is mandated to report back to the Working Committee within one week. Other members of the Committee are Mrs. Linsdale Tes Sorae
(State Woman Leader) and Dr. Wilson Imongan (State Auditor).

Amongst the allegations, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi was accused of gross misconduct by brewing unnecessary tension and disunity among party members in the state in a manner akin to
bringing the party into disrepute.

This decision hard as it is, is designed to bring sanity back to our party.

It would be like ignoring the elephant in the room if we ignore this macabre dance as Edo people have watched in utter amazement and disappointment how Dr.
Tony Aziegbemi has been roped and entangled by his actions and unfortunately too, his inactions in the management of the affairs of the party.

We are a very disciplined party and pride ourselves as organised and focused on service delivery to our teeming supporters and of course Edo people.

We urge our members and supporters to please remain calm as we embark on this self-cleansing exercise.
PDP…listening to the cries of Edo people!

Signed
Chris Osa Nehikhare
SPS PDP EDO STATE

OBASEKI HOLDS VICTORY MARCH IN BENIN CITY OVER SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT


Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reassured the people of the State of continuous development in the State.


The Governor gave the reassurance Tuesday 1st June 2021 when he led his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, the SSG, Osarodion Ogie, ESQ., some party faithful and others on a victory march around some major streets and roads in Benin City, following his victory at the Supreme Court.

The visibly elated Obaseki, said his government will continue to work for the development of the state and wellbeing of the people.


According to him, “The kind of attitude they started in Edo to cage the State is what is going on in Nigeria today. We don’t have much resources in Edo but we have been able to utilize the little we have in developing the state. Until we change our mindset and mentality that taxpayers’ money is meant to work for people, development will be out of reach. Unless we change our mentality and mindset, Nigeria will not move forward. We have to pray to God so that what happened in Edo will also happen in Nigeria.”

While stating that the victory belongs to God and Edo people, the Governor noted that his failure to cooperate with a few people to share Edo commonwealth was the reason for the fight, emphasizing that the supreme court judgment has put an end to Godfatherism in Edo State.

The Governor disclosed that “through your support and determination, you have shown that Edo is Edo, not Lagos or Imo. We thank God for the victory of the Supreme Court judgement. In the election, Edo people cast their votes for our party but APC didn’t have respect for Edo people as they took us to court and wanted to turn the people’s mandate by all means but God saw us through the battle.”

A member of the APC, Williams Edobor, had
commenced the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja before the September 2020
governorship election in Edo State which Obaseki later won and sworn in for the second tenure.

Williams Edobor claimed that Mr Obaseki forged his certificates including his university degree certificate tendered for the election, he then prayed the court to disqualify Obaseki as the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in the poll.

January 9, 2021, Hon. Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had dismissed the suit for lack of merit. The APC and his co-plaintiff proceeded to the Court of Appeal appeal against the verdict of the Federal High Court.

A panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, led by Hon. Justice Stephen Adah unanimously dismissed the appeal on March 18, 2021.

Not satisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the appellants further went upstairs on appeal to the Supreme Court where the five-man-panel of the Apex Court, on Friday, 28th May 2031, in their unanimous decision, finally, dismissed the Appeal with a cost of one million naira against the APC on the grounds that the appellants failed woefully to prove their case against Obaseki.